Healthcare SEO: Trust, Compliance & Patient Acquisition
Healthcare falls under Google's YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) category, requiring the highest standards of accuracy, expertise, and trustworthiness.
YMYL Content Requires Extra Care
Medical content can significantly impact people's health and safety. Google holds healthcare websites to the highest quality standards. Inaccurate medical information can lead to manual actions and significant ranking penalties.
Key SEO Strategies
YMYL & E-E-A-T Compliance
Build trust signals through author credentials, medical review processes, and authoritative citations.
Local SEO for Practices
Optimize Google Business Profile, local citations, and location pages for patient acquisition.
Medical Content Strategy
Create accurate, helpful health content that meets Google's quality guidelines.
Patient Experience Signals
Leverage reviews, testimonials, and online reputation management.
E-E-A-T Requirements for Healthcare
Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness are non-negotiable for medical content.
| Requirement | Implementation | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Author Credentials | Display medical degrees, certifications, and specializations | Critical |
| Medical Review Process | Content reviewed by licensed healthcare professionals | Critical |
| Source Citations | Link to peer-reviewed studies and medical journals | High |
| Last Updated Dates | Show when content was last medically reviewed | High |
| Clear Disclaimers | Medical advice disclaimers and emergency contact info | High |
| Contact Information | Verifiable practice details and licensing information | Medium |
Medical Author Bio Best Practices
Example of an effective medical author bio:
Dr. Sarah Johnson, MD, FACP
Board-certified Internal Medicine physician with 15+ years of clinical experience. Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Medical Director at Metro Health System.
Medical License: NY #123456 | NPI: 1234567890
- Full credentials and certifications displayed
- Verifiable license information
- Professional affiliations mentioned
Local SEO for Medical Practices
Most healthcare searches have local intent. Patients search for doctors, hospitals, and clinics "near me."
Local SEO Checklist
Healthcare Schema Markup
MedicalBusinessHealthcare facility information
PhysicianDoctor credentials and specialties
MedicalConditionHealth condition information
MedicalProcedureTreatment and procedure details
FAQPageCommon patient questions
Common Healthcare SEO Mistakes
Publishing medical content without professional review
Fix: Establish a medical review board and document the review process
Making unsubstantiated health claims
Fix: Back all claims with peer-reviewed research and include citations
Neglecting local SEO for physical practices
Fix: Prioritize Google Business Profile and local citation building
Poor mobile experience for appointment booking
Fix: Optimize mobile UX and implement click-to-call functionality
Missing HIPAA compliance considerations
Fix: Ensure contact forms and patient portals meet privacy requirements
High-Value Content Topics
Condition Guides
- • Symptoms and causes
- • Diagnosis process
- • Treatment options
- • Prevention tips
Service Pages
- • Procedure explanations
- • What to expect
- • Recovery information
- • Insurance and costs
Provider Pages
- • Doctor bios with credentials
- • Specializations
- • Patient reviews
- • Booking options
Location Pages
- • Address and directions
- • Hours and contact
- • Services at location
- • Local schema markup
Need Healthcare SEO Expertise?
We specialize in YMYL-compliant SEO strategies for medical practices, hospitals, and health organizations.