Local SEO for Doctors
Optimises a medical practice's online presence so it appears in local search results and Google Maps when patients search for nearby care.
If you have ever filled a Google Business Profile with keywords instead of your real practice name, you already know that shortcuts hurt more than they help.
Key points
- Complete and verify your Google Business Profile before any other local SEO work.
- Keep your practice name, address, and phone number identical across your website, GBP, and directories.
- Build separate pages for each location, physician, service, and condition or treatment.
- Respond to every review promptly to build trust and visibility.
- Use structured internal links between conditions, treatments, doctors, and location pages.
A dermatologist who fixed one category and doubled calls
A two-location dermatology practice in Austin had a Google Business Profile set to 'Dermatologist' but also listed 'Skin Care Clinic'. Calls were flat for months. After switching the primary category to 'Dermatologist' and adding 'Medical Spa' as a secondary category, the practice saw a 40% increase in profile views and a 20% rise in phone calls within six weeks. The change cost nothing but an edit in the GBP dashboard. For practices exploring similar work, local seo help often begins with this kind of category fix.
Three common mistakes that waste your effort
- Keyword stuffing the name Adding location or service keywords to your practice name in GBP violates guidelines and can lead to suspension. Use your real legal or brand name only.
- One generic service page Listing all procedures on a single page confuses search engines. Create separate pages for specialties, treatments, and locations to match patient queries.
- Ignoring review management Slow or no responses to reviews weaken trust signals. Google values recency and engagement, so reply within a few days to both positive and negative feedback.
Three things that change when you have multiple locations
- Separate GBP listings Each physical office needs its own Google Business Profile with unique NAP, hours, and categories. Duplicate or merged listings cause confusion.
- Location-specific pages Build a dedicated page per location that includes address, phone, provider roster, services offered there, and local details like parking or public transport.
- Consistent citations List each location separately on directories like Healthgrades, Zocdoc, and Yelp. Mismatched NAP across platforms hurts local ranking.
Common questions
What are Google Posts?
Short updates or offers you publish directly on your Google Business Profile. They appear in the local panel and can boost engagement.
What to post on Google My Business?
Share new services, seasonal offers, team photos, patient education content, or event announcements. Keep posts concise and include a clear call to action.
How to market a new physician?
Add their profile to your website and GBP, announce their arrival via a Google Post, and encourage existing patients to leave reviews mentioning them. Practices serving Spanish-speaking patients may also run seo para médicos campaigns targeting that audience.
Sources
- Google Business Profile Help Official guide for setting up and managing your GBP listing.
- Google Search Central Documentation on local ranking factors and best practices.
- Google Business Profile Best Practices Tips for optimising your profile, including categories and photos.