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In recent months, having a top chiropractic Google Maps listing for your practice has become extremely valuable.
Aside from having a chiropractic website that generates a consistent stream of leads; a top Google Maps listing is the most essential online property you can have as a chiropractor.
Here’s why:
Reason #1: Local Chiropractic Search Results
For most of the top local keywords and keyword phrases being entered into Google by prospective chiropractic patients, the results they now see are primarily Google Maps listings. In these cases, the traditional organic chiropractic listings have been pushed down on the page. And, at the top of Google are now the Maps listings.
The reason for this is simple…
Google and the other search engines are seeing a steady increase in the volume of searches being done on mobile devices. And, according to Google, 1/3 of all mobile searches are done with local intent. So, some time ago Google committed to focusing more on localized listings – their Google Maps listings – and made the change to their search algorithm.
What this means for you is that if you want to appear at the top of Google when a prospective patient searches for a chiropractor in your geographic area, you need to be at the top of the Google Maps area.
Reason #2: The Google Maps 7-Pack Action
As SEOmoz recently proved with the release of their Google Eye-Tracking Study; when the 7-pack of Google Maps listings are shown in Google, they get the majority of clicks from searchers. Specifically, the top Google Maps listing gets the majority of clicks.
Once again demonstrating that the top spot in Google Maps is extremely valuable for a chiropractor.
Reason #3: Mobile Is Google Places
Viewing search results on a mobile device (i.e. iPhone) isn’t like viewing results on a computer. Mobile results – specifically Google Maps listings – now offer clickable phone numbers.
What this means is that when prospective patients search for a chiropractor on their mobile device, the primary results they see are Google Maps listings that offer one-click calling. Which leads to me to Reason #4…
Reason #4: The Quality Of Mobile
In May 2011, Clickz.com reported that 77% of mobile searchers (with local intent) have contacted a business they’ve found, with 61% calling and 59% visiting.
In other words, almost 8 out 10 people doing a local search on their mobile device take action. Clickz.com goes on to report that 88% of those people take action within a day.
What this means for you as a chiropractor is that with a top Google Maps listing being shown to mobile searchers, your practice is exposed to a growing body of serious action takers.
Reason #5: The Little Microformat Ranking Trick
As I’m sharing this week with our Millionaire Chiropractic Club members, there’s a cool copy-and-paste tweak all chiropractors can make to the “About Us” page on your website that, testing has shown, leads to a big, big boost in your Google Maps rankings.
Without getting too technical – especially since the execution is just a simple copy-and-paste – there’s a brand new way to make your practice name and address (on your website) super-readable by both prospective patient visitors to your website AND the Google search engine spider. This is easily accomplished by pasting a couple lines of code onto the About Us page.
When done, Google then associates your website with your Google Places page, and because of this new “Google language”, ends up boosting your chiropractic Google Maps rankings (according to testing).
Sounds complicated, I know. It’s not though.
Great post. Details on reason 5 would be great.
Thank you for sharing!!
cheers.
Ps: what’s the code you mention above?