{"id":2345,"date":"2017-02-22T10:05:20","date_gmt":"2017-02-22T15:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.inboundmd.com\/?p=2345"},"modified":"2017-02-22T10:05:20","modified_gmt":"2017-02-22T15:05:20","slug":"google-guaranteed-program-launched-every-healthcare-practice-needs-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inboundmd.com\/google-guaranteed-program-launched-every-healthcare-practice-needs-know\/","title":{"rendered":"Google Guaranteed Program Launched, What Every Healthcare Practice Needs to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

Full Beta testing for Google\u2019s \u201cGoogle Guaranteed\u201d program just launched in the San Francisco area today for select professional services. <\/span><\/p>\n

This development by Google has BIG implications for doctors, dentists and other healthcare providers and signals what\u2019s to come for those practices who want to remain at the top of the search results.<\/span><\/p>\n

Initial reports from peers around in the SEO industry show some businesses, like electricians have already seeing large increases in web traffic already. While others that had ranked high previously have been completely filtered out of local search results. <\/span><\/p>\n

This has nothing to do with any structural or technical changes to their SEO either. With Google Guaranteed, Google has taken a strategic decision to add another lever or limiting factor (depending on how you look at it) that has less to do with content and links and more to do with the \u201cquality\u201d of the business listed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, Google Guaranteed is limited to select industries in the San Francisco market, but you can expect that the healthcare industry is undoubtedly going to be included once refinements have been made. <\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to prepare and take advantage of the changes before it\u2019s rolled out everywhere. Let\u2019s take a closer look.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"GoogleGuaranteed\"<\/b><\/p>\n

What is Google guaranteed?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Google Guaranteed is the certification given to businesses that are registered and approved for Google Home Services. It\u2019s primary purpose is to provide clarity to a searcher as to which businesses are most reputable, local, and of course provide services that the searcher needs. \u00a0This means that searchers (like those searching for medical treatment) who find a business through this service are highly likely to want to engage. <\/span><\/p>\n

It is not at all far-fetched to think that the label of \u201chome services\u201d will be duplicated for \u201cmedical services\u201d, because reputation seriously matters when you\u2019re seeking medical treatment. Again, the main purpose of the certification, is to provide search results to users searching Google for professional service businesses with the greatest reputation (measured by Google Reviews).<\/span><\/p>\n

Google knows these higher converting searchers are more valuable to a business compared to the free version of the local 3-pack (Google Maps) that exists today. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Google Guaranteed certification requires a background check for all employees of the business. The current program is free (where available in beta). It is not clear if there will be a cost associated with participating in the program when it is launched. \u00a0It\u2019s currently speculated to be a premium replacement for the free local 3-pack because Home Services features valuable enhancements compared to what you would normally get from your local 3-pack results. For example, things like qualified lead distribution for searchers who are seeking the types of services and treatments that a business or medical practice provide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Any business, anywhere in the country can currently register for this service, and in conjunction with that, we are recommending that all of our clients also claim and optimize Google My Business profiles for all of their practitioners and practices. These profiles are used to generate search results for both Home Services and the local 3-pack.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once these profiles are setup, they need to be optimized and available for reviews (which is another way Google is refining the search results to the most bona fide provider).<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

Just like Facebook, as implied by Mark Zuckerberg in his nearly <\/span>6000 word essay<\/span><\/a> last week; Google knows that people <\/span>want<\/b> to connect to their search results quickly with a high degree of relevance. \u00a0Also, akin to Facebook, Google\u2019s aim with these changes is to become the largest-most-comprehensive-yellow-pages in the world and to be the greatest communications-business-and-marketing tool all rolled into one.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

This is especially the case for those seeking professional services – and healthcare related services. There is a legitimate <\/span>need <\/b>for prospective patients seeking medical treatment to find the \u201cbest<\/span>\u201d or \u201chighest quality<\/span>\u201d practice capable of providing services to treat their condition.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s quite easy to see how Google Guaranteed changes things for those businesses participating in the program.<\/span><\/h3>\n

Here are the new local search results for \u201celectricians in san francisco\u201d:<\/b><\/h4>\n

\"sanfranciscoelectricians\"<\/a><\/b><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll notice that Google now: <\/span><\/p>\n