Posts in Category: SEO for Veterinarians

The rest of us might be having fun under the summer sun, but Google and other search engines are toiling away making adjustments to their algorithms. Why? Because we humans keep changing, and Google needs to keep up with our search demands. 

Changing with the Times

In the early days of SEO, there was only one place and one way to rank on Google. Then, as Google started to adapt to meet the growing needs for functionality, it shifted from a single online “location” to a 6-pack of online “locations.”  While it makes it easier than ever for humans to use the search engine to find what they need, it also means that a business now has to be found in multiple places on Google, not just one. How do you drudge through all the different requirements for the different locations? We are here to help you figure it out!

Local SEO

Almost everyone has a smart phone these days, which means they can search for whatever they need whenever they need it. If you want to be found when someone searches for terms like “vet near me,” “address of my animal hospital,” “emergency veterinary hospital near me,” etc., you have to pay the local SEO toll. This means making sure all of your contact information is easily accessible on both your website and your Google Business profile (formerly Google My Business). If you haven’t already, you can claim your Profile at www.google.com/business. 

Google Ads

Google Ads are a fantastic tool to use when a hospital is sinking in organic and local search engine rankings. The ads can be used to help the practice be visible in one of the four advertising “slots” at the top of the page. These are so desirable because a user (usually) does not have to scroll at all to see the results. Google strategically places ads this way so a user clicks on the ad while they quickly look for information. While these prioritized ads do make money for the search engine, they also give businesses the chance to really stand out from the crowd. Use these judicial ad placements to increase visibility for keywords that are currently not performing well for your business. 

Mobile Search

Smartphones ushered in another change in how humans wanted to find information on their phones—priority for mobile search. Since we tend to scroll more on phones and click fewer buttons, it is essential for a website to be extremely mobile friendly. This means that factors that influence mobile search responsiveness and accessibility are weighted more than other search factors. Make sure that your website is mobile friendly, or you will notice a decrease in your search engine rankings.

Voice Search 

We are in the era of voice-activated assistants, and we are becoming more and more reliant on their ease of use. A simple “hey Siri” or “hey Google” can answer a question in minimal time, and doesn’t even require getting off the couch. If you want these virtual information fetchers to recommend your business, you need to pay some extra attention to your website. 

Ensure your business phone number, and address are correct on your Google Profile. Don’t forget to keep regular business hours and holiday hours updated as well. This ensures voice search queries have the best chance of returning your websites or Google profile in voice search results.

Voice searchers are likely to use phrases like “get me the number for an emergency veterinarian open now,” while mobile users are more likely to abbreviate, i.e. “emergency vet open now.” Utilizing a combination of these keywords will help you improve your search rankings across the board.

AI Options 

Google and other search engines are playing around with artificial intelligence (AI). AI displays information based on the type of question asked and how it has been programmed to respond to requests. Your website may or may not be included in these answers. This is a very, very new area of search, which means it is very, very fluid. While we don’t recommend that you get fixated yet on how your business shows up in AI results, we plan to keep an eye on it as the world sorts out this new technology. 

OG  (Original) Search

Back in the early days of the internet, the entire goal of SEO was to have a business rank in the first three slots of a search results page. While this is still definitely important, it is not the top priority for most SEO experts. Luckily, if you focus on the other facets of search results, this will usually happen organically. 

Ensuring that your business is found when people search is paramount to filling up appointment slots. With the SEO-optimized custom websites available at Beyond Indigo Pets, you will be well on your way to improving your search results. We also have dedicated marketing strategists and services to help your site perform even better. To learn more or to get started, fill out this form or call (877) 244-9322.

If you’ve been hearing whispers of a mythical platform called Google Business Profile and are dreading the idea of maintaining yet another platform, take a deep breath. Google Business Profile is simply the newest version of Google My Business. When used correctly, it can help you stay at the top of search engine results and make the most of your veterinary marketing efforts. 

Ranking on search engines is one of the most important elements of veterinary marketing. If you want people to know that your business exists, you must find a way to get your website visible on search engine results pages (SERPS). Both organic and paid search are cornerstones of ranking on SERPS. What is the difference between them and how can you use them to improve your website’s searchability? Keep reading to find out!

As professional veterinary marketers, practice owners often come to us with questions about what they can do to supplement our marketing efforts. Taking an active role in your marketing is always a good idea, but it can be difficult to figure out how to start. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions we’ve gotten about veterinary marketing this May to help you find your marketing footing:

With constant changes to platforms and algorithms, it can be difficult to stay on top of digital marketing even if you have the time to do it. Whether you are a person reminiscing about the days when marketing meant purchasing a Yellow Pages ad or trying to keep up with the latest Google updates, today’s digital world can seem completely out of control. Not only are there multiple platforms, but also multiple generations of users, and in order to market well, you have to understand your audience.

Marketing Can Help!

The world is just peachy keen out there right now isn’t it?? Depending on where you live in the country, prices for goods and services are increasing at some eyebrow-raising rates. One is never sure what the price will be at the pump and thoughts are circulating around buying holiday presents now, before they are gone or too expensive to purchase. Within the practice, the cost of goods to operate are going up as well. Many services a hospital uses most likely will see price increases come the start of 2023, as businesses adjust to this higher cost of living. These price increases are one side of the vise grip. The other side of the vise grip is the cost of labor. Many hospitals are having to pay higher wages and benefits to attract and keep the staff that they have. Stacy Pursell writes about these trends here in the Fountain Report. With costs of goods and services going up and the cost of labor increasing too, it means it’s quite a bit more expensive to run the business. Ouch. 

Inflating Prices and Decreasing Visits

Somehow, 2022 went POOF and 2023 is quickly sneaking up on us. December is a month packed with multiple holidays and end-of-year business needs. Not to mention, the  VMX convention occurs right at the beginning of the year. Before this year officially ends, you must start considering your marketing for 2023. 

Tips to Make VMX a Success (for New Visitors and Veterans)

Since 2004, Beyond Indigo Pets has been a staple exhibitor at the Veterinary Meeting & Expo (VMX) in Orlando. Although many of our team members are pros at navigating the ins and outs of the convention, each year we have a newbie or two who experiences the event for the first time. We know first-hand how overwhelming the Orange County Convention Center can be your first time out, so we wanted to give you some tips to help you make the most of your time at VMX 2023.

In the fledgling days of the internet, digital marketing used to be very simple. Today, everything has evolved and there are multiple moving parts that each seem to require regular attention. We have seen many veterinarians with their head in their hands wondering why marketing on the internet seems so confusing. The answer is: because it IS CONFUSING. How do you navigate it and come out successful and sane on the other end of the process?