Healthcare websites can be confusing for any startup practice. There are so many things to consider in order to create an effective, trustworthy site that is professional and resourceful – it can be overwhelming! Thankfully Next Level Web Design has the experience and expertise needed to create a successful healthcare website for your practice. In this blog post we will discuss 5 essential items all great medical websites have in common so you can stay competitive with your peers and attract potential patients.
1) Clear messaging
2) Easy navigation and user experience
3) Integration with EHR & EMR
4) Descriptive imagery
5) Clear call-to-action buttons on every page
Clear Messaging
It’s very important to put yourself in a patient’s position when writing content. Think in terms of what your patient is searching for, and how you can reassure them that they’ve come to the right place. In the first 5 seconds of landing on any website the user needs to have a clear understanding of what you do and who you are. If your messaging is unclear, it can be frustrating for users and lead to potential loss of their business.
Easy Navigation & User Experience
It’s important that your website has a user-friendly design so visitors feel at ease navigating through the site. Here’s a few examples of what would qualify:
- Simple menu with the proper hierarchy
- Mobile Friendly (resizes for each device)
- Colors & fonts that don’t make your eyes strain
- Clickable logo to go back to the homepage at any point
- Generous spacing & margins
- Keeping the most important information forefront & accessible
Integration with EHR & EMR
In order to stay competitive it’s important that your healthcare website is integrated with current medical practices such as Electronic Health Records (EHR) or Electronic Medical Records (EMR). Most leading EHR & EMR companies provide tools to integrate with your website. Patient intake forms or a simple link to their portal is all that is necessary. This is an easy, but necessary part of setting up your medical website.
Descriptive Imagery
Your website should be filled with images that allow potential patients to get a feel for who you are and what your practice is about. Here’s some tips on how to do this:
Add pictures of the staff, doctors or dentists working at the office. Take photos of the outside of your building, the lobby, and other visually identifiable areas to give patients the peace-of-mind that they are in the right place when visiting your office.
Stock images and video are completely fine as long as they match the industry and services your practice provides. The simple rule is to ask this question – “Am I misrepresenting who we are?” As long as the stock images represent you well, you’re good to go!
Imagery tells a story, so make sure it’s the right one.
Clear Call-To Action Buttons On Every Page
It’s important to have clear call-to-action buttons on every page of your website. What is the purpose of each page? What should a visitor do next, and how can you make it easy for them? Here are some examples:
Contact Us link – make it easy for a patient to find your location or call you
Opt-in – for specials or newsletters
Schedule Appointment – a link to your calendar scheduler app
Now that you have the essential items to create a successful medical website, it’s time to get started! Next Level Web Design is here for all your healthcare website needs. We can design and develop a site that fits in with your branding or style while still meeting the requirements of patients on their online search. Contact us today at (530) 276-8183.
