12 Tips Chiropractors can Use to Help Increase Page Ranking with Google

One of the most popular questions I receive from chiropractors is how can they achieve higher page rankings from Google for their chiropractic website?

Unfortunately, the answer isn’t simple. Matter of fact, even if I had thirty minutes of their time, I still wouldn’t be able to adequately cover the techniques and art of quality search engine optimization.

But, through a blog like Next Generation Chiropractor I can slowly educate and inform chiropractors on proper SEO strategies that’ll not only help push their chiropractic content further up Google’s ladder but will also help connect them with chiropractic prospects that so desperately need their services.

So today I decided to provide chiropractors with 12 tips that’ll help increase their chiropractic websites’ page rankings with Google.

1. Use WordPress.

First, let me preface by saying that I’m referring to a self-hosted WordPress blog that’s installed on a privately-owned server — not one that is freely generated through WordPress.com.

Secondly, WordPress wins hands down for built-in search engine optimization.

Matter of fact, at the core of WordPress is specific code intentionally designed to feed Google and other major search engines the information they crave already packaged in the right format.

It’s also a state-of-the-art publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability.

That might not mean a great deal to you but when one’s trying to keep up with web standards issued by the World Wide Web Consortium, aka W3C, it becomes extremely important.

2. Use a clean-coded, professional WordPress theme.

If you started off on the right foot by using a self-hosted WordPress blog, then you can maximize your efforts by throwing in a search engine optimized professional WordPress theme like Headway or Thesis.

I realize that there are literally thousands of freely distributed WordPress themes available for download. However, none of them come close to what’s built under the hood in both Headway and Thesis.

Headway was built by teenage genius, Clay Griffiths, son of professional blogger, Grant Griffiths of BlogForProfit.

Besides the ingenious SEO code written into the theme, Headway is insanely easy to use and customize. If you want drag and drop capabilities (think AJAX) without the hassle of knowing CSS and PHP, then purchase Headway.

Once installed, you’ll be up and running quickly designing and customizing effortlessly through the jaw-dropping Visual Editor.

If CSS and PHP is your thing, then look no further than Thesis created by the very well-known and talented Chris Pearson.

For an example of sites using Thesis, look no further than CopyBlogger, Chris Brogan, and, yours truly, Next Generation Chiropractor.

To see even more amazing sites built on Thesis, check out the Thesis Gallery as well as Jean-Baptiste Jung’s post on his pick for the Top 10 Thesis Theme Customizations.

3. Determine your market through proper keyword search.

Since I’ve written on this topic before, I won’t belabor the point. However, a good starting point would be to use Google’s Keyword Tool.

If you’re needing more robust results and don’t mind spending a little cash, then look no further than WordTracker.

Also, I highly recommend that you read CopyBlogger’s Primer on Keyword Research Tools. It’s an excellent read filled with incredibly useful information.

4. Use professional tools like Scribe.

Like number three on this list, I’ve already written and recorded a screencast on the benefits of using the Scribe SEO WordPress plug-in.

However, if you truly want to take your chiropractic content to a whole new level, then you absolutely need to invest in Scribe SEO.

By adding Scribe SEO to either Headway or Thesis, you’ll deliver a powerful one-two punch to search engines that will keep competitors at bay.

5. List your practice with Google Places.

Since the majority of chiropractors reading Next Generation Chiropractor are looking for ways to increase traffic through their brick-and-mortar business, outside of the aforementioned you absolutely need to be listed with Google Places.

Google Places offers chiropractors the ability to freely list their chiropractic practice within Google’s highly sought-after database.

As Google states, “Local customers already search Google for the products and services you offer. Create a business listing to be sure they find you.”

And, they should know!

Plus, when’s the last time you picked up the Yellow Pages to look up a number for a place of business.

Me? I can’t even remember.

6. List your chiropractic practice with free health directories.

Health directories are a dime a dozen. Since there are many out there, you could literally spend countless hours trying to get listed with them all.

However, if you just focus on the larger ones, you’ll gain more traction since you’d be leveraging their power to pull up your chiropractic blog’s site within SERPs.

The ones I recommend are as follows:

• DoctorDirectory.com
• Healthcare.com
• WebMD.com
• Wellness.com

7. List your chiropractic practice with free chiropractic directories.

Like Tip number six, there are many sites to turn to for chiropractic directories as well. However, the one’s that count are as follows:

• Chiropractic Universe
• Spine Universe

8. Write & submit articles to free online press release services.

As mentioned in Part 7 of How to Safeguard Your Chiropractic Practice in a Web 2.0 World, gone are the days where only huge media conglomerates, professionals working within corporations, law firms and government agencies have access to press release services. The internet has literally flipped this industry upside down.

Matter of fact, the internet provides a wide array of resources to get you started with press releases. One of the best sites is PRWeb.com. They not only offer free How-to webinars but also have a wonderfully jam-packed Tools & Tips section that can get you started quickly.

If you don’t want to use a paid service, then choose from any one of the following 20 FREE services that I mention in Part 7 of How to Safeguard Your Chiropractic Practice in a Web 2.0 World.

1. 24-7PressRelease.com
2. 1888PressRelease.com
3. ClickPress.com
4. EcommWire.com
5. Express-Press-Release.com
6. Free-Press-Release.com
7. Free-Press-Release-Center.info
8. I-Newswire.com
9. NewswireToday.com
10. PR.com
11. PR9.net
12. PR-Inside.com
13. PRBuzz.com
14. PRCompass.com
15. PRUrgent.com
16. Press-Base.com
17. PressAbout.com
18. PressMethod.com
19. PRLeap.com
20. PRLog.org

9. Register your site with the top review sites.

Again, the name of the game is leverage. By adding your site to the following review sites AND by encouraging patients, family, and friends to write positive reviews, you’ll gain more visibility on Google, Bing, et cetera, within your geographical region.

The ones that I recommend are as follows:

• City Voter
• Insider Pages
• Rate it all!
• Yelp!

10. Sign up with the top social media networks.

Obviously, if you’ve been reading Next Generation Chiropractor, you should already know this. However, it still amazes me how few chiropractors are actually using these extremely powerful tools.

Likewise, instead of re-inventing the wheel, I recommend that you read Six Social Media Sites You Should Use as a Chiropractor.

Just understand that the aforementioned post was published on April 20, 2009. Therefore, the Alexa numbers have changed for the six sites listed.

Nevertheless, outside of MySpace, the sites mentioned are extremely relevant today toward building top of mind awareness within social media networks.

11. Create and upload videos to YouTube.

I honestly believe that mobile phones and video are one of the most untapped markets for chiropractors. Through the power of smartphones, chiropractors can instantly publish videos to YouTube and other social media networks that demonstrate the power of chiropractic on a daily basis.

By creating video messages consistently, chiropractors can build an arsenal of resources that both educate and inform the public on the benefits of chiropractic.

Just remember that I’m not a big proponent on embedding YouTube videos within your chiropractic blog. For a detailed explanation why, read 3 Ways to Clone YouTube for Your Chiropractic Practice.

12. Use automated services to easily distribute your content.

As Ecclesiastes states, “… there is nothing new under the sun.” And, with this tip, that statement rings true.

However, I realize that new readers come along everyday that don’t realize the plethora of blog posts that sit collecting dust within Next Generation Chiropractor’s archives.

So, to resurrect a few in relation to tip number twelve, I’ll kindly point you to three:

• 2 Ways to Quickly Update Your Social Media Sites All at Once
• How to Automate the Subscription Process of Your Chiropractic Blog
• How to Tweet Your Chiropractic Blog Posts Using Google’s Feedburner Socialize Option

Also, don’t forget about powerful services like HootSuite and MarketMeTweet that thrive on all-in-one marketing and management solutions.

In closing, I hope the above tips have been enlightening. If you’ll commit to adding one tip into your online marketing strategy per week, I’ll promise you you’ll see significant changes to your SERPs as long as you back it up with quality content that prospects want, need, and desire.

Question: What other tips should be listed?

Let me know in the {comments} section below.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”