The way people search for health providers is changing quickly.
Tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google’s new AI-powered results are reshaping how patients discover and choose dentists, physiotherapists, and other local providers.
To stay visible in this new landscape, your clinic needs to go beyond traditional SEO.
Welcome to the next era: AI Discovery Optimisation.
What Is AI Discovery Optimisation?
AI Discovery Optimisation is the practice of making your business visible, credible, and selectable in AI-driven platforms — not just Google search.
These platforms include:
- Google’s Search Generative Experience (SGE)
- ChatGPT, Bing Copilot, Perplexity
- Voice assistants like Siri, Google Assistant, and Alexa
- Future AI agents embedded into phones, cars, and wearables
Rather than returning a list of links, these tools generate direct recommendations. If your clinic isn’t part of the data they draw from, you may never be seen.
How Does AI Choose Which Businesses to Recommend?
AI relies on signals like:
- Structured data (e.g. schema markup on your website)
- Online reviews (especially volume, recency, and star rating)
- Authoritative content (blogs, FAQs, and location-specific pages)
- Consistency across directories (Google Business Profile, etc.)
- Topical relevance and entity recognition (does the AI understand what your clinic does?)
If your business sends strong signals in these areas, AI tools are more likely to mention or recommend you when users ask for:
- “Good dentists near me”
- “Best podiatrist in Melbourne”
- “Where can I get teeth whitening in Parkdale?”
What Your Clinic Needs to Do Now
To prepare for the AI-first future, your clinic should:
- Optimise your Google Business Profile and directory listings
- Use structured data on your website (LocalBusiness schema, reviews, FAQs)
- Publish helpful, patient-friendly content that answers common questions
- Get high-quality, frequent reviews
Ensure your brand name, services, and location are mentioned consistently across the web.
The Future of Search Isn’t Just About Clicks — It’s About Trust
In the coming years, patients won’t just search for providers. They’ll ask AI agents who they should see. And those agents will decide — based on data — who they trust.
Will your clinic be part of the answer?
Need Help Navigating the AI Future?
At PatientMarketing, we help clinics like yours get discovered — not just by Google, but by the AI tools of tomorrow.
We specialise in local allied health marketing that prioritises trust, visibility, and bookings.
To find out how ‘AI Discovery Optimisation’ can future-proof your practice.
