In a world where artificial intelligence increasingly drives search engine performance and decision-making, ensuring your website is crawl-friendly is paramount. Whether you’re a consultant dermatologist or a urological surgeon, AI doesn’t discriminate—it just needs clear, accessible content to index. Let’s ensure your site is up to the task.

  1. Start with a Crawl Test

Think of it as a website MOT. Tools like Google Search Console or Screaming Frog can help identify crawl errors such as broken links, blocked resources, or missing pages. If AI can’t find or interpret your content, it’s like building a clinic in a forest—great facilities, but no patients can get there.

 

  1. Optimise Your Robots.txt File

Your robots.txt file is the gatekeeper, telling AI what it can and can’t access. Too restrictive, and you might be blocking key pages from being indexed. Ensure essential areas like service descriptions and blogs are crawlable.

 

  1. Create a Sitemap (and Keep it Updated!)

A sitemap is the blueprint of your site, guiding AI to your most critical pages. Think of it as the medical directory, ensuring the latest information about your services is accessible. Tools like XML-Sitemaps or Yoast SEO make this straightforward.

 

  1. Ensure Mobile Compatibility

Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means your site’s mobile version is its priority. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, not only will AI struggle, but potential patients could bounce faster than a knee-jerk reflex.

 

  1. Fix Page Speed Issues

Page speed isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential for both user experience and AI indexing. A sluggish site can harm rankings, especially when your competition loads at lightning speed. Tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights will pinpoint where your site is falling short.

 

  1. Content Accessibility for AI

AI algorithms love clear, structured content. Break up your pages with headers, bulleted lists, and concise paragraphs. Use alt tags for images, not just for accessibility compliance but also to make your visuals crawlable. For instance, if you’re a spinal pain consultant, adding descriptive alt text like *“X-ray of spinal fusion surgery”* helps AI understand your expertise.

 

  1. Secure Your Site (HTTPS is Non-Negotiable)

If your site doesn’t use HTTPS, both users and search engines are wary. Think of it as sterilising your instruments—essential, non-negotiable, and a trust builder.

 

  1. Leverage Schema Markup

Schema is like a translator, explaining to AI exactly what’s on your page. Using medical-specific schema (like for procedures or conditions) helps your site appear in rich results, which boosts click-through rates. For example, ENT surgeons could use schema to highlight specialities like sinus surgeries or audiology services.

 

  1. Address Duplicate Content

If AI finds the same content across multiple URLs, it might penalise your rankings. Canonical tags are your prescription here—these tell search engines the original source of duplicated content.

 

  1. Monitor Your Metrics Regularly

After implementing these strategies, keep an eye on your performance. Metrics like crawl stats, organic traffic, and rankings give you a clear picture of whether the changes are effective.

 

Your website is often the first impression potential patients get—make sure it’s AI-ready, accessible, and built to convert visitors into appointments.

Ready to elevate your medical website’s performance? Let’s have a chat—book a free consultation today and see how we can transform your digital presence.