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Essential Guidelines to Local SEO for Dentists

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Essential Guidelines to Local SEO for Dentists

All search engine optimization (SEO) is not the same. While some businesses need to focus on a customer base that is national or international, dentists need locally-focused SEO. Potential patient searches are targeted and highly specific. They are looking for a dentist in their area that has a good web presence and positive reviews, and they will pay close attention to the listings that appear on the first page of their search. These five essential guidelines can get you where you want to be in local dentist searches: at the top. Read more information about this article.


Evaluate your local directory listings.


Websites are based on over 250 unpublished factors for search engine ranking. By contrast, local directories and map listings are often much easier to claim and optimize, and typically appear before organic search results. They also provide the information your patients seek most: your address, business hours, contact information, and reviews. Showing up better in local search results is often just a matter of claiming and completing your listings in local directories. We even provide helpful information on the basics of establishing quality local directory listings to get you started.


Know that Google Adwords can waste a lot of money.


We frequently see dentists spending thousands of dollars on pay-per-click advertising through services like Google Adwords, even though they are less effective than organic listings and often unnecessary. Beware of companies that make "first-page search" promises, especially when that only means Google Adwords management. As soon as you stop paying their exorbitant monthly fees, your website disappears from the top. If you decide to do it yourself, you should be prepared for a lot of self-education.


Use social media to boost local SEO.


Social networks were made for the locals. Finding potential patients on sites like Twitter or Pinterest can be just as easy using the search function of those particular social networks. In general, following a person's posts will often result in a following, especially if you're providing great content. You might also consider highlighting current events in your community or highlighting local schools, clubs, or teams.


Have a mobile website.


50% of people searching for your practice do so on a mobile device. You want to make sure your website works properly on all devices and is easy to navigate. If your site doesn't work on mobile devices, or if it's difficult to use, local visitors will quickly leave your site, hurting your overall search engine ranking.


Focus only on the most relevant communities closest to you.


While every market and geographic area is unique, the number of areas you can effectively optimize for is limited. You simply won't be able to get great SEO results by trying to target keywords to every small town or major city near your practice. The best results come from choosing one or two geographic keywords to optimize for. While Smile Savvy clients have been able to rank effectively for three locations, adding more will dilute your results and hurt areas where you've historically ranked well.


Smile Savvy continues to be an industry leader in providing high-quality websites for dentists. With over 14 years of experience and over 1,000 dental websites, we know how to get top search engine results. Contact us to see what we can do for your dental practice.

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