Our SEO Specialist spends hours reviewing information such as Google Ads keyword data among other data to find common searches around healthcare topics. Afterall, it’s how we use the research and data to formulate the content plans for our clients.
From time to time, we do come across some rather interesting searches around health topics. We thought you’d enjoy some of the unusual search terms we found this month – and appreciate some of the ways they make you question, laugh, and then think.
“Why is my little toe numb?”
This is a surprising search term. When you think of someone turning to the internet for a health concern, you don’t expect to see someone asking about why their little toe is numb – but here we are!
Insight: This is a very good example of how people will turn to the internet for all sorts of little healthcare related questions – especially for things they might feel are too minor, odd or embarrassing to ask a doctor about. Patients trust the internet and turn to it for information about all sorts of things that might feel unusual about their health, big or small.
We did a bit of digging and it seems that the most common cause of numb little toes is wearing shoes that are too tight.
“Say goodbye to sciatic nerve pain in just 10 minutes with this natural method”
This is another interesting search. We highly doubt that sciatic nerve pain can be fixed in 10 minutes with a natural remedy found on Google.
Insight: This is a good example of how patients are often looking for a quick fix when they come across your website. It’s important to think carefully about your marketing and SEO strategies, and to write your copy considerately. Patients might not be looking for a long, detailed, technical explanation of their problem. It is best to write your copy in a way that funnels patients towards making contact with you for the details. Give them an overview and answer their question simply. Those who are looking for details can follow up with you.
“Can I pop my spinal disc back into place?”
Yes, we were as worried as you were reading this one!
Insight: Similar to the example above, this shows how a lot of people want a quick fix. But it also shows a lack of medical understanding and the potential for misinformation. To the untrained medical eye, it seems like an obvious solution. ‘The disc has popped out, so why not just pop it back in and save myself the money and trouble?’.
You can tailor your content to combat misinformation and provide context for the services you provide. According to our research, popping a disc back in is easier said than done and can easily make matters worse without proper training!
“Can I make my own hearing aids?”
We were surprised by this search term considering how complex and expensive hearing aids are. It certainly doesn’t seem like an easy thing to DIY at home!
Insight: After some searching we found news about researchers at Georgia Tech who designed a hearing aid device that is supposed to cost as little as $1 in 2020. Apparently it could be assembled in just 25 minutes without complex engineering skills required. It’s possible that this is what people were looking for! This demonstrates the importance of understanding current industry news and research when writing for SEO, so that you can make the most of popular search terms out there. With appropriate steps you can utilise the benefits of newsjacking and enjoy the free traffic.
“Old folk’s home down the road”
We aren’t sure what prompted this search term. Hopefully it’s just somebody looking for local aged care services. Or perhaps the in-laws were staying over?
Insight: One of the key aspects of SEO is localising your content, so that people who search terms in your area actually find you. If you offer aged care services and somebody in your city Googles aged care – then you want to be top of the list as a local provider. There is no point in someone across the country finding you at the top of their search. It’s important that Google knows where you are, so that they can show prospective clients more accurate search results, and your business gets more visibility. You can read about some strategies to rank well for all of your locations here.
“Arm doctor”
It’s hard to know what exactly searchers are looking for here. Perhaps an orthopaedic surgeon? Although we can’t blame them too much, considering we have podiatrists for feet, ENT doctors for ears, nose and throat, and nephrologists for kidneys. Arms just didn’t get any traction in the specialty field!
Insight: This shows how many searchers don’t know exactly what they are looking for. They may not even be aware of your business or specialty. A thorough understanding of SEO and current keyword trends is essential to cast a wide enough net for clients to find you and your services.
“Best hairstyle for after shoulder surgery”
I think many of us can relate to being faced with something like a serious surgery and turning to the internet with a question about something surprisingly small, like our hairdo. From what we can tell, Google recommends a short, easy to maintain hairstyle. This is because tasks such as washing hair or putting it into a ponytail can be difficult after surgery. It may also be important to avoid getting an incision wet. Who knew?
Insight: For a search term that at first sounds amusing or frivolous, there is a surprising amount of interesting information online. Many people, women especially, would like advice on hair care following shoulder surgery – and with good reason. This shows that no matter how well you know the technical details of a subject, you can’t always infer what your clients want to know. Keyword and SEO research is a great way to gauge the quirky, unusual or interesting thoughts and questions that your clients may have about your products or services.
“Bent down to pick something up and hurt my back”
I think we can all relate a bit to this one. Don’t we all grab our phone, type in the weird thing that just happened to us and hope the magical Google powers give us an explanation for our concern?
Insight: This shows how for many people, Google is the first place they will turn immediately after experiencing an injury or illness. It is the place where they will search for a diagnosis, for a health professional, for the very first answers to their questions. Some businesses have been slower to invest in digital marketing as they have struggled to understand the importance of SEO and digital advertising in a rapidly changing world. However it has quickly become an essential aspect of managing and growing a healthcare business.
If you would like help navigating the complex world of digital marketing and search engine optimisation or topics that people are looking for, reach out to us at Splice Marketing to book your free digital marketing consultation today.
