One thing you can be sure of is that when someone needs a hearing care professional, they are going to go online to find the clinic closest to them that they find appealing and that seems to offer the answer to their needs. Apart from word of mouth, this is how people select their care teams. If your website is fresh and constantly updated, you will stand out from your local competitors who have allowed their site to become stale. Clients may prefer to travel a few extra miles to see someone they deem as competent, approachable, and professional.
Create a Website
If you don’t yet have a website, you are shooting yourself in the foot. Many prospects will never be aware that you exist. A website gives you the opportunity to engage with those individuals who need your services. Apart from telling them that you are around, a welcoming website will overcome some of the reluctance people feel towards professional care givers of all kinds. After all, it can be a bit nerve-wracking to come in for an appointment, as much as it is necessary. It is up to you to make it easy for them to approach you.
A website provides you with the chance to motivate online users seeking treatment to act on their needs. It is your chance to provide a call to action. This could be to ask for further information or to book an appointment. If you offer online hearing tests, this will attract many users.
Since Covid, most businesses have turned to the online arena to keep their clients informed of their services. Your website needs to attract and hold their attention. Studies show that 80% of people who saw a health care professional started with an online search.
Bear in mind that an audiology website reaches further than your customers. It is available to other healthcare professionals who sometimes need to make a referral to you. This includes pediatricians and general practitioners in your area, or even further afield if you have a unique service offering. Networking is vital to your business and you need to be in touch with partners who can help you; see phonak.com/en-us/professionals/become-a-partner for more information.
Make sure potential clients can find you, have a great user experience, and are led to answer your calls to action.
Online User Experience
The experience a user has online can be pleasant, but in many instances it can be frustrating. Avoid too much jargon and keep it simple so that any adult can understand you. Navigation on the site must be easy to manage to get to the calls to action. This means making your website accessible to desktop, tablet, and mobile devices. Essential information must be at their fingertips, logical, and not difficult to find.
Make sure your headings flow from one topic to another smoothly. Don’t intersperse your information with statistics, for example. Keep this brief, high-level, and to the point at the beginning.
Keep your pages uncluttered with an open look and feel. Avoid too many colors or pictures on one page, unless it is a separate gallery. Headlines must catch the attention of the reader and tell them clearly what the topic is. Don’t mix topics. Put key information where it is easiest to find. Too many ads will put users off, as will outdated items and broken links. Write frequent, regular blog posts.
Provide Important Information
Your reader wants to know how to find your clinic (an address and map), how else to contact you (email and contact numbers), and how to book an appointment. This information must be prominently displayed.
Additionally, the user wants to know that they are dealing with experts who will give them the best possible treatment. Highlight any specials, service offerings, and anything that makes your clinic unusual or niche. Provide bios with photos so that users can relate immediately to a face and be impressed by your experience. Let users know if they can contact you for free, preliminary tests, and how to do so.
Motivate potential clients to use your services by discussing the importance of dealing with hearing issues, such as ending isolation, being able to participate easily in conversations, and how treatment can relieve depression.
Seek Positive Reviews
You will need good reviews. Most potential clients will not visit a professional with poor reviews, even if you are cheaper than other providers in your area. Research indicates that 95% of online users are motivated by positive reviews when selecting a professional for assessment and treatment. A good review is equivalent to a word-of-mouth recommendation.
Use social media to get positive reviews. Make sure you have a continual, fresh appearance and are accessible. Comment on every review in good time, whether good or poor, to indicate that your reputation and brand are important to you. Place some of your best reviews on your website in one place.
Follow this guide to make sure you get noticed and get the business.
