Many medical clients mistakenly believe SEO is a one-and-done task, but Google’s algorithm constantly changes—meaning websites need continuous updates to stay competitive.
✅ 1. SEO is an Ongoing Process
- Google updates its algorithm thousands of times per year—without continuous optimization, rankings drop.
- Competitors are actively working on their SEO—if a practice isn’t, they’re falling behind.
✅ 2. Local Search is Hyper-Competitive
- Patients search for doctors in their area (“Best dermatologist near me”).
- If a practice isn’t in the top three search results, they’re losing patients to competitors.
✅ 3. SEO Directly Impacts Revenue
- 75% of people never scroll past the first page of Google.
- A higher ranking = more website visits = more booked appointments.
💡 Bottom Line: Without ongoing SEO, medical practices lose rankings, visibility, and new patient opportunities.
How to Package SEO as a Recurring Service
To sell SEO as an ongoing service, create tiered packages that offer continuous value.
🔹 Basic SEO Package ($X/month)
✔ Google Business Profile Optimization (Google Maps ranking)
✔ Monthly Keyword Tracking & Reporting
✔ On-Page SEO Updates (Title tags, meta descriptions, internal linking)
✔ Basic Technical SEO Fixes (Broken links, image compression, page speed)
🔹 Standard SEO Package ($X/month) (Most Popular)
✔ Everything in Basic SEO Package
✔ Local SEO Optimization (Citations & directory listings)
✔ Monthly Blog Post (SEO-Optimized Content)
✔ Schema Markup for Medical Services (Helps Google understand content)
✔ Mobile & Page Speed Optimization
🔹 Premium SEO Package ($X/month) (For Competitive Markets)
✔ Everything in Standard SEO Package
✔ Advanced Backlink Building (High-quality medical directories & publications)
✔ Voice Search Optimization (For Siri, Alexa, Google Assistant)
✔ Competitor Analysis & Strategy Adjustments
✔ Quarterly SEO Audit & Strategy Call
💡 Pro Tip: Offer annual discounts for clients who commit to a full year upfront!
How to Sell SEO Retainers to Medical Clients
1. Educate Them on Why SEO is a Recurring Service
Many medical practices don’t realize that SEO isn’t a one-time project. Use simple analogies:
✔ “SEO is like going to the gym—if you stop, you lose progress.”
✔ “Would you stop paying for WiFi after setting it up once? SEO works the same way.”
2. Show the ROI of SEO for Patient Acquisition
Doctors care about one thing—getting more patients. Show them the direct impact of SEO:
✔ “Ranking higher for ‘urgent care near me’ will bring in X new patients per month.”
✔ “SEO leads convert 8X better than paid ads—because patients actively searching are ready to book.”
Use data-driven case studies from previous clients to prove success.
3. Offer a Free SEO Audit (Show Them What’s Broken!)
Most medical clients don’t realize their SEO problems until they see the data.
✔ Run an audit using SEMrush, Ahrefs, or Moz to find:
- Missing keywords
- Broken links
- Slow page speeds
- Poor mobile optimization
🎯 Pro Tip: End the audit with an offer:
“We found multiple SEO issues hurting your rankings—let’s fix them with a monthly SEO plan.”
4. Compare SEO to Paid Ads (Long-Term Value)
Many doctors only invest in PPC ads because they see instant results. Explain why SEO is a smarter long-term investment:
🚀 Paid Ads: Immediate traffic, but stops when the budget runs out.
📈 SEO: Slower growth, but provides lasting patient traffic without paying per click.
💡 “SEO builds your patient pipeline—so you don’t have to rely on expensive ads forever.”
5. Upsell SEO to Existing Website Clients
If you’ve already built a medical website for a client, SEO is the natural next step:
✔ “Your website looks great—now let’s get it ranking on Google!”
✔ “Without SEO, your site won’t bring in new patients. Let’s fix that with a monthly plan.”
💡 Pro Tip: Offer one free month of SEO for existing clients to get them hooked!
Common SEO Sales Objections (And How to Overcome Them)
🚫 “SEO is too expensive.”
✅ “Not ranking on Google is costing you far more—how many new patients are you losing to competitors?”
🚫 “We tried SEO before, and it didn’t work.”
✅ “SEO isn’t a one-time fix—it requires ongoing strategy. Let me show you what went wrong last time.”
🚫 “Can’t we just run ads instead?”
✅ “PPC stops when you stop paying—SEO keeps bringing in patients long-term.”
🚫 “We already rank well.”
✅ “SEO isn’t just about ranking—it’s about staying ahead. Google updates its algorithm constantly, and competitors are actively optimizing.”
The Business Opportunity for Agencies
Selling SEO retainers to medical clients is a high-value, scalable revenue stream:
✔ Recurring Monthly Revenue – Predictable income from long-term clients.
✔ Low Churn Rate – Once clients see consistent patient growth, they rarely cancel.
✔ Scalability – Add content marketing, local SEO, and backlink building for higher-tier services.
💡 Best Tools for Medical SEO:
- SEMrush / Ahrefs – Keyword tracking & competitor analysis.
- BrightLocal – Local SEO & citation management.
- SurferSEO – AI-driven content optimization.
- Google Search Console – Free Google ranking insights.
Conclusion
SEO is one of the most valuable marketing investments a medical practice can make—but only if it’s an ongoing process.
For marketing agencies, selling SEO as a monthly service provides consistent revenue while delivering real patient growth for clients.
Want to start offering SEO retainers to medical clients? Start by educating them, offering audits, and positioning SEO as a long-term patient acquisition strategy! 🚀