About 46% of all Google searches are for local businesses. As a business in the healthcare industry, it’s important to make sure potential patients can find you online. Otherwise, those patients might find another plastic surgeon in the area.With search engine optimization (SEO), you can improve your organic rankings. Higher rankings will ensure patients find your practice first. Here are eight essential tips to consider before using SEO for plastic surgeons.
With these tips, you can position your practice at the top of search pages. Read on to learn more.
1. Understand Search Intent
Google looks for website content that aligns with the user’s search intent before determining search engine result page (SERP) rankings. If your content doesn’t match the user’s needs, it won’t appear for that search. To improve your rankings, you first need to understand search intent.
Who are your patients? What problems are they facing? For example, perhaps they’re unhappy with their appearance and require plastic surgery.
Maybe they need plastic surgery for a health-related purpose instead.
When researching your patients, gather demographic and psychographic research to create buyer personas. Segmenting your patients into smaller groups will help you better understand their needs. For example, you might group patients based on:
- Age
- Location
- Gender
- Household income
- Education
- Career
- Marital status
- Online behaviors
- Buying behaviors
- Interests
- Hobbies
- Pain points
Pay special attention to those pain points. Then, you can learn how to use SEO and content marketing to offer helpful solutions.
Once you’ve gathered audience research, gather keyword research to understand the search intent. First, choose three topics you want to cover on your blog. Then, choose three subtopics for each core topic.
Use SEO keyword tools like SEMRush, Answer the Public, and Google Trends to create a list of target keywords for each topic. Choose longer keywords that feature four or more words. These keywords will help you understand the search intent.
Then, you can use your keyword research to create personalized, helpful content for your readers.
2. Update Your Website UX
Your website’s design and development can hurt or improve your SERP rankings. Audit your website to make sure it’s:
- Mobile optimized
- User-friendly
- Fast
- Secure
You can run your website through Google’s PageSpeed Insights, Mobile-Friendly Test, and Core Web Vitals to make informed changes. Otherwise, work with an experienced web design and development agency. Find an agency that understands Google’s Core Web Vitals, technical, and on-page SEO.
Google’s Core Web Vitals are user-centric ranking factors that can help improve the user experience (UX) on your site. A positive UX can encourage visitors to explore your content. As they linger, your dwell times will increase.
Meanwhile, your bounce rate will start to drop, which can benefit your SERP rankings.
Optimizing Pages
As you audit your website, make sure each page has a target keyword. The primary keyword should appear in the:
- URL
- Page tile
- Opening paragraph
- Body text
- Closing paragraph
- An H1 header
- SEO title
- SEO description
- Image file name
- Image alt text
Dedicate time to writing engaging and informative SEO titles and descriptions. The title and description will appear on SERPs. As you generate more clicks, your clickthrough rate will improve, which can boost your rankings.
Consumers now complete image searches, too. Optimizing your images could help you appear for relevant image searches. Then, you can use every opportunity to reach potential patients online.
3. Create Quality Content
In order to maximize your reach, start using your keyword research to create helpful, personalized content. When writing content, convey EAT: expertise, authority, trustworthiness. EAT can help boost your credibility within the medical industry.
Potential clients will have an easier time trusting your practice if they can recognize your experience and expertise.
Experiment with different content formats, including blogs, eBooks, polls, quizzes, and videos. Videos appear at the top of SERPs as featured snippets. They take up prominent space on SERPs, helping you generate brand awareness and traffic.
Let your keyword research determine what content you create. Don’t slip a keyword into a post after it’s written.
4. Generate Links
Backlinks are one of Google’s most important ranking factors. These links appear on other websites, allowing you to generate referral traffic.
You can gain natural backlinks by creating high-quality content other blogs will want to link to.
Otherwise, you can start guest blogging to generate backlinks to your site. Generating backlinks from websites from a high domain authority can boost your SERP rankings.
5. Update Your Listing
Your Google Business listing can help potential patients find your practice.
Make sure the information on your listing matches exactly what appears on your website (including abbreviations). Then, keep your listing fresh with photos, videos, and updates.
Ask your patients to post their comments and reviews on your listing as well.
6. Share Your Posts
Once you begin creating blog content, share your posts online. For example, you can send email subscribers a weekly newsletter to generate more traffic. You can also share links to your posts on social media.
Generating more traffic to your content can help improve your rankings.
7. Analyze and Adjust
Take the time to analyze the data from your SEO efforts. Which posts, topics, and formats help you generate the most traffic? Which pieces of content fail to help you accomplish your goals?
Use your data to make improvements to your SEO strategy. Then, you can generate even more traffic in the future.
8. Hire an Agency
If you’re struggling to learn how to use SEO, don’t go it alone. Find an SEO agency with experience helping businesses in the medical industry. Their prior experience could benefit your practice.
An experienced agency will determine the best way to improve your rankings. They’ll make sure you don’t fall behind SEO trends, too.
Then, you can get ahead in the healthcare industry with ease.
Start Using SEO for Plastic Surgeons to Reach Patients Online
Don’t let your organic rankings drop. Instead, make it easier for patients to find your practice online with SEO for plastic surgeons. With these tips, you can improve your rankings in no time.
Remember, you don’t have to develop your SEO strategy alone. We’re happy to help.
Book a free SEO strategy call today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the key benefits of SEO for plastic surgeons?
SEO helps plastic surgeons improve their online visibility, making it easier for potential patients to find them. By optimizing their website, they can attract more traffic, generate leads, and ultimately increase patient bookings.
How long does it take to see results from SEO efforts?
Results from SEO can vary, but typically, it may take 3 to 6 months to start seeing significant improvements in search rankings and website traffic. Consistent effort and updates can lead to better long-term results.
Is SEO a one-time effort or an ongoing process?
SEO is an ongoing process that requires regular updates and monitoring. Search engine algorithms change frequently, and consistent optimization is necessary to maintain and improve rankings over time.
Can I do SEO for my practice myself, or should I hire an expert?
While some basic SEO strategies can be implemented by yourself, hiring an expert can provide more effective and comprehensive optimization tailored to your practice’s unique needs. Professionals can also stay updated on the latest trends and algorithm changes.
What are some common SEO mistakes plastic surgeons should avoid?
Common mistakes include neglecting local SEO, using irrelevant keywords, and having a non-mobile-friendly website. Also, not regularly updating content can hinder performance in search rankings.
How does local SEO benefit my plastic surgery practice?
Local SEO is crucial for plastic surgeons, as it helps you appear in searches from potential patients in your area. By optimizing for local keywords and creating a Google My Business profile, you can attract more local clientele.


























