To get other websites to send traffic, you usually have to ask, and ask well. Most site owners never think to link to a clinic until someone gives them a good reason. This guide shows you a simple outreach process, with email templates you can adapt. It also builds on our post on what referral traffic is, so read that first if the term is new.
Start With a Reason to Link
Nobody links to a clinic just because they’re asked. Instead, they link when it helps their own visitors or readers.
So before you contact anyone, ask what’s in it for them. Useful answers include these:
- You’re a real local business that their audience may want.
- Your team offers expert knowledge that they can quote.
- A page on your site answers a question their readers ask.
- Meanwhile, you can return the favour with a genuine recommendation.
If you can’t name a reason, hold off on the email. First, improve your offer.
Step 1: Build a Target List
Begin with a simple spreadsheet. List ten to twenty places that could reasonably link to you. Then group them.
- Directories: local business, chamber of commerce, and professional body listings.
- Suppliers: brands or device makers with “find a provider” pages.
- Partners: nearby GPs, dentists, physiotherapists, gyms, spas, salons, and wedding services.
- Local media: community news sites, magazines, and blogs.
- Events and causes: charities and local events that you support.
For each one, note the contact name and the page where a link would fit. Also write down why it makes sense. Quality matters more than volume.
Step 2: Fix Your Own Website First
Before you ask anyone to send visitors, make sure the visit is worth it. A slow, confusing site wastes the effort.
First, check that your pages load fast on a phone. Next, confirm that your address, opening hours, and booking link are easy to find. Our posts on mobile speed and booking page speed explain how.
Then choose the page you want people to link to. It might be your homepage, a treatment page, or a useful guide.
Step 3: Send a Short, Personal Message
Keep it brief and specific. Mention something real about their site. After that, explain the benefit and make the request small.
Here are three templates. Replace the details in brackets.
For a directory or association listing
Subject: Adding [Clinic Name] to your [directory name]
Hello [Name],
As owner of [Clinic Name], an aesthetic clinic in [area], I’d like to be included in your [directory name]. Your list of local providers looks very useful for patients.
Our details are below: [address, phone, website, opening hours, practitioner qualifications]. Please let me know if anything else would help.
Thank you for your time.
[Your name]
For a supplier “find a provider” page
Subject: [Clinic Name] as an approved [product] provider
Hello [Name],
Since [year], we’ve offered [treatment or device] at [Clinic Name] in [area]. Your website lists approved providers, so I’d like to ask about adding or updating our listing.
Our website is [link], and our practitioner is [name and qualification]. Photos or a short description are available on request.
Kind regards, [Your name]
For a local partner or writer
Subject: An idea for your readers in [area]
Hello [Name],
Your recent piece on [topic] was a great read. Because I run [Clinic Name] nearby, I thought your readers might like our guide to [topic]: [link].
Also, I’d be glad to offer a quote on [relevant subject] if it helps. No obligation at all.
Best wishes, [Your name]
Adapt each message to the person. Copy-and-paste mass emails tend to get ignored. In addition, they can come across as spam.
Step 4: Offer Something Useful, Not Just a Request
The best outreach gives value. Consider these ideas:
- A helpful guide that their readers will like
- Genuine expert comment on a local or seasonal topic
- A mutual recommendation, where each of you points patients to the other and regulations allow it
- Accurate information that makes their page better
- A talk or workshop for a local group
However, never offer payment or free treatments in exchange for links. Google treats paid link schemes as spam. Moreover, rewards can break advertising and healthcare rules.
Step 5: Follow Up Politely, Once
People are busy. So if you don’t hear back, wait about a week. Then send one short, friendly reminder.
Hello [Name], just checking that you saw my note below. No worries if it isn’t a fit. Either way, thank you.
After that, let it go. Persistent follow-ups turn a good first impression into an annoyance.
Step 6: Say Thank You and Keep the Relationship
When someone links to you, thank them promptly. Share their post if it suits. Also keep in touch now and then.
Good relationships bring more opportunities over time. As a result, a partner who trusts you may recommend you again.
Step 7: Track What Happens
Keep a record of who you contacted, what you asked, and the result. In addition, check Google Analytics for the “Referral” channel. It shows which sites send visitors. Menu names change, so follow the current layout.
Look at quality too. Which referral visitors read key pages, enquire, or book? Our post on where website visitors come from explains how to read these reports.
What to Avoid
- Buying links or paying for guaranteed placement
- Sending identical emails to hundreds of sites
- Asking unrelated sites that have no reason to mention you
- Hiding paid features, since sponsored mentions should be clearly labelled
- Overclaiming, such as promising guaranteed results
- Sharing patient photos or stories without written consent
Know the Rules
Clinic marketing is regulated, and the rules vary by country. Therefore, follow your regulator’s advertising standards. Disclose any paid partnerships clearly. Also check what’s allowed before you offer anything in return for a referral. Finally, ask a qualified adviser if you’re unsure.
How Long Does It Take?
Directory listings can appear within days or weeks. Partnerships and press take longer. Meanwhile, links that help your rankings build over months. Don’t judge the effort by one week. Our post on how long organic growth takes explains what to expect.
A Simple First-Week Plan
- Build a list of ten places that could link to you.
- Check that your website is fast and ready for visitors.
- Then send five personal messages using the templates above.
- Follow up once with anyone who hasn’t replied.
- Finally, log the results in your spreadsheet.
The Takeaway
To get other websites to send traffic, give them a real reason to link to you. Build a targeted list, make sure your site is ready, and send short, personal messages. Offer something useful, follow up once, and say thank you. Above all, avoid bought links and rule-breaking shortcuts. A handful of trusted links is worth far more than a pile of poor ones.
Want help finding the best places to earn links for your clinic? [Book a free website audit] and we’ll review your site and suggest where to start.
