As a dentist, you want to make sure that your practice is visible to potential patients in your local area. That’s where local SEO comes in. Local SEO is a process that involves optimizing your online presence so that your practice appears in the top search results when people search for dentists in your area. In this article, we will provide you with a guide to local SEO for dentists.
Understanding Local SEO
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online presence to improve your visibility in local search results. This includes optimizing your website’s content, building local citations, and claiming and optimizing your Google My Business profile (or GMB, now known as your Google Business Profile).
One of the most important components of local SEO is the map pack on Google, which is a set of three local business listings that appear at the top of the search results for local queries. Being listed in the map pack is a key factor in driving traffic to your website and attracting more patients to your practice. The map pack also goes by other names, including, “snack pack” and “3-pack”.
It’s also important to note that local SEO differs from general SEO in that it focuses on improving your online visibility for local searches rather than global or national ones. By optimizing your online presence for local search, you can ensure that your practice appears at the top of search results when potential patients search for dentists in your area.
In the picture below you will notice four Google Business Profile listings. The top listing “Sponsored” through Google Ads Assets. The other 3 are appearing organically. This means that they will show 24/7 and there is no charge when a prospective patient clicks on those links.
Importance of Local SEO
Local SEO is an essential marketing strategy for dentists who want to grow their practice and attract new patients. By improving your online visibility for local searches, you can increase your exposure. That exposure is sure to lead to propsective patients who are searching for dental services in your area.
Some of the benefits of local SEO for dentists include:
- higher website traffic
- increased lead generation
- improved brand awareness
- higher conversion rates
Implementing a strong local SEO strategy can also have a significant impact on your dental practice’s growth and revenue.
Running Local SEO for Dentists & Orthodontists
To run a successful local SEO campaign for your dental practice, you’ll need to follow a few key steps. These include optimizing your Google My Business profile, building local citations, and earning positive online reviews. Here are some best practices for each:
- Optimizing your Google My Business profile: Claim your profile and fill out all relevant information, including your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation. Make sure your profile is complete and accurate.
- Building local citations: A local citation is any mention of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Building local citations can help improve your online visibility and boost your local search rankings. Make sure your NAP is consistent across all of your citations.
- Earning positive online reviews: Positive online reviews are a key factor in local SEO. Encourage your satisfied patients to leave reviews on your Google My Business profile and other review sites. Make it easy for patients to leave reviews by providing links and instructions on your website and in your emails.
- Increase user engagement on your GMB: User engagement isn’t just limited to reviews, but other important factors too. They include check-ins, post views, picture views, click-through-rate, and more. For this reason it is important to add as much information on your profile as possible.
There are also other local SEO strategies that can help improve your online visibility and attract more patients. These include:
- creating localized content
- leveraging social media
- building backlinks
Timeline for Local SEO Results
Improving your local SEO takes time. The timeline for seeing results can vary depending on a number of factors. Generally, you can expect to see some improvement within a few months, but it may take six months or more to see significant results.
Factors that can impact the timeline include:
- competitiveness of your local market
- quality and quantity of your online reviews
- strength of your website’s domain authority
- consistency and accuracy of your NAP information across the web
It’s important to remember that local SEO is an ongoing effort. Patience is key. Regularly updating your website, building new citations, and earning positive reviews can help improve your local search rankings over time.
Doing Local SEO on Your Own
It’s possible to do local SEO on your own. However, it’s important to understand the pros and cons before deciding whether to hire a local SEO agency or do it yourself.
Pros of doing local SEO on your own include:
- saving money
- having full control over your strategy
- gaining a better understanding of how local SEO works
Cons of doing it yourself include:
- time and effort required
- potential for mistakes or missed opportunities
- need to stay up to date with the latest local SEO best practices and strategies
If you decide to do local SEO on your own, there are many tools and resources available to help you get started. Google My Business, Moz Local, and Yext are all useful tools for managing your local listings, while online resources such as the Google Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines can help you understand local SEO best practices and how to implement them.
Cost
The cost of local SEO for dentists can vary depending on the scope and complexity of the campaign, as well as the geographic area you are targeting. Typically, local SEO services for dentists can range from a $500 per month to $2000 per month.
Factors that impact the cost of local SEO services include:
- level of competition in your local market
- number of locations you have
- number of keywords you are targeting
It’s important to budget for local SEO as a marketing expense for your dental practice, as it can have a significant impact on your practice’s growth and revenue over time.
Conclusion
Local SEO is a critical marketing strategy for dentists who want to attract new patients and grow their practice.
With the information provided in this post, you should be well-equipped to get started with local SEO and begin attracting more patients to your dental practice. Remember to stay patient, stay consistent, and stay up to date with the latest local SEO best practices and strategies to ensure long-term success.
Watch your practice grow with AdPro!