Why Do I Need A Website For My Private Practice

Hello I’m Cheryl from Clinic Alchemy. I am passionate about web design and the importance that brand awareness, whether you are starting out or have a thriving private practice. Through my work I’ve seen first hand the impact that a consistent brand message can have but where do you start if you’ve never built a website before…

Here are a few things to think about:

#1 – Domain Name

What is a domain name? This is the url address of your website. When choosing your domain name you want to make sure that it’s not too long, whilst describing your business. Your Domain name also affects how you show up in Google. For Example the big home improvements store B&Q use the domain name www.DIY.com. Try not to over complicate this and make sure its easy to type In the browser.

#2 – Business Email Address

Having a business email address is so important. Nobody is going to take you seriously if you are sending your patients emails from a yahoo or gmail account. Give the right first impression every time! It’s Inexpensive…And Easy to set up. I highly recommend an office 365 account that any IT professional can do for you in a heart beat.

#3 – Website Hosting

Not many people realize that you have to pay to have your website hosted online. The cost of this can vary from £70 – £400 depending on the level of service. There are thousands of hosting companies out there to choose from but the most important thing is that they provide great support and back up for your website.

#4 – Hire a Website Designer

Choosing a web designer is purely down to research. Good website designers should have a fantastic website that showcase their work.

Pay attention to how much they ask you about your private practice. They should want to get to know you, your practice, your patients, and your marketing goals intimately. How else can they design a site that reflects you, your brand, and your practice, unless they spend some time to get to know you?

Look at sites they’ve designed to see if you like their style. Is there a certain feel to ALL their sites, or are they flexible in their designs?

#5 – Website Maintenance

Once your website is live it is then handed over to you, its then up to you to keep the website update to date much like we do with out phones these days, websites work the same way. Some clients are happy to take on this extra job and do this well, some other clients take on this job and never look at the website again and then you have the client that will outsource this job to a website maintance company sleeping well at night knowing full well that there website is up and running and you can carry on with the daily running of your practice.

#6 – High-Quality Images for Website

You really want to stand out from your competition and a great way of doing this, is by having high quality images on your website. Using freebie stock photos aren’t going to cut it. By hiring a professional photographer to come into your clinic to photograph your practice you increase the changes of patients picking up the phone by 30%

#7 – Copywriter

Most Doctors (in my experience) will insist that they need to write the copy for their website and whilst I understand there reasons I can’t stress enough how different it is to write for your website as to a clinical presentation or piece of research. Collaborating with a copywriter will not only help your patients understand what you do but a good one will be able to help you with your Google rankings.

#8 – Logo Design

Before you do all of the above, you will need a professional Logo designed that represents your private practice. A graphic designer usually puts this together. Do not be tempted to get it designed by your neibours friends son who is still at Uni. Your Logo is going to sit on the header of your website. It appears on business cards, practice stationery and usually sometimes outside your building. This symbol represents your business so make sure it represents you and the practice.