Boosting your visibility on local searches is critical for acquiring new patients in a competitive market.
By optimizing your dental office website and online reputation as part of a comprehensive digital marketing for dentist office strategy, you can dramatically increase your practice’s findability and patient flow.
This article will explore actionable tips to improve your local search presence and grow your patient base.
Why Digital Marketing Matters for Dentists
In 2023, an estimated 65% of all Google searches were local in nature. For dentists, this presents a prime opportunity to connect with searchers actively looking for nearby practices to fulfill their oral health needs.
Implementing digital marketing for dentist offices is thus essential for interception these prospects.
Some key local search statistics that highlight the immense opportunities include:
| % of Patients that Check Online Reviews Before Booking | >90% |
| Average Number of Reviews Read per Practice | 8-12 |
| % Impact of 5-Star Rating on Selection Likelihood | 63% |
With the majority of new patients turning to local searches and online reviews to shortlist dentists, having an optimized online presence is no longer optional – it’s an imperative.
Conduct Keyword Research
The first step is gaining insight into the types of local dentistry searches performed in your area. While some keywords may seem obvious (e.g. dentists near me), keyword research can uncover more nuanced and high-intent phrases which you can target through optimization and content creation.
Some examples include:
- emergency dentist [city name]
- pediatric dentistry [city name]
- dental implants [city name]
- orthodontist accepting [insurance name]
You can utilize free tools such as Google’s Keyword Planner, Ahrefs, or SEMRush to compile a list of relevant keyword opportunities.
Sort them by monthly search volume, competition levels, and commercial intent to prioritize accordingly.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
With Google accounting for over 90% of searches, getting your Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business) in order is a must.
Key optimization tips include:
- Completing your profile 100% with images, business info, services list etc.
- Monitoring and responding to Google reviews
- Creating posts to engage visitors and demonstrate authority
- Ensuring profile accuracy through verification processes
- Listing profile on schema markup on website for visibility
Maintaining a fully fleshed out and managed Business Profile will strengthen your local pack ranking and search visibility.
Update Site Pages for Local Intent
Alongside your GBP, ensure website pages targeting local searches are also well-optimized.
Some best practices include:
- Prominently display your location and area you serve
- g. through text, locator maps and images of office exterior
- Internally link local content
- Crosslink services, staff and landing pages with locally-relevant anchor text
- Create location-specific landing pages
- Such as “Best Cosmetic Dentistry Los Angeles” with geo-optimized titles and content
Pages crafted to match dentistry searches for your locality will outperform generic templates. Include keywords, city references and calls-to-action to convert searchers.
Generate Reviews and Testimonials
92% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. Cultivating an impressive portfolio of positive patient testimonials should be an urgent priority.
Tactics to help gain credible and impactful online reviews include:
- Emailing patients directly with review requests post-appointment
- Placing table tent cards in waiting rooms asking for reviews
- Offering promotions for check-ins like free x-rays for 5-star ratings
- Responding publicly to showcase your customer service
The more abundant, recent and positive your review profile – the higher local pack prominence your practice will achieve.
Run Local PPC and Social Ads
Beyond organic rankings, paid channels present avenues for targeting prospects in your defined locality through contextualized messaging.
PPC and social campaign best practices encompass:
- Geo-fenced search and display ads via Google Ads
- Nextdoor ads viewable only to neighborhood residents
- Facebook/Instagram promotions focused on local intent ad formats
- Retargeting recent website visitors based on location
Well-designed campaigns aligned to branded and non-branded dentistry searches in nearby regions will connect your practice to users at critical juncture.
In Summary…
Distinguishing your practice amidst the competitive dental industry depends greatly upon local search visibility.
By optimizing your online assets for local intent, managing your reviews and leveraging paid promotion – you can cement positioning as a top provider for patients in your geography.
