Local online visibility is becoming increasingly important for eye doctors to reach potential patients and stay competitive in the industry. With more and more people turning to the internet to find local services, eye doctors need to ensure their online presence is properly optimized to attract new patients and keep existing patients happy.
One of the main reasons why local online visibility is so important for eye doctors is to increase their visibility in local search results. With more people searching for eye doctors online, having an optimized website and strong presence in local search results can help eye doctors attract more patients.
Local search engine optimization (SEO) can help eye doctors increase their visibility in local search results and ensure they are seen by people actively searching for their eye care products or services online.
In this blog, we’re going to cover 7 local optometrist SEO tips to help you get found on search engines.
1. Do keyword research to find the right local keywords
Before you can start optimizing your eye doctor website for local searches, you need to do keyword research to find out which local keywords are the most relevant to your practice and the services you offer.
Using keyword research tools, like Google Keyword Planner, you can easily find the local keywords that are most searched for in your area. This can help you understand what people are looking for and how to target them with your website.
Look for long-tail keywords, which are specific phrases or questions related to your services, such as “eye doctor near me” or “vision care center in [city].” These keywords are less competitive, which means they’ll be easier to rank for.
2. Optimize your website for local search
Once you have identified the local keywords you want to target, you can start optimizing your eye doctor website for local search. This includes adding your practice’s location, contact information and other relevant details to your website.
Make sure you include your location in the title tags, meta descriptions and URL of your website. You should also create content that is focused on the local area, such as blog posts about local events or reviews of local businesses.
This will help Google and other search engines understand that your website is relevant to the local area and will help you rank higher in local search results.
3. Claim business directory listings
Claiming business directory listings is another important step for optometrist SEO. Business directories, such as Top Rated Local®, Google Business Profile and Yelp, are a great way to help your business get found online.
When you claim your business listing in these directories, make sure you provide accurate and up-to-date information about your practice, including your hours, address, contact information, website and services.
Also, optimize your local listings with high-quality images, a well-written business description and keywords that are relevant to your practice. This can help your listings stand out from the crowd and get noticed.
4. Get online reviews
Getting online reviews is an important part of local visibility for eye doctors. Reviews are an important factor when it comes to local search engine rankings, as well as helping to build trust with potential patients.
When people are looking for an optometrist in their area, reviews can be a deciding factor in which practice they choose. Plus, the more reviews you have and the higher your average star rating, the more likely you are to be found in a local search.
Encourage your existing patients to leave reviews by setting up review profiles on relevant business directories. You can also use email and text message marketing to send out automated review requests.
5. Make sure your website is fast and mobile-friendly
Google and other search engines now favor websites that are fast and mobile-friendly, so it’s important to make sure your eye doctor website meets these criteria.
Optimizing your website for speed and ensuring it is mobile-friendly can help you rank higher in local search results, as well as providing a better user experience for potential patients.
One of the biggest factors in mobile friendliness is responsive web design. A responsive design will automatically adjust to different screen sizes, ensuring your website looks great and works well on any device.
6. Use social media to promote your practice
Social media can also be a great way to promote your practice and increase your local visibility. Creating a social media presence on platforms, like Facebook and Google Business Profile, can help you connect with local patients and promote your services.
You can use your social media profiles to post updates about your practice, share patient testimonials and even run promotions or discounts. This can help you get more local patients and keep existing patients engaged with your practice.
7. Monitor your local rankings
Finally, once you have implemented all of these local optometrist SEO tips, it’s important to monitor your local rankings to ensure you are making progress.
You can use tools, such as Google Search Console and the Marketing 360® Content app, to track your local rankings and see how well your website is performing in local search results.
This can help you identify any areas where you need to improve and make sure you are staying competitive in the local eye care market.
By following these local optometrist SEO tips, you can ensure your practice is seen by potential patients and is competitive in the local market. A strong online presence is essential for any eye doctor, as it can help you reach more local patients and keep existing patients engaged.
The Marketing 360 all-in-one eye doctor marketing platform has everything you need to master local SEO and content marketing. Plus, you can develop a convertible website, connect with your community on social media and so much more.
