7 Vital Dental SEO Tips To Help you Rank Higher on Google Maps
Dental SEO Helps Your Practice Rank Higher on Maps
Every dental practice has a unique listing on Google Maps, marked by the familiar red pin. This digital red pin, originating from your practice’s Google Business Profile (GBP), is a condensed version of your website’s key information hosted in the Google database. It includes your practice name, address, phone, operational hours, location, patient reviews, dental services and much more.
Many dental professionals are yet to realize the power of their GBP in boosting their presence on Google Maps. Your GBP can be improved and optimized helping it to rank higher on the map, much like performing dental SEO on your website. It’s a vital element of dental SEO and can significantly enhance patient acquisition.
The Importance of GBPs in Attracting New Patients
A majority of dental patients rely on Google Maps to find local dental services. The top three listings in the GBP database show on the first page in the Google map. These three listings get the lion’s share of new patient phone calls, messages, website clicks and scheduled appointments.
However, the real power of GBP optimization lies beyond mere visibility. A well-managed GBP that has been optimized plays a pivotal role in improving all of your marketing efforts and helping you to be seen as the authority in your field. Even if patients initially discover your practice through other marketing channels, like a referral program or a print mail campaign, they often refer to your GBP for more information before selecting you as their dental practice of choice.
Because your GBP tends to influence all of your marketing efforts, a well-optimized listing will improve conversion rate across all of your campaigns.
Seven Essential Dental SEO Tips to Rank Higher on Google Maps
1. Find out Where your Practice is Already Ranking:
Before you sit down and start optimizing you need to understand where your practice is already ranking.
Google Map rankings are primarily based on the location of where someone is searching from in relation to your practice address. If a person is on the sidewalk outside your practice and they search “dentist near me” in Google maps, your practice will likely show up high on the map. But what about someone searching a half mile away from your practice?
Ask yourself this question,
“Where is my Google Business Profile being found on the first page of the Google map when people search near my practice?”
One way to get an answer to this would be to pull your cell phone out and drive around town searching “dentist near me” and then checking to see if your practice is on the first page of the search result. But let’s be honest, no one is going to do that. Enter Google Heat Mapping!
The image below is a Google heat map. It illustrates a dental practice ranking for the search term “dentist near me.” Each colored dot represents a search result as if you were standing at that location. The number on each colored dot indicates where the practice ranks on the map. If the number is 1, 2, or 3 that means you’re one of the practices listed on the front page of the Google map.
Heat maps produce different results for different keywords. How well your practice ranks for the keyword “dentist near me” will not be the same as “dental implant dentist.” The graphic below is the same practice as above but the search phrase is “dental implants near me.”
It’s important that you check to see how your practice is ranking for the services and/or keywords that are most valuable and attract the type of patient you want in your office. You can run complimentary heat maps by clicking here.
2. Finding and Controlling Your GBP
To find your GBP search the name of your practice in the Google Maps App or use your desktop and search as you would any other search in Google. If you are logged into a Google account on your phone or computer that is the Primary Owner, Owner, or Manager of the listing you’ll find that you can edit the listing.
Below is an example of a search for My Social Practice while I was logged into a Google account that is an owner of the listing.
If you don’t see the editing panel then you’re probably not logged into the correct Google account. You’ll need to find out who the owner is and make sure you login to that Google account or have that person add your Google account as an admin.
If you’re stuck here and you don’t know who is the primary owner there is a way that you can find out which Google account is the owner by clicking on the “Own this business?” link. See the image below.
It’s not uncommon for people to get stuck here. You may not have access to the primary owner Google account, your listing may not have been claimed, or a host of other issues. If that is the case you may need some professional help. Get in touch with our Google Maps Optimization team, we can figure out what’s going on and solve the problem.
3. Ensuring Accurate NAP (Name, Address, Phone) Information:
It’s crucial that your practice (NAP) is correct. Google provides some parameters on how to name your Google Business Profile.
Pro Tip: To make sure that you’ve formatted your address correctly you need to see how the USPS prefers your address to be listed. Google sees the USPS as a primary source for address information. Go to the USPS look up system and enter your address. The USPS will tell you how they prefer that you format your address. Make sure that you use the exact same formatting when you update your address in your Google Business Profile.
4. Selecting the Appropriate Primary Category
One of the most important ranking factors is your choice of a primary category and secondary categories. At the top of the editing panel when you select Edit Profile you’ll find your Primary Category.
You have to choose from Google’s predetermined list of dental categories. Here is a current list of all dental categories you can choose from.
You have the ability to add as many categories as you would like but after optimizing hundreds of dental listings we recommend that you use a few categories as possible. My suggestion would be no more than three. Try to stick to two, if possible.
If you’re a general dentist, your primary category should be “Dentist.” A common mistake is to use “Dental clinic.” DO NOT USE DENTAL CLINIC! Hardly anyone searches the words “dental clinic” when looking for a dentist.
If you’re a specialist, choose your specialty as your primary category.
Pro Tip: Example: If you’re a general dentist that offers dental implants, and you also have an associate that is an Orthodontist; I would do this,
- Primary category: Dentist
- Secondary category: Dental implant provider
- Third category: Orthodontist
5. Expanding Your Service Areas
There is a section called “service areas” and in that section you can add up to 20 areas. You should fill in all twenty. Google understands that you have patients come to your office from all over. Google allows for multiple services areas to help their search engine know where your practice should show up on the map.
Pro Tip: Make sure you choose areas where you’ll get the biggest bang for your buck. Do this by running a Google Heat Map for the type of patient or service you’re focusing on. Once you have your heat map you’ll see where your practice is dropping off the front page of Google. These are the areas that you want to add to the service areas. See the image above for an example.
Doing this you’re sending a message to Google that you want to rank on the front page a little bit wider than you currently are.
6. Add as Many Services as You Can
Once you’ve added your primary categories you can add as many services under those categories. The idea here is to let Google know about everything you offer to help them understand which search phrases your listing should show up for.
If you offer dental implants and someone searches “dental implants near me” but your listing does not say that you do, you’ll be less likely to show up on the map.
Pro Tip: Make sure to use geo-specific words in the description of your services. An example would be the following for Invisalign;
“Here at ABC Dental in Miami Fl, we offer Invisalign, which we feel is the best clear aligner service a dental practice can provide… blah blah blah”
You get a specific number of characters to use. Make sure to use as much as possible when writing your description.
7. Regularly Post to Your GBP
Your Google Business Profile is not a social media account nor a blog but it has some of the same functionality in it. You can post your GBP just like you would your Facebook or Instagram account. The posts show up in search at the bottom of your listing. We’ve found that posting at least twice a month is a good cadence.
Here is an example of a post about dental anxiety by Sweet Smiles Family and Cosmetic Dentistry.
Pro Tip: When you post to your GBP make sure that you link to your dental website. Notice that there is a “Learn More” button on the post. That learn more button links to a service page on their website for sedation dentistry in Las Vegas. Linking back to your website helps Google make a stronger connection between your GBP and website. We’ve found that this helps your GBP to rank better.
BONUS TIP: Connect Social Media Profiles to GBP
Link your social media profiles to your GBP to enhance patient engagement and improve your online presence. This step will help to boost your dental SEO and also provides a seamless experience for patients exploring your practice online.
Conclusion: Partner with Dental SEO Experts for Optimal Results
While the steps to optimizing your Google Business Profile are clear, the process can be complex and time-consuming. Partnering with a dedicated dental marketing company like My Social Practice can simplify this journey.
Our expertise in marketing for dentists ensures that your practice not only stands out on Google Maps but also resonates with your target audience, driving growth and success in the digital era.
FAQ’s
How can I optimize my website for Google Maps SEO?
The correlation between a dental practice’s website SEO and its Google Maps ranking is significant and beneficial. When a website has strong SEO, it signals to Google that the practice is authoritative and relevant in its field. This authority is partly determined by factors like quality content, proper keyword usage, mobile optimization, and backlinks from reputable sources. As Google recognizes the website as a trustworthy and valuable resource, this credibility extends to the practice’s Google Business Profile (GBP), enhancing its visibility and ranking on Google Maps.
How much does dental SEO cost if I hire a dental marketing company?
SEO for dentists involves a comprehensive approach that includes technical website optimization, content creation and link building, and Google Maps SEO. The technical aspect ensures your website’s foundation is robust, focusing on load speed, accurate metadata, and properly functioning links. This not only enhances user experience but also improves search engine rankings. The second component, content creation and link building, establishes your practice as an authoritative source in the dental field. High-quality backlinks from reputable sites signal to Google your site’s trustworthiness, aiding in higher search rankings. Lastly, Google Maps SEO is crucial for increasing the visibility of your practice’s listing, which is key in attracting local patients.
The cost of dentist SEO depends on how much of the tactics mentioned above are included in the service. One of the biggest costs is copywriting. Writing blog posts and new services pages requires quite a bit of time. Typically a good SEO service will cost a few hundred dollars a month to more than a thousand depending on how much copywriting is included in the service. If you’re in the process of choosing a dental marketing company make sure to find out how much copywriting is included in the service.
While SEO is a long-term investment requiring time and patience, its benefits are significant, transforming into a steady stream of new patient leads and contributing greatly to the long-term growth of your dental practice.
How do I increase my Google reviews for my practice?
The most effective way for a dental practice to get more Google reviews is by directly asking satisfied patients. Patients who have had positive experiences and express their happiness are often willing to leave a review if asked. Additionally, dental practices can leverage the Google Maps app, which provides a feature to send text messages to patients requesting a review. This method makes it convenient for patients to share their feedback, thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving more reviews on Google.
