What can a blog do for your practice? Well, there’s certainly the SEO benefit: each page of unique content adds more authority to your site and can allow you to be found in a greater variety of search results. And, of course, it’s an important social media tool. (Especially when you syndicate blog posts to your Facebook and Twitter.) But, how else can a blog serve you? You may be overlooking one of the most important benefits of all: blogs can drive “profitable patient action.”

What do we mean by this? It means that your blog isn’t just a newsletter or an SEO tool. Rather, it has the potential to become a powerful lead generation tool – giving patients the means and motivation to reach out to you. Interested?

Here are 3 Easy Steps for Driving Profitable Patient Action:

1. Stop being a copywriter. In a battlefield of online advertisements and information overload, Internet users have been expertly trained to “resist the pitch.” So, how can healthcare professionals still stay competitive online? It’s simple. Stop being a copywriter – start being a content marketer. Instead of using your blog as a platform to pitch a service, offer quality information on a variety of topics in your field. In essence, make your site an information destination. Not only will your potential patients keep coming back for more, but they’ll begin to associate you and your practice with value and knowledge – something that definitely matters when patients are choosing a healthcare provider.
2. Give them something to do. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of a strong call to action. If you don’t give readers something to do, click or fill out, they’ll simply move on to another site – even if they’re interested in the services you offer! Conclude each post with an appeal to reach out. One of the best ways to do this is by linking back to your contact form. This gives them a clear picture of the next step, and it can be just the thing to turn a simple blog into a powerful patient engine.
3. Nurture leads. Here’s what happens: A patient fills out your contact form. You reach out. They’re not interested. A common reaction is to write them off as a time-waster or a tease. Resist the urge! Stop thinking of these as dead leads, and simply say to yourself, “They’re not ready today.” Instead of hanging up the phone, take a moment to start a friendly, informative dialogue. Demonstrate your knowledge and value. Reach out and reach out again. This is the essence of lead nurturing – coaching prospects, giving them baby steps toward a goal and ultimately, turning a prospect into a patient.

Medical Blog Writing Service

Adding a blog can offer a host of benefits to you and your practice, but it can also be a lot of work. MedNet offers a solution. Starting at as low as $100 per month, MedNet’s Medical Blog Writing Service posts quality, vetted articles to your site for you. Get started today!

Anyone that’s written for a blog knows that at certain times, coming up with good topics can be a challenge. Maybe there’s a dry spell in the news, a slow week at the office or simply, a classic case of writer’s block. No matter the reason, it’s important to know that good topics won’t always come to you — sometimes you have to go looking for them!

Here are our favorite websites for finding interesting and relevant medical blog topics:

• Google News
  Google News has become an invaluable resource for up-to-the-minute information on virtually any news story. And, best of all, like Google, it’s completely searchable. Try searching for your medical specialty, procedures you offer and any other keywords related to your field. You’ll be amazed with what you come up with.
• NPR Health
  NPR isn’t just on the radio any more — it’s on the web. And, their section on health news is a great resource for drawing inspiration. With topics from the poignant to the offbeat, NPR represents top-notch reporting and news your patients can most certainly use.
• Medgadget
  For those who like to remain on the cutting-edge, Medgadget is the go-to destination. This medical technology blog, which is maintained by a group of MDs and biomedical engineers, includes recent FDA approvals, consumer medical technology and much more. Once in a while, you can find a great topic here, something your “techie” patients will truly appreciate.
• Medical Society Websites
  When it comes to finding topics specific to your practice, society websites are often your best bet. When you get to these sites, try looking for sections like News, Updates or Featured Articles. Very often, societies will also host their own blog, another great starting point for posts of your own. A few of our favorites are the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, The American Dental Association and EyeSmart from the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

Still Stuck? Our Blog Writing Service Can Help!

Posting regularly to your blog can be one of the best ways to increase visibility, market yourself cost-effectively and keep people coming back to your site. But, if you don’t have the time, or aren’t comfortable writing, MedNet will do it for you. Our Blog Article Writing service offers four article writing plans, allowing you to choose the level of service that best suits your needs. Contact a MedNet Representative today and find out what this service can do for you.

Content marketing. What’s that? It’s creating your own original content and giving it away for free. For free? Are you crazy? Stick with me.

There’s nothing that people resent more than feeling like they’re being sold something. It’s the reason we channel surf during commercials, delete pitchy emails, and why we’ll walk out of a store when a salesperson comes on too strongly. Want to make someone’s skin crawl? Try selling them something.

So, in a world where the consumer has been trained to avoid “the pitch,” how can a healthcare provider possibly market effectively? The answer is simple: give them something for free.

Making the Content Investment

Alright, you don’t have to think of content marketing as giving something away for free — think of it as an investment. And, all you’re putting in is time and knowledge. What you may be creating, on the other hand, is a powerful and cost-effective lead generation tool.

Why content works:

• You become an authority. Good content can make your website a trusted patient resource. It can give you the kind of credibility that generates not only site visits, but office visits as well.
• It associates you with value. People love free. By giving away good content in the beginning, readers will associate you and your brand with value. And, when choosing a healthcare provider, you can bet value is something patients are looking for.
• It disarms the reader. Unlike aggressive marketing tactics, content marketing is approachable, digestible and non-threatening. By disarming readers, they’ll likely stick around your site a little longer — maybe even long enough to fill out a contact form.
• High ROI potential. Content marketing is undeniably one of the most cost-effective parts of any Internet marketing campaign. And, while the time you invest is certainly valuable, when it comes to dollars and cents, content marketing can have a remarkable return on investment.
• It can improve your visibility. As an added benefit, publishing content to your site can enhance your visibility in search engines. And, by writing diversely, you can increase your opportunities for appearing in a variety of search results. What does that mean for you? More visitors from search.

Content Marketing’s Secret Weapon

Hopefully by now, you can see the value of adding unique content to your practice’s website. But, you’re probably asking yourself one question: How? Rest assured the answer is simple — and, it’s right in front of you. Blogging.

Blogs are digestible, approachable and a familiar format to people visiting your site. Best of all, adding a blog is perhaps the simplest way to start your content marketing campaign today. To see how easy it can be, contact a MedNet representative.

Strapped for time? MedNet’s article writing service can write your blogs for you. Starting at as little as $100/month, this ghostwriting service will post custom articles to your site on a regular basis. Get started now.

It has been estimated that there are over 400 million English-language blogs on the Internet today. With a number like that, you may be thinking, “How could my blog possibly stand out?” Rest assured, even amidst such seemingly enormous competition, your practice’s blog can make an impression — if you know how to gain a competitive edge. It’s all about making your posts stand out and work for you.

Here are our 5 tips for writing engaging and effective blog posts:

1. Choose a Strong Headline. A good headline is captivating and concise. It should not only grip their attention, but make users want to continue reading. For instance, if you were writing about your practice offering BOTOX® injections, a strong headline would be something like, “Top 5 Reasons to Explore BOTOX® Today,” or “Considering BOTOX®? Read This First!” These types of headlines will almost always generate more hits than ones like, “Facts About BOTOX®,” or “Potential Risks and Benefits of BOTOX®.” Keep it exciting and relevant.
2. Know Your Audience. Keep in mind that you’re not writing for doctors. Try to post topics patients would find relevant, and avoid using jargon. Instead of posting something that could be featured in a medical journal, try writing about exciting industry news or a new promotion your office is running.
3. Make it Digestible. Simply put, web users aren’t going to read a 2000-word paragraph on eyelid surgery. It’s far better to break your content up into small bite-size pieces. Consider using subheadings, bulleted lists and emboldened text to enhance readability and user experience. Including an image can also add some flare.
4. Keep Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in Mind. We don’t expect you to be expert SEO strategists, but keeping a few SEO basics in mind can do wonders for your site. First of all, post to your blog frequently and diversely. Each blog post adds a unique page of content to your site. In the eyes of Google, that means more authority, and it could ultimately help your ranking. Peppering your post with diverse and relevant keywords can also give you a leg up. For example, if you were writing about dental veneers, include different ways of saying the same thing— porcelain veneers, dental laminates, etc. Don’t go overboard, though. In the end, good content should always be your priority over “spamming” your posts with countless keywords.
5. End With a Call to Action. Unlike other media channels, the Internet is action oriented. This means that unless you give users something to do, click or fill out, they will likely move on to another site. At the end of each of your blog posts, consider including some way for your visitors to get involved. A good call to action is something like, “Take the first step — Click Here to Schedule a Consultation!” or “Achieve the Smile of Your Dreams! Call our office today at 555-1234.” The goal is to turn visitors into patients.

Strapped for Time? We’ll Write Your Blogs for You

If you understand the benefits of posting to your blog but don’t have the time or desire to do it yourself, let MedNet take care of it for you. Starting at as low as $100/month our Blog Article Writing service will provide quality, relevant articles for you, custom-tailored to your practice. Contact MedNet Technologies today to find out which article writing plan is best for you.

If someone told you that one day, technologies would exist that could allow you to see exactly what your potential patients were searching for on the Internet, would you believe them? How about if they told you that these technologies would be completely free of charge and easily accessible to everyone? Of course, you’d be suspicious! But, you’d be interested, wouldn’t you?

Now, how about if I told you that these technologies already exist today and yes, that best of all, they’re completely free? Don’t believe me? Read on and let me prove it!

Using Their Ideas to Write Your Blogs

Writing for a blog is a balancing act, and a difficult one at that. You’re trying to add good content, but you’re looking to increase your search engine ranking. You want to keep it interesting, but you’re trying to incorporate strong keywords. It can really become a headache. Thankfully, however, the Internet — unlike any other media channel — gives you a way to meet all these goals, by gaining insight on what your potential patients are already searching for and interested in.

Here are a few of our favorite tools for tailoring your content to your patients’ interests:

• Google Suggest

  Google’s autocomplete algorithm allows you to search for part of a phrase, with Google filling in the rest, based on popular searches.

  

  Here, when searching for the term “root canal,” we can see that patients weren’t only looking for how a root canal procedure is performed, but information on whether it’s painful, how much it costs, etc. These topics could all make for strong blog posts — and, they’re things people are already searching for!

• Übersuggest

  Touted as “Suggest on Steroids,” Übersuggest uses Internet search patterns to generate an enormous list of topics and keywords.

  

  As you can see, searching for the term “root canal,” we came up with 362 suggestions, topics your potential patients are already interested in.

• Google Insights for Search

  For those who are interested in conducting more in-depth research, Google Insights can be a great tool. Not only does the site provide “top searches” and “rising searches” on any term, but it can demonstrate the “seasonality” of a search term.

  

  Here, when searching for “root canal,” we can see the ebb and flow of term popularity, as well as some news stories that may explain spikes. This can be a good tool for timing when your posts roll out, based on their seasonal popularity.

• Twitter Search

  Finally, if you’re strapped for blog ideas, try going social. Tools like Twitter Search give you insight on what people are talking about right now. Search any term, and you’ll see up-to-the-minute tweets on that topic.

  

Don’t Have a Blog Yet? Add One Today!

Adding a blog to your site is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to market your practice. Each blog post adds a unique page of content to your site, increasing your authority, enhancing your visibility and keeping patients coming back! Find out more about what this service can do for you — contact a MedNet representative today!

Recent data from BlogHer suggests that while the majority of women trust social networks, such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, more turn to blogs for purchase decisions. Blogs also take the lead for women seeking product information and general advice. Check out the infographic below for more interesting data.

Use Blogs to Reach Patients

Launching a blog is great way to provide patients with detailed information not only about your products and services, but also general health tips and answers to everyday questions. Blogging is also one of the best ways to grow your website, and keep content fresh— both of which will enhance your Search Engine Optimization (SEO), which helps bring more potential patients to your site.

Want to Launch a Blog?

Adding a blog can offer a host of benefits to you and your practice, but it can also be a lot of work. MedNet offers a solution. Starting at as low as $100 per month, MedNet’s Medical Blog Writing Service posts quality articles to your site for you. Get started today!

Blog posts with images tend to get more views, shares and engagement from readers. But, unless you purchase stock photos, create your own graphics or take pictures yourself, you may find it hard to find free, quality images that can be used without penalty.

Looking to beautify your blog with pictures? Here are 6 free photo sites!

1. PublicDomainPictures.net: Here, you can find and download free, public domain images. While most are free for both personal and commercial use, some do require a model or property release when being used to sell a product or service.

2. FreeDigitalPhotos.net : This site allows you to search and download a small version of any photo for free! If you don’t feel the image is of adequate size for your blog, you can choose the purchase a larger size. If you do use a free image, you must publish an acknowledgement to FreeDigitalPhotos.net and the image creator on the same page or screen that the image is used on. Click here for instructions on how to acknowledge FreeDigitalPhotos.net.

3. MorgueFile.com: This site is a public image archive with tons of amateur photos you can use for creative or commercial work. Feel free to use and edit photos as you wish! No need to reference the original contributor.

4. StockVault.com: While not all images on the site are free, create an account and browse through over 32K free images. There are certainly some interesting healthcare pictures!

5. Wikimedia Commons: This database has over 13 million freely usable media files. Anyone can contribute photos. Browse through and find photos to make your blog posts pop! All are free, but some have stipulations for use. Check out each photo’s “copyright tag” before using.

6. StockFreeImages.com: Visit the largest collection of free stock photos and high quality free images. Browse, download and be sure to attribute where credit is necessary. View each photo’s “credit line” to find out.

To avoid penalty, always take caution when using images from these sites, and be sure to read each site’s terms of use carefully. While some content may not have strict legal requirements of attribution, for ethical reasons, consider attributing your source.

Don’t have time to post to your blog?

At MedNet, our blog writing service offers custom and unique articles to your blog. Visit our website and contact us for more information.

Today, establishing trust on the web is crucially important, as patients almost always check online for information about you, your practice and your services before scheduling an appointment. And, launching a blog can do wonders for your online credibility. By sharing fresh, up-to-date information, you’re likely to gain an upper hand and establish trust on the web, not only by potential patients, but also by search engines!

Launching and maintaining your medical blog will help achieve patient trust by:

Making You an Authority

One of the biggest benefits of having a blog is being able to share your expertise. You have many of the answers to pressing questions your patients are frequently searching for. Sharing this useful information will help you establish authority as a medical provider. And, potential patients that come across your blog might reach out for more answers!

Growing your Site Content

A blog helps grow the content on your website. Each post on a blog acts as another page of content added to your website. And, the larger your site is, the more authority it has with search engines, especially Google. The more authority your site has in search engines, the better your chances of being found in related searches.

Establishing Patient Relationships

A blog allows a doctor to connect with his or her patients on a more personal and interactive level. A patient can read and comment on a post their doctor put out, and the two might have a short conversation. This doctor-patient communication shows blog readers that you’re helpful and attentive to your patients needs. It establishes a sense of trust and credibility for readers, who may just decide become patients!

Expanding your Social Network

Finally, a blog offers an opportunity to share original content with social networks. Content shared and re-shared with social networks will help increase your fan and follow counts. The more fans and followers you have, the more people will be exposed to your content.

Want to launch a blog for your site but don’t have the time to maintain posts? Let MedNet help!

If you understand the benefits of posting to your blog but don’t have the time or desire to do it yourself, let MedNet take care of it for you. Starting at as low as $100/month our Blog Article Writing service will provide quality, relevant articles for you, custom-tailored to your practice. Contact MedNet Technologies today to find out which article writing plan is best for you.

In the medical industry in particular, patient reviews of your practice are an essential part of establishing brand awareness, reputation, and the enhancement of your SEO ranking strategy. By encouraging your patients to write unbiased reviews about their experiences at your practice, you’re accomplishing a number of different things to further your business.

Benefits of Online Patient Reviews

1. Establishing brand awareness - this is a simple concept; the more your brand appears online, the more exposure people will have to your practice even if initially they’re merely recognizing your name. A portion of these individuals that are familiar with your practice will become patients themselves or refer someone else in need of your services to you.

2. Developing a reputation - in this industry, a portion of new patients come into your practice based on referrals from other satisfied clients, and that is especially true when your services are categorized as elective. Independent review sites like Yelp, RateMDs and Google Places provide additional ways for people to share their experiences and reach a greater audience than they would by word of mouth alone. Your reputation will grow positively when people can see that you have a track record of leaving clients satisfied. When prospective patients have information about your reputation conveniently at their fingertips, they’re more likely to make a decision without hesitation to come in if they like what they see.

3. Improving your search engine rankings - online directories like Google Places are great resources for people looking for medical practices in their area (like searching through the phone book but with a map to help you get there). The more positive reviews you have attached to these listings, the higher you will be ranked with these directories and in Google’s search engine results. High rankings lead to greater exposure and can draw in more business! These directories do also provide links to your website and/or your blog, so as people click from the review those rankings are being improved as well.

Getting Patients Involved in Online Reviewing

Patients that have had their expectations met are less likely to go out of their way to post a public review than those that have been disappointed or blown away by great service. Mentioning to all clients that their feedback on these domains will help you meet or maintain an exceptional level of patient satisfaction will encourage many to share their reviews!

Additional review sites to explore: Vitals.com, Healthgrades.com. To get started with online reviews in your practice, make sure your practice is listed on these directories and the ones noted above, and then encourage patients to visit!

For more information on how you can implement this internet marketing strategy or learn more about our web visibility services, contact MedNet Technologies.

Blogs are great tools for maximizing the effectiveness of your web site. They allow you to quickly and easily add content, build up the size of your site and keep postings fresh for a low cost. Blogs are what you make of them; there is not one specific way they have to be used or a schedule you need to keep up with. You just need to be clear with their capabilities and develop a strategy that fits the goals of your practice.

Below are some ways you can use a blog as a marketing vehicle for your practice. You can use some or all of these ideas to help build your own blogging strategy. Over time you will begin to discover the value of having a blog associated with your web site.

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