Skip to main content

Best practices for getting discovered on Zocdoc

Read for tips on how to make your practice stand out in search on Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app.

You can get more new patients with Zocdoc by ensuring that you show up and stand out in search: increasing your visibility when patients search for care, and highlighting the quality of care that you provide.

Show up in Search

To reach more new patients on the Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app you’ll first want to improve the likelihood that you’ll show up in Zocdoc’s search results. Your Zocdoc Search Score helps you see how well optimized your account is based on what matters to patients. It also shows you the steps you can take to perform better in search. To view your Search Score, log into your Zocdoc account and Dashboard under Performance in the left menu.

Understanding your Search Score

You can think of your score as an estimate of the relative strength of your account—or in other words, how likely it is that new patients can find and book with you on Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app. Search Score is calculated using key factors that are important to patients and contribute to bookings, such as near-term availability, consistent new patient availability, popular visit reasons, and top insurances

A low Search Score is below 29%, which means you are not showing up in searches on Zocdoc as often as you could be. A high Search Score is 100%, which means you’ve taken the general recommended steps to improve your performance. Zocdoc providers with a 100% Search Score had, on average, 5 times more new patient discovery bookings than those with a score below 70%.

Note:

  • Practices of 15+ providers will not see a Search Score. Instead, you’ll be able to see if your practice can or cannot receive bookings on the Providers page. This indicates whether you can get discovery bookings on the Zocdoc app and our partner sites.

  • Some enterprise accounts will not see a Search Score. Ask your account manager for recommendations on how to improve your account.

Add availability

Appointment availability is an important factor to patients when searching for care. In fact, 48% of bookings on Zocdoc are for appointments within 72 hours. That’s why we recommend keeping your Zocdoc calendar up to date with near-term availability. Patients also value the flexibility to find appointments that work with their schedules. We recommend always displaying availability in the next four weeks too. Learn more about managing your availability.

Most practices integrate their practice calendar with Zocdoc. With a Zocdoc Calendar Integration, you can connect your Zocdoc calendar to your practice calendar— for free— so you only need to manage one schedule. Calendar Integration automatically updates your practice calendar when you get a Zocdoc booking. Likewise, it checks your practice’s calendar to update your Zocdoc availability in real-time. Learn more about Calendar Integration.

Practices with a Zocdoc Calendar Integration see 25% more patient bookings in their first 6 months if they show real-time availability. If you do not have a full Calendar Integration with Zocdoc, remember to consistently add up-to-date availability on your Zocdoc calendar.

Add top visit reasons

Patients typically search and find providers by visit reason, so keeping them up-to-date ensures you show up in the most relevant search results on Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app. Your Search Score can show you the top visit reasons that patients are searching for and therefore book most often for your specialty. Learn more about your visit reason settings.

Add top insurances

Patients typically filter results by their insurance plan, so having complete and up-to-date insurance information ensures you show up in every relevant search result on Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app. Your Search Score can show you the top insurances that patients search and book most often for your area. You can manage your insurance information in your Insurance Settings. Learn more about your insurance settings.

Stand out in search

Get 10+ reviews

More reviews help you stand out in search and receive more bookings—patients are 30% more likely to book with a provider with at least 30 reviews than one with fewer than 10 reviews. If you have fewer than 30 reviews, you can request reviews from patients who did not book through Zocdoc. Learn more about requesting reviews.

Try Sponsored Results

Sponsored Results is a paid advertising product on Zocdoc.com and the Zocdoc app that helps you grow your booking volume by maximizing your visibility to patients in search. Practices see an average 43% increase in bookings within two weeks of joining Sponsored Results. Learn more about Sponsored Results.

Add more providers

Adding all of your providers who see patients in your office—like nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dental hygienists—to Zocdoc increases your opportunities to get discovered by patients. This maximizes the number of search results your practice appears in and it also gives patients complete and accurate access to all of your providers’ availability.

To add providers, log in to your Zocdoc account and go to the Providers page. Click “Add” at the top of the page, then choose whether you’re adding a Provider or Resource. Patients already looking for your providers can book on Zocdoc.com or in the Zocdoc app for free. You can also choose to have your providers appear in searches when patients are looking for a new provider. You pay a one-time booking fee only when Zocdoc helps a patient discover your practice. Learn more about our pricing.

Follow our best practices for appointment management

When you get new bookings through Zocdoc, review them quickly to make sure you have the information you need to see the patient. If there are issues or you need more information, reach out to the patient.

Taking these steps can help reduce cancellations and ensure a smooth patient experience. It can also help you earn the Patient Choice badge, which increases your visibility in search and helps you attract more patients.

Contact our friendly Service team to discuss how you can optimize your practice.

Did this answer your question?