If you’re a medical professional in 2022, listing yourself on reputable online directories is crucial to both attract prospective patients and to build (and control) your personal brand.
In this article, we explore five online directories — some that focus exclusively on healthcare and one that’s geared more toward the business side of your practice.
You’ll want to do more than just throw up a quickly written bio on these sites, however. Take the time to craft a comprehensive profile that shows people exactly who you are and what you do. And check your listing regularly to update your bio and monitor any reviews and comments. It may take some time, but the result could potentially boost your client base and outreach exponentially.
Crunchbase
While Crunchbase originally catered more toward startups, the site has become increasingly popular with business owners from a variety of industries, including the medical profession. Its tools enable users to connect with contacts in their respective industries, and we recommend taking advantage of this diverse platform. Crunchbase has over 55 million users and 675,000 businesses using their services, as they also allow free directories for business owners and companies.
For starters, you should publish your free profile so people can easily find you through the Advanced Search feature. If you’re struggling for inspiration on what to include, we recommend checking out medical professional Patrick Ladapo’s profile on Crunchbase.
To create your own profile on Crunchbase, all you need to do is verify your account through their Social Augmentation and link your LinkedIn, Facebook, or Twitter account. If you need more guidance, here’s a helpful resource.
RateMDs
If you’ve been a medical professional for a few years, there’s a pretty good chance you’re already on RateMDs.com. We recommend searching your name and making a profile for yourself if it’s not already there (or if it’s inaccurate).
It’s important to update your profile at least once a year to keep your information relevant. Note too that, like many online health resources, this site allows patients to anonymously post reviews about you, and the site allows users to sort based on ratings.
We recommend using RateMDs as they are one of the largest online medical directories, with around 100 million consumers using their services to find medical professionals.
Medicare.gov
Many healthcare customers only trust information from Medicare.gov, as it is the official federal website for finding healthcare providers and medical professionals. If you’re a doctor serving older patients in particular, we recommend checking out your listing on Medicare.gov.
Using their search feature, people will be able to narrow their search and find the best doctors based on their location and a number of other factors. In addition to searching for doctors, people can also use Medicare.gov’s directory to find hospitals, nursing homes, and other facilities.
Healthgrades
Founded in 1998 by Kerry Hicks, Healthgrades set out to be a leading online medical directory, and has achieved just that. With over 200 million annual users, they are one of the most widely used medical directories online today.
They have collected information on over 3 million medical professionals. We highly recommend creating a listing in their directory; if one has already been made for you, make sure all your information and details are correct.
In addition to its directory and review features, Healthgrades.com enables patients to book appointments directly with doctors who have integrated this option into their profile.
Vitals
With a user base of over 3.4 million visitors every month, Vitals.com features health provider information it has gathered from both public and private sources. Patients can book appointments through the site, and can narrow their search for a doctor by condition, location, speciality, and other factors.
Vitals also has a moderated review system, which means that only the most accurate reviews are visible to potential clients and contacts. If you’re not yet listed on Vitals.com, you can create a profile fairly easily. For those who already have a profile, you can claim your profile to edit the information on it.
Key Takeaways
Each of the online directories we listed offers both similar and unique options for medical professionals. We recommend taking the time to explore each of these directories and find out how best to use them to build and grow your practice. If one of the medical directories already lists you, it’s in your best interest to check the listing for accuracy and to claim it so you can control your personal brand.
