SEO is vital for greater searchability and visibility, but it offers way more real value than that.
Here are 12 reasons why your physical therapy business needs SEO!
Many PT businesses know (or think they know) that they need SEO, and the benefits they will get from that SEO work being implemented on their behalf.
SEO will certainly improve a website’s overall searchability and visibility, but what other real value does it offer? Why is SEO so important?
Let’s explore why PTs need SEO to take their business to the next level…
1. Organic Search Is Almost Always the Best Source of Website Traffic
Organic search is a huge part of most PT businesses’ website performance, as well as a critical component of the buyer funnel and ultimately getting users to complete a conversion or engagement.
We know that a clear majority of the world that has access to the internet is visiting Google at least once a day to get information. We also know that the engagement and conversion rates from organic traffic tend to be substantially higher than other traffic sources.
So being highly visible as a trusted resource by Google and other search engines is always going to work in a business’ favor. Quality SEO (and a high-quality website) will take your business there.
2. SEO Builds Trust & Credibility
The goal of SEO is to establish a strong foundation for your website, to ensure it is easily discoverable in search, thanks to the trust and credibility of your business.
Many elements go into establishing authority. In addition to the factors mentioned above, authority is accrued over time as a result of elements like:
- Positive user behavior
- Optimized on-page elements and content
- Machine-learning signals
- Quality backlinks
Establishing authority will do more for your business than other digital optimizations. Problem is, it’s impossible to build trust and credibility overnight — just like real life. Authority is earned and built over time.
Establishing a business as an authority takes patience, effort, and commitment, but also relies on offering a valuable, quality service that allows customers to trust a business. SEO provides the building blocks to establish authority and credibility of your business.
3. Good SEO Also Means a Better User Experience
Everyone wants better organic rankings and maximum visibility. Few realize that optimal user experience is a big part of getting there.
Google has learned how to interpret a favorable or unfavorable user experience, and a positive user experience has become a pivotal element to a website’s success.
Customers know what they want. If they can’t find it, there’s going to be a problem. And performance will suffer.
A clear example of building a strong user experience is how Google has become more and more of an answer engine offering the sought-after data directly on the SERPs (search engine results pages) for users.
The intention of that is offering users the information they are looking for in fewer clicks, quickly and easily.
Quality SEO incorporates a positive user experience, leveraging it to work in a business’ favor.
4. Local SEO Means Increased Engagement, Traffic & Conversions
With the rise and growing domination of mobile traffic, local search has become a fundamental part of small and medium-sized businesses’ success.
Local SEO aims at optimizing your digital properties for a specific vicinity, so people can find you quickly and easily, putting them one step closer to a transaction.
This is achieved by optimizing your business’ website and its content, including local citations and backlinks, as well as your Google My Business listing.
There should also be a strong emphasis on user reviews on Google.
5. SEO Impacts the Buying Cycle
Customers do their research. That’s one of the biggest advantages of the internet from a buyer perspective.
Using SEO tactics to relay your messaging for services, and the importance and dependability of what you offer customers will be a game changer.
It will also undoubtedly impact the buying cycle in a positive way when done right.
PT businesses must be visible in the places people need them for a worthy connection to be made. Local SEO enhances that visibility and lets potential customers find the answers, and the businesses providing those answers.
6. SEO Best Practices Are Always Being Updated
It’s great to have SEO tactics implemented on a business’ website, but if it’s a short-term engagement (budget constraints, etc.) and the site isn’t re-evaluated consistently over time, it will reach a threshold where it can no longer improve because of other hindrances.
The way the search world evolves, basically at the discretion of Google, requires constant monitoring for changes to stay ahead of the competition and, hopefully, on Page 1.
Being proactive and monitoring for major algorithm changes is always going to benefit the businesses who are investing in SEO.
We know Google makes countless algorithm changes every year. Fall too far behind, and it will be extremely difficult to come back. SEO helps to ensure that is avoided.
7. Understanding SEO Helps You Understand the Environment of the Web
With the always-changing environment that is the World Wide Web, it can be a challenge to stay on top of the changes as they take place.
But staying on top of SEO includes being in the loop for the major changes taking place for search.
Knowing the environment of the Web, including tactics being used by other local, comparable businesses and competitors, will always be beneficial.
8. SEO Is Relatively Cheap
Yes, it costs money. All the best things do 😎
But SEO is relatively cheap in the grand scheme of things, and the payoff will most likely be considerable in terms of a business’ benefit and bottom line. Basically, we are talking massive ROI.
So SEO isn’t a marketing cost; this is a true business investment. Good SEO implementation will benefit a business for years to come. And, like most things in life, will only be better with the more attention (and investment) it gets.
9. It’s a Long-Term Strategy
SEO can (and hopefully does) have a noticeable impact within the first year of action being taken, and many of those actions will have an impact that lasts more than several years.
As the market evolves, yes, it’s best to follow the trends and changes closely. But even a site that hasn’t had a boatload of intense SEO recommendations implemented will improve from basic SEO best practices being employed on an honest website with a decent user experience.
And the more SEO time, effort, and budget that is committed to it, the better and longer a website stands to being a worthy contender in its market.
10. It’s Quantifiable
While SEO doesn’t offer the easy-to-calculate ROI like that of paid search, you can measure almost anything with proper tracking and analytics.
Our Local SEO System includes a lead tracking system that can track the referral source of web form and phone call leads. It can even tell you which marketing channel is performing the best in terms of actual sales revenue, not just leads!
PT Businesses also want to know and understand where they were, where they are, and where they’re going in terms of digital performance. We can provide you with that information too.
11. SEO Brings New Opportunities to Light
High-quality SEO will always find a means of discovering and leveraging new opportunities for businesses to be discovered.
The process of Search Engine Optimization necessitates your SEO team getting to know your business and your audience. The better these are understood, the more opportunities will arise to help your business thrive.
12. If You’re Not on Page 1, You’re Not Winning the Click
It’s no secret in the world of SEO that if you’re not on Page 1, you’re not winning the organic search game. You’re not even in the game!
A recent study shows that the first three organic search ranking positions result in approximately 75 percent of all organic clicks.
This means, if you’re not on Page 1, you need to be. And it’s way better to be near the top. The difference in the click through rate between low on page 1 and high on page 1 is insane!
Conclusion
Implementing strong, quality SEO on a business’ website is always going to be beneficial to that business and its marketing efforts. And we really are talking significantly beneficial. Massive ROI.
SEO is critical to a business’ web presence in this day and age, especially as available data and rivaling competition continue to increase. Don’t get left behind… start investing in SEO as soon as possible!
Click here for full details of our Local SEO System for Physical Therapists »
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Flemming Arnott
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