SEO for dentists, or dental SEO, concentrates on optimizing a dental office website for both search engines and users to increase the website visibility in search results on Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. SEO Optimizations may include making the website mobile-friendly, faster, and more valuable to potential patients.
Dentists are quickly realizing the importance of marketing their practices online. They are redesigning their websites to stay connected with their patients and attract new ones, and some are adopting content marketing strategies to get more shares on social media. However, these creative marketing efforts will go unnoticed if they are not optimized for search engines.
This is where dental search engine optimization, or dental SEO, comes in.
People used to search for dentists on the yellow pages, but now they go online. They usually don't look beyond the first page of search results, so websites that don't rank well on Google or Bing are ignored. Whether you're new to the profession or run a long-standing dental office, SEO for dentists is critical to finding new patients - and keeping them.
On this page, you'll find an overview of SEO for dentists and why you need it for your practice, as well as some SEO tips to get you started.
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What Is Dental SEO
Dental SEO is the process of attracting more visitors to your dental office website by increasing your website position on the search engine results page. The higher your ranking, the more likely you are to attract visitors and clients to your website.
For example, if a potential patient goes to Google and types in keywords related to dentist services or the location of dental services, such as "veneer dentist" and "dentist near me," they will find your dental office at the top of the search results because of your SEO efforts and Google ranking.
What is Google ranking? It's the order in which websites appear on the search results pages when you type specific keywords into Google. So the next time a patient searches for "dentist near me", you can't afford to appear as the first result on Google.
Why Do Dentists Need SEO?
If you're a dentist, SEO marketing may not be high on your list of priorities. Yet, without search engine optimization, almost no one will be able to find your site.
Studies show that the first five search results account for 68% of all clicks. If your dental office website achieves this type of ranking, it means more website traffic, more qualified leads, more credibility and authority, and ultimately, more patients for your dental practice.
It's also important to keep in mind that your competitors are probably already investing in dental SEO. This means they are already benefiting from the exposure that SEO brings them and attracting local patients to their practices before those consumers even know you exist. SEO may be your only chance to connect with patients who turn to the Internet to search for dentists in their area.
Even better, if your competitors aren't already investing in dental SEO for their practices, this is a fantastic opportunity for you to get ahead of them and attract more patients to your dental office before they have the chance. You already know that your office is the best in the area. With a quality dental website and an excellent SEO strategy, you can prove it.
Your dental practice SEO will build trust and credibility with patients
There is a reason why the majority of people click on one of the first 5 suggested results on Google - people think that dentists who appear in the top positions are better. Google thinks so too!
It's a virtuous circle: the higher you rank in search results, the more likely potential patients are to trust you and click on your website. The more people who click, the more Google sees you as a reliable and credible source and will continue to push you to the top search results.
Search engine optimization increases traffic to your website
The latest research shows that 53% of traffic to all websites comes from organic (unpaid) searches. For your specific website and location, this percentage can be even higher. This number is especially important for two reasons:
- The more traffic to your website, the more likely you are to convince someone to make a dental appointment.
- SEO is an inbound marketing tactic - instead of going to patients whether they want to hear from you or not, dental SEO makes it easy for potential patients to find you when they need you. The result is higher quality leads (the patients you want most) and better conversion rates.
Better SEO translates into a better website user experience
Good SEO strategies place great importance on the website user experience. For example, SEO strategy for dentists includes things like:
- Fast page load times
- Mobile-friendly design
- Headings and subheadings on pages
- Original and compelling content
- Easy website navigation
All of these strategies make it easier for potential patients to find what they need on your website (known as a good user experience) and in turn improve your search engine ranking.
Other dental practices use SEO
SEO may be new to you, but we guarantee it's not new to other dental offices in your city. The internet is a crowded and competitive place. With your own SEO strategy, you can keep up with your competitors or, better yet, rise to the top and appear as the best choice for patients.
For example, let's say someone with a missing tooth types "Brisbane tooth replacement" into Google - they'll see a lot of reviews, dentist directories, and competitor websites. By improving your SEO, you not only ensure that your dental practice appears among these search results, but you also help to stand out and win that person over as a patient.
Dental SEO Strategy
Any marketing plan needs to know where to reach its target audience and how to reach them. SEO is no exception. When you meet the needs of dental patients, you get their attention. That attention increases your ranking, which attracts even more attention, and the cycle continues.
Here are some steps your dental office can take to begin the process of developing a good dental SEO strategy.
Add relevant keywords
Yes, potential patients are looking for dentists, but they're also looking for specific services, from teeth whitening to bridges to annual checkups for children. Long-tail searches, which are composed of multiple keywords, have lower search volumes, but the traffic that comes from these queries is often highly targeted and ready to convert into actual customers.
For example, rather than focusing on optimizing your website for a dentist or dental services, you can make sure your website includes keywords such as "dentist in [your city]" or "children's dentist in [your area]," or "broken tooth repair in [city], [state]." These are long-tail keywords.
Also, when optimizing your website, be sure to include keywords and phrases that describe all the services you offer. For example, don't just use words like "dentist" or "dental services" in the text and URLs of your website. Use keywords such as root canal, porcelain crown, as well as the names of the procedures you perform or products you offer.
SEO optimization for local searches
When it comes to health and medicine, people are looking for local service providers. You're missing out on these prime prospects if your SEO strategy doesn't use local SEO tips to target specific geographic areas. The easiest way to improve your search results is to add the name of your city and nearby towns to your website copy.
However, don't forget about other aspects of your website besides the copy. You should also add the locations in your page titles and URLs.
Also, make sure you have your business registered on Google Maps and local directory websites, which will help to further improve your visibility in local searches.
Start blogging
The ultimate goal of SEO for dentists is to attract more patients through increased search engine visibility. However, that doesn't mean they have to pay for all your knowledge and expertise. For an experienced dentist, SEO marketing should be as much about building credibility as it is about generating revenue.
Blogging is one way to do this. By writing a blog with dental care tips, you will begin to attract interested readers and potential patients. As your traffic increases, your search engine rankings will also improve, and you will become an authoritative source and the first choice for those looking for a dentist in your area.
Earning links (Link Building)
The number and quality of links to your website have an impact on your website ranking in search results for keywords and phrases related to your business. This means that if you want to maintain your search engine ranking, you need to earn quality links.
You can do this by creating quality content and asking bloggers and industry leaders to share your content. Not only will this improve your website ranking in search results, but it will also help position your dental practice as a leader in the dental field. When it comes to SEO for dentists, earning links is essential. These links are a sign of recognition or approval of the content published by your dental office. That's why search engines like Google use links as one of their main ranking factors.
FAQs About Dental SEO
How does dental SEO work?
SEO for dentists involves optimizing your website for search engines and users, which increases the website's visibility in relevant and organic search results. SEO optimizations include on-page SEO, off-page SEO, and technical SEO tips, such as updating title tags, earning backlinks, and improving page speed.
How long does dental SEO take?
Dental SEO can take anywhere from 2 hours to 6 months before you start seeing results in searches. Some strategies, such as adding an FAQ schema and updating meta descriptions and tags, will get you results within hours.
How much does SEO cost for dentists?
Dental SEO prices depend on several factors, but the average cost of dental SEO is $1,500 to $5,000 per month. If you are looking to partner with a dental SEO expert or consultant, the average rate is $100 to $300 per hour.
How do you calculate the return on investment of dental SEO?
Your dental office can calculate the return on investment (ROI) of dental SEO using the following formula:
(Gain from Investment - Cost of Investment) / Cost of Investment.
While you can incorporate your search engine rankings and organic website traffic into your "Gain from Investment" value, you will most often use conversions - such as a phone call or filling out a contact form - because these actions contribute to your dental office most important goals.
With free website analytics tools like Google Analytics, you can set up and track these actions.
How dental SEO marketing can increase the traffic to your dentistry website?
Simply put, SEO tips to your website by helping your dental office appear at the top of the search results list when potential patients search for a dentist or doctor online. More than 85% of people who search don't get past the first page of results, so where you appear is crucial.
