As a chiropractor, you may be asking yourself do I need a website? The short answer is yes, you should really have a website. Here are three reasons why.
1. If you don't have a website, you're missing out on opportunities for new patients
The way people search for a chiropractor has evolved and it continues to change. We have seen the shift from the good old day’s yellow pages to today’s Google search result pages.
People are searching for local businesses on their desktop, tablet, phone, and via voice search at all hours of the day. It’s important that you meet your prospective patients where and when they are searching.
(Pro Tip: Even before building your website, you should be sure to secure your local business listings on Google, Apple, Bing, and Yelp. Just don’t forget to link them back to your website later.)
Now, online directories of local business listings are like the new digital yellow pages. You can think of your website as a sales rep who is out there working for you 24/7. Your website, if done right, will help you convert traffic from search engines and online directories into new patients.
So the next time that someone located near you comes home from the gym and searches for a chiropractor, your business listing with a website will show up at the top of the list. The “with a website” is important because a study found that on average 56% of actions on Google My Business listings are clicking through to the website. If you don’t have a website to click on, then these prospective patients might pass you by and that’s a huge missed opportunity. But if you have a website, then you’ve got their attention.
2. Your website gives you a chance to showcase your chiropractic practice and take control of your image
Great, let’s say your website has done its job and attracted a visitor from search results. Now, the prospective patient is doing their due diligence and is evaluating your practice based upon your website. They are asking themselves if your practice can serve their needs.
Well lucky for you, your website provides the ability to answer their question. You can introduce your team, provide accurate information, showcase quality pictures of your office, and, most importantly, tell patients how you can help them.
Without a website, you are at the mercy of the Internet. Patients will only see the information about your practice that has been provided by third-parties or automatically generated by computers. With a well-optimized website, you can provide accurate information and take control of your image.
3. Your website is your foundation for marketing
Your website is the foundation of your marketing ecosystem. Starting up social media accounts before you have a website is a bit like putting the cart before the horse. Yes, you can have a Facebook page, an Instagram account, or a YouTube channel, but these are smaller pieces of a larger system. By themselves, they can help generate some buzz, but it’s when you combine them with your website that you will start to develop some real momentum.
Everything should link back to your website. It’s your hub. Here is a list of all other accounts that should link back to your website:
- Your business listings for local search, so when people find you in local search engines, they will have a website to click on.
- Google My Business
- Apple Maps business listing
- Bing Places business listing
- Yelp business listing
- Your social media accounts if and when you develop them, which will help your website generate more authority and rank better. This is especially important if you’re located in a place with a lot of competition.
It’s these synergies between your listings, your social accounts, and your website that will help generate new traffic to your website and ultimately new patients to your practice.
I hope I've helped you answer your question as to whether or not you need a website. The answer is...yes!
If you're still left wondering about something, then you can always reach out to me by filling out the form below (it drops a note in my inbox). I'd be happy the help answer any remaining questions.
