As many as 46% of all Google searches are local. Nearby patients are already searching for nearby dental practices online. With search engine optimization (SEO), you can make sure they find your dental practice before any other.
Not sure how to use SEO dental marketing to improve your organic rankings? Here are a few tips to help you get started.
With these tips, you can boost your local rankings in no time. Start marketing today!
Update Your Listing
First, claim and optimize your Google Business listing. It’s free and easy to create. Your Google Business listing will take up major real estate on search engine result pages (SERPs).
Taking up space on the top of a SERP will help you generate more brand awareness. As more people become aware of your dental practice, you’ll have an easier time attracting new patients.
When claiming your listing, include your:
- Dental practice name
- Business category/subcategory
- Directions/address
- Patient reviews
- Business hours
- Phone number
- Website
- FAQs
- Services
- Photos and videos
- Updates
Keep your Google Business profile fresh by sharing new photos and videos throughout the year. For example, you can show off before and after photos of specific dental procedures.
Ask your patients to provide feedback by posting their reviews on your profile.
Positive reviews can boost your brand’s reputation, helping you gain credibility. Prospective patients might feel more inclined to trust you with their oral health. They might contact you after reading an online review.
Make sure to update your Google Business listing if your contact information ever changes. You might risk confusing or frustrating patients if the information is inaccurate.
Confirm the information matches exactly what appears on your website. Google will compare the two to confirm the information’s accuracy. Match all abbreviations (like “Street” vs “St.”) as well.
Update Your Site
About 96% of mobile search traffic is completed using Google. About 51% of smartphone users have discovered a new company through search. Meanwhile, 92% pick a business on the first page of local search results.
To appeal to mobile users, make sure your website is mobile-optimized. Google crawls and indexes the mobile version of your site first. If your site isn’t mobile-ready, your organic rankings could drop.
You should also confirm your website is fast, secure, and user-friendly. Appeal to Google’s Core Web Vitals to improve the user experience. A positive user experience will encourage visitors to explore, increasing your dwell times.
Make sure visitors have more than one way to contact your dental practice through your website.
Create Location Pages
As you begin making updates to your website, make sure to audit your pages.
For example, does your dental practice have more than one location? Confirm you have a dedicated landing page for each location. Optimize each page with its own location-specific keyword.
The target keyword should appear in the:
- URL
- Page tile
- SEO title and meta description
- Opening paragraph
- Closing paragraph
- A header
- Body text
- Image file name and alt text
Don’t stuff the page with a singular keyword. Instead, use secondary keywords to minimize keyword stuffing.
Embed a Google Map onto the page as well.
Claim Other Listings
Look for your dental practice on other online directories. For example, you should check:
- About Us
- HotFrog
- FourSquare
- Yelp
- Best of the Web
- Bing Places
- Angie’s List
Confirm that the information is identical to what appears on your website. Remember, consistency is key. Any inaccuracies could confuse prospective patients, too.
Update the information if you move offices, change your website URL, or change phone numbers.
Use Schema Geographic Markup
As part of your local SEO strategy, consider using schema markup across your website. Schema markup helps Google better understand your website content. Adding schema markup to your site can also help you appear for featured snippets.
Featured snippets appear at the top of SERPs. Remember, appearing at the top of the page will help you generate more brand awareness and website traffic.
Use a geographic markup to help Google better understand your address and phone number. This markup can also help Google recognize the dates of any events you’re hosting.
Make sure you’re following Google’s specific guidelines, which restrict spammy schema markups.
If you’re unsure how to effectively use schema markup, work with an SEO marketing agency. They’ll ensure you don’t make any mistakes that can hurt your rankings.
Target Location-Specific Keywords
Gather keyword research to determine what search queries people use to find your dental practice online. You can use these keyword research tools to get started:
- Google Trends
- Keyword Planner
- Ahrefs
- Answer the Public
Look for long-tail keywords that include a location-specific word or phrase. Then, create content using your keyword list. For each primary keyword you select, make sure to have four or five secondary keywords to use within your content.
When creating blog content, focus on quality over quantity. Provide readers with helpful dental health information. Becoming a helpful resource will encourage them to trust your practice.
Once you start creating blog content, share it on social media. Use open-ended questions within your captions to encourage engagement. Sharing your content on social media could help you reach more local patients.
You’ll also begin generating more traffic, which can boost your local SEO rankings.
Leverage Link-Building
Your blog content should feature internal links and external links.
Internal links will send readers to other pages across your site, benefiting your dwell times. External links will send readers beyond your website, to other blogs, research, or data. These links can support claims you make within your content to boost your credibility.
Start guest blogging to generate backlinks as well. Backlinks will send readers on other blogs to your content, helping you generate referral traffic.
Hire an Agency
If you’re struggling to use these dental marketing tips alone, consider working with an agency this year. Look for a digital marketing agency with experience helping dental practices. Their understanding of your industry and patients will ensure they make more informed choices.
With their help, you can boost your local rankings while focusing on your dental practice.
Successful Dental Marketing: Use Local SEO for Dentists Today
An effective dental marketing strategy will help you reach new local patients without blowing through your budget. Use these local SEO strategies to get started. Then, review the data from your campaign to make informed changes to your strategy over time.
As you attract new patients to your practice, your ROI will rise.
Need help developing your SEO marketing strategy? We’re here for you.
Contact us today to get started.
