Patients with an urgent medical need or complex health condition expect to find help when they need it. Could they find your practice easily online? Is your phone number and location information clearly listed on your website?

Make sure you're taking advantage of every opportunity to connect with consumers at crucial points along their patient journey. Here are six ways to get you started:

Be found locally

Studies show that more than 70 percent of people turn to online local listings in their search for healthcare providers. These online directories can steer targeted traffic to your website. Make sure you appear in business directory services like Google+ and Yelp, among others. If your practice has multiple locations, it's a good idea to call in the experts to help keep your listings both up to date and working for you. Give us a call - we'd love to help.

Monitor your online presence and join the conversation

Read your online reviews. Show that you care by responding to both positive and negative feedback. The more positive the feedback, the more calls you'll get from potential patients. When you do have to respond to negative reviews, check out our tips for handling it like a pro.

Optimize for mobile

A relevant website is one of your most powerful marketing tools. And mobile optimization is a must, especially when it comes to showing up. New patients are also more attracted to user-friendly sites - both desktop and mobile - that allow them to make an informed decision and call for an appointment.

Put contact information up front and everywhere

If your lead generation campaign doesn't have contact information on its landing page, your visitor may bounce. Patients should clearly know how to contact you on every page of your website. Make it effortless for patients to reach out the moment they are ready.

Set up ad extensions for all campaigns

Call extensions, location extensions and sitelink extensions are a great way to extend the real estate of your ad. Include phone numbers, locations, and driving instructions - basically anything a patient might need to find you. A bonus: ad extensions may improve your ad ranking.

Embrace new technology that improves the patient experience

Today's patients want a technologically connected healthcare provider. Options abound for practices to make technical updates (even cost effectively). Remember, patients are beginning to expect the ability to download lab results, schedule appointments or chat with nurses via a personalized portal.

Competition is fierce! If you're not easy to find, you're losing new patients. CMG Health Marketing can help you generate leads with smart strategies. Contact us today.