Imagine a review site that notifies you every time one of your patients writes a review. Then you can decide whether that review gets pushed out over the internet and to search engines like Google and Yahoo. Essentially you get to control your Medical practice’s reputation online. I came across a website designing and marketing company named as http://www.medicalwebexperts.com , with which I had a contract for advertising and optimizing my website to make it google-friendly, and most importantly patient friendly. My aim was not only creating money by marketing the website, but providing care and comfort to the patients by providing them some crucial information. The main problem with my website was found to be improper website coding and irrelevancy of content, which resisted my website to be listed in top most search result and far beyond reaching the favorite list of websites for patients, and there were no provisions to have some two way communication with patients and doctors. This hindered website from being popular .The Company did well in reconstructing my website, making it popular using SEO techniques. They also added the functionalities like education to patients, patient portals to keep track of their health, discussion board to allow every patient to express their opinions and experiences, which might help other patients. Such facilities helped my patients to interact with each other, and getting the reviews from each other regarding the practices. The benefits were then slowly coming into action. The trust factor and the soft corner for the doctors seemed to emerge in patients and that was the desperate goal I was trying to pursue. Website helped me getting a good sum of patients at my doorstep, as well as creating a better relationship with the patients. Web marketing really helped my business work, making my investments in SEO worthy.

I love the non-technical suggestion! Sometimes as developers/designers we get caught up in our own vacuum and don't realize glaring faults in our design/system.

Thanks Wade!

#7 Have a non-technical user (spouse/parent/hobo off the street) use the site. Watch what they do and where they struggle. Resist the urge to direct them. You will be amazed how your perception and the reality of your site's usability are not always in sync.