When compared to traditional marketing, inbound marketing is an entirely new concept. Because of this most chiropractors have problems making the transition. But in today’s rapidly-changing, technology-driven society, the writing is on the wall — either jump in whole-heartedly to succeed or stand complacently on the sidelines as your chiropractic business fails.
When considering inbound marketing, chiropractors need to focus on strategies that not only produce quick results but also lay deep digital roots for the future. Chiropractic blogging accomplishes the latter. Even though it may not produce immediate results, it is absolutely essential for building a large footprint online for your chiropractic business.
Over time consistent blogging produces new links for Google and other search engines. As more links are added and optimized for your area, the easier it’ll be for people to find you during local search queries. It’s not quick but it is lasting and is the foundation that everything else should be built on.
Think about it. Mobile will continue to rise in popularity. Your Google Places page (which by default is mobile optimized) links to your website for authenticity. Your blog provides the content that links everything together.
If you don’t have relevant content that’s updated frequently, Google and other major search engines quit indexing your site. Once they quit indexing your site, your search ranking continues to drop. Consequently, your webpage gets buried in search results and will never show up on page 1 of search. If you don’t show up on page 1 of search, then you can forget about generating new business from the Internet.
Even though blogging takes time and a tremendous amount of commitment, it makes total sense for today’s chiropractor. No, it’s not an immediate new patient magnet but is the foundation to everything you’re attempting to accomplish through your online marketing efforts.
So, don’t ask yourself if blogging will generate X amount of new patients a year but instead ask how many will you lose if you don’t.
Question: Have you included blogging within your inbound marketing strategy?
Let us know how it’s helped your practice by leaving your thoughts in the {comments} section below.
I trust you already know my answer Dr. MacNamara! But, for the benefit of your other loyal readers: I’ve been blogging now for a little over 2 years and the results have been phenomenal! Yes it takes commitment, discipline, and determined persistence but, after all, that is the ‘secret’ to be successful at any endeavor!
However, if done correctly, I can personally attest that, the results will eventually show and no it won’t flood your practice with new patients, but it will set you up as a trusted source of expert information that will serve the needs of the people in desperate need of chiropractic care who may have not known otherwise.
As the source of this trusted expert information this will then have them automatically want to go to your practice. If that’s not possible, then you’ll be the one that they’ll ask where to go to get the care they need.
I agree with Dr. Heins. Patients who don’t have easy access to health care plans can be able to read tips and get online consultations through chiropractic blogs too.