Nowadays, there is no place that embodies competition more than the World Wide Web. Becoming visible on the Internet means dentists need to use effective dental Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. With the help of reliable SEO services in Canada, your website will gain a better website ranking on search engines like Google.

Having your own website is like owning your own clinic. Without the right marketing strategies, only a handful of people would know about your clinic’s existence, so the chances of having new clients are also very slim. This is where SEO techniques come in to help establish your site’s identity and gain a following to help your business grow. 

What is Dental SEO? 

Dental SEO is a group of practices that focus specifically on driving more traffic to a website to get more patients. Dental practitioners need to navigate the online world to attract more patients, but they can also delegate the marketing efforts to a team that is more adept with the digital world. 

Effective dental SEO can lead patients looking for treatment, like for an impacted tooth, to the right place. Once the patient uses search engines to look for a clinic near them, they will likely click on the given sites on the first results page. So, if you want to get their attention, strive to make it to the first page of the Search Engine Returned Pages (SERPs)

Reasons Why Dental SEO Matters

SEO offers different benefits to dental practitioners. Like how word of mouth spreads, clients will find it easier to discover you if your website performs well in online searches. SEO strategies are targeted towards customers that suit your patient demographic. These dental SEO benefits will help you realize its influence in your practice:

• Your site will rank higher in search engine results than other dental practice websites
• You will gain leverage in your online presence
• It makes it easier for potential clients to find your clinic
• You get exposure to potential clients based on the keywords used
• Helps gain an insight into the audience that suits your client demographic
• Allows time to deliver relevant information about your practice
• Increase website traffic
• Get testimonials and gain the trust of potential clients who just came across your site

How to Use Dental SEO

Once you understand the value of dental SEO to compete in this highly connected and technology-driven world, the next thing you need to do is to take the necessary steps to get on top of Google’s ranking. Here are the steps to get started with your dental SEO campaign:

1. Conduct keyword research

Google has tools to help you identify the best keywords for your services. You can try entering the services that you are offering in your clinic like orthodontics, family dentistry, teeth whitening, and others in keyword tools like Google Keyword Planner. It will then come up with a list of keywords that you can use for your content. Website visitors have two intents:

a. Buying – You want keywords that will reach clients who are ready to visit a dentist. Their searches often include words like “near me” or with their geo-location.

b. Research – These keywords are for potential clients who are still weighing their options. They may be looking for dental care tips and your site can provide them with the information that suits their needs. They want to gather information first about their concern to make sure that they can have an informed decision.

Your goal is to make sure that you reach your potential clients by meeting their intents. To do so, you need to use the keywords in relevant and informative content that your visitors would find helpful.

2. Page Optimization

You have to optimize 2 very important pages — first is your Google My Business profile; second, the important pages of your website, which include the home page, service page, and landing page. 

Here are some tips for optimizing your page:

• Google My Business Page (GMB) is the listing that comes up when entering a local keyword. It appears in the maps section. Focus on improving this section by utilizing the right keywords and introducing your dental practice, service, bio, and reviews. It is your first shot at catching the attention of people who are looking for a dentist.
  
• Claim the account, verify your profile, and edit the information regularly. A verified account has the corresponding indicator next to the dental business name. Follow the steps (either by mail or phone) to verify your account and proceed with the updates.
  
• You also need to update the name, address, and phone number (NAP) to help users contact you. Use the business name of your practice so it is easier to find you both online and physically. The phone number and address should also be current.
  
• Make sure to categorize your practice according to the available categories in the GMB. You can also choose subcategories to describe the services that you are offering.
  
• Your business hours should reflect the present ones you are following. If you are not updating it according to your present schedule, some people may be confused with your scheduling.

3. Build Citations and Backlinks

You need the help of others to gain authority and impress Google. When you get backlinks and citations, the search engine will consider you an authority in your niche and push you up in the rankings. The best citations and backlinks are from websites and groups related to your practice like a trusted dental journal or news organization.

4. Gather Reviews and Testimonials

Your website is the modern-day “word-of-mouth” where your future clients can find comments and testimonials that can convince them to avail of your services. It will take some time to gain that convincing number but you have to be patient. 

5. Track Your Performance

This is a task that needs an understanding of how SEO works. You need to track your marketing efforts weekly or monthly. Tracking helps you see which efforts are converting and which ones are not helping you much. You can then find ways to change your approach to market your practice better. 

As SEO is a technical task, you can choose to study it and execute marketing plans on your own. Another approach is to let professionals handle your campaigns. They have the skills and resources to execute plans and help you achieve your marketing goals faster.