If you want to attract international patients, start by speaking their language (literally and digitally).
Many doctors and clinics want to attract patients from the U.S. or Canada, but they make the same mistake: they use keywords that no one outside your country would look for. Titles such as "innovative treatment for osteoarthritis" or "advanced fertility technology" sound good... but do not position.
International patients do not search as a health professional. They search as people who have a specific problem, fear or need. That's why choosing the correct keywords is the first step to stop attracting irrelevant visits and start receiving real inquiries.
What your patients are looking for (and you don't know it)
These are examples of real U.S. and Canadian searches that you could be missing out on if you don't have an international SEO strategy:
Regenerative medicine
- "Is stem cell therapy legal in Mexico?"
- "Stem cell treatment for arthritis abroad".
- "Stem cell therapy cost in Latin America".
Fertility and assisted reproduction
- "Affordable IVF in Mexico
- "Best fertility clinic in Latin America".
- "IVF success rates by country"
Aesthetic and plastic surgery
- "Top plastic surgeons in Mexico 2025".
- "Safe cosmetic surgery destinations overseas"
- "Tummy tuck cost in Mexico reviews".
Dentistry and orthodontics
- "Dental implants in Mexico with reviews"
- "Is it safe to get veneers in Cancun?"
- "How much do braces cost in Mexico?"
Nutrition and preventive medicine
- "Medical weight loss program in Latin America".
- "Wellness retreat with medical staff in Mexico".
- "Nutritionists that speak English in Costa Rica".
If you're not creating content that includes these phrases or similar variations, you're simply off the radar.
Common mistakes that block your international positioning
1. Use only technical keywords
Patients are not looking for "autologous tissue regeneration". They are looking for "treatment for knee pain without surgery." The medical language may go into the content, but the title and structure must speak out.
2. Writing in translated English
Stem cells treatment Mexico" is not the same as "stem cell therapy in Mexico". The first one sounds bad and nobody looks for it. The second one has volume, intention and results. You have to think like the patient, not like Google Translate.
3. Do not include the target patient's location
If your content does not mention "for U.S. patients" or "for Canadians", Google will not associate it with that market. Geographic context is key in SEO for medical tourism.
Practical strategy for choosing the right keywords
Step 1: Define your priority treatments
Don't try to position yourself for everything. Focus on the most profitable services that already have the potential to attract foreign patients.
Step 2: Use locally focused SEO tools
Platforms like Ahrefs, Semrush or Ubersuggest allow you to filter results by country. Do not use data from Mexico if your patient is in Texas or Toronto.
Step 3: Study the search intent
Not everything with volume works. Prefer keywords with:
- Informative/commercial intent.
- Low or medium level of competence.
- High relevance with your real services.
Step 4: Create content aligned with these searches
- Guides: "Everything U.S. Patients Should Know About IVF in Mexico".
- Blogs: "How Much Do Dental Implants Really Cost in Mexico?"
- Service pages: "Stem Cell Therapy for Arthritis - For International Patients".
What your clinic should do today
If your goal is to attract patients from the US or Canada, you can't keep creating generic content. You need a keyword strategy that connects with their language, their mindset and their real needs.
At Torres Creative we work on medical keywords with an international focus, create content that ranks and converts, and help clinics like yours compete where it really matters: on the first page of Google.
And if you don't know where to start, start with this: check your website and tell me what keyword you are using that no one is searching for.