The medical industry, as much as any other, fails to implement the very basics of good hospital website design. If you work in health care marketing that’s good news for you—it means there’s considerable advantage to be gained from executing the fundamentals of online medical marketing, like these three simple steps.
Be mobile-friendly
It’s astonishing this still has to be said, particularly in a field that’s as likely as any to be searched by anxious people on their phones. Someone broke their ankle at the company softball game. “Hospital near me” is rapidly entered in by mobile searchers. That’s just one of countless examples where people will go to their phones for information—and be even more unwilling than normal to put up with a website that doesn’t display well.
So make sure your basic website template is one that adjusts to the size of a searcher’s device, from a cellphone to a desktop. Then run your URL through Google’s mobile-friendly test.
Be ADA compliant
It was 2010 that a directive was issued regarding websites being accessible for the disabled, in conformity with the Americans For Disabilities Act. Nine years hasn’t been enough for far too many hospitals, as they lag behind in compliance and risk fines. Check your website against these content accessibility guidelines to make sure you steer clear of trouble.
Have accurate information
Everything from location to hours has to be both accurate and identical on your site and in all the major directories. Google will penalize you if it’s not and the parent with a sick child won’t take any chances if they aren’t 100 percent sure your doors are open.
It was George Orwell who once said that “the first duty of intelligent men is the restatement of the obvious.” Perhaps that’s a good mindset for your hospital website design project to begin with.