Unlock the Potential of Healthcare Advertising: Local Service Ads

In today’s digital age, the healthcare industry is constantly changing to embrace online platforms for advertising and patient engagement. Recent statistics indicate that spending for healthcare advertising is expected to grow by 15% in the next year. For clinics looking to adapt and thrive in this landscape, implementing Local Service Ads (LSAs) are an important tool. This comprehensive guide delves into the many areas of LSAs, including advantages like high visibility, locality-focused targeting, an ROI-friendly pay-per-lead model, and ease of use.

 

Why Online Advertising Matters for Medical Practices?

Medical practices have heavily relied on traditional advertising channels like billboards, newspapers, and television spots in the past. While these methods can work, they are often expensive and not highly targeted. The digital era has brought in huge changes with search engines and social media platforms being the primary source for healthcare advertising and information. The shift has resulted in 80% of internet users searching for a health-related topic online and is a case for why practices should focus on healthcare advertising online when planning out their marketing strategies.

 

What are LSAs and Why are they a good option for Healthcare Advertising?

Local Service Ads, or LSAs, are a different type of Google Ads that are designed to prioritize local services in search results. Unlike regular Google Ads, which might display businesses from other locations, LSAs are more relevant for local users because they specifically highlight businesses within the community making them a great option for healthcare advertising. LSAs are different than Google Ads due to their verification process. Businesses (and clinics!) must pass through background checks and license verifications to qualify to run these ads. This adds a Google Guarantee badge next to your ads, giving them a signal of trust for potential patients,

 

Key Benefits of LSAs for Medical Practices

Increased Visibility

LSAs have the ability to put your clinic at the top of search engine results which can lead to increased visibility and patient engagement. With a majority of clicks happening within the first few search results, the significance of this placement can not be overstated!

 

Local Focus

LSAs are geo-targeted, which means they are useful for local businesses. This is a golden opportunity to connect with local patients who are searching for your services.

 

Pay-per-lead model

While traditional advertising methods often require payment based on estimated impressions or views, LSAs operate on a pay-per-lead model, ensuring that you are only charged when someone takes an action on your ad, such as calling your practice.

 

Enhanced Trust

Having the Google Guarantee badge not only shows that your clinic passed Google’s verification process but also offers a money-back guarantee to patients for services booked through the ad. This added assurance significantly improves trust and makes potential patients more likely to choose your practice.

 

Ease of Management

LSAs come with a simplified dashboard that allows you to see real-time insights, making it easier to manage your ads. This process reduces the overhead time that is often involved in ad management, allowing you to focus more on patient care.

 

Tips for Effective LSAs

Keyword Research

Choosing the right keywords can make or break your LSA campaign! Using tools like Google’s Keyword Planner can help you identify which high-volume, relevant keywords are more likely to attract potential patients.

 

Ad Content

Ads should be more than just informative, they should compel the viewer to act. Including a strong call-to-action, such as “Call now for a free consultation” is a great way to prompt the user to engage with your clinic.

 

Budgeting

While LSAs are cost-effective, they still require thoughtful budgeting. There has to be a balance between reach and ROI to determine the optimal spending level. Start with a moderate budget and then scale based on your ad’s performance to yield the best results.

 

Tracking and Analytics

Tools like Google Analytics can give you insights into how your ad is performing, allowing you to make data-driven decisions. Seeing metrics like click-through rate, conversion rate, and cost per lead are important for fine-tuning your future campaigns.

 

Common Pitfalls of Local Service Ads and How to Avoid Them

Some big missteps when it comes to LSAs are poor keyword choices, ineffective tracking, and neglecting customer reviews. To reduce these risks, be sure to invest in thorough keyword research, establish tracking processes, and actively manage your online reputation by responding to patient reviews—both positive and negative.

 

As the landscape of healthcare advertising continues to evolve, Local Service Ads offer an effective, reliable option for medical practices to increase visibility, target local patients, and optimize your ROI. If you haven’t already added LSAs to your marketing strategy, now is definitely the time.

 

Get Help With Your Healthcare Advertising

Want to make an effort to improve your digital marketing? Patient Care Marketing Pros is here for your unique medical marketing needs. No matter your goals, we can help you bring new patients into your practice and increase your revenue. We believe in data-driven, mobile-first, and lead-generating marketing without the fluff or vanity metrics. Patient Care Marketing Pros can create a customized digital marketing plan that will give your clinic the visibility it needs to compete in today’s competitive landscape. Schedule a call to learn more about how we can help you triple your revenue and provide an exceptional patient experience for your medical practice.

 

Learn more about Local Service Ads

Want to learn more about how you can use local service ads for your healthcare advertising? Listen to Episode 95 of our podcast, Walk-Ins Welcome. Walk-Ins Welcome is here to help you change the way you’re marketing your medical practice. With helpful tips, inspiring stories + interviews, and insight into the world of digital marketing, you’re sure to listen and feel motivated every week.