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dental industry online marketing

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Maximizing the Potential of Local Search for Your Dental Practice

by Naomi Cooper January 13, 2014

Maximizing the Potential of Local Search for Your Dental PracticeLast week we talked about the importance of incorporating modern SEO strategies in order to most effectively reach prospective patients searching online. This week we will narrow down the scope of SEO and discuss the strategy that matters most for dental practice owners.

There are two types of SEO (search engine optimization): traditional and local. Traditional SEO refers to optimizing a website so that it ranks high in all search engine results for a specific keyword.

Local SEO, on the other hand, is about optimizing a website so that it ranks high in search engine results based on that business’ location. And as local business owners, for dentists, local SEO is what counts.

A recent article from SEO expert Kris Jones highlights 7 areas of focus affecting your local SEO ranking.

If you are working with an SEO expert for your dental practice website, it is worth verifying that they are focusing on local SEO rather than traditional. It is much more cost effective to market to those most in need of your services: patients in and around your local community who are looking for a dentist!

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Dental Practice Websites: Committing to SEO in 2014

by Naomi Cooper January 5, 2014

Dental Practice Websites: Committing to SEO in 2014Online marketing has indelibly changed the way dentists market their practices. If you haven’t been keeping up with the latest strategies, 2014 is the perfect time to jump on board.

Take your dental practice website, for example. If it has been a few years since it was last updated, it is very likely that modern SEO (search engine optimization) tactics are not in play, making it more difficult for prospective patients to find your website.

As it has been said, the only constant in the world is change, and Google is no exception. There have been several significant updates to its search algorithms in just the past 12 months, and unless you are a full-time SEO specialist, it can be difficult to stay on top of.

For more details on these updates, you can read this article from Yahoo Business outlining the latest regarding Google’s updates, specifically named Hummingbird, Panda  & Penguin.

At the end if the day, when Google makes changes to the way the search engine ranks results, it affects not just big corporations, but all businesses trying to reach new customers. With the changes that have been implemented, you could be wasting money on ineffective and outdated SEO strategies.

For example, do you have a local SEO strategy? Are you prioritizing producing video for your website and YouTube channel? Do you have an on site blog that you contribute original content to on a regular basis? And if you’re still depending on a backlink strategy, you should know that Google is now more focused on social media engagement than links.

If you’re not sure what tactics your website relies on for SEO, don’t fret. Dentists should not feel as though they are responsible for executing SEO tactics themselves — as always, I strongly recommend outsourcing! Work with trusted professionals like Sesame Communications or WPromote and keep your online strategies — including SEO — functioning most effectively!

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5 Tips to Optimize Your Dental Practice Website

by Naomi Cooper September 12, 2013

5 Tips to Optimize Your Dental Practice WebsiteA strong online presence is quickly becoming an increasingly important component of a dentist’s overall marketing plan. Today’s modern patients research a dentist and the practice online before they ever pick up the phone call to make their first appointment. So how can a dentist set their practice apart from the competition? The foundation of a solid online strategy is having a well-designed website.

Ask yourself – how long ago was your dental practice website designed? Even if it was just 2-3 years ago, the online marketing world has changed so much, and so fast, that a good website a few years ago simply won’t cut it in 2013.

Don’t panic just yet. Check out the below checklist to help you get started in determining whether your dental practice may be due for a new website, or a website update.

  •  Is your logo prominent on your website, particularly the homepage?
  • Does your website consistently communicate your practice’s brand through its look, feel and colors?
  • Is there a blog featured on the website? If not, is it possible to incorporate a blog easily?
  • Are social media links present on the website?
  • Is the practice’s contact information prominently displayed?
If your answer to any of the above questions was “No”, your dental practice website may be in need of a refresh. Whether you have been considering launching a completely new website, or merely bringing an existing site up to snuff, it is always important to work with a trusted web design expert, especially one with dental industry experience. A dental practice website can be an incredibly powerful marketing tool when implemented well and designed correctly.
Remember, the practice website is the springboard for a dentist’s online identity, so it’s important to make it  the best possible reflection possible of the dentist and the practice.

For more tips and insight into dental practice website design, check out my recent guest blog for Sesame Communications.