WHY SHOULD PHYSICIANS HAVE A WEBSITE? AND HOW TO GET ONE !
Technology is changing all around us. So is the way of doing business. More and more people are using internet to find what they want to find or shop. Patients used to search for doctors in the yellow book. That is all changing very fast. Now patients are using google and other search engines to find doctors. Many a times they end up on sites like healthgrades from google. They are able to review your credentials, what insurance you accept etc. Once they chose a doctor, they go to that physician’s website and evaluate him or her further. So if you or your medical practice does not have a website – you need to get it now.
Website names (also called domain names) are running out! More than 80 million websites have been registered so far per ICANN. Do you realize that there are no single word website names left in most languages including English. People who invest in website names (also called Domain Name Investors) have taken them all. In fact to get a two word website name is also very hard.
But what can a website do for a doctor? Ever heard of HillaryClinton.com or BarrackObama.com? A website in your name can make it easy for your patients to follow you on the web. Many a times they will enter your name in the browser and see if they could get some information about you. Now if your competitor registers a website in your name before you could, he can lead your potential patients to his website. And worst of all, you won’t even know.
It is vitally important for you to at least register your name as a website name or domain name. e.g. RobertSmith.com or RobertSmithMD.com. If you know what you will name your medical practice in the future, then you should register that website name too.
Here are some FAQs for registering a website.
But I am in the medical school why should I register now? Can I do that later? Registering website names or domain names is very cheap to do. If you wait too long, someone else may register your name as a domain name. Then you will have to buy it from those domain investors or you will have to settle for something different.
But isn’t registering Domain names a highly technical stuff?
No. In fact it is as simple as typing the name and click submit. Follow the instructions to a credit card payment and you can get your own website name (domain name) at www.HelloDello.com where CareerMedicine.com is registered.
But how do I make a website on my domain name?
The easiest way to make a website is to use a website template. It is a readymade website design. All you have to do is type in the content just like you do in Microsoft word. I register website or domain names at www.HelloDello.com because they give access to a website builder for free. Some of the registrars charge for that kind of stuff. That way I do not have to spend more cash to design the website or keep it running.
What can I do on my website?
You can write a blog on your website, share pictures, and advertise your services etc on your website. The possibilities are endless.
How do I register domain names?
You can go to easy to use website such as www.HelloDello.com. Then type in the desired website name. Press search button. It will tell you if it is available or not. If it is then you may want to register it right then and there, to prevent any other person from registering it.
Summary:
Advantages of Domain name registration (or registering website names)
Creates your identity on the web.
Easy for patients to find you.
Easy for you to find patients.
Once registered by you, no one can snatch your website name from you.
In the future, you may be able to sell your website name just like real estate. But not all website names sell for millions, most of them sell for few hundreds to thousands dollars only.
It is cheap to do so. HelloDello.com charges only $9.99/ year to register most website name.
Disadvantages of not registering a name as soon as possible:
Someone else may register it and you will never get a chance at it.
You will miss out on a lot of business because of not having a web presence.
To register a website:
Go to www.HelloDello.com
Type in your desired website name in the search bar.
If the domain name is available to register, grab the domain name right away.
If not available, try a different variation to see if that is available – such as RobertJones.com, RobertJonesMD.com, RJones.com and so on.
Also consider registering different extensions of the website name such as .com .net .org etc.
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