For almost a year, we all have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and businesses alike. For home care agencies, it’s meant rapidly adapting to new protocols to ensure the safety of clients and caregivers, and a complete turnaround in marketing to older adults and their family members during a time of social distancing and isolation.

Though the importance of online marketing is nothing new, it’s now magnified as families and referral sources are relying even more heavily on searching remotely for reputable service providers. If you’re feeling challenged by how to maximize your agency’s visibility and reach, we’ve got the perfect pair of tactics to implement.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization)

In an industry with such fierce competition as aging care, ensuring your agency is as close as possible to the top of search results pages is crucial. Not only does an effective SEO strategy boost your website’s exposure, but it boosts exposure to more of the demographic you want to reach – so those contacting you as a result are more qualified leads.

A common misconception with SEO, however, is the belief that once implemented, that’s all there is to it; and if the results aren’t immediate, it’s not working. Effective SEO requires ongoing monitoring and modifying to achieve maximum results. It should begin with a comprehensive analysis that includes keyword research and a review of competitors’ websites, along with ongoing link acquisition, heat mapping, A-B testing, and on-page optimization. It’s both a science and an art, requiring the expertise of SEO specialists with specific knowledge of the technical aspects of their craft as well as the senior care industry itself.

Online Reviews

Over 90% of consumers are paying attention to online reviews, and over 80% trust them as much as they do personal recommendations. If your agency isn’t regularly asking for, receiving, and sharing reviews from clients and their families, it’s likely your competitors are – and are capturing the attention and business of those in need of care.

So it’s a no-brainer that you need online reviews, but for some agencies, the fear of receiving negative reviews is enough to prevent them from requesting any online reviews at all. The truth, however, is that the value to be obtained from online reviews far outweighs any detriments from negative ones. And honestly, there’s a positive aspect even to negative reviews, as they give you the opportunity to show your professionalism and desire to make things right by the way you respond. Want to learn more? Join us for this webinar about creating an online review strategy.

We understand that the time constraints of running a home care agency, let alone the challenge of understanding how to effectively implement strategies such as these, deters some agency owners. But never fear – corecubed’s elder care marketing pros are here to help! With decades of experience in home care marketing and marketing to older adults, and an exceptional team of SEO specialists who have demonstrated proven results for our clients, we know what it takes to help your agency rise to the top of the pack.

And speaking of rising, our unique RISE online review management program makes requesting online reviews a snap – for you and for the happy clients you want to encourage to provide feedback. RISE provides clients who have positive feedback with easy access to your online review pages at Google, Facebook, Caring.com and more. For clients who have less than glowing reviews, RISE directs them to an internal form where they can leave suggestions for improvements, allowing you the opportunity to address those concerns privately.

Reach out to us any time at 800.370.6580, x1 to learn more about our SEO and RISE services, building a home care blog, or any of our other home care marketing products and services and gain a leading edge over your competitors in 2021.