Local SEO for Your Rehab Center: How to Get More Leads from Local Organic Searches

Typically, rehab facilities tend to have more of an issue making space than finding clients. However, that’s changed in today’s world. Between the opioid crisis and the growing concern for resources, it seems like rehab centers can be found on just about every corner or local neighborhood. That’s good for those who need rehab assistance. For rehabs themselves, however, it presents somewhat of a challenge when it comes to marketing and creating a sense of authority. 

The latter, after all, is the bread and butter of your marketing these days. It’s no longer a world where people want to be “sold” a service or treated as a customer. They want to connect with businesses that treat them as the humans they are and just so happen to have the resources or solutions that they need. If your rehab center is on that path, you’re off to a good start. However, you’ll also want to take a minute to check and optimize your local SEO to ensure that you get ranked, get leads, and get the organic search results that you deserve. 

What is local SEO?

For those who aren’t familiar, local SEO is an extension of your greater optimization strategy. Its focus, as the name implies, is on the location of the business, including its city, state, and/or region. However, it’s not just about using “Chicago rehab center” instead of just “rehab center” in your content. That might be a valid, useful keyword—but you have to do the research first. 

In addition to keyword research, there’s a big focus here on building a reputation for being authoritative and helpful. People today choose businesses because they’re the best at what they do and they are ranked and rated highly both in the local community and within their specific industry. In the case of rehab centers, it’s important to get that sense of connection and education across—that will automatically earn you some valuable reputation points. 

Keyword research

You’ll need to research keywords just like you did for your general SEO strategy. This time, of course, you’ll want to focus on local keywords and popular local searches. That way, you can see which keywords and phrases are ranking highest so that you can incorporate them into your content. As mentioned above, this will also help you see just where common phrases like “Denver rehab” or “rehabs in Denver” rank so that you don’t just use them without knowing their potential. 

Consider the phrase “near me” for your local optimization, too. A lot of searchers are using that phrase to find local companies and services. Too often, companies overlook that and miss out on valuable keywords. Don’t let yours be one of them. 

Reputation building with links and directory listings 

Since we’ve talked so much about the importance of reputation in your SEO ranking, let’s take a minute to talk about how to build it. Building a reputation can be done in several ways, but when it comes to local optimization, directory listings and linking strategies are a great place to start. Some people just start listing in directories without taking the time to vet them—Google counts against you for bad directories or listings in less-than-reputable places. Find relevant, reputable rehab-related business directories or local business sites that will allow you to list your business and build a strong reputation. 

Linking goes both ways—internal and external. You’ll want to build relationships with companies and organizations that can help you build your reputation through link sharing. Again, quality matters more than quantity here. Make strong connections with your link-building strategies and the rest will fall into place. 

Google My Business 

You need to claim and complete your Google Business Profile, formerly known to most as Google My Business, or GMB. Regardless of what it’s called, it’s a huge factor in your local rankings and Google wants to make sure that everyone is utilizing its resource. Therefore, make sure that you fill out everything, and update the page as much as is necessary. You should also check in and audit your page every once in a while, add new photos, change business hours, and so forth. 

The more relevant and up-to-date your profile is, the better you will rank in search results. Bing Places for Business is another good place to get listed and utilize SEO to optimize your business profile. 

Engagement 

Perhaps one of the most important factors in this process is engagement. You need to engage with local customers and users, other local businesses, and relevant sources. Social media, forums and directories, and even your website can all be great places to get engaged. People want businesses that make them feel connected and valued, and that treat them like a person, not a potential sale. Utilize all the tools that you have to stay engaged online and your local reputation will continue to thrive. 

Let someone else handle the details while you’re taking care of clients 

Of course, once your local SEO is in place, you’re going to need to have the right resources in place to go with it, starting with the assistance of a 24/7 answering service. When you partner with Smith.ai, our virtual receptionists can deliver that along with appointment scheduling, lead intake, and even live website chat, so that your visitors never have a question that goes unanswered. You’ll never miss a thing, no matter how busy you are, and our expertise will streamline your communications, admin, and more. 

Plus, it all includes our custom-tailored strategy to manage every last detail. You’ve got a lot on your plate building and running a rehab center, so we’ll help wherever we can. Still working on outbound sales and outreach campaigns? Ask how our team can assist there, too. 

If you’re ready to learn more, schedule a consultation or reach out to us at hello@smith.ai to let us know how we can help your rehab center with communications, admin, and any other needs you may have.

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