Physical therapy patients search Google before calling. This guide shows PT clinics how to dominate local search, collect more reviews, and fill their appointment books through Google Maps.
When someone leaves the hospital with a referral to physical therapy, most of them do one thing next: Google "physical therapist near me."
The PT clinics that appear in the local pack capture those patients. Those that don't are losing referrals to competitors — often permanently, because PT patients tend to stick with the provider that works.
Here's how to make sure your clinic appears first.
Physical therapy is a high-frequency, high-value service. Most patients complete 6-20+ sessions. A single patient acquired through Google can represent $1,500-$5,000 in revenue.
How patients find PT clinics:
Local SEO captures the largest and fastest-growing segment: direct Google search.
Key difference from other healthcare: PT patients are often in pain and want answers fast. Speed of appearing in search — and how quickly your clinic responds — directly affects conversion.
Primary category: "Physical Therapist" — use this exact category.
Secondary categories to add:
Services to list on GBP:
List every specialty with a brief description. These become searchable.
Attributes to enable:
Reviews for physical therapists carry extra weight because patients are making healthcare decisions. A high average rating (4.7+) with specific, outcome-focused reviews drives appointments.
Best time to ask for a review: At discharge (final session) when the patient has achieved their recovery goal. This is when satisfaction is highest.
Script for in-person discharge:
"[Patient name], it's been great working with you on your recovery. If you're happy with your results, we'd really appreciate a Google review — it helps other patients who are searching for PT in [city] find us. I can text you a direct link right now."
What makes a great PT review:
Prompt patients to mention:
These specifics help your listing rank for condition-specific searches ("PT for rotator cuff" etc.).
📊 Flento Data: PT clinics with 50+ reviews average 34% more new patient inquiries per month than those with fewer than 20 reviews.
What you CAN do:
What you CANNOT do:
Safe response template:
"Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. It means a great deal to our team. We're always here if you need us in the future — wishing you continued health."
⚠️ Common Mistake: Responding to reviews with "We're so glad your [condition] improved!" This confirms PHI (protected health information) in a public response and violates HIPAA.
Your website amplifies your GBP rankings. Create condition-specific pages that rank for "[condition] physical therapist [city]."
High-value pages for PT websites:
Each page should have 500+ words, your clinic's NAP in the footer, and a LocalBusiness schema markup.
Beyond Google, PT clinics get significant leads from insurance network directories. Make sure your clinic is listed and optimized on:
Keep your NAP and specialty information consistent across all platforms.
🔥 Quick Win: Set up Google Business Profile messaging and respond to every message within 1 hour. Patients searching for PT often contact multiple clinics and go with the first one that responds. Speed wins patients.
Action Step: Search "physical therapist [your city]" right now. If you're not in the top 3 results, your Google Business Profile needs immediate attention. Start with reviews (ask your last 10 discharged patients today) and category optimization.
Local SEO for PT clinics isn't optional — it's how the fastest-growing practices fill their schedules without depending entirely on referrals.
Start free → — Flento tracks your PT clinic's Google Maps rankings and helps you monitor the review velocity that fills your appointment book.
