Luz Sanchez, Author at iMatrix

Millennial Parents Equally Share in Childcare Responsibilities

Luz Sanchez — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 13:20:30 +0000

Parenting roles are one more thing that millennials are doing differently from past generations. This shift, towards more equality in child care responsibilities, means that fathers are just as likely to accompany their kids to optometry appointments as mothers. In fact, 57 percent of fathers say that parenting is extremely important to their identities, compared to 58 percent of mothers, according to Pew Research Center. With today’s dads being just as invested in their sons and daughters’ lives as moms are, it’s important to consider how your optometric practice addresses the closing gender gap in child caregiver roles.
Although men play an important role in their children’s lives, they don’t always receive recognition for their efforts. Historically, advertisers portray them as too inept to figure out how to use laundry detergent, cook simple meals, or change diapers. Women, in contrast, are lauded and praised for their mothering abilities.
Luckily, the tide is turning. You’ll still find plenty of stereotypical commercials on TV, but some companies are paying for commercials and print ads that depict men as caring and competent.

Including Dad in Your Marketing Strategy Can Benefit Your Practice

Cereal companies and vacuum cleaner manufacturers aren’t the only ones who benefit by targeting fathers. When you update your marketing and educational materials to include the information fathers need and want, and package it in a way they’ll use, you’ll gain a valuable new market segment for your practice.
You’ll make it easy for fathers to find your site and communicate easily with your office when you:
Ensure That Your Website Is Mobile Friendly. Millennials value the ability to access websites whenever and where ever they want. When your site is mobile friendly and loads quickly, dads will be able to easily scan your services and hours whether they’re at work or waiting to pick their kids up from soccer practice.
Offer Online Appointment Scheduling. Online appointment scheduling ensures that dads can make appointments with your practice when it’s convenient for them. When you offer an online scheduling option, both moms and dads don’t have to worry about trying to schedule appointments when they’re at work and can access your appointment scheduling feature at midnight if they want.
Provide YouTube Videos on Your Website. Books are no longer the prime source for the latest parenting advice. Millennial dads prefer YouTube videos instead. Eighty percent of millennial dads have watched YouTube videos on parenting topics, according to Google/Ipsos Connect. Your videos can cover such topics as what happens during an eye exam, common childhood eye conditions, how vision insurance works, helping your child choose frames, and information about contact lens wear.
Everyone benefits when you focus on millennial fathers. Children receive the optometric care they need, fathers feel valued and included, and you develop a strong, long-lasting relationship with the entire family.

Sources:
Optometric Management: Study Results on Millenial Fathers Mirrored in Optometry Practices, 5/1/17
http://www.optometricmanagement.com/issues/2017/may-2017/leading-off
New York Times: Don’t Call Him Mom or an Imbecile, 2/23/13
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/24/business/fathers-seek-advertising-that-does-not-ridicule.html?mcubz=0
Pew Research Center: 6 Facts About American Fathers, 6/15/17
http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/06/15/fathers-day-facts/
Think with Google: How Can Brands Win Dads’ Loyalty on YouTube?
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/advertising-channels/video/dads-youtube-demographic-brand-advertising-for-men/

The post Millennial Parents Equally Share in Childcare Responsibilities appeared first on iMatrix.

Don’t Let Your Patients Give Up on Contact Lenses

Luz Sanchez — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 14:30:18 +0000

It’s not surprising that patients decide that they’re better off wearing glasses when their eyes burn and itch after a few hours of contact lens wear. Dry eye due to contact lens wear affects 38 percent of people who wear the lenses, according to Contact Lens Spectrum’s 2014 Report on Dry Eye Diseases. It’s not surprising that patients decide that they’re better off wearing glasses when their eyes burn and itch after a few hours of contact lens wear. Dry eye due to contact lens wear affects 38 percent of people who wear the lenses, according to Contact Lens Spectrum’s 2014 Report on Dry Eye Diseases.
When patients decide they’re more comfortable in glasses, you lose a valuable source of revenue. Helping patients combat dry eye symptoms can be a boon to your optometric practice.

Financial Benefits of Increasing Patient Comfort

You’ll benefit in the following ways when you search for ways to make contact lenses more comfortable for your dry eye patients:
You Can Count on Regular Visits. If patients who wear eyeglasses don’t notice a change in their vision, it may be two or three years until you see them again. Because contact lens wearers require a new prescription every year, you can guarantee that they’ll back when you plan your yearly income projections.
You’ll Make More Money from Contact Lens Fitting Fees. Contact lens fitting fees can be a good source of income for your optometric practice. A 2010 Optometric Management article notes that vision insurance companies may pay a higher percentage of contact lens fees than other fees.
Your Contact Lens Sales Will Increase. When your make an effort to work with patients who complain about dry eye symptoms, you’ll probably see a bump in your contact lens sales. Although you probably price the lenses competitively, the higher your sales volume, the more money you’ll make.
Your Older Patients Won’t Stop Wearing Contact Lenses. Because the incidence of dry eye increases with age, it’s not unusual for people who have worn contacts for years to begin noticing symptoms. When they switch to glasses, you can no longer count on regular fitting fees or lens sales.
Contact Lens Patients May Spend More Money Than Those Who Only Wear Glasses. Contact lens wearers often purchase eyeglasses in addition to contact lenses during their visits. Their spending habits help improve your bottom line.
Patients Are More Likely to Return. If you go out of your way to help your patients, they’re more likely to form a positive impression of your practice. Although dealing with dry eye symptoms does require more chair time, you’ll benefit financially if you keep your patients in contact lenses for years to come.
Offering solutions and encouragement to patients with dry eye may allow them a significant number of them to continue to wear contact lenses. When you devote more time to relieving the problem, you’ll benefit financially.

Sources:
Contact Lens Spectrum: 2014 Report on Dry Eye Diseases
Optometric Management: Don’t Let Contact Lens Intolerance Threaten Patients…Or Your Practice, 5/1/17
Review of Optometry: Top 10 Ways to Fail with Multifocal Contacts, 12/15/11
Optometric Management: Dramatically Increasing Your Contact Lens Productivity, 2/17/2010

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How to Execute Effective Team Meetings

Luz Sanchez — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 09:00:52 +0000

Finding time for team meetings isn’t always easy in a busy veterinary practice. Unfortunately, if you don’t schedule regular meetings, you’ll lose an important opportunity to share new medical information and policies, discuss concerns and solicit suggestions that will make your practice more efficient. These tips will help you ensure that your meetings are productive and efficient.

Invite the Entire Staff

Your entire staff play a part in making your practice successful, so why not include all of them in meetings? Even the high school student who cleans your kennels part time may have something important to contribute to staff meetings. If you don’t feel comfortable letting voice mail pick up calls during your meeting, assign a staff member to the task, as long as the same person isn’t always covering phone duty.

Your entire staff play a part in making your practice successful, so why not include all of them in meetings?

Alternate Meeting Times

When your business is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., it’s easy to get the entire staff together for a meeting. It’s much more challenging to hold meetings if your office is open from the 8 a.m. until 9 p.m. It may not be possible for every employee to attend every meeting, but a greater percentage will be able to contribute when you alternate meeting times to accommodate as many staff members as possible.

Set an Agenda

An agenda provides structure for your meeting and also allows your staff time to collect pertinent information about the topic before the meeting date. Before the meeting ends, ask for suggestions for topics to be discussed during the next week’s meetings.

Encourage Discussion

It’s easy to become bored if you’re not an active participant in a meeting. Unfortunately, meetings often consist of one person after another providing dull, dry reports while the other attendees feign interest. When you encourage employees to share their thoughts and ask questions about topics, you may find that your meetings are more productive and interesting.

Move the Conversation Along

Whether you have a particularly talkative employee or find that sometimes the conversation drifts away from the original topic, it’s important to maintain focus during your meetings. If you don’t, you may only have time to address half of the items on your agenda. At the beginning of the meeting, let employees know that you only have a limited amount of time and need to get through all of the agenda items. If the conversation turns to the waiting room magazine selection when you’re supposed to be discussing improvements to the appointment scheduling process, directing the group’s attention to the agenda can help get the discussion back on track.

At the beginning of the meeting, let employees know that you only have a limited amount of time and need to get through all of the agenda items.

Keep a Meeting Record

It’s not always easy to remember what was discussed or agreed upon during a meeting that happened two months ago. Appointing a different person to take minutes during every meeting will eliminate confusion regarding who was going to research web design companies or write client survey questions.
Weekly staff meetings offer the perfect opportunity to provide important updates, offer mini training sessions and share information about your practice’s strategic and financial goals. When they’re run efficiently, meetings can be an important tool that will help you improve your practice.

Sources:

Entrepreneur: 5 Tips for Effective Team Meetings, 4/21/16

https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/272078

Veterinary Practice News: How to Overcome Resistance to Change: Hold Effective Team Meetings, 12/1/16

http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/how-to-overcome-resistance-to-change-hold-effective-team-meetings/

Dvm360: Energy for Your Tired Veterinary Team Meetings, 9/1/13

http://veterinarybusiness.dvm360.com/energy-your-tired-veterinary-team-meetings

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Avoid Embarrassment When Talking to Your Overweight Patients

Luz Sanchez — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:00:58 +0000

Far too many Americans carry excess pounds. In the U.S., more than 70 percent of people ages 20 and over are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The problem not only increases the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other serious health problems, but also makes it more difficult to perform chiropractic treatments.

Ask Permission

You won’t make much progress if your patient doesn’t want to talk about his or her weight. Although asking permission is important, the way you phrase the questions is equally important. If you ask, “Do you want to talk about your weight?” your patient feel may defensive. Casually mentioning that many people aren’t aware of all of the factors that can cause joint pain, such as excess weight or foods that cause inflammation, can help you broach the subject. If your patient seems receptive, offer to help him or her make better food choices or lose or maintain weight.

Casually mentioning that many people aren’t aware of all of the factors that can cause joint pain, such as excess weight or foods that cause inflammation, can help you broach the subject.

Talk, Don’t Lecture

Remember when you were a teenager and your parents lectured you when you dropped your clothes on the bedroom floor or neglected to empty the dishwasher? Chances are you soon learned to tune out those annoying lectures. Your chiropractic patients may do the same thing if you drone on about their weight.
Conversations, rather than lectures, can offer better results. Discussing goals, typical meals, portion sizes, challenges in meal planning and shopping, and barriers to losing weight can be helpful during nutritional counseling sessions. If you’ve ever struggled to lose weight, mentioning that fact may help your patients feel more comfortable discussing the subject with you.

Discussing goals, typical meals, portion sizes, challenges in meal planning and shopping, and barriers to losing weight can be helpful…

Focus on Results, Not Pounds

Patients can be discouraged if the pounds don’t melt away immediately after they make changes to their diets or begin exercising. Point out any positive changes that have occurred since they begin their healthier lifestyle, such as increased energy, lower blood pressure numbers or meeting their exercise goals. When patients feel encouraged, despite the fact that the numbers on the scale haven’t decreased dramatically, they may be more likely to follow the nutritional or weight loss advice you provided.

Adding nutritional and weight loss services to your chiropractic practice offers many benefits. In addition to providing a valuable service to your patients, offering these programs is an excellent way to diversify and create additional revenue streams.

Sources:
Endocrine News: Advise & Consent: Talking to Obese Patients About Their Weight, 2/16

Advise & Consent: Talking to Obese Patients About Their Weight

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Talking with Patients About Weight Loss
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/talking-adult-patients-tips-primary-care-clinicians
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Obesity and Overweight
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/obesity-overweight.htm
Topics in Integrative Health Care: Chiropractic Approaches to Discussing Weight Management With Overweight and Obese Patients: A Focus Group Study, 9/30/14
http://www.tihcij.com/Articles/Chiropractic-Approaches-to-Discussing-Weight-Management-With-Overweight-and-Obese-Patients-A-Focus-Group-Study.aspx?id=0000434

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Bring Your Personality to Social Media Using Content

Luz Sanchez — Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:00:05 +0000

What makes your practice unique? Would a prospective client be able to distinguish your practice from the competition? It can be difficult to gain social media followers and increase engagement if your content is not resonating with your target audience.

In this webcast, our special guest Janet Kennedy, Healthcare Marketing Network President and podcast host of Get Social Health, will give her expert insights on how healthcare professionals like you can create engaging social media content that helps to grow your online presence and makes you stand out from the competition. She’ll help you learn how to resonate with your audience and offer strategies you can implement right away!

The post Bring Your Personality to Social Media Using Content appeared first on iMatrix.

Keep Your Business’ Digital Data Safe from Ransomware

Luz Sanchez — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 15:53:20 +0000

Ransomware is a specific form of virus that sometimes makes the news in big ways. It’s natural for you to wonder if you and your business are similarly at risk. Here are a few facts to help you figure out your level of exposure and whether or not you need to do anything to decrease it:

What is Ransomware?

First, it’s important to be clear about just what ransomware actually is. It is a form of virus that, once it infects a computer, denies access to that computer’s data by the authorized users. The program then informs the user that access will only be restored if a fee is paid. A threat to delete the data if the fee isn’t paid is often included in the message. This effectively holds the data hostage, making the demanded fee the “ransom” that gives these programs their name.

Ways to Prevent Ransomware from Getting Into Your Computers

Raise user awareness. To those who are used to working with computers, it may seem natural to practice safety measures like not opening unexpected attachments, not clicking the links in email spam, and avoiding enabling macros for emails. However, new staff may need to be brought up to speed. Don’t assume everyone already knows.
Set-up email filters. Use technological filters to block spam emails and as many suspicious attachments as possible. This will not only add safety for your computer system, but help keep clutter out of your office’s inboxes.
Add antivirus filtering to your email screening system. If your email filter doesn’t already include it, set up an antivirus program that scans every email regardless of source.
Keep patches and updates current. Many hackers make use of exploits that will have been corrected in the current iteration of your software or via a patch applied to the old version. By staying up to date, you ensure that you have the version that is currently the most secure. This also applies to your antivirus software, which may get multiple patches every day. If a software has an automatic update feature, enable it to avoid being overwhelmed with this task.
Make regular backups of your data. As long as your last backup was done before your computers got infected by the ransomware, you can just restore your system from the backup. It’s best to keep a rolling set of backups so that you have a good chance of having a useful one on hand.

By following these and other simple practices, you can greatly enhance your security against ransomware and other types of malware. Best of all, these tips will work for practices of all sizes and are easy to implement. If you have questions or concerns about making sure your online presence is safe and secure, contact us to speak with one of our experience online marketing consultants.

The post Keep Your Business’ Digital Data Safe from Ransomware appeared first on iMatrix.

What to Look for in Your Next Eye Care Website

Luz Sanchez — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 19:48:17 +0000

Your website is one of the most important investments you can make in the long-term success of your business. When contemplating a new, or even your first, website, you want to be sure it will not only support your business growth, but it also must check off the boxes for being easy to use, update, and manage yourself.
So, what are some of the features that eye care business owners should look for in a website? We asked ourselves that same question and came up with a long list of nice-to-haves that we ultimately boiled down to the below list of not-so-obvious features that have a big impact on your website. Here’s what to look for in your next website to make your life easier and website successful:

Informative Dashboard

It all starts with a dashboard. As your control center, the dashboard should give you easy access to the admin side of your website including the editor, performance stats, analytics, lead data, and applications.

Website Editor

For those who want to update and customize your website without professional help, a user-friendly, place-and-play editor is a must. The editor should include the ability to easily change the page content, images, banners, buttons and more – without complicated instructions.

Blog

Be a better blogger with a built-in blog that allows you to schedule future posts, add customizable SEO titles and meta descriptions to your articles, and insert photos and links.

In-Bound Form Leads

Encourage visitors to your website to take the next step in contacting you via integrated forms (HIPAA-compliant where necessary). The most powerful forms are customized to your visitors’ unique needs and can track who, when, where, and how the form was found.

Client Contacts and Email Marketing

An additional nice-to-have feature is the integration of client information and email marketing capabilities. Look for sites that offer customizable email templates or the ability to create your own. Keeping a master client contact list within the admin side of your website makes it possible to send email cards, surveys, and newsletters with a few clicks of the mouse.

Website Analytics

An analytics dashboard will help you understand your website performance including website traffic, views, and click-throughs over time, by device, and traffic source.
While you may or may not be able to find all these features elsewhere, you will find them in the new Portal platform that now powers all new iMatrix websites. Unveiled earlier this year as an upgrade to the iControl system, Portal was designed with the wants and needs of not only our clients, but your clients, in mind.
Make sure to do your homework before committing to your next website. If you’re currently in the market for a new one, or if you just want to compare what your current site may be lacking, contact us for a free, live demonstration of the cutting-edge features of Portal to help ensure your website investment is a wise one. Fill out the form or call 877.782.9421, to schedule your demo now.

The post What to Look for in Your Next Eye Care Website appeared first on iMatrix.

How to Reach Millennials on Social Media

Luz Sanchez — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 19:35:06 +0000

Social media is one the most important marketing channels for businesses and your practice’s social media presence is just as important as your website in the eyes of your patients. According to a study by Accenture, millennials make up nearly 80 million people in the U.S. and spend close to 600 billion per year. It’s no wonder brands have begun to change their online marketing strategies to target millennials — the potential business is too great to miss out on.
Millennials are more active on social media than any other generation, so if eye care professionals want to reach this demographic, they need to be active on major social media sites like Facebook and Instagram. Being active means much more than simply setting up profiles; your practice will need to embody core millennial values.

Who Are Millennials?

Millennials are classified as those born between 1980 and 2000. They’re more tech-savvy than their parents and as a result have earned the reputation of being “constantly connected” online and to each other. The generation has largely been shaped by social issues and financial crises in America, including the Great Recession, 9/11, and ongoing political conflict. As a result, millennials are generally more interested in social causes, living a healthy lifestyle, and getting deals.
Unfairly, millennials are widely described as being entitled, self-involved, and more interested in their smartphones than the world around them. In reality, nothing could be further from the truth. More than previous generations, millennials live their lives on-the-go. Smartphones are both a form of communication and a tool to conduct research on everything from deals on products to local business reviews. It’s important for eye care professionals to understand the importance of being mobile in the eyes of millennials in order to effectively connect with this unique audience.

Appeal to Millennial Core Values

The key to reaching millennials on social media is understanding what they value online. Social media posts are quickly evolving from selfies to socially conscious declarations. These types of posts receive a high amount of likes, comments, and shares. Millennials care about social issues and want to align with businesses that take social actions. Businesses such as TOMS, the comfy footware and apparel company, are widely embraced by millennials to the point that wearing its brand is proof to the world of the owner’s social impact. TOMS not only captured millennial customers by forming a cause, the company developed a strategy that allows its customers to participate as well. Its One for One® philosophy promises to donate a pair of brand new shoes to a child in need for every pair purchased. TOMS also supports children staying physically active by donating sports shoes to its partners’ health and fitness programs.
If your eye care practice supports a cause, you will get much further with millennials promoting that cause than you would promoting solely your services. Instead post content on social media that millennials can relate to; this will encourage your followers to learn about your services. Millennials appreciate experiences much more than tangible things. They need a good reason to give your eye care practice their business and advocacy is very relevant at the moment.

Embrace Social Media Transparency

Transparency is very important to this generation that matured during a point in history where the world was anything but transparent. Experiences both good and bad, filter or no-filter are shared openly with friends. In the same vein of transparency, your practice should also strive to share more of your experience on social media. Your practice’s culture and authenticity matter more to millennials than you can imagine; in fact your social media presence can be a deciding factor in whether millennials choose your practice or your competitor’s.
Of course, your practice will want to continue posting educational health information or services you feature. However, mix up your content by sharing posts that humanize your practice. Photos from events or reactions to events in the news can change your relationship with millennial followers on social media. Instead of passing your practice off as another company vying for their business, millennial followers will relate to you on a more personal level. They will also be more likely to share your posts with their friends, generating the kind of positive buzz you definitely want for your practice.

Content That Millennials Engage With

Technological advancements have had a major impact on millennials’ expectations. While older millennials may be forgiving, younger millennials have the expectation that technology should always work seamlessly. This expectancy often carries over into other parts of life, particularly where businesses are concerned. If your practice promotes a special coupon on social media, millennials expect to redeem the coupon in your practice without printing it out. If you’ve already gotten a potential patient through your door, the last thing you want to do is lose their business over a coupon.
Social media is a great way to increase your reach and bring more millennials into your eye care practice. Remember, millennials respond to brands that share their core values of social advocacy, transparency and participation. Give them a good reason to choose your practice and above all else, be authentic. By following this advice, your practice will capture this new audience and may even become a trending topic in the process.
For ideas and inspiration on how to create social media pages that stand out and connect with millenials, download a FREE copy of iMatrix’s 2017 trends Social Media Lookbook.

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What You Should Know About Medical Credit Cards

Luz Sanchez — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:21:21 +0000

A new pair of eyeglasses can be expensive, even if your patients have vision insurance. Offering medical credit cards provides them with a line of credit that enables them to cover the cost of vision services and ensures that your practice is paid immediately.

How Do the Cards Work?

Medical credit cards can be used to pay for routine eye examinations, co-pays, deductibles, dry eye treatment, vision therapy, eyeglasses, contact lenses, sunglasses, safety glasses, LASIK treatment and other services. Patients apply for the cards in your office and receive approval just a few minutes after your employees submit the request electronically. Soon after the application is approved, patients receive their first bills and begin making monthly payments. Most companies offer interest-free payments for six months to up to two years. After the interest-free introductory period expires, credit card holders pay a fixed interest rate until the balance is paid.

Which Companies Offer Medical Credit Cards?

CareCredit is the most well-known medical credit card company, but several other companies offer the cards, including Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Access One and MedKey. Because each company offers different introductory terms and interest rates, it’s a good idea to compare several before making a decision.

How Can Medical Credit Cards Help My Practice?

If you don’t offer payment alternatives, patients may just decline to order glasses or contacts. When they leave the office empty-handed, your practice doesn’t meet its goals, and your patients’ vision may suffer.
Although patients may not be able to afford large upfront costs, many can handle monthly payments. You may find that fewer patients decline treatments or fail to order eyeglasses or contacts when you offer medical credit cards.

Are There Any Drawbacks?

In 2013, CareCredit was forced to refund up to $34.1 million to consumers due to deceptive enrollment practices. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CareCredit didn’t adequately explain repayment information, and many customers believed that the card was interest free, not interest deferred.
The failure to fully inform clients of medical credit card terms is the chief criticism of every medical credit card on the market. Patients often don’t understand that even one late payment will immediately end the interest-free period and that the new interest rate will be applied retroactively.
Most medical credit card companies don’t check cardholder credit histories, which means credit may be extended to patients who can’t make payments. When these patients have complaints about the credit card companies, they may share them with you, even though you don’t set the terms.
You can help decrease complaints by ensuring that your front office staff clearly explains the terms of the cards and provides a disclosure statement that describes terms and penalties.
Medical credit cards can be a boon to your practice and may help you ensure that financial issues don’t prevent your patients from receiving the care they need. Reviewing the terms of each credit card company and researching complaints against the companies you’re considering will help you avoid problems.
Sources:
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: CFBP Orders GE CareCredit to Refund $34.1 Million, 12/10/13
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/about-us/newsroom/cfpb-orders-ge-carecredit-to-refund-34-1-million-for-deceptive-health-care-credit-card-enrollment/
WalletHub: Medical Credit Card: Comparison, Alternatives & Tips, 12/24/14
https://wallethub.com/edu/medical-credit-card/25842/
Becker’s Hospital CFO Report: Top Five Reasons to Offer Patients Flexible Payment Options, 4/19/17
http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/top-five-reasons-to-offer-patients-flexible-payment-options.html
AccessOne: Med Card
http://www.accessonemedcard.com/
MedKey: Healthcare Finance
https://www.medkeyinc.com/MedKey/
CareCredit
https://www.carecredit.com/
Citigroup: Citi Health Card
https://www.citicards.com/cards/portal/healthcard/nsc/content.do?screenID=5000
Wells Fargo: Wells Fargo Health Advantage
https://retailservices.wellsfargo.com/healthadvantage.html

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How To Claim Your Directory Listings for Increased Online Visibility

Luz Sanchez — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 19:10:08 +0000

Businesses necessarily pay plenty of attention to their search engine rankings, but it’s important to remember that these listings are just one aspect of online marketing. Directories are often overlooked companions to search, and getting listed in the right ones is an essential aspect of a full internet marketing strategy.
Today’s directories are vastly different from the ones from just 10 or so years ago. Instead of being mere pages of phone book-like listings, they offer ratings, reviews, extended information about the business, and more. This makes them much more valuable and noticeable to users.
The directories you should focus on now include those at the most popular search engines: Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. These directories are huge thanks to being attached to sites that already draw plenty of traffic. Their directory listings are also tied in with their search results, which brings even more attention to them.

How to Get Directory Listings

Every site has a slightly different process, but we’ll focus on Google since it is the biggest one out of all of the options. The procedure will be similar to the other directories, so these steps can be easily adapted as needed.

The first step is to assign someone specific to this project if you aren’t doing it yourself. This is because you’ll have to follow up with Google to confirm your listing. If nobody in particular is assigned to this, it likely won’t get done.
Choose an email for the registration. This email must be on the same web address as your business. No Gmail or other generic email addresses will work.
Decide what you want in your listing. Common information includes business name, address, phone number, website address, hours and days of operation, fields of business, and similar data. It will help to write this down in advance.
Go to Google and log into your account. Click over to ‘Google My Business’. There, type in your business name. Usually, a listing will appear and say whether it is already claimed or not. If it is already claimed, you will have to request access. If not, you will have to claim the business. Either way, this involves responding to a verification email with a code.
Respond to the verification email. Whether you have requested access or made an update, you will receive a verification email from Google. This will take from 5-7 business days. When it comes in, the person assigned to the task will need to confirm receipt of the code according to the instructions in the email.
Enter or edit your listing. Now, you’ll finally be able to create or edit your listing. Put in all of the information you wrote down in Step 3 and hit submit.

Once everything is done at each major directory, you should benefit from increased visibility and more prospective clients and patients!

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