VIDEO: Updated website, online reviews may improve Google rankings
In addition to daily inquires, patients may use Google search to find a physician who may best meet their medical needs, according to Orrin I. Franko, MD.
“If you are the first, second or third doctor who shows up on the Google listings, you have a higher likelihood of having that patient call your office,” Franko, founder of SurgiSurvey LLC and a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at East Bay Hand Medical Center, told Healio. “When you realize that there are tens of thousands of these search queries happening every single day, then by improving your search ranking results, you are going to get more patient phone calls and patient referrals.”
To improve a physician’s Google ranking results, Franko noted it is important to have key words and titles featured on the physician’s website that are related to possible search terms. He added that “social media and blog posts can also help crosslink and bring up your site as number one.”
Although important, Franko said these features will slowly improve a physician’s Google ranking, while patient reviews will have a quicker outcome.
“Do not underestimate the value of having solid online reviews,” Franko said. “What used to be for HealthGrades, Vitals and Yelp has now been taken over by Google. And by having a Google business profile with solid reviews, a high score and a high quantity [of reviews], then you will rank in the Google results quickly.”
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