Search, click, schedule. Your physical therapy website design makes all the difference between catching potential patients’ eyes and losing them to a competitor.
The physical therapy market is growing, and you should have 18% more competitors by 2029. A website build or rebuild is a labor-intensive process. Besides, where do you start, and what features should your physical therapy website have?
Let’s dig in. Follow these tips to have a physical therapy website that evolves with the times and converts local visitors into patients.
[Related: Today’s Website: Free Guide for Small Businesses]
1. Professional design reflects your practice
Smart physical therapy website design starts with a clean, modern look that communicates trust on each page. You might rely on word of mouth or physician referrals to keep your schedule full. But people don’t book without doing a little online research first.
You’re more likely to lose potential patients if your site is clunky or outdated, even if trusted friends recommended you. Around 75% of people judge your credibility based on your website quality.
Custom branding, mobile-friendly functionality, and fast loading times build trust right off the bat. Responsive design also ensures everything works smoothly on smartphones, where almost 63% of people search. Your website must be voice search compatible in a market zooming toward hands-free use.
First impressions matter, and your website is often that first impression. Make it a point to talk to your web developer about cutting-edge, custom design. Your physical therapy website needs to convey expertise and care, no matter your specialty.
[Related: 5 Smart Features Your Website Needs to Drive Revenue]
2. Turnkey search engine optimization (SEO) helps people find you locally
Always ask for physical therapy SEO in your website design. Even the best physical therapists struggle to be visible to the right regional audience in search engine results. SEO helps fix that issue so you’re not buried beneath large hospital systems.
Your site should have a structure that supports local SEO from the ground up. This includes a host of strategies:
- Keyword-rich service pages (like “sports injury rehab near [your city]”)
- Optimized meta titles and tags
- Fast-loading code
- A hierarchy that allows search engines to understand your site
An SEO-minded website also integrates with your Google Business Profile (GBP) and other business listings. Your channels work together to increase your chances of showing up in map packs when local potential patients search for your services.
Smart physical therapy website design doesn’t just look good. It builds digital visibility in your service area with SEO so potential patients nearby find you faster and more easily.
[Related: Top Tips for Your Small Business Marketing]
3. Calls to action (CTAs) drive patient acquisition
Make sure CTAs appear across pages for effective physical therapy website design. A potential patient in pain doesn’t want to dig through confusing menus.
CTAs can take several forms across your website, from your home page to service and to contact pages:
- Bold “Book an Appointment” buttons
- Mobile-friendly click-to-call links
- Embedded contact forms
- Dynamic scheduling calendars
CTAs remove roadblocks and help visitors book with one click. Your website design should guide them to what they need and where they’re most likely to reach out. The bottom line is, more strategic CTAs mean more conversions.
[Related: Podcast: Hibu talks to Dr. Robert Moore about marketing your medical practice online]
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4. Distinct service pages inform your patients 24/7
Your physical therapy website design should tell current and potential patients exactly what you do. That’s where organized, straightforward service pages speak directly to their needs.
Instead of listing everything you do on one page, ask your web developer to separate your primary services. Each page goes into detail — and includes one or more CTAs. Visitors know your specific areas of expertise, from sports injury rehab to balance training and beyond.
Dedicated service pages also let you answer major PT questions (a must):
- Who is this service for?
- What can patients expect, and what do they need to know?
- Why should they choose your PT clinic in your area?
- How do they get in touch with you?
The tactic pays off: Dedicated service pages let patients match their situation with your skills. You build trust with clear, authoritative language. Patients enter your office more informed and confident in your physical therapy.
[Related: 5 Things Customers Want to See on Your Local Business Website]
5. Easy updates and full support help — a lot
A web build or rebuild isn’t basic when you want results — your design plan should have muscle behind it. You have enough on your plate as is, and a full day of seeing patients doesn’t leave you much time for marketing. Logging into a complex website platform to change your hours isn’t on your to-do list for example.
Still, your website has to be up to date. Invalid information can cost you new patients and frustrate returning ones. The best physical therapy website design plan has intuitive tools to make quick updates. And it certainly includes complete, one-on-one support anytime you need it.
The best-case scenario? Your digital marketing company does it all for you. Just contact them to request changes or check your site’s performance. For example, your plan ensures your web developer can make common updates like these:
- Update your services
- Upload new images, videos, and blogs
- Add patient education resources
- Adjust your page layout
- Post seasonal promos
Smart websites offer flexibility and time-saving support, all with no coding required.
Our [Hibu] rep is always on top of our site and its activities. Since we're a small business, and don't have the staff to monitor our website activities, it's essential that we have [Hibu] to watchover things.
-John Johnston, Hull Physical Therapy
[Related: Free Guide: Taking Control of Your Online Reputation]
7. Security and ADA compliance are non-negotiable
The best physical therapy website design includes built-in protections that avoid compliance risks.
SSL encryption secures your site and reassures patients their data is safe. ADA-compliant design lets visitors with visual, auditory, or motor impairments navigate your site. Backup and disaster recovery give you peace of mind if security or data issues strike (you don’t start from scratch).
After all, your clinic has a unique set of responsibilities when it comes to your website. You don’t merely have a business website; you safeguard patient trust, comply with accessibility standards, and protect sensitive data.
Talk to your digital marketing partner about foundational site protections and accessibility features. A solid PT website works behind the scenes to continuously protect your patients and practice.
[Related: Why having a secure website is so important to your small business]
Bonus: A well-designed website boosts retention as well as first impressions
Naturally, you want your website to attract new patients. Don’t forget what comes after — if the connection ends after scheduling, you’re missing opportunities. A strategic physical therapy website design accounts for the patient journey.
You can use your site to keep your patients coming back for both appointments and information:
- Link to your social media accounts (and stay active on them)
- Create newsletter sign-up forms, and send emails and texts that interest patients
- Integrate payment and patient portals for convenience
- Encourage at-home recovery with informative articles or video demos
Continuity of care is key in physical therapy. Your website helps patients stay on track after that first visit. The average number of sessions per patient is seven—make every one count.
[Related: Hibu Client Conversation – SwiftCare & Jessica Keiper]
Find premier website design for physical therapy practices with Hibu
We understand what medical service providers like you need in your digital marketing. That’s why we tailor your website to your industry.
Hibu doesn’t just check the boxes, we do it all for you as your partner.
Your Hibu Smart Site works around the clock, from first impression to ongoing engagement. More than 50 million people seek physical therapy in the U.S. We’re here to help make sure your practice gets chosen over the competition.
Call us at 877-237-6120 or fill out our quick Get Started form for your free consultation. We’ll design a physical therapy website that works as hard as you do.
