SEO can make or break your clinic’s ability to attract new patients. But should you tackle it yourself or bring in experts?

Learn the best path for your time, budget, and goals.


Podcast - Should You DIY Your SEO or Work With Experts?

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Should You DIY Your SEO or Work With Experts? A Guide for Clinics

Search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the most powerful ways for clinics to attract new patients. When someone searches “chiropractor near me” or “acupuncturist for migraines”, the clinics that show up at the top of Google and in Google Maps are the ones that win new business.

Consider this: 68% of online experiences begin with a search engine, and Google processes more than 8.5 billion searches every day. If your clinic’s website isn’t ranking well—or worse, isn’t showing up at all—you’re invisible to patients actively searching for your services.

SEO helps solve that problem. It drives long-term organic traffic, meaning patients can find you without relying on expensive ads. In fact, SEO delivers 5.66 times better ROI than paid search strategies.

But here’s the challenge: SEO can feel overwhelming. Clinic owners are already juggling patient care, staffing, billing, and marketing. So, should you roll up your sleeves and handle SEO yourself, or is it better to partner with experts? Let’s break it down.


The Case for DIY SEO

DIY SEO means you—or someone on your team—take full responsibility for optimizing your website. This can include tasks like keyword research, content creation, technical updates, and tracking performance.

Pros of DIY SEO

  • Cost Savings – You avoid agency fees, which is helpful if you’re just starting out or working with a tight budget.

  • Full Control – You decide every detail of your SEO plan without outside input.

  • Learning Opportunity – Either you or your team gains a valuable skill set that can be applied long-term.

  • Flexibility – You can work at your own pace and make changes on the fly.

Cons of DIY SEO

  • Time Commitment – SEO isn’t “set it and forget it.” It takes ongoing research, implementation, and analysis.

  • Steep Learning Curve – With constant algorithm changes, it can be hard to know which advice is accurate and up-to-date.

  • Risk of Mistakes – Many clinics follow random YouTube tutorials or blog posts, only to waste time implementing strategies that hurt rather than help.

  • Limited Resources – If you don’t have staff to support you, it’s easy for SEO to fall to the bottom of the to-do list.

DIY SEO can work if you’re tech-savvy, have time to dedicate, and can stay consistent. But for many clinic owners, that’s a tall order.


The Case for Hiring Experts

Working with a local SEO company takes the burden off your shoulders. Instead of trying to learn and apply SEO tactics on your own, you leverage a team that does this every day.

Pros of Working With Experts

  • Proven Expertise – Professionals keep up with Google’s constant updates, including AI-driven algorithm changes.

  • Time Savings – You can focus on running your clinic while your SEO is handled in the background.

  • Custom Strategy – A tailored approach ensures the plan aligns with your specific services and location.

  • Faster Results – With the right systems in place, you avoid trial and error.

Cons of Working With Experts

  • Cost – Professional services come with a price tag, which may feel significant for smaller practices.

  • Less Direct Control – While you approve strategy and direction, execution is handled by the team.

For many busy clinic owners, the trade-off is worth it. If you don’t have time, don’t have a team, or simply want a faster path to results, partnering with experts is the most effective route.


The Middle Ground: Guided DIY SEO

There’s also a third option—a hybrid approach. This is where clinics get expert direction and proven systems but still implement the work themselves (or delegate to staff).

That’s where programs like Ready. Set. Rank! Complete SEO Toolkit for Clinics come in. It’s a step-by-step roadmap designed specifically for clinics that want to take ownership of their SEO without the overwhelm. Instead of piecing together random tips from Google searches, you get structured guidance, tools, and templates that actually work.

This “done-with-you” approach saves time, prevents mistakes, and ensures you’re moving in the right direction, even if you’re managing SEO internally.


Which SEO Path Is Right for Your Clinic?

Here’s a quick way to decide:

  • Choose DIY SEO if you’re comfortable with tech, have time to commit, and want to learn SEO as a skill.

  • Choose Guided DIY (like Ready. Set. Rank!) if you want to stay hands-on but need a clear roadmap to follow.

  • Choose Expert SEO Services if you’re too busy, don’t have staff to help, or want faster, hands-off results.

No matter which path you choose, remember: doing something for your SEO is far better than doing nothing. Patients are searching online right now. If your clinic isn’t showing up, they’re booking with your competitors instead.


Next Steps

If you’re ready to take action, here are three options:

  1. Test the DIY waters – Start small by optimizing a single page of your website.

  2. Explore the Ready. Set. Rank! SEO Toolkit – Get a proven step-by-step system to DIY with expert guidance.

  3. Book a Discovery Call – If you’d rather hand SEO off completely, Propel Marketing & Design can create a customized plan for your clinic.


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