Latest / The Clinic Marketing Podcast | Local SEO & Healthcare Online Marketing Tips for Clinic Owners & Wellness Providers / Are You Getting Patients from AI? Your Competition Is [Propel Playback]

Transcript

Are You Getting Patients from AI? Your Competition Is [Propel Playback] · The Clinic Marketing Podcast | Local SEO & Healthcare Online Marketing Tips for Clinic Owners & Wellness Providers

• 0:26
  SPEAKER_00: Imagine this.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_00: A potential patient is looking for help with their back pain.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: They open Chat GPT or another AI tool and type, find me the best chiropractor near me who specializes in sports injuries.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: The AI lists a few options, and your clinic isn't on the list.
• 0:47
  SPEAKER_00: That patient, they're gone and they're booking with your competitor instead.
• 0:53
  SPEAKER_00: AI-driven searches aren't the future.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: They're here now.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're not showing up in them, you're already losing patience without even realizing it.
• 1:18
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host, Darcy Sullivan, from Propel Marketing and Design.
• 1:23
  SPEAKER_00: Today, we're diving into a game changer, AI-powered search.
• 1:28
  SPEAKER_00: It's reshaping how patients find healthcare providers like you.
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_00: If you're still banking solely on Google search or Google Maps, you're missing a massive opportunity.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_00: Patients are turning to AI for recommendations, and if you're not in those results, you're invisible to them.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: Let's fix that.
• 1:47
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the thing: AI is changing how people discover local businesses, including clinics.
• 1:54
  SPEAKER_00: Traditionally, we thought about search in two main buckets.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Google search, where someone types in chiropractor near me and clicks through to a website.
• 2:06
  SPEAKER_00: Google Maps where they're looking for directions, reviews, and contact info.
• 2:11
  SPEAKER_00: But now we have a third player in the game.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_00: AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok, Gemini, Beam Copilot, and even AI results inside Google itself.
• 2:26
  SPEAKER_00: These tools don't just show a list of websites.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_00: They summarize answers, recommend providers, and often pull in information from Google Maps, online reviews, and your website, all without the searcher ever clicking through to your site.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: That means your visibility in AI recommendations isn't nice to have anymore.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: It's essential.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_00: Here's how it's playing out in real life.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: Let's say someone is dealing with recurring headaches.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: They might start with a simple Google search.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Why do I keep getting headaches?
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: That might lead them to a few blog posts, maybe a YouTube video.
• 3:09
  SPEAKER_00: But then they hop into an AI tool and ask, find a highly rated chiropractor near me who specializes in headache relief.
• 3:20
  SPEAKER_00: That AI tool uses Google Business Profile Data, reviews from Google and other sites.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_00: Information from your website, especially if it's well optimized.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_00: Other online mentions of your clinic.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: From there, it gives them three to five names.
• 3:39
  SPEAKER_00: If yours isn't on that list, you've been filtered out before the patient even knew you existed.
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: And here's the kicker.
• 3:47
  SPEAKER_00: This process often happens before they ever book.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: Patients are using a mix of searches.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: Google Search, Google Maps, AI queries, review site lookups.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_00: By the time they call, they've already been influenced by AI recommendations whether you've been in those results or not.
• 4:10
  SPEAKER_00: Let's be blunt, you can't compete in a game you're not even playing.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: If your clinic isn't showing up in AI search results, you're losing visibility to competitors who've optimized for it.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_00: You're missing out on patients who never make it to traditional search results.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER_00: Your online presence can start to look outdated compared to more AI-optimized competitors.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: And here's the thing AI search is pulling heavily from the same signals that improve your rankings in Google Search and Google Maps.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: So if you're ignoring those, you're falling behind in both worlds at the same time.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER_00: So how do you make sure AI tools recommend you instead of your competitors?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Here are five steps you can take right now.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: Supercharge your Google Business Profile.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_00: Keep your name, address, phone number, and hours 100% accurate and consistent.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: Write a keyword-rich description that highlights your specialties, for example, sports injury chiropractic care.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Add high-quality photos of your clinic, team, and services.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_00: Encourage and respond to patient reviews to build trust and authority.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: Make your website AI friendly.
• 5:32
  SPEAKER_00: Use clear, conversational content that answers patient questions.
• 5:36
  SPEAKER_00: For example, how can chiropractic care help migraines?
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_00: Create dedicated service pages for each specialty optimized with local keywords.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: Ensure your site is mobile friendly and loads quickly.
• 5:52
  SPEAKER_00: AI tools prioritize user experience.
• 5:56
  SPEAKER_00: Leverage content to show expertise.
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_00: Write blog posts or frequently asked questions addressing common patient concerns, for example, top causes of back pain.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_00: Create short videos explaining your services or patient success stories.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_00: Post on social media to boost your online presence.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_00: AI tools scan these two.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: Ensure consistency across the web.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_00: Check that your clinic's info is identical on Yelp, Health Grades, and other directories.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_00: Monitor and adapt.
• 6:32
  SPEAKER_00: Regularly check your Google Analytics to see how patients find you.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER_00: Experiment with new content based on trending patient questions in your area.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_00: Pro tip: AI loves fresh, relevant content.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_00: The more you show up as an authority, the more likely AI tools will recommend you.
• 6:55
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the bottom line: AI isn't replacing traditional search yet, but it's becoming part of the patient journey, whether you realize it or not.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_00: The clinics that act now will be the ones that dominate those AI recommendations in the months and years to come.
• 7:14
  SPEAKER_00: That's it for today.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_00: If you found this episode helpful, please subscribe and leave a quick review to help other clinic owners discover the show.
• 7:24
  SPEAKER_00: Until next time, keep optimizing and stay ahead of the competition your next patient is already searching.