Practical Guide — 2025

seo checklist for podiatry practices to attract more patients online

Step-by-step SEO actions for podiatrists: website fixes, local optimisation, content ideas, and marketing tactics that drive bookings.

This practical checklist is written for busy podiatry clinic owners and managers. Use it as your week-by-week action plan to increase local visibility, outrank competitors, and turn website visitors into booked patients.

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In this checklist

Technical site audit (speed, mobile, SSL) On-page SEO & content Google Business & citations Service pages & landing pages Content topics for podiatrists Patient journey & conversion Paid ads & remarketing Measurement & KPIs

1. Technical site audit — fix these first

Technical issues block rankings and patient conversions. Run these checks and fix high-impact problems immediately.

Speed & Core Web Vitals

Why: Slow pages lose patients and drop in rankings. Action:

Run PageSpeed Insights and Lighthouse for mobile and desktop.
Prioritise largest-contentful-paint (LCP) and cumulative layout shift (CLS): compress images, defer unused JS, use efficient caching.
Use modern image formats (WebP/AVIF) and size images to device widths.

Mobile-first & responsive

Why: Most patients search on phones. Action:

Verify responsive breakpoints, readable font sizes, large tap targets for buttons.
Test common flows: "Book appointment", "Call clinic", contact form, map directions.

HTTPS, canonicalisation & sitemap

Why: Security and proper indexing. Action:

Ensure site uses HTTPS and has valid SSL certificate.
Implement canonical tags to prevent duplicate content (www vs non-www, HTTP vs HTTPS).
Submit XML sitemap to Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools.

Structured data (Schema.org)

Why: Enhances SERP appearance and supports appointment-rich results. Action:

Add LocalBusiness/MedicalBusiness schema (include clinic name, address, phone, openingHours, geo coordinates).
Use HealthcareServices or Physician schema where appropriate and include acceptedInsurances, serviceType, and medicalSpecialty: "Podiatry".
Include FAQ schema on common patient questions to gain rich results.

2. On-page SEO — pages that rank and convert

On-page SEO helps Google understand your clinic and match it to patient searches.

Title tags & meta descriptions

Actionable examples:

Title: Podiatrist in [Suburb] | [Clinic Name] — Foot Pain & Ingrown Toenails
Meta: Trusted podiatry clinic in [Suburb]. Same-week appointments for heel pain, bunions, and diabetic foot care. Book online or call [phone].
Keep title ~50–60 characters, meta ~120–155 characters. Include primary local keyword and service.

Headings & content structure

Use a clear H1 with clinic + main service. H2s for common conditions, treatments, patient benefits and FAQs.
Answer patient intent quickly: symptoms, treatment options, cost, and how to book.
Include bulleted lists, short paragraphs, and clear CTAs ("Book online", "Call now").

Service-specific pages

Create separate pages for each high-value treatment to capture intentised traffic.

Examples: "Heel pain (plantar fasciitis) treatment", "Diabetic foot clinic", "Ingrown toenail removal", "Orthotics fitting".
Each page: symptoms, causes, treatment steps, expected recovery, cost/insurance, before/after photos, patient testimonials, clear CTA.

Local keyword optimisation

Action:

Target keyword patterns: [service] + near me, [service] + [suburb], best podiatrist in [suburb].
Use variations naturally across headings, content, and image alt text.

Patient-first content

Avoid clinical jargon. Explain treatments in plain language, show empathy, and address common patient fears (pain, recovery time, costs).

3. Local SEO — dominate maps and local results

For podiatrists, local visibility is the most valuable channel. Focus here first.

Google Business Profile (GBP)

Claim and verify your GBP listing.
Choose accurate primary category: "Podiatrist" or "Podiatric Clinic". Add secondary categories for "Diabetic foot clinic", "Orthotics supplier".
Complete every field: services, attributes (wheelchair accessible), clinic hours, appointment URL, phone, short and long descriptions (use local keywords).
Upload 20+ high-quality photos: clinic exterior, waiting room, treatment room, team photos, staff credentials, before/after (patient permission required).
Post regularly to GBP (weekly): promotions, patient education, seasonal tips (e.g., "Summer foot care").

Reviews & reputation

Ask satisfied patients to leave Google reviews. Simple script: "If you found today's visit helpful, would you mind leaving a quick review on Google?"
Respond to every review within 72 hours—thank positive reviewers and address concerns professionally in negative reviews.
Display reviews on your site (with schema) and include short patient testimonials on service pages.

NAP consistency & citations

Why: Local directories help ranking and trust. Action:

Ensure NAP (Name, Address, Phone) is identical across your website, GBP, and major directories (HealthEngine, HotDoc, WhitePages, TrueLocal, Yellow Pages).
Claim and update listings on healthcare-specific directories and local council business directories.

Local content & service-area pages

Create service-area pages for each suburb you serve, with localised copy, staff photos, and a map embed.
Include local landmarks where relevant and local testimonials to increase relevance for neighbourhood searches.

4. Service pages & landing pages that convert

Well-built service pages rank and turn visitors into booked patients. Build these pages with the patient in mind.

Must-have pages

Home — clear primary CTA
About / Meet the team (bios with credentials)
Services — individual pages for key treatments
FAQ & patient resources
Contact & booking page with map

High-converting elements

Above-the-fold CTA: Book online or Call now with click-to-call on mobile.
Trust signals: provider qualifications, clinic accreditations, clinic photos.
Social proof: Google reviews, video testimonials.
Clear pricing or indicative fees where appropriate.

Landing page blueprint

H1 with service + suburb
Short intro (what you fix, who you help)
Symptoms & when to see a podiatrist
Treatment approach & expected outcomes
Testimonials & before/after
Clear CTA and scheduling options

5. Content strategy — what to publish and when

Content builds authority and answers patient questions — aim for helpful, localised, patient-first content.

Blog & evergreen topics

“What causes heel pain and how it's treated” — long-form hub article.
“Diabetic foot care checklist for [suburb] residents”.
“How orthotics work: what to expect from fitting”.
Seasonal content: “Summer foot care tips”, “Sports injuries for runners”.

Short-form content & video

2–3 minute procedure explainer videos (upload to YouTube and embed).
Short patient education clips for Instagram and Facebook Reels.
How-to visuals: stretching for plantar fasciitis, nail care tips.

FAQ pages & schema

Add an FAQ section to service pages and mark them up with FAQ schema to win rich snippets.

Examples: "Is ingrown toenail removal painful?", "Do you accept Medicare or private health?"

Content calendar (simple)

Week 1: Publish a service landing page
Week 2: Publish a blog answering a high-volume patient question
Week 3: Share video + GBP post
Ongoing: Request one review per week, monitor analytics

6. Patient journey & conversion optimisation

Turn visitors into appointments with clear, low-friction conversion flows.

Booking options

Offer easy online booking (calendar widget) and a clear click-to-call button on mobile.
Provide short appointment types (Initial consultation 30min, Follow-up 15min) to reduce friction.

Landing page CTAs & trust

Place a primary CTA above the fold and repeat at logical points.
Use trust badges: provider qualifications, clinic membership, insurance affiliations.

Low-friction contact options

Other ways patients want to reach you:

Call tracking numbers to measure which campaigns generate calls.
SMS confirmations and reminders to reduce no-shows.
Simple online forms (keep them to 4 fields).

7. Paid strategy — get fast patient volume

Paid campaigns complement organic SEO — use them for immediate demand and to test what patients search for.

Google Ads (Search)

Bid on local, high-intent keywords: "podiatrist near me", "ingrown toenail removal [suburb]".
Use call-only campaigns for mobile-heavy traffic; track conversions with call tracking.
Create ad groups per service with tailored landing pages.

Social & remarketing

Run local Facebook/Instagram ads promoting new patient specials and clinic open days.
Use remarketing to re-engage visitors who viewed service pages but didn't book.
Track conversions with Facebook Pixel and Google Analytics GA4.

8. Measurement & KPIs — know what’s working

Track these KPIs regularly and optimise based on data.

Essential metrics

Organic sessions (Search Console + GA4)
Phone calls & call conversion rate (use call tracking)
Online bookings & booking conversion rate
Top queries & pages (Search Console)

Tools we recommend

Google Search Console & GA4 — indexing, queries, behaviour
PageSpeed Insights & WebPageTest — performance
Google Business Profile dashboard — local insights
Call tracking provider (e.g., CallRail) to attribute calls to campaigns

Reporting cadence

Monthly: review organic traffic, top queries, GBP views & actions, bookings, and calls. Quarterly: run a full site audit, refresh content, and test new landing pages.

Actionable 90-day checklist for podiatry SEO

Follow this schedule to make steady, measurable progress.

Week 1–2: Quick wins

Claim & complete Google Business Profile
Fix HTTPS & submit sitemap
Optimize homepage title & meta
Add click-to-call & online booking button

Week 3–6: Core pages

Create/optimise 3–5 service pages
Publish an in-depth blog (1,200–1,800 words)
Implement schema for clinic and FAQs

Week 7–12: Growth & measurement

Set up GA4 goals and Search Console
Launch a Google Ads campaign for top services
Request weekly patient reviews and post GBP updates
Review performance and iterate monthly

Downloadable micro-checklist

Copy these to your task list:

Claim GBP & add 20 photos
Publish 3 service pages with structured data
Set up call tracking & GA4
Publish 1 long-form patient education article
Ask 5 patients for new reviews

Frequently asked questions

How long until SEO brings more patients?

Local SEO improvements and GBP optimisation can show results in 4–8 weeks for local discovery. Substantive organic ranking for competitive terms typically takes 3–6 months with consistent content and technical fixes.

Should I run Google Ads or focus on organic SEO first?

Do both: paid ads deliver immediate patient volume while organic SEO builds sustainable traffic. Use ads to test which services convert best and then scale organic content around those queries.

What’s the best way to get more Google reviews?

Make it easy: send a short SMS or email after appointments with a direct Google review link, ask reception to remind satisfied patients, and provide a gentle script for clinicians.

Can I use patient photos and testimonials?

Yes, but always get written consent. Avoid revealing any protected health details and follow privacy laws (HIPAA equivalent in your jurisdiction) when sharing clinical images.

Ready to attract more patients online?

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Final tips

Prioritise patient intent: patients search for relief, convenience and trust — answer those first.
Local consistency beats clever hacks: consistent NAP and strong GBP signals drive consistent calls.
Measure and repeat: use one experiment per month (new landing page, new ad, new content) and track impact.

If you'd like, we can audit your clinic website and GBP and send a simple, prioritized action plan you can implement in 30 days — or we can implement it for you while you focus on patients. See a demo.