When people look for professional dental services, they turn to Google for quick expert answers. Nowadays, it’s easier to find what you’re looking for online. Almost every business is on Google, even local dentists and clinics.
Yet, it takes more than having a website to attract customers. It takes organization and optimization to develop a successful dental website that will drive more customers to your local clinic.
Use SEO for Dentists
Dentists need SEO. According to Digital Authority Partners, search engine optimization is an effective tool for targeting your market. SEO can drive inquiries and boost traffic to your dental website and social media platforms; But what exactly is SEO?
SEO is a collection of strategies that promote website authority. You can rank higher on search engine results pages or SERPs with an optimized website, all while establishing your practice online.
Most people use the web to search for answers but rely primarily on first-page results. They consider first-page websites the most reliable and helpful, with the correct answers to their queries.
Investing in SEO can help you rise in the SERPs and be seen on the first page of Google and other search engines. SEO can help your dental brand dominate your local market and lead more customers to your doorstep.
Top Dental SEO Strategies for Your Practice
There are many SEO tactics, but only a few work best for dental professionals.
Claim and Update Your GMB
Local businesses get center stage with GMB or Google My Business. This is your accessible business listing for your local company, which is also connected to your Maps page. Every time someone searches for your business through Google, your GMB profile comes up together with your business information.
A business GMB profile has your business name, address, phone number, website, and other relevant business information. Claiming this listing will allow you to change and manage your profile. And with an updated GMB listing, you’re steps closer to website optimization.
Ways to Optimize Your GMB Listing
Use your main keywords in your business descriptions. A GMB description is only 750 characters long, so make the most of it.
Make sure all contact information is updated, especially your NAP (name, address, phone number) and website. These should be applied to your website, blogs, social media, and directory listings.
- Add holiday hours and special hours to your operating times.
- Manage all reviews. Thank positive ones and offer your help to negative ones.
- Add photos of your business and use your keywords to describe these images.
- Add photos of your dental services and dental products and describe these using your main keywords.
- Create separate GMB profiles for different business locations. Remember, GMB connects to your Maps to help your customers easily find you.
Join Other Relevant Online Directories
Aside from your GMB listing, it would help if you never overlooked the power of online directories. Directory sites can also boost your site rankings and provide alternative means for your customers to find your business. However, it’s not just about placing your business in general directories like the Yellow Pages or Yelp.
Considering relevant online directories can massively improve website optimization. Just a few of the online directories for dentists you should be in are the following:
- American Dental Association – ADA – patients use the “Find-a-Dentist” tool on the ADA website to browse the massive dental directory.
- American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry – AAPD – this is the dental directory for parents looking for experienced pediatric dentists near their area.
- 1-800-DENTIST – this is a handy dental directory trusted by patients and professionals. It helps patients find dentists for specific services in their area. Dentists listed here are licensed, with no criminal or malpractice reports, and are actively providing dental services in their area.
- Orthodontist Pages – Orthopages is not just a directory page but also a resource website for everything about orthodontics. It is a site for patients looking for specialists in the US and Canada.
Promote On-Site Location Signals
There are location signals to affirm your local business on-site and also on-page. You must improve these local signals by optimizing your dental website by using geotagged keywords. For a dentist in San Diego, you can use geotagged phrases like “San Diego teeth whitening” or “dental braces San Diego.”
You can help your customers find you on search by promoting your on-site and online signals. Your website, social media sites, blogs, and other online platforms must lead your audience to your physical location.
- Place your business phone number and address on the top of your web pages and along the footer. Be sure these are easily accessible if your customer decides to contact you for your services.
- Add a Google Map tool to help your customers find you. Your business must be clearly defined with the use of a location marker.
- Use Schema Article Markup to help Google understand your content and rank your site better.
- Include hours of operation on your website and make updates as necessary.
- Automate your customer service by using chatbots. Use bots to maximize customer service, improve customer experience, and build customer trust.
Build Your Reputation Online
Your Google My Business profile helps people decide if your business is the right fit for their needs by showcasing your customer reviews. It would be great to have positive reviews all the time, but sometimes, negative ones just can’t be helped!
Negative reviews stem from customer frustration. This could be due to poor service, an inaccessible parking area, a grumpy receptionist, or the like. As you can see, almost all these can be fixed by simply being mindful of how you conduct your business. Therefore, a good company will always translate to an excellent online reputation. Build your local reputation first, and online success will surely follow.
Final Words
SEO can help dentists make the most out of their online presence. The right SEO strategies will boost your online reputation, but it’s also crucial to start sowing your good reputation locally. When your online and offline optimization efforts are synchronized, you’ll find it’s easier to attract more customers even from outside your local area.
