Should doctors use seo or social media to get more patients?

As a functional medicine doctor, your primary focus is helping patients feel their best, but getting new patients through your doors (or online) can sometimes feel like a full-time job on its own. Between managing appointments, following up with patients, and keeping up with continuing education, marketing your practice can easily fall to the bottom of the to-do list.

That’s where SEO marketing and social media marketing come in. Both strategies are powerful tools for increasing visibility, attracting the right patients, and building credibility online, but they work in very different ways. But which is more effective? The truth is, both play important roles, and the real magic happens when they work together.

Let’s dive in.

How SEO and Social Media Work Together

SEO and social media aren’t competing strategies; they complement each other and, when used together, can significantly grow your practice.

SEO focuses on helping your website appear in Google search results when potential patients are actively looking for services like functional medicine. By targeting the right keywords, such as functional medicine doctor near me or natural solutions for chronic fatigue, you ensure your website reaches the people who are already searching for what you offer.

Social media, on the other hand, builds your brand presence and keeps your audience engaged. Platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn allow you to showcase your expertise, share patient success stories, and educate your community about holistic health topics.

This ongoing engagement drives traffic back to your website, which can help improve your SEO rankings over time.

Together, SEO and social media create a full-picture marketing approach:

SEO attracts new patients actively searching for your services.

Social media nurtures relationships with your existing and potential patients.

Content synergy boosts visibility. Sharing blog posts, tips, or educational content on social media encourages clicks, shares, and backlinks, all of which are signals Google values.

Authority and credibility grow, when people see consistent, helpful content on both your website and social channels; they’re more likely to trust your practice.

In short, your SEO strategy ensures you’re discoverable on search engines like Google and Bing. And your social media strategy keeps your audience engaged. By integrating both, you’re not just reaching more people, you’re connecting with the right people in ways that feel authentic to your practice and your values.

When Should You Prioritize One Over the Other?

While SEO and social media are strongest when used together, sometimes you need to prioritize based on your current goals, capacity, or stage of growth. Here’s how to decide where to begin:

Prioritize SEO If:

• You want to attract new patients who are actively searching for the services you offer. These are high-intent users who are looking for solutions right now.
• You’ve invested (or plan to invest) in a website that reflects your values and services, and want it to be easily found in Google searches.
• You’re focused on long-term growth. SEO builds momentum over time, meaning the more consistent you are, the more value you’ll get back.
• You offer specific or niche services people are likely to Google (like “natural treatment for thyroid dysfunction” or “functional medicine for fatigue in [city]”).
• If your practice relies heavily on inbound interest, insurance searches, or Google visibility, SEO is essential. It ensures your website becomes the digital front door to your practice, open 24/7 for new patients.

Prioritize Social Media If:

• You want to build brand awareness and personal connection with your community, especially if you’re newer in practice or still growing your name.
• You enjoy educating, sharing wellness tips, or showing your personality online, which helps build trust with prospective patients who are still in the “just browsing” stage.
• You’re preparing to launch something, a group program, new offering, or free guide, and want to build interest and momentum in real time.
• You already have an audience (big or small) that engages with your content, and you want to keep nurturing those relationships.

Social media is also helpful if you’re a location-based provider trying to stay top of mind in your local community. A regular, authentic presence can remind someone who’s been on the fence about starting care that you’re still here and you’re the right fit when they’re ready.

So…Should You Choose One?

Here’s the truth: choosing only SEO or only social media is like choosing between exercise and nutrition; both are essential for a healthy, long-term practice.

If you’re only focused on SEO, you might rank well, but miss out on the deeper, ongoing engagement that builds trust and loyalty.

If you’re only doing social media, you may connect with followers, but limit your reach to those who already know you.

Combining both helps you:

• Get discovered by new patients searching on Google
• Stay top of mind with warm leads and current followers
• Create a cohesive brand across every platform your patients use
• Encourage cross-traffic (e.g., social media followers clicking blog links, or SEO readers following you on Instagram)

In essence, SEO brings people in. Social media invites them to stay.

Final Thoughts: It’s Not Either/Or. It’s Both, Aligned

At the end of the day, growing your functional medicine practice online isn’t about choosing SEO or social media. It’s about using both strategically to reach, connect with, and serve more of the right people.

Think of it this way:

SEO brings in cold leads who are actively searching for solutions.

Social media turns those leads warm by giving them a reason to stick around, engage, and build trust with you.

If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels with disconnected strategies and start showing up online in a way that reflects the heart of your practice, combining SEO and social media is the path forward.

Let’s Make Your Online Presence Work for You

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we help functional medicine providers like you create intentional, aligned strategies that attract your ideal clients — through SEO, social media, or both.

Whether you’re just getting started or want to take your existing content to the next level, we’re here to support you with done-for-you services, personalized strategy, and a team that truly understands your mission.

1. Book a free consultation to see how we can help you show up online with clarity, confidence, and connection.
2. We offer both social media and SEO strategy sessions, so we can answer any questions you have.
3. We specialize in helping functional medicine providers, therapists, and other helping professionals grow online with strategies that actually work.

Other Services to Support Your Growth

At Simplified SEO Consulting, we offer a variety of services to meet you exactly where you are — whether you want to outsource everything or stay hands-on with guidance.

Our Done-for-You SEO Services are ideal for helping professionals who want to improve their Google rankings without having to learn SEO themselves. We take care of everything, from optimizing your website to crafting keyword-rich content, so you can focus on your clients.

Prefer a more self-paced approach? Our DIY SEO Courses are built specifically for therapists and wellness professionals. You’ll learn practical, proven strategies to optimize your website at your own pace, with support from instructors who speak your language.

If you’re looking for direction rather than implementation, our Strategy Sessions offer personalized, 1:1 guidance for both SEO and social media. We’ll walk through your current presence and create a clear, actionable plan you can run with, no guesswork involved.

Need help with behind-the-scenes improvements? Our Technical SEO Services address the foundational pieces that impact how search engines crawl and rank your site, like site speed, mobile optimization, and metadata.

And if words aren’t your thing, we’ve got you covered. Our SEO Copywriting Services combine compelling, human-first language with keyword strategy to help you rank in Google and connect with your ideal clients.