When it comes to ways to market your practice, the options seem endless with more being added almost every day. Every service comes with pages of data backing up why they’re the most efficient way to attract new patients. Does that make them all the same?
In a word, no. Not all marketing and analytics options are created equal but there is one that you should always set up, even if you have little interest in analytics, and that is Google My Business . This should come as no surprise, Google accounts for over 70% of online search traffic. If you’re going to be found online, it’s probably going to come via a Google search query. This dominating market share has been hard earned and didn’t come by mistake. Google has continued to roll out and optimize features that allow business owners like you to track how people are searching for services in your area and tailor that effort in response.
One of the most ubiquitous and easy to use features is Google My Business. Setting up your account for your practice requires entering some basic information about your business. Once you submit your information to Google, they will verify your business by mailing you a postcard with a verification code that you’ll enter into your Google My Business account. Once your business is verified, your practice will appear in Google Maps and Google search results. You will then be able to run ads on Google, create special offers, link to your scheduling service, direct traffic to your website, collect and respond to reviews and more.
Even if you do not take advantage of the more technical features that Google My Business has to offer, taking the time to set up and claim your business is well worth it. With your location entered, your practice will show up on map searches and visitors can view your profile to contact you via phone, visit your website or even book an appointment using your scheduling service. If you’re going to engage in any type of SEO efforts, setting up Google My Business should be step number one.
If you need help setting up your Google My Business account or, if you would like us to audit your account to make sure it is up-to-date and working for you and your practice, please reach out to us by contacting support. We have also provided step by step instructions to help you set up your Google My Business account.
