Marketing
O N LIN E MARK ETING
T
he internet is a big place and there are new online marketing options emerging
every day. It can be hard to keep up. We recommend three tried and true
strategies to boost your online profile and steer potential patients to your website.
Google+: Put Yourself on the Google
Map
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• Protect Your Brand from Imposters:
If you’re not controlling your Google+
page, who is? Even if you’ve never
visited Google+ before, your clinic likely
already has a page there. Surprised?
Google+ is automatically populated from
Google’s search index. Your business’s
location and hours may already be
listed, but they may not be accurate or
presented the way you’d like them to be.
User activity on Google+ lags far behind
other platforms, but it is still an important
part of any online marketing strategy. Here
are the three main reasons your business
should be on Google+:
• Get Your Business on Google Maps:
Have you ever noticed the businesses
listed on Google Maps when you zoom
in? Once you verify your clinic’s Google+
page by phone or postcard, it can be
added to Google Maps. This will make
it easier for patients to get directions to
your clinic.
• Verify Your Business with Google:
If you are active and verified on
Google+, your business will be
considered more established and
relevant and your search results will
show up higher on Google Search.
Remember that the first 10 results for
any search will receive 99% of the
clicks.
Take ownership of your Google+ page
by clicking on Edit details in the Contact
Information section. The next page will ask
“Is this your business?” Click Manage your
page to get started.
2
Facebook & Twitter: Socialize Your
Business
Your business’s Facebook Page and Twitter
account will help patients get to know you
online. The Millennial generation (today’s
20- and 30-somethings) is most present on
these networks, but engagement is rising
across all generational groups. If you are
new to social media, Facebook is a great
place to start.
Start with an Optimized Website
Before you direct traffic to your website through social media, ensure that it is
welcoming and easy to use. Can new patients book an appointment with you
quickly? The OCA offers the following resources:
• Read Web Design: Seizing the Zero Moment of Truth in the Spring 2014 issue
of ON Chiropractic: joom.ag/9oeb/p14
• Watch our webinar on Building a Great Website for Your Practice online:
www.chiropractic.on.ca/event/building-a-great-website-for-your-practice
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FALL 2014
Facebook and Twitter offer a perfect
opportunity to showcase your clinic’s
strengths through the links you share.
Consider the patients you see each week and
the tools and articles they would find useful.
These may include articles about common
sports injuries, workplace ergonomics,
osteoarthritis or recommendations for
improving posture. As you link to useful
articles with interesting images and videos,
people will share or re-tweet your updates
and you will gain more visibility on these
networks.
If your clinic has a Facebook Page, you
have access to Facebook Insights. This tool
provides demographic information about
your followers and the type of people who
engage with your updates. This will help
you determine whether or not your updates
are reaching your target audience.
Not only will a presence on social
media help you to build and strengthen
your relationships with patients, regular
activity on social networks is beneficial for
search engine optimization.
When using social media, keep your
professional and personal profiles separate
and ensure that patient privacy and
standards of practice are maintained.
3
Online Patient Reviews: Word of
Mouth
Word of mouth has always been an
important component of your clinic’s
reputation, and online word of mouth is
widely accessible. Patient reviews on sites
like Yelp and RateMDs can be very helpful
to your clinic’s growth. Keep an eye on