Why it’s Time to Stop Avoiding SEO

When it comes to avoiding Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts, there are some common themes such as: 

“Our business comes from referrals.”

“People don’t actually use the internet for finding a doctor.”

“We already show up high on Google.”

We’ve heard a ton of reasons why people think they can avoid any type of active SEO efforts. No matter what the reasoning behind that thought, it’s time to change this mindset. Because 90% of all people looking for a new doctor start with an online search, having a strong online presence is a must. 

In this post I’ll discuss a few key reasons why it’s time to stop avoiding SEO.

1. People Prefer to Click on Organic (Meaning Non-Paid) Search Results

Research shows that when doing an online search, people tend to prefer clicking on organic (meaning non-paid) results. That’s why 70% of all clicks on search results links go to organic results. By being a practice that shows up on the first page when someone searches for “dentist in (insert your geographic area)”, “orthodontist in (insert your geographic area)”, etc., you are giving yourself a great chance for your website’s result to be clicked on. 

2. Organic Visitors Tend to Have High Intent Levels

People who click on links in search results tend to result in well-qualified Leads. The reason is that someone searching for something like, say “Dentist in San Antonio,” is actively looking for a new dental practice in the San Antonio area. The search engine algorithms are intuitive enough to know the mindset of such people when they’re searching so the search results they’re given very accurately portray a list of dental practices in the San Antonio area. 

To illustrate this point, here’s a look at the first non-map results that display for me when I search for “Dentist in San Antonio”:

3. Organic Traffic is Free

Unlike visitors from paid search ads, visitors that find their way to your website via organic traffic cost you nothing! 

Anyone can open up their internet browser, go to Google, and perform a search. If your practice shows up on those first-page search results, your chances of getting additional traffic to your site are very high. Every visitor to your site is a potential new patient and by engaging in active SEO efforts, you are simply giving yourself a better chance to succeed. 

Many people associate getting found with advertising on search engines. While Pay-Per-Click campaigns can certainly drive results, it requires an upfront investment. SEO drives traffic to your site with no monetary cost.

 

As the old saying goes, “the best time to start was yesterday. The second best time to start is today.” If you haven’t invested in SEO for your website, you are falling behind the competition.

If you have any questions regarding your practice’s organic search presence or you would like SEO assistance from our team of dedicated SEO professionals please feel free to reach out to us!

 

—Phil Horton, Sr. Search Manager, Sesame Communications