As a podiatrist, your website isn’t just a digital business card—it’s often your first touchpoint with new patients. A thoughtful digital strategy can help build trust, attract local traffic, and streamline your practice. Here’s what you need to consider when setting up your website.
1. Define Your Brand and Audience
Start by clearly identifying what sets you apart. Do you specialise in sports injuries, diabetic foot care, or children’s podiatry? Highlight this on your homepage and throughout your site. Your brand—colours, logo, tone of voice—should reflect professionalism, approachability, and care. Keep your target audience in mind with everything from your visuals to your language.
2. Craft the Right Website Content
Your content should be clear, educational, and patient-focused. Key pages to include:
- Homepage: Immediately answer “Who are you?” and “How can I book?”
- Service Pages: Create separate pages for each core treatment explaining what they are (e.g. heel pain, nail surgery, orthotics). This helps with Google rankings and makes your services easy to navigate.
- About Page: Share your qualifications, experience, and a friendly bio. Patients want to know who they’ll be seeing.
- Blog or Articles: Short, helpful pieces on foot care, choosing the right shoes, or managing pain help educate patients and improve SEO.
- FAQ Page: Answer common concerns like “What should I bring to my appointment?”
3. Focus on Local SEO
Most patients search for podiatrists in their area. To show up in those results:
- Claim and optimise your Google Business Profile.
- Include your city or region in page titles and headings.
- Add your practice to local directories like Yelp or Healthgrades.
- Encourage happy patients to leave Google reviews, and respond to them professionally.
To find out more on how to localise successfully, check out our ‘Why Localisation is Important for Local Marketing Efforts’ article.
4. Make Booking Easy
Patients expect seamless online experiences. Include:
- Online booking integration so they can make appointments anytime.
- A simple contact form for quick inquiries.
- Click-to-call buttons and Google Maps links—especially important for mobile users.
Here are a few trusted booking systems for Podiatrists:
- Cliniko: Ideal for clinics seeking a straightforward, user-friendly system with essential features. Its approval by the UK’s College of Podiatry adds credibility.
- Zanda (formerly Power Diary): Offers robust telehealth capabilities and is suitable for practices emphasising remote consultations. Its flexible pricing is beneficial for growing practices.
- Pabau: Provides an all-in-one solution with extensive features, including advanced marketing tools and a comprehensive patient portal. Best suited for practices aiming for growth and enhanced patient engagement.
5. Build Trust Through Content and Compliance
Trust is key in healthcare. Boost confidence by including:
- Patient testimonials (with permission).
- Photos (before & after images, clinic interior shots, team photos).
- Clear statements about privacy policies and data handling are needed to stay compliant with HIPAA or GDPR, depending on your region.
6. Optimise for Mobile and Speed
Over half of web traffic comes from mobile. Your website should:
- Be fully responsive, adjusting to any screen size.
- Load quickly, especially on mobile networks. Patients will leave if it’s too slow.
7. Track and Improve Performance
Use tools like Google Analytics or GA4 to track:
- How people find your site.
- Which pages they visit.
- What actions they take—like filling out a form or clicking your phone number.
- This data helps you improve what’s working and fix what’s not.
8. Reputation Management
Online reviews are modern word-of-mouth. To stay on top of this:
- Use automated tools or simple follow-up emails to ask for reviews.
- Thank patients for good reviews and respond calmly and professionally to negative ones.
- Monitor platforms like Google, Facebook, and Healthgrades.
9. Link Up Social Media
Link your website with your social media profiles. Facebook and Instagram are especially useful for local engagement. Share blog posts, foot health tips, or behind-the-scenes clinic updates to stay top-of-mind.
10. Maintain and Secure Your Site
Your website isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool. Keep it healthy by:
- Updating software (WordPress, plugins, etc.) regularly.
- Backing up your site to prevent data loss.
- Using SSL encryption to protect user data and improve SEO.
Final Thought
Setting up a website with a clear digital strategy can help podiatrists attract more patients, offer better service, and stand out locally. At Inter Vivos, we specialise in creating websites for personal care and wellness professionals, including podiatrists. We understand how important it is for your site to reflect your expertise, build trust, and make it easy for patients to connect with you.
If you’re ready to take your digital presence to the next level, explore how we support wellness brands like yours, or get in touch to start your journey.
