What Does Your Website Say About Your Practice?
According to studies, 93% of business purchase decisions start with a search for a website through a search engine. For this reason, it’s more essential than ever (especially during this pandemic!) to have an online presence. Alongside your physical practice, what does your online presence say about your business and practice?
In this blog, we want to talk through the questions you need to answer to understand more about how your online presence is speaking to the world about your practice.
1. Does your website look and feel professional?
Presenting a professional appearance is as important online as it is in person. Just as you make your physical practice a neat and welcoming space, you need to do the same online! And these days, internet users are increasingly savvy – they can spot an old-fashioned, outdated website from miles away, and it is a turn off if it hasn’t been updated since the 90s.
Your logo and branding are part of this – a slick design speaks to a level or professionalism that subconsciously speaks to your audience. The colours you choose, the shapes and arrangement all play a part here.
Not only does an old website look out of touch, it also is generally bad for search results – and your search engine ranking is a really important part of how your website performs.
2. Do you have a clear message?
It doesn’t take long for users to form an opinion about your practice, which is why it’s vital to be as clear as you can about who you are and what you stand for. What does your website tell the audience, as soon as the page loads? Is it a clear message? It’s important to know this for yourself, and make sure your motto and approach is evident.
It’s also worth sharing more about your personality as a practice, and you can do this in many ways – whether it’s through blogs, videos, or social media. Make sure every bit of text that appears on your page, however, speaks to the atmosphere and message you hope to convey.
3. Does it have all the information needed?
There are several things your prospective patients will need to know about you and your practice, and it’s really important that they appear somewhere on your website. These include:
- Where is your practice located?
- What services do you provide?
- What does each service entail?
- Who is in your team and what do they stand for?
- What are the common questions and answers you can provide for customers?
This is just a starting point, and if you aren’t sure how to put everything into words, we can certainly help. As long as your website has all the basics, you have a good foundation to build upon with a more nuanced content strategy, to ensure your website is always up to date and helps searchers to find you in the crowd. Questions and answers in particular will help provide self-service for your patients too, so they get a sense of having been heard and helped, before even picking up the phone or sending off an email.
Additionally, beyond all the information and essentials that prospective patients might need from you, there is something more that you need to convey: your ethos. Make sure your therapeutic approach is clear, as well as providing all the vital information of your practice.
4. Are You Showcasing Your testimonials?
Testimonials are a big part of any service business. Prospective patients will want to know what others have experienced, and testimonials are the perfect way to do this – a lack of these will seem really odd.
It’s a good idea to start gathering these and publishing them whenever you have one that really speaks to the quality and range of services you provide. You can do this in a number of ways but providing an opportunity for your patients to feedback to you is a good way to organically begin.
5. Can potential patients get in touch?
This might seem obvious, but it’s definitely not one to overlook! It has to be as easy as possible for your prospective patients to get in touch with you. But not just get in touch – stay in touch.
We’ve talked before about the importance of an email list and other forms of content that communicate in an ongoing way with your patients, so that it’s you they turn to when they or a friend of theirs is in need. Don’t underestimate the power of your social media presence here – we’ve written before about all the great ways you can use Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to complement your main website.
By working through each of these questions, we hope you’re now able to get a sense of what your website is saying to your potential audience. Start by making sure your website name, information and descriptions all clearly state who you are and what you offer, then consider how your design complements your practice. At Blitz, we can make sure your visual presentation matches your practice and its ethos – get in touch to learn more!
Remember, it’s all about a positive first impression, and in an increasingly online world, your website is as important as your adjusting area. Take the time to get it looking as slick as possible and working effectively, so that you can reap the long-term value and provide great service to your patients and community.