In the competitive world of healthcare, your practice's website isn't just a digital presence—it's a critical tool for attracting and retaining patients. Yet, as online behavior and technology change, the website that served you well a few years ago might no longer be effective. If you've been relying on a provider to build and manage your website, but you're noticing a decline in patient inquiries and engagement, it's likely that your site is overdue for a refresh.
Here are clear signs that indicate it's time for a new website, and possibly a new website provider.
1. Patient Numbers Are Declining Without a Clear Explanation
If you've noticed a steady decline in new patient appointments and inquiries without any significant changes in your practice, your website may be the problem. Patients start their healthcare journey online, so if your website is outdated or poorly optimized, you're turning visitors away before they even have a chance to consider you.
Red Flags:
- Fewer online appointment bookings or contact form submissions.
- A noticeable drop in phone inquiries.
- Patients citing difficulties in finding information or booking services online.
This decline signals that your website is no longer engaging visitors. If your current provider has not raised concerns or addressed these issues, it’s a sign they’re not keeping your site competitive.
2. Your Website Looks Dated Compared to Competitors
First impressions matter, and in the healthcare industry, your website’s visual appeal is vital. A dated design doesn’t just look old, it can also make your practice seem behind the times in both technology and care.
Red Flags:
- Outdated design elements like cluttered layouts, old-fashioned fonts, or low-quality images.
- Your competitors' websites have modern, sleek designs while yours appears neglected.
- A lack of visual consistency across different devices (desktop, mobile, tablet).
When your competitors' websites look more modern and polished, potential patients may choose them simply because they seem more in tune with today’s expectations. If your current provider hasn’t initiated a design overhaul in years, it’s a strong sign they are not keeping up with industry standards.
3. Poor Mobile Experience
Mobile browsing is no longer the exception—it's the rule. Most patients will first visit your website from their smartphone. If your website doesn’t function well on mobile devices, you're missing out on a lot of web traffic and visitors.
Red Flags:
- Your website is difficult to navigate on a mobile device.
- Text and images are not optimized for smaller screens, causing users to pinch and zoom.
- Important features like appointment booking or contact forms are hard to use or broken on mobile.
A poorly optimized mobile experience suggests that your current provider isn’t prioritizing one of the most critical aspects of modern web design. If they aren’t proactively addressing mobile responsiveness, it’s a sign they aren’t aligned with the needs of today’s patients.
4. Slow Loading Times and Frequent Glitches
People expect websites to load fast and work smoothly. If your website takes too long to load or has frequent technical issues, potential patients are likely to abandon it for a competitor’s site.
Red Flags:
- Pages take longer than three seconds to load.
- Frequent broken links, 404 errors, or images that don’t display properly.
- Patients mention technical difficulties or frustrations with the site in reviews or feedback.
A slow, glitchy site sends the message that your practice doesn’t prioritize the patient experience. If your current provider hasn’t addressed these problems, it’s a clear indication that they may not have the technical expertise to support your practice’s needs.
5. You Can’t Easily Update Content or Make Changes
A website that’s difficult to update makes it difficult to keep your practice information current. Whether it’s adding new services, updating staff profiles, or posting important announcements, you need the ability to make timely changes to your site. If you have to rely on your provider for every minor update and they are slow to respond, it’s a problem.
Red Flags:
- Your website platform is outdated, making it difficult or impossible to make changes yourself.
- Delays from your provider in updating key information like contact details or service offerings.
- The content on your site is outdated because the update process is cumbersome.
If your provider hasn’t given you a user-friendly way to update your site or is slow to make updates, it’s a sign they are holding back your online presence.
6. Low Search Engine Visibility
If your practice website isn’t showing up on the first page of search engine results for key terms (like “family doctor near me” or “dentist in [city name]”), you’re losing out on potential patients. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical part of any website’s success, and if your provider hasn’t implemented basic SEO practices, it’s a sign they aren’t keeping your site competitive.
Red Flags:
- Your website doesn’t appear in search results for relevant local queries.
- A lack of basic SEO elements such as meta tags, title tags, and optimized content.
- No regular updates or strategy for improving your search engine ranking.
SEO is an ongoing effort, and if your provider isn’t actively monitoring and improving your site’s ranking, you’re likely losing visibility to competitors. This lack of attention to SEO shows that your provider may not fully understand the digital marketing landscape.
7. You’re Paying Too Much for Small or Basic Updates
As a doctor, you shouldn’t have to handle every small update to your site, and you also shouldn’t be overpaying for minor changes. If your provider charges hefty fees for basic updates like changing office hours or updating staff profiles, it’s a sign that your website management is costing more than it should.
Red Flags:
- High fees for simple updates like adding or removing content, images, or contact information.
- A lack of transparency in pricing for ongoing support or updates.
- Delays in making even the smallest adjustments, despite the costs involved.
Expensive updates for minor changes indicate that your provider is either overcharging or relying on an outdated platform that makes even small adjustments labor-intensive. If you find yourself hesitant to request updates because of the cost, it’s time to consider whether your provider has outgrown their usefulness to your practice.
Is It Time to Move On?
If any of these signs sound familiar, it’s clear that your current website—and perhaps your provider—is no longer serving your practice effectively. A poorly performing website can directly impact your ability to attract and retain patients, ultimately affecting your bottom line. If your provider hasn’t proactively addressed these issues or kept your site competitive, it’s time for a change. Your website should be a powerful tool for growth, not a weak link in your practice’s strategy.