Choosing the right categories for your clinic’s Google Business Profile (GBP) is crucial. Categories tell Google what your clinic does, which helps your profile appear in relevant local searches. Using accurate primary and secondary categories improves visibility, attracts the right patients, and boosts trust.
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Primary vs Secondary Categories
- Primary category: Represents your main clinic service. Google prioritises this when showing your profile in search results.
- Secondary categories: Represent additional services, specialities, or sub-services. They help Google understand the full scope of your practice.
Recommended Primary Categories
Depending on your clinic type, choose one of these as your main category:
- Medical Clinic – Ideal for general clinics offering multiple services.
- Family Physician – Suitable for clinics focused on general practice and family medicine.
- Specialist Clinic – For clinics offering specialised care (e.g., cardiology, dermatology).
- Urgent Care Centre – For clinics that treat immediate, non-life-threatening conditions.
- Wellness Clinic – For clinics focused on preventive care, lifestyle, and holistic health.
Recommended Secondary Categories
Add secondary categories to highlight specific services or specialities:
- Paediatrician / Paediatric Clinic – For child healthcare services.
- Dermatologist / Skin Clinic – For skin-related treatments.
- Physiotherapist / Physical Therapy Clinic – For rehabilitation services.
- Dentist / Dental Clinic – If dental services are offered alongside general care.
- Cardiologist – For heart-related care.
- Nutritionist / Dietitian – For dietary counselling.
- Obstetrician / Gynaecologist – For women’s health services.
- Allergy Specialist / Immunology Clinic – For allergy-related care.
- Diabetes Clinic – For specialised diabetes management.
Tips for Choosing Categories
- Use one primary category that describes your clinic’s main service.
- Add secondary categories for all other significant services you provide.
- Avoid irrelevant categories – focus on what patients would search for.
- Keep categories up to date if your clinic expands or changes services.
Checking Category Performance
- Monitor your GBP insights to see which searches bring patients to your profile.
- Adjust categories if you notice certain services aren’t generating visibility.
- Compare competitors’ profiles to ensure you’re using categories effectively.
Final Thoughts
Selecting the right Google Business Profile categories is one of the simplest yet most impactful ways for medical clinics to improve local search visibility. Using a clear primary category and relevant secondary categories ensures your clinic appears in searches for the services you offer, helping attract more patients and build trust in your local community.
