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How do patients search?
People rarely start with a doctor's name. They start with a problem or a need, then narrow down.
- A symptom or need: "tooth pain at night", "skin rash treatment", "child vaccination".
- A service plus a place: "root canal near me", "dermatologist in Jayanagar".
- A name check: once they have a shortlist, they search the clinic name, read the reviews and look at the website.
Your pages and profile should work for all three: explain the problem you treat, show where you are, and give people confidence at the final check.
What goes on a clinic profile?
Your Google Business Profile is often the first thing a patient sees. Fill it in carefully.
- The name exactly as on your signboard and registration
- The most specific main category, such as dentist or dermatologist
- Services, each with a short plain description
- Opening hours, including Sundays and holidays
- A phone number that is answered, and a booking link if you have one
- Real photos of the entrance, reception, waiting area and clinic, not stock images
- Accessibility details, such as a ramp or a lift
What goes on a clinic website?
A good clinic website is clear before it is clever.
- A page for each treatment you offer, in plain language
- Who the doctors are, with qualifications and registration details that are accurate
- Address, map, parking and directions
- Timings and how to book
- Answers to common questions: what to expect, how long it takes, what to bring
- A privacy policy, since you hold patient details through enquiry forms
Write for a worried person at 11 pm. Short sentences, no jargon, and a phone button that works.
How do you handle reviews under the NMC rules?
This needs care. The National Medical Commission issued new guidelines on ethical advertising by doctors in October 2026, and news coverage says they bar patient testimonials and solicited reviews. We have read that coverage but not the full text of the guidelines, so check the current rules yourself, or with a lawyer or your medical council, before you act. Dentists should also check the rules of their own council.
Until you have, a careful approach is:
- Do not ask patients for reviews, and do not offer anything in return for one.
- Do not copy patient reviews or testimonials onto your website or social pages.
- Reply to a review, if at all, without confirming the person was a patient or sharing any details of care. Replying can itself disclose that someone is a patient, so many doctors choose a short, general reply.
Our post on Google reviews is written for general local businesses. For clinics, the points above come first.
What should you avoid claiming?
Advertising rules for doctors are strict. As a general principle, avoid:
- Guarantees of results or cure
- Claims that you are the best, or better than named doctors
- Before and after photos of patients, unless the current rules clearly allow it
- Pricing or discount offers that read as inducements
- Any claim you cannot back up with your qualifications
When in doubt, describe what you do and how you do it, and let patients decide.
How do location pages help?
If you serve more than one area, or have more than one branch, a separate page for each makes it clear to Google and to patients where you are. Each page should be real and useful: the actual address, hours, doctors at that branch, and directions. Do not create a page for an area where you do not have a clinic.
What do you track?
Keep it simple and honest.
- Calls and appointment enquiries each month
- Where they came from: Google profile, website, or other
- Your rating and the number of new reviews
- Which treatment pages get visits
Our Local SEO + AEO plan covers research, 5 optimised pages a month, name, address and phone consistency and a monthly report, at ₹24,999 a month including GST. See the pricing page. We do not promise rankings, and we follow the rules above for medical businesses.
Questions people ask
Can a doctor advertise?
Doctors in India can share information about their practice, within rules set by the medical council that governs them. The rules limit claims, testimonials and certain kinds of promotion. Because they are updated, read the current guidelines or ask a lawyer before you publish, and keep content factual.
Can I ask patients for reviews?
Reported guidance from October 2026 says the NMC bars solicited reviews. We have only read news coverage, not the full text, so check the current rules with your council or a lawyer. Until you are sure, do not ask or offer anything in return, and do not publish testimonials.
Can I show before and after photos?
Be very careful. Patient images raise consent, privacy and advertising issues, and advertising rules for doctors may restrict or bar them. Do not publish any unless you have confirmed the current rules and have clear written consent. Explaining the treatment in words is the safer choice.
Do I need a separate page per treatment?
Usually it helps. A patient searching for one treatment is more likely to find, and trust, a page that is about that treatment alone. Each page should be genuinely useful: what it is, who it is for, what to expect, and how to book. Avoid thin pages that repeat the same text.
How many areas can I cover?
Cover the areas where you actually practise, and those your patients realistically travel from. A page for every neighbourhood you do not serve looks like spam and can hurt trust. Start with your own location and branches, then add area pages only where there is something true to say.
