Top 10 Google Ads Mistakes Healthcare Providers Make (and How to Fix Them)
Top 10 Google Ads Mistakes Healthcare Providers Make (and How to Fix Them)
Running a healthcare practice is demanding. Whether you’re a dentist, chiropractor, physiotherapist, or medical clinic owner, your time is best spent with patients—not wrestling with underperforming ads. But here’s the truth: many healthcare providers invest in Google Ads without seeing the results they expect.
At SEO-Medics, we’ve worked with clinics across Canada and have seen the same issues come up time and time again. If your campaigns are draining your budget with little to show for it, chances are you’re making one (or more) of these common mistakes.
Let’s break down the top 10 Google Ads mistakes healthcare providers make—and how to fix them.
1. Ignoring Local Targeting
The mistake: Running national or province-wide ads when your services are only offered in a specific area.
The fix: Use Google’s Location Targeting to focus on your clinic’s service area. You can even layer in radius targeting around your practice to capture patients nearby.
🔗 Related service: Google Ads Management
2. Using Broad or Generic Keywords
The mistake: Bidding on keywords like “doctor” or “clinic” without any specificity.
The fix: Use long-tail, high-intent keywords like “physiotherapist near Yonge and Eglinton” or “walk-in dental clinic Vancouver.” Use phrase match and exact match types to ensure relevance.
💡 Pro tip: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner to identify local, high-performing terms.
3. Not Using Negative Keywords
The mistake: Wasting money on irrelevant clicks from people searching for “free clinic” or “jobs at physiotherapy clinic.”
The fix: Create a strong negative keyword list that filters out unrelated traffic and protects your budget.
4. Sending Ads to Your Homepage
The mistake: Directing all traffic to a generic homepage instead of specific service pages.
The fix: Build dedicated landing pages for each service you promote (e.g., one for “sports injury rehab,” one for “chiropractic for back pain”). Tailor the content and CTA for each one.
🔗 Need help? Explore our Website Design & Development and Conversion Optimization Solutions*
5. No Call-to-Action (CTA)
The mistake: Ads and pages that don’t tell the user what to do next.
The fix: Every ad and landing page should have a clear CTA, such as:
“Book Your Appointment Online”
“Call Now for Same-Day Availability”
“Request a Free 15-Minute Consultation”
6. Failing to Track Conversions
The mistake: Not knowing how many calls, bookings, or form submissions are coming from your ads.
The fix: Set up Google Ads conversion tracking or link to Google Analytics to track actions like:
Click-to-call
Online bookings
Form submissions
🔗 Get started with Analytics & Reporting from our team.
7. Overlooking Mobile Optimization
The mistake: Slow-loading landing pages or clunky designs that frustrate mobile users.
The fix: Ensure your landing pages are mobile-friendly, load under 3 seconds, and have a “Click to Call” button easily accessible.
📊 In 2023, over 60% of healthcare-related searches in Canada were conducted on mobile devices. (source)
8. Not Using Ad Extensions
The mistake: Ignoring valuable real estate in your ad space.
The fix: Enable the following Google Ads extensions:
Call Extensions – for direct phone inquiries.
Location Extensions – for Google Maps visibility.
Sitelink Extensions – link to other key services like massage therapy or acupuncture.
Callout Extensions – add credibility boosters like “Open Evenings” or “Multidisciplinary Team.”
9. Set-It-and-Forget-It Approach
The mistake: Running the same campaign for months without analysis or updates.
The fix: At SEO-Medics, we review our clients’ campaigns weekly. This includes:
Pausing underperforming ads
Adjusting bids
A/B testing headlines and CTAs
🔗 Ongoing support is part of our Google Ads Management Services
10. Writing Ads That Sound Like Everyone Else
The mistake: Generic headlines like “Quality Healthcare” or “We Care About You.”
The fix: Use ad copy that speaks to patient needs and urgency. Examples:
“Walk-In Back Pain Relief – Book Today”
“Trusted Pediatric Dentist Near You”
“Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain – Free Consult”
Bonus Tip: Trust Signals Matter
Healthcare is personal. Patients want to know they’re in good hands. Your ads and landing pages should include:
⭐ Google Reviews
📍 Verified business address
🧑⚕️ Provider credentials
✅ Accepted insurance providers
How SEO-Medics Helps Healthcare Providers Win with Google Ads
We work exclusively with healthcare professionals across Canada. From walk-in clinics and chiropractors to dentists and physiotherapists, our Google Ads strategies are built to convert clicks into booked appointments.
✅ Explore Our Services
Google Ads Management
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Website Design & Development
Content Marketing
Local SEO
Conversion Rate Optimization
Social Media Marketing
Analytics & Reporting
💡 Our Custom Solutions
Healthcare PPC Campaigns
Local SEO Domination
Landing Page Conversion Optimization
Content Strategy for Patient Engagement
Ready to Fix Your Google Ads Campaign?
If you’re tired of pouring money into ads that don’t deliver, let’s talk. At SEO-Medics, we help Canadian healthcare providers run high-performance Google Ads that attract real patients, not just clicks.
📞 Contact Us for a free consultation
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