Senior Living SEO: 7 Essential Steps for Higher Google Rankings

As the digital age continues to evolve, many senior living communities are realizing the importance of an online presence. However, simply having a website isn’t enough. To effectively reach your target audience and stand out in a crowded marketplace, you must embrace senior living SEO strategies.

Here at Salt Rank, we’ve spent over a decade honing our skills and aiding countless senior living communities across the US in achieving online success. Today, we’ll share eight indispensable steps to help you climb the Google rankings.

But first, let’s dive into an important foundational topic:

 

What is SEO?

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of enhancing a website to make it more visible on search engines like Google. When done correctly, SEO ensures your website appears higher in search results, especially when potential residents or their families are looking for senior living options. Think of SEO as the roadmap guiding potential customers to your senior living community’s virtual doorstep.

Now, with an understanding of SEO, let’s delve into the eight crucial steps you should be taking.

 

#1.) Keyword Research 

Keywords are the heart of creating SEO content and reaching your goals when it comes to search engines. To make any kind of significant impact in your SEO efforts, you will first need. To identify the terms and phrases your target audience is using when searching for senior living options. A few examples of keywords that might fight your community could include phrases such as ‘memory care near me’ or ‘top assisted living communities near [city name]’.

If you aren’t sure what keywords you should be using, a trusted marketing partner such as Salt Rank can help you! Our team has tools that will pinpoint exactly which keywords are the most relevant to your target audience as well as provide insight in how to best implement them across your website.

 

#2.) Optimized Content

That point leads us to our next step: you need to ensure that your website’s content is relevant, engaging, and includes the right keywords. You can use keywords in a diverse multitude of ways, including plugging them into headers, working them into URLs, and of course, creating blogs and other copy to publish on your page.

For senior living SEO purposes, blogging can be an exceptionally helpful tool. Not only does it give you a chance to include keywords, but it can set you up to be a key resource in your industry. For example, by writing on timely and helpful topics such as senior health and wellness or offering advice on how to find the right senior living community, potential residents and their families will feel more confident in your insights and abilities.

Once again, if you need help in this arena, Salt Rank is there! Writing can be time consuming, especially when you already have enough on your plate. Our team of talented and highly skilled writers can quickly and effectively generate meaningful and professional content to share on your website.

 

#3.) Mobile Friendly Website

Thanks to smartphones and tablets, a significant number of people use mobile devices to browse the web as opposed to traditional computers. Your website should be responsive and user-friendly on all devices. If it’s not, it will hamper the credibility of your community and quickly disinterest any possible leads. Should you be struggling with how to make your website more optimized for mobile use, let a professional internet marketing expert get you on the right track!

 

#4.) High-Quality Backlinks 

These are links from other reputable websites to yours. They can improve your site’s credibility and ranking. For example, if you are a memory care community and you want to share stats and information that you’ve found from reputable sources such as the World Health Organization or the Center for Disease Control, link it! This not only helps your senior living SEO, but also instills trust from your readers.

 

#5.) Utilize GoogleMyBusiness

It is no secret that word of mouth plays a huge role in the public relations part of your community. Thanks to the past negative stigma surrounding senior living communities, it is more important than ever to ensure that you are putting your best foot forward. One way to do this is  by setting up your GoogleMyBusiness listing and gathering positive reviews. Should you get a negative review, you can publicly reply to help mitigate the issue and provide damage control.

In addition to this, GoogleMyBusiness can also be used to make routine posts. Here, you can share images, links, and quick excerpts that contain keywords. It plays a dual role in assisting you to bolster your senior living SEO while also giving you a public relations platform.

 

#6.) Fast Loading Speed

If you’ve spent any duration of time on the internet, you know how daunting and frustrating that slow loading speeds are. Not only does this deter visitors, but it also can have a negative impact on your SEO efforts. We highly suggest working with a professional web marketing team to ensure your site is fast and responsive for the best user experience.

 

#7.) Add Engaging Multimedia

No one wants to come to a website to find that it’s plain Jane! Not only does this look unprofessional, but it makes it seem as though you don’t care – a huge negative in the realm of senior living. In order to engage visitors, it is best practice to use high quality images, videos, and infographics to engage visitors. Doing so not only improves user experience but also boosts your senior living SEO efforts.

 

Salt Rank: Your Senior Living SEO Expert

Senior living SEO isn’t just about keywords and backlinks. It’s about crafting a user-friendly experience that meets the unique needs of seniors and their families. With over a decade of experience in the field, Salt Rank has guided a multitude of senior living communities all across the US in reaching their SEO goals.

Interested in learning how senior living SEO can benefit your community? Contact our incredible team today for a free consultation. Your online success is just around the corner!