1. Website accessibility
In a nutshell web accessibility is an initiative that aims to provide equal access to all areas of the web. Due to unwitting errors It is not uncommon for design or technical barriers to prevent some users with physical, mental or sensory impairments to access your website.
The main groups of disabilities that we should keep in mind when designing a website are those with blindness (including visual impairments and colour blindness), mobility issues, deafness and dyslexia or cognitive impairments. By delivering a website to your audience that uses the latest technologies you are improving the chances of your website being accessible to the highest possible proportion of users.
The good news is that by including accessibility as one of the objectives at the start of a project you are increasing the general usability of your website for all patients. A clear, easy to navigate, well thought out structure will benefit everyone and create the best possible experience for all.
2. GDPR compliance
GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) is a new law that came into force on the 28th of May 2018. It is designed to return the control of data back to the citizens of the EU. It gives your patients the ability to request access to their personal data, the right to have personal data removed on request and the right to be informed on how their data is being used.
In order to make sure you are compliant we start each project by asking if you are registered with the ICO (Information Commissioners Office). If not we make sure you understand the process of registering to become a data handler. In many cases your website will not store personal data for your patients. For example, a web enquiry form data may not be captured in a database – it may simply forward information on to an email address.
If you do decide to store patient data we will guide you through the process of becoming registered and advise on a topics such as: having a clear privacy policy, creating a process for your business for patients to request data, appointing a data protection officer and making sure that your website is secure to avoid potential data breaches.
3. Responsive design
The array of devices that your patients use to browse the web is becoming more and more diverse. It’s crucial that you are aware how your clinic is perceived across mobile, tablets and desktop devices.
However, there is more to it than just the size of the screen. Connectivity is also an important consideration. The ergonomics of how different devices are held and human interaction are also important factors.
We are aware of all the issues that are pertinent to modern browsing across multiple devices. We’ll take time to consider mobile first and make sure that a fast-load time and optimised user experience are a top priority for your patients.
4. Your Google profile
Often when we talk to our healthcare customers about Google they consider SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to be the only factor. SEO really boils down to the keywords and phrases that your patients can use to easily locate your website – these might include your name, the name of your private clinic or your specialisms and location. And it is really important. However, Google also has a couple of other important services on offer.
A Google ‘My Business’ account allows you to enter a range of important information such as your address, photos of your premises, your opening hours and allows Google’s users to submit reviews of your clinic.
One of the most important aspects of this is Google Maps. Consider your patient’s first visit to your clinic. Many patients will simply type in a name and immediately hit ‘directions’ on the listing. If you haven’t got this feature or worse, it is incorrect the map listing could make or break their experience.
5. Content Authoring
Content authoring is the process of writing copy and sourcing images and video for your medical website. This content is the backbone of your website and is arguably the most crucial aspect of a successful digital strategy for your clinic or professional profile.
We are experts at creating compelling content based on basic information that you provide. We understand that medical professionals are very busy, so we use our background knowledge in the sector to generate content from your ideas (which we call ‘seed’ content).
We can expand on copy and commission photography in your clinic. Our aim is to produce content on a regular basis, not as a one-off activity. The frequency with which you publish content has an overall impact on the success of your online presence. Update frequency is a factor in Google’s rankings as well as the overall number of pages ‘vs’ your competition.
Summary
We hope that these tips on producing a professional website for your healthcare clinic or medical service are useful. However, we appreciate that most people in the medical profession do not have the bandwidth to become experts in digital marketing.
We would be delighted if you get in touch to discuss outsourcing your needs to us. Resolve Digital are experts in the field of digital marketing for the healthcare industry.
