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A Healthcare Provider’s Guide to Leveraging Google My Business

Kara Bodner

Digital discovery continues to reshape healthcare. Many patients now begin searching for a new physician or specialist by typing a few words into Google, looking for a trustworthy and easy-to-reach practice. An optimized Google My Business (GMB) listing can make the difference between a patient booking an appointment or scrolling right past your practice. This guide explores how GMB can influence patient decisions, build credibility, and connect providers with people who need care. Keep reading to learn how patients can find your practice right from Googles with Luma’s Schedule with Google feature.

Seeing GMB as a Digital Front Door

A GMB profile acts as the virtual entrance to your practice. Patients see critical details—location, hours, phone number—right in search results. Offering high-quality photos, precise service descriptions, and consistent contact information quickly reassures prospective patients that your practice is both professional and welcoming. When people search “pediatrician near me” or “cosmetic dermatologist in Springfield,” they often decide in mere seconds whether to explore your profile further or move on.

Why It Matters

  • Instant Credibility: A complete, polished listing signals that your practice is organized and dependable.
  • Improved Local Visibility: Fully built-out GMB profiles often land higher in local search results.
  • Easy Patient Engagement: Links to your website, directions, and call buttons make it a one-stop shop for busy patients. Adding the ability to schedule directly from GMB, such as with Luma’s Schedule with Google feature, makes it even more likely that patients will choose you instead of going elsewhere.

Neglecting your profile can mean losing patients who value convenient access to accurate, up-to-date information. By contrast, a profile with helpful information, positive patient reviews, and even the option to schedule an appointment makes it easier for patients to choose your practice.

Getting to Know You – Before Booking a Visit

Prospective patients want a sense of who you are as a practice before calling or booking online. A GMB listing that includes staff photos, a brief statement of practice philosophy, or highlights of patient-centered services can help readers envision a positive experience. For many, seeing a welcoming waiting room or friendly team members relieves anxiety and establishes an early sense of trust.

Thought-Starters

  • Photos: Show the reception area, exam rooms, or staff members in candid, friendly moments.
  • Short Descriptions: Summaries of care values, like being family-focused or technology-driven.
  • Regular Updates: Post holiday hours or seasonal service reminders to show your practice is active and approachable.

By spotlighting the people and values behind your practice, you transform a once-sterile online listing into a genuine invitation.

How Patients Use Google Reviews to Decide

Patient reviews convey real experiences—good or bad—and can heavily influence someone’s choice. A practice with recent, thoughtful feedback typically appears more authentic than one with few or outdated reviews. Consumers read about staff friendliness, the atmosphere, and how providers explain treatment options. Even constructive criticism can have a positive impact if you respond graciously and demonstrate a commitment to improving.

Tips for Reviews

  • Encourage Authentic Feedback: Invite satisfied patients to leave honest opinions about their visit. An automated system for requesting patient reviews, such as Luma’s Feedback and Reputation Management, can help boost positive reviews by reminding happy patients that you’d value an online review.
  • Respond Respectfully: Show that you value input by thanking reviewers or clarifying issues.
  • Guard Privacy: Keep patient information confidential and comply with HIPAA when addressing reviews.

Reviews serve as a two-way conversation. They reveal patient impressions while showing you’re listening and care about delivering quality experiences. Need to drive more positive reviews and manage unhappy ones privately? Check out Luma’s Feedback and Reputation Management product – it encourages patients who respond with a high survey rating to leave an online review.

Make Scheduling an Appointment Seamless with Luma and Google

Google offers healthcare providers the option to enable appointment scheduling right from their GMB listings. With a solution like Luma’s Schedule with Google, patients can click “Book” right from your profile in their Google search.  This eliminates phone tag and decision fatigue and catches patients while scheduling care is on their minds. It also appeals to patients who like convenient scheduling or need care soon.

Why It Matters

  • Convenience Anytime: Booking feels as easy as ordering dinner online, inviting more patients to follow through. Schedule with Google helps build your brand as an organization with a great consumer experience and creates a positive impression with your patients.
  • Less Friction: Patients can schedule after hours, during a lunch break, or whenever they’re free.
  • Reduced Call Volume: Fewer scheduling calls hitting the front desk allow staff to devote energy to more complex patient needs.

With Luma’s Schedule with Google feature,  new and returning patients can grab available appointments directly from Google without calling or visiting your website. When they book, the appointment details write back to your EHR in near-real-time, so your staff don’t need to manually follow up.

By default, Luma updates Google hourly with your current appointment availability. Schedule with Google can also include open slots from last-minute cancellations.. Practices choose which appointment types, providers, and locations to offer through Google, tailoring the system to match operational needs. 

Start Attracting Attention

Google My Business now influences whether prospective patients even consider your practice. A thoughtful profile that includes robust info, genuine reviews, and direct scheduling helps your office stand out in a crowded online space. It’s a practical way to showcase your team’s personality, specialized services, and overall approach to patient care.

Tools like Luma’s Schedule with Google feature seamlessly connect GMB listings to your EHR, removing obstacles that might discourage patients from making that crucial first appointment. Rather than navigating multiple pages or phone calls, patients can select from open slots in real time, letting your staff focus on providing hands-on care.

Standing out in local search isn’t just about keywords; it’s about building trust and delivering real convenience before patients ever walk through the door. By combining a well-maintained GMB listing with Luma’s advanced scheduling capabilities, your practice can create an inviting, patient-centered gateway that’s more than just a listing—it’s a genuine extension of the care you provide every day.

Get a demo today and see how Luma can transform your practice.