SEO for medical practices
Anyone who moves to Switzerland, falls ill or needs a specialist searches Google – with a city and a specific question: Does the practice take new patients? Do they speak English? Is there an appointment today? We make sure your practice is found with the right answers.
- 1Your practice★★★★★ 4.9 · General practitioner · Online bookingOpen
- 2Practice A★★★★☆ 4.3 · General practitioner
- 3Practice B★★★★☆ 4.1 · Medical practice
How patients search
A newcomer looking for a GP has different questions from a parent with a feverish child on a Saturday. Both needs deserve clear pages.
| Need | Typical searches | What your website needs |
|---|---|---|
| New GP | english speaking doctor zurich gp accepting new patients zug family doctor basel | An up-to-date note on accepting new patients, languages spoken, catchment area and how to register. |
| Specialists | dermatologist basel english gynecologist zurich english paediatrician geneva | One page per specialty with focus areas, whether a referral is needed, and booking. |
| Urgent & walk-in | walk in clinic geneva doctor open sunday zurich after hours doctor zug | Walk-in hours, what counts as an emergency and where to go out of hours. |
| Health system questions | how does health insurance work switzerland doctor do i need a referral switzerland doctor costs franchise | Plain-English explanations of how seeing a doctor works in Switzerland – deductibles, referrals, billing. A top need for newcomers. |
| Practical | doctor zurich near hauptbahnhof wheelchair accessible practice medical practice parking | Location, public transport, accessibility and parking. Often decisive. |
A medical practice’s Google profile
For “doctor + city”, the three map results decide who gets the call. Many practices never update their profile – including outdated hours and phone numbers.
- Specialty as categoryPrimary category matching your specialty; group practices add their other specialties.
- Opening and phone hoursKeep them current, especially on public holidays and during vacations.
- Online bookingAdd a booking link if you have one.
- Languages and accessibilityState the languages you consult in and whether the practice is wheelchair accessible.
- Useful postsFlu vaccination, holidays, pauses in accepting new patients.
- Consistent dataName, address, phone and hours identical on website, Google, local.ch, search.ch and doctorfmh.ch.
Rules for medical practices online
Doctors in Switzerland are subject to particular professional duties. These three points matter most online.
Objective, not promotional
Advertising must be objective and neither misleading nor intrusive. No promises of cure, no superlatives like “best doctor in town”.
Medical confidentiality
No patient stories or photos without explicit consent. Never confirm in a review reply that someone is a patient.
Medicines advertising
Strict rules apply to medicines. Don’t feature branded products as advertising messages on your practice website.
This is guidance, not legal advice. For professional rules, the FMH and your cantonal medical society can help.
Example: page title in Google
Found in ChatGPT and AI Overviews
Questions like “Which GP in Zug speaks English and accepts new patients?” are increasingly asked of AI assistants. They name practices with clear, current information.
How we work with medical practices
Practice check
Google profile, website, directories and practices in your area.
Clarify goals
More patients for a specialty, fewer calls, or both?
Implementation
Information and specialty pages, schema markup, profile upkeep and reply templates.
Reporting
Monthly: rankings, calls, online bookings and direction requests from Google.
Medical practice SEO by canton
Search behaviour and competition vary a lot from canton to canton. Here are our regional pages.
Frequently asked questions from medical practices
Do expats really search for doctors in English?
Yes, constantly. “English-speaking doctor Zurich”, “GP accepting new patients Zug” and “walk-in clinic Geneva” are typical searches from newcomers. Few practices have clear English pages, so a small effort makes a big difference.
Our practice is full – why SEO?
It’s rarely about more patients, but the right ones – and fewer phone calls. Clear information on accepting new patients, specialties, booking and emergencies takes real pressure off your team.
What may a medical practice communicate online?
Advertising for medical activity in Switzerland must be objective, meet a public need and be neither misleading nor intrusive. Information on services, qualifications, languages and procedures, on the other hand, is genuinely helpful.
Should we say whether we accept new patients?
Yes, and keep it up to date. Many people search desperately for a GP with capacity. A clear yes or no saves both sides many calls.
How do we reply to reviews?
Factually, without confirming that someone is a patient. Medical confidentiality applies on Google too. We provide polite templates that reveal nothing.
Free analysis for your practice
Within two working days you’ll receive:
- +Your position for “doctor + your city” in Google Maps
- +A check of your Google profile with the three most important fixes
- +A fixed-price quote – suitable packages from CHF 890 per month