How We Use Google News and Google Trends for Healthcare SEO?

In the world of healthcare SEO, traditional keyword research often falls short. Sure, stuffing your website with generic terms might get some traffic, but does it connect with patients seeking genuine information and care?

At GrowthPixel, we believe in a different approach. We leverage powerful tools like Google Trends and Google News (Health) to understand patients’ evolving questions and concerns. This allows us to create targeted content that directly addresses their needs, leading to more qualified leads and, ultimately, more conversions.

Curious how we do it? Keep reading to discover a data-driven SEO strategy that puts your patients’ needs first.

Before we discuss how we use Google Trends and Google News (Health) for our SEO, here’s a brief explanation of both terms.

Imagine Google Trends as a patient symptom tracker: It lets you see how frequently patients report specific symptoms (health topics) over time. The trends in reported symptoms can reveal periods of increased concern or awareness about a particular illness.

Google News (Health) acts like a medical alert system, quickly identifying potential outbreaks or emerging health issues. Just like a medical alert system flags a potential health crisis, news articles can alert you to a health topic gaining traction before it becomes a major concern among your patients.

Here's why both are valuable for SEO:

Trends Show Underlying Conditions: Analyzing the symptom tracker (Google Trends) helps you identify the underlying conditions your patients might be experiencing. This allows you to create content addressing their concerns’ root causes.

News Alerts You to New Threats: The medical alert system (Google News) allows you to stay informed about potential new illnesses or health threats. This allows you to create informative content to educate your patients before they encounter the issue directly.

By using both Google Trends and Google News (Health), you can:

Diagnose Information Needs: Identify the health topics your patients are most interested in learning about.

Predict Potential Health Concerns: Anticipate emerging health issues and create informative content before they become widespread.

Treat with Targeted Information: Craft content addressing patients’ questions and anxieties, leading to a more informed and engaged audience.

While Google Trends shows search volume, Google News provides the “why” behind those searches.

How do we use Google News in Healthcare SEO?

1. Identifying Emerging Health Topics

Google News shows the latest news trending in the health category for various sub-niches, such as mental health, fitness, nutrition, etc.

Google News (Health) surfaces breaking health news and trending stories for each subcategory. It curates the content. This can spark ideas for exploring new topics on Google Trends before they become major search trends.

Example: Google News has featured a story about Viral Hepatitis. So we know that Viral Hepatitis is a new topic in which people might be interested. If we do SEO for a hepatologist/liver specialist, we know the content should cover this term.

2. Understanding Context and Nuance

News Provides Context. News articles can provide context and details behind search trends. For instance, a search surge for “urinary tract infection (UTI)” might be due to a new antibiotic-resistant strain. Knowing this context from news articles allows you to tailor your content to address specific patient concerns.

3. Spotlighting Local Health Issues

Google shows news for different locations. Based on your location, you can search for local health news that is showing up for your region and analyze it further using Google Trends.

Google Trends complements Google News in building a healthcare marketing strategy.

Let’s now turn our discussion to Google Trends and analyze how Google News and Google Trends can work together to improve SEO strategy.

Using Google Trends for Targeted Healthcare SEO in India

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, understanding patient needs is paramount. Here’s where Google Trends becomes a powerful tool for your healthcare SEO strategy. It allows you to track search volume over time, revealing seasonal trends in health concerns specific to India.

1. Tracking the Monsoon Blues: Dengue Fever

Google Trends graph showing search term dengue fever symptoms or dengue treatment with a spike during monsoon months in India

2. Content for Monsoon Health:

You can create targeted content that addresses these seasonal anxieties by leveraging this data. Here are some blog post ideas:

“Dengue Fever vs. Malaria: How to Tell the Difference”
“Monsoon Health Tips: Preventing Mosquito-Borne Diseases”
“Dengue Fever: Early Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options”

By providing clear, informative content during peak search times, you establish your practice as a reliable source of healthcare information and attract patients seeking relevant guidance.

3. Beyond Dengue: Exploring Other Seasonal Trends

While Dengue fever is a prominent example, Google Trends can reveal other seasonal health concerns in India. Here are some additional possibilities:

Heatstroke: During scorching summers, searches for “heatstroke symptoms” or “heatwave precautions” might rise.
Skin Conditions: Winter months could increase searches for “dry skin remedies” or “eczema treatment.”

By watching these trends, you can tailor your content strategy to address these seasonal health issues and demonstrate your expertise in preventative care.

Beyond the Obvious: Unearthing Patient Anxieties with Google Trends

While traditional SEO focuses on keywords, healthcare SEO needs an extra layer of understanding – what truly worries patients. Here’s where Google Trends shines. The “Compare” feature allows you to peek beneath the surface of search terms, revealing hidden anxieties patients might not explicitly express.

1. Unveiling the Fear Beneath the Search: Knee Replacement Example

Let’s explore “knee replacement surgery” as a search term. It likely has a high search volume, indicating significant interest. However, using the “Compare” feature with “knee replacement surgery cost,” we might uncover a hidden concern (graph below).

2. Decoding the Comparison:

The graph reveals an interesting trend. While searches for “knee replacement surgery” likely indicate a general interest in the procedure, the significant volume of searches for “knee replacement surgery cost” suggests a hidden financial concern. Patients might be interested in the surgery but are also keenly aware of the potential financial burden.

3. Content Addressing the Hidden Worry:

This valuable insight allows you to create content that addresses this financial anxiety directly. Here are some blog post ideas:

“Understanding the Costs of Knee Replacement Surgery”
“Financing Options for Knee Replacement Surgery”
“Does Insurance Cover Knee Replacement Surgery? A Guide for Patients”

By providing clear information on costs and potential financial solutions, you demonstrate transparency and address a major concern for many patients considering this procedure. This positions your practice as a resource that understands the financial realities of healthcare and is committed to helping patients make informed decisions.

Using Google Trends & News for Your Healthcare SEO

At GrowthPixel, we understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve in healthcare SEO. Regarding a complex issue like malaria, a two-pronged approach using Google Trends and Google News (Health) can be incredibly insightful.

To get an idea, we are considering the example of Malaria.

1. News as a Forecaster: Google News (Health) to the Rescue

We start by keeping a close eye on Google News (Health). This allows us to identify recent developments in malaria prevention, treatment, or potential outbreaks. This could include anything from a new vaccine trial to a surge in cases in a specific region.

2. Deep Dive with Google Trends:

When a malaria-related news story starts gaining traction, we head straight to Google Trends. Here, we analyze the search volume for terms like “malaria symptoms,” “malaria prevention,” or “malaria treatment.” We also pay close attention to seasonal trends, as malaria cases often peak during rainy seasons in certain areas.

3. Beyond Search Volume: Understanding Patient Concerns

Google Trends offers valuable insights beyond just search volume. We pay close attention to “related searches,” which can reveal underlying anxieties patients might have. For example, a surge in searches for “malaria vs. dengue fever” might indicate confusion about symptoms.

4. Content that Educates and Informs:

We can craft targeted content that addresses patient needs with the insights gathered. News stories can serve as a springboard for informative blog posts. For example, if there’s a new malaria vaccine trial, we can create a post explaining its purpose and potential benefits.

5. Seasonality: Planning Ahead for Patient Needs

If malaria cases spike during specific seasons, we can help you prepare content beforehand. This could include infographics on prevention methods during monsoon months or a guide on recognizing early symptoms.

6. Addressing a Broader Spectrum of Concerns:

By analyzing related searches on Google Trends, we can create content beyond the main topic. For instance, a post differentiating malaria from dengue fever can attract patients with broader concerns.

In Action: A Hypothetical Example

Let’s imagine a news story highlighting a new malaria-prevention medication. Here’s how we’d approach it:

Blog Post: We can create a blog post explaining the new medication, its potential benefits and drawbacks, and how it compares to existing prevention methods.
Landing Page: If your practice offers malaria consultations or vaccinations, we can create a landing page optimized for relevant keywords like “malaria prevention medication” or “new malaria treatment.”

Conclusion:

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare SEO, traditional keyword research isn’t enough. At GrowthPixel, we believe in a smarter approach that leverages Google Trends and News (Health) to understand the “why” behind patient searches.

This powerful duo allows us to:

Diagnose Information Needs: Identify the health topics that truly matter to your patients.
Predict Potential Health Concerns: Stay ahead of the curve by anticipating emerging health issues.
Treat with Targeted Information: Craft content that addresses patient anxieties and establishes your practice as a trusted resource.

Don’t let your healthcare SEO fall short!

Contact GrowthPixel today, and let’s unlock the true potential of your online presence. Together, we can create a data-driven SEO strategy that attracts more patients and positions your practice for success.