Healthcare Embraces the iPad: Doctors Jump on New Technology
May 10th
When you’re juggling the tasks of managing your medical practice, staying in touch with patients, and keeping up with the latest trends and news in your industry, spending extra time in front of the computer often isn’t feasible.
For many doctors and healthcare professionals, mobile Web devices are a time-saving investment that can make your days that much less stressful. Today, an increasing number of doctors and healthcare professionals are using devices like the iPad to manage their online and offline tasks. This mobile device makes it simple to stay connected when you’re on the go – and without having to log in to your PC or notebook computer.
Using the iPad to Manage Your Practice
According to this article on Wired.com, many doctors now consider the iPad to be “an indispensable assistant” to their medical practice. Some doctors are able to perform remote consultations using their iPad, while others simply use it as a communication device to keep up with their practice when traveling or to communicate with patients via email.
If you’re like most doctors running a medical practice, you spend a part of your day checking emails, responding to staff messages, and reviewing digital patient files. Having an iPad can make this process that much easier and you could end up saving a couple of hours every day just by having online access at your fingertips. Think about how simple it would be to review messages and digital files while traveling, waiting in line, or even over your lunch break at work. An iPad or tablet device can help you stay organized and on schedule.
Improving Patient Communications with an iPad
Here at PracticeDock, we always recommend that doctors respond to patients or requests for a consultation as quickly as possible. The sooner you can bring that patient into your practice, the better the chances are that they will end up being your patient. When you’re using an iPad on a regular basis, you’ll be able to respond to patient messages in a timely manner. You’ll be able to review patient pictures at a glance, send patients before and after photos as part of the consultation, and also manage email messages more efficiently.
Need more tips for managing or marketing your practice? Talk to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists today!
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Why Doctors Must Have a Website – and What They Must Have On It
May 3rd
You probably spend a good amount of money marketing to prospective and current patients with flyers, postcards, or by running print ads. However, a professional website can be one of the most powerful marketing tools you will ever have. As more and more patients go online to find information about their doctor and medical clinics, it’s in your best interest to have a professional website for them to access. Your website can provide some very detailed information about your practice, your services, and also valuable information about you.
Key Reasons to Have a Professional Website
Some of the key reasons to set up a professional website for yourself or your practice include:
- Providing a list of procedures and services available for patients at a glance
- Showcasing your practice and staff members
- Providing a bio of doctors or medical practitioners at your practice as a brief intro
- Including videos or other media to help patients learn more about your practice
- Providing links to your social media accounts such as Twitter and Facebook so patients can keep up with your updates
- Updating a blog attached to the site regularly to provide interesting content for patients and also for SEO purposes
- Being accessible from search engine searches so that interested patients can find you and book a consultation or appointment
What to Include on Your Doctor Website
Once you realize how powerful having a doctor website can be, you’ll need to make sure your site has several key elements. A doctor or practice website needs to include:
- Comprehensive list of services or procedures you offer
- Before and After Gallery of your best results (if available)
- Contact form for prospective and current patients seeking a consultation or appointment
- Online appointment feature
- Live chat option (ideal for many practices) for patients who need questions answered immediately
- FAQs page
- Staff profiles and list of certifications
- Photos or video tour of the practice
- Interactive map to your location
Setting up a professional website can be a relatively simple process with PracticeDock Website Control, a complete content management solution designed specifically for medical practices.
Do you already have a website and would like us to run a FREE PracticeDock WEB-SEO RANK REPORT? This reports provides a complete review of the key factors that influence SEO rankings, the usability of your website, and an analysis of how you perform against your top three competitors. Click here for more information.
Talk to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today about PracticeDock Website Control and for tips on marketing your practice online.
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10 Best Ways to Market Your Private Practice Online
Apr 26th
Marketing your private practice online is no easy feat when you consider how many other doctors and practices in your area are competing for the same pool of patients. Still, there are some ways to make your practice stand apart from the rest. You will need to come up with a marketing strategy in order to generate the type of leads and response you want.
Here are ten of the best ways to market your private practice online:
#1: Set up a professional website. One of the most powerful marketing tools you will have at your disposal, a professional website will help you build an online presence and can also attract leads.
#2: Get listed on LocateADoc.com. LocateADoc.com is a premier physician directory and can help you get the online exposure you need.
#3: Create custom videos. Embedding videos in your website or on a profile page adds a great visual element to your online marketing and can be a simple way to introduce yourself to prospective patients.
#4: Maintain a blog. Updating a blog with newsworthy information and your own insights can help with search engine optimization (SEO) and also help you build credibility as an authority in your niche.
#5: Manage a Facebook Page. Interact with patients at a whole new level on Facebook. Facebook pages can make you appear more accessible and also help you build a following.
#6: Get active on Twitter. Twitter is another social media tool that can help you attract a following, make it easy to interact with patients, and help you build your online presence.
#7: Join LinkedIN. Build your professional network by creating a profile on LinkedIN and posting updates here as well. You can also link your Twitter account to LinkedIN so that your updates show up in the LInkedIN stream.
#8: Join an association and request a link. If you are a member of an association, find out how to get listed on the main directory and secure a link back to your main website or profile page.
#9: Publish a press release about a new service or product development. If you are about to unveil a new treatment or service, or are participating in a special project for a major product manufacturer, write and publish a press release so it can be viewed by local and national media.
#10: Be a guest writer for a health blog in your area of expertise. Provide an article or blog post about a new treatment or your opinion and insights about a hot topic in the news related to your specialty as a guest blogger. Make sure to include a link back to your site or a profile page. This will help you build credibility and also attract traffic back to your site.
Need more ideas for marketing your practice online? Talk to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists today!
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PracticeDock Offering FREE Custom WEB-SEO RANK REPORT
Apr 20th
Search engine optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process that helps your practice climb to the top of the major search engine results pages. If you’re not ranking on page one of major search engines including Google, Bing, or Yahoo!, you could be missing out on hundreds — even thousands — of patient leads each year. PracticeDock recently unveiled the PracticeDock SEO Marketing package that includes advanced SEO services and a custom WEB-SEO RANK REPORT which provides in-depth analytics.
We’ve found that one of the biggest challenges doctors face when marketing their websites is getting found on the major search engines. Only some SEO practices actually work and we’ve put together a comprehensive package of services to help doctors like you get results.
The WEB-SEO RANK REPORT is a valuable addition to this package because it provides a complete review of the key factors that influence SEO rankings for your site. For example, this report will tell us exactly what pages or elements of your site are helping you get a better placement on the major search engines — and which elements aren’t.
The 20+ WEB-SEO RANK REPORT also provides detailed information about:
- Website usability – how easily users are able to navigate your site and get the information they need
- Performance analysis – a comparison between your site and the performance of your top three competitors
- SEO content – do you have the right content, headlines, meta tags, and keywords on every page? This report will tell us exactly what needs to be fixed or tweaked.
- Mobile friendly status – can patients access your website on most mobile devices?
- Visitors – where does your site stand in terms of traffic compared to other doctors in your area?
- SEO Authority – is Google finding your site easily? How many pages has Google indexed on your site?
- Social Monitoring – how many Facebook likes, Tweets, Google+ links and mentions does your site have?
- …and more!
This is all vital information that you can’t find easily. We prepare this 20+-page report exclusively for our PracticeDock clients who are taking advantage of our new PracticeDock SEO Marketing package and are offering it FREE to the first 75 doctors who contact us before May 31.
Learn more about our advanced medical marketing package or get your FREE report by talking to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today!
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PracticeDock Now Offering Advanced Medical Marketing SEO Services
Apr 19th
If your practice isn’t showing up on page one of Google search results, many prospective patients are probably going to one of your competitors. It’s now more important than ever to make sure your practice has enough exposure online.
Certain types of search engine optimization (SEO) techniques can help you climb to the top of the major search engines and attract high-quality leads. PracticeDock has recently introduced the PracticeDock SEO Marketing package which helps doctors like you get an attractive ranking on Google, Bing, and Yahoo!.
We’ve put together a comprehensive package of services that improve the visibility of your business and also keep track of how your website is ranking with a custom analytics interface.
This advanced medical marketing SEO package includes:
- Keyword research and selection for specialty medical practices and practices that promote non-insured procedures
- Medical website content writing, optimization, and implementation
- Installation of analytics software and other reporting tools
- Submission to Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and more than 400 online directories and major data feed services that provide information to YellowPages, Dex, Yelp, and White Pages online
- Article writing and marketing for doctors
- Link building service
- Website submission and articles to social sharing sites
- Monthly reporting
We are also offering ongoing SEO consulting for all of your business needs. We have more than 13 years of SEO experience and have helped hundreds of doctors just like you attract high-quality leads and book more consultations or procedures.
Want to learn more about the PracticeDock SEO Marketing package? Talk to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists today!
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Creative Engine Behind PracticeDock Products Receives WorldBlu Certification Second Year in a Row
Apr 13th
WorldBlu has awarded Mojo Interactive, the creative engine that imagined the PracticeDock suite of products and services, “Most Democratic Workplace” certification for the second year in a row. Mojo Interactive is an Orlando and San Francisco-based Internet company that imagined the online marketing solutions and services under the PracticeDock umbrella. The company is one of only 48 organizations to be chosen on this list, alongside Zappos.com, Great Harvest Bread Company, New Belgium Brewery, and HCL Technologies.
The WorldBlu List of Most Democratic Workplaces recognizes and honors organizations that operate democratically. This list is announced on an annual basis to spotlight companies that champion organizational democracy and freedom in the workplace. Traci Fenton, CEO and Founder of WorldBlu.com says, “The WorldBlu List standard is extremely high — not all companies that applied or who were on last year’s list were awarded this year.”
Glen Lubbert, Mojo Interactive’s Chief Imaginaut and CEO says, “This past year we made huge strides in becoming an even more democratic workplace, by moving into a collaborative workspace and implementing the Ownership Thinking process. Moving into the new Mojo Imaginarium we have simultaneously improved creativity, transparency and productivity.”
Every day, Mojo Interactive’s team embraces the 10 WorldBlu Principles of Organizational Democracy and these are reflected in the products they develop and sell — including the PracticeDock suite of products and services. Every product that has been bought to market for the PracticeDock suite of online marketing solutions has met this high standard and level of accountability.
Mojo Interactive is proud to receive this certification for the second year in a row in 2012.
Interested in learning more about PracticeDock’s suite of online marketing products? Talk to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today!
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FREE Whitepaper: Why Your Practice Needs a Mobile Website Interface Right Now – and How to Make it Happen
Apr 12th
There are approximately 1.2 billion mobile Web users around the globe and the numbers are increasing day by day. If your practice doesn’t have a mobile website, you could be missing out on hundreds of opportunities to book a consultation or connect with a patient! Even though patients can see your regular website on most mobile devices, they won’t be able to navigate it easily and will rarely be able to find the information they need.
A mobile-friendly website can help you drive business, connect with patients, and drive conversions.
Our latest white paper covers the following key topics:
- Top Six Reasons to Go Mobile Right Now
- 10 Mobile Best Practices
- How to Launch a Mobile Website
- How to Activate Your Mobile Website with PracticeDock Website Control
- …and more!
Keep yourself one step ahead of the competition by launching a mobile-friendly version of your existing website. It’s simpler than you think and you’ll find it much easier to attract new patients and convert patient leads. A mobile website will help patients find the information they need at their fingertip sand can enhance the overall website experience. A mobile website can also make it simple for a patient to give you a call right when they’re ready to talk to you.
Download your FREE Whitepaper NOW!
PLUS: Get a FREE Google Mobile Report!
Want to talk to a medical marketing expert right away? Call us at (877) 886-7731 or fill out the contact form on the PracticeDock website.
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Proven Tips for Getting Your Website to the Top of Search Engine Rankings
Apr 9th
Did you know that 37% of all clicks go to the doctor who has the #1 position on the search engines? Make sure your practice website is at the top of local and organic search results pages with the right optimization strategy.
Only some doctors have been successful with creating a website that climbs all the way to the top of the search engine results pages. It’s imperative that you are found where and when your patients are searching for your specialty.
You need to stay competitive because more than 90 percent of searchers click on businesses listed on Page 1 of the search engines and more than 60 percent of searchers will end up clicking on the top three results.
Here are some proven ways to get your website to the top of search engine rankings:
- Boost your Google Places and Map Rankings. You need a solid local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to achieve top placement on the results pages on Google Places and Google Maps. Remember that a local SEO strategy is different than traditional SEO.
- Optimize your website with the right content. When you’re ready to add content pages to your website, you have to make sure that you are using the right keywords throughout each page. Don’t overlook the importance of keyword research and selection for your particular practice or specialty.
- Submit your site and content to online directories. Another effective way to improve SEO is to make sure your site and main content pages are manually submitted to Google, Yahoo!, Bing, and dozens of major data feed services that ping directories such as YellowPages, White Pages, Dex, and Yelp.
- Implement a link-building strategy. You need credible websites to link directly back to yours as this gives your website more credibility. This must be an ongoing project for your website marketing.
- Publish articles and blog posts. Writing articles with a link back to your website and then publishing them (with permission) on complementary websites can also be an effective link-building strategy. You can also publish a blog as an addition to your site. Update your blog regularly with valuable content and you’ll be able to climb to the top of search engines and also generate a strong following.
Take a look at these SEO marketing case studies for examples of proven methods to help your website get to the top of search engine rankings.
Need help with SEO marketing? Talk to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists about our NEW PracticeDock SEO Marketing package!
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Tips for Running a Successful Social Media Contest
Apr 6th
If you’re using social media tools like Twitter and Facebook to connect with your patients, make sure you’ve taken the time to engage your current and prospective patients in a fun way. Social media promotions can be a great way to build a strong following and interact with patients. Promotions can also be the “push” many patients need to go ahead and book that consultation or schedule a service at your practice.
Here are some essential tips for running a successful social media contest:
- Set some realistic goals and expectations. What do you expect to get from this type of campaign? What type of response rate are you looking for and is that a realistic goal? Do you want to build a following, book more consultations, or book appointments for a specific service or procedure? Be very clear and realistic about your goals and expectations so you can map out a plan that will actually get you the results you want.
- Establish a budget. Social media contest and promotions may not take much to set up but it’s the administrative time that ends up costing you. Consider how much time you want to invest in this type of project and set a budget. This is the only way you’ll really be able to see whether a certain promotion or giveaway is a worthwhile investment.
- Consider the level of consumer engagement with different strategies. The amount of work required by entrants varies by the type of contest or sweepstakes you’re running. For example, a video contest usually has a very high level of consumer engagement but also a higher barrier to entry — not everyone who hears about the promotion will be inclined to participate. A basic sweepstakes where the entrant just has to fill out a form has a very low barrier of entry — anyone can do it. However, this type of contest doesn’t engage the consumer beyond filling out the forma and waiting to see if they won. Think of a creative and unique promotion that will spark a lot of interest and encourage patients to share with friends.
- Get the word out. Make sure you’re talking about your contest on your blog, on all your social media accounts, or sending out a newsletter that highlights the contest or promotion. Make it simple for people to register or find more information. Make sure you have some sort of marketing strategy that will promote your campaign.
- Make it easy to share. A great social medial contest is easy to enter and also easy to share with friends and contacts. Make sure yours is set up to go viral — even if it doesn’t. Include social “share” buttons wherever you can and encourage people to share their entries or votes with others.
Need help with your practice’s online marketing strategy? Talk to a PracticeDock online marketing specialist today!
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Is Your Practice Ready for the Facebook Timeline Change?
Mar 20th
Facebook will be requiring everyone to switch to the new Timeline by March 30, 2012. If your practice has a Facebook Page, you’ll need to be prepared for the completely new look, layout, and features. The new Facebook Page layout looks like the new personal Facebook Timeline pages with space on top for a large banner and a more personalized feel. Some small businesses are already excited about the new format while others aren’t so prepared to make the switch.
Here are some things to look forward to with the Facebook Timeline change:
- Space for a large cover photo. One of the biggest changes to the new Facebook Page format is the cover photo section. This 810-pixel wide image is the perfect place to showcase your company logo or share an eye-catching picture. You’ll still have space to add a profile picture but that picture will be much smaller. Be creative with the image you choose as your cover photo — it could be a before and after transformation, a shot of your staff, or something else that makes your practice stand apart from others in your industry.
- You can operate as a brand. You can now have a Facebook “identity” that is based on your Facebook Page. You can send and receive messages, post comments, and “Like” items as your practice — instead of having to maintain your admin profile. This can make it much easier to communicate with fans directly as a brand or business.
- No more landing tabs. If you invested time and money in setting up a landing tab on your Facebook Page, you won’t need it any longer. Facebook has done away with tabs altogether so you won’t have any type of “gate” to encourage “Likes” and cannot set up any creative landing pages. This means you’ll have to work that much harder to engage your fans, build your audience, and use creative posts and incentives to lure in more fans.
- You can fill out your company history. Another promising feature of Timeline is, in fact, the timeline. You can tell your company’s story by filling out key details or highlights such as major milestones, founding dates, and other information.
- You can highlight important posts. Not all of your posts will be in chronological order because Facebook will only show a summary of some of the most popular posts to the casual visitor. You can, however, highlight important posts so that they can be pushed to the top and will always be visible.
DOWNLOAD COMPLETE INFOGRAPHIC HERE
Have questions about Facebook marketing and other online marketing options for your practice? Talk to one of our PracticeDock online marketing specialists today!
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