Did you know 181,461 dental businesses were operating in the U.S. in 2023? That’s a lot of competition! So, how does your dental practice stand out from the crowd and become a destination for those who want a healthier and happier smile? One of the ways to begin is by developing a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that can help create awareness of your practice online. When you do SEO well, most of the right patients will find and want to head to your practice as their new dental home. 

What is SEO, and how can it raise awareness for my dental practice?

So, just what is SEO, and how can it raise awareness for your dental practice? We’re so glad you asked. It’s all about the online tactics and strategies you employ, most often related to your website, to help more people find you when searching online for dentists near me. Basically, it means improving your website so that you can best reach people (and they can easily find you), on popular search engines like Google and Microsoft Bing.

Think of it like this—four or five days a week, you head to your clinic to care for patients. While you might spend some time in the back office focused on business operations, the chances are greater that you are moving from each operatory to check on teeth, review patient X-rays, and perform necessary dental treatments. And that keeps you pretty busy!

The beauty of a website optimized for SEO is that while you’re busy taking care of your dental patients, your website will work behind the scenes, helping you find new patients. 

The patient-centric benefits of SEO.

We know what you’re asking next. Just how does SEO benefit your patients? That’s an excellent question. It’s important to understand that getting your website set up and optimized is not a one-and-done task. It involves continuous iteration to ensure that it is serving the needs of the search engines (to help you be found) and your patients (so that they want you as their dentist).

Consider the following:

• Easier access to quality care: High search rankings make it easier for patients to find your dental practice when they search for dental services online. This means patients can find your information quickly by simply typing in their needs and seeing your practice among the first few options. 
• Educational content: SEO encourages dental practices to continually update their websites with informative content, such as a weekly blog. This improves search rankings and ensures that patients receive valuable information. Whether it’s advice on dental hygiene, explanations of standard procedures, tips for emergency care, or even recommendations on things to do in the community, SEO helps ensure that the content your patients need is there when they look for it.
• Trust and credibility: When your dental practice appears at the top of search results, it isn’t just about visibility. Being on the first page of Google or Bing enhances your practice’s perceived credibility and trustworthiness and makes you appear more legit in the eyes of patients searching for you. 

SEO as a tool for patient engagement and retention. 

Today’s consumers are super tech-savvy, and they spend a lot of time—almost seven hours a day—online. When it comes to health and dental care, people are out there researching various dental treatments, the right way to brush their teeth, and so much more. That’s why it is so important for dental practices to make continuous and useful updates to their websites.

Blogs are one of the best ways to do this. These pieces can be written by the dentist or a hired content writer and then uploaded to the website’s blog page. Your social media marketing manager can then share that content on social media channels, helping the pieces to get in front of more eyeballs. When someone sees something interesting in one of those social media posts, they’ll click on the article and land on your website.

Once you get them to your website, you want to ensure they have a great online experience, just like you want them to have a great in-office experience when they receive dental care. An SEO-optimized website will have the following:

• Easy navigation: An SEO-optimized website is structured to allow patients to find what they need quickly and without confusion. Clear menus, straightforward links, and a well-organized layout ensure that patients can easily navigate through services, blog posts, contact information, and more.
• Fast page load times: A website that loads quickly is non-negotiable for a good user experience. SEO involves optimizing images, streamlining code, and leveraging various technologies to reduce the time your pages load. 
• Mobile-friendly design: With most smartphone users accessing the internet, a mobile-responsive website is a must. SEO encourages implementing a design that looks and functions great on all devices, ensuring that your website adjusts beautifully to any screen size. 
• Responsive design: A responsive website automatically adjusts to fit the device it’s being viewed on, providing an optimal experience for all visitors. This is important because it ensures patients can access your website comfortably, regardless of their device.
• Interactive elements: Incorporating interactive elements, such as online appointment booking, virtual tours of your clinic, or questionnaires for new patients can improve engagement and keep patients returning to your site.

Implementing Effective SEO Strategies

This all sounds great, right? Of course it does, but the challenge is often making it happen. Since you need to focus on providing your patients with quality care, leaving your SEO in the hands of dental practice marketing professionals is often the best solution. 

At Jameson Management & Marketing, we specialize in dental website design, search engine optimization, and marketing ideas for dentists. Our team of professionals can help build and manage your website, creating an amazing online experience so you don’t have to.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you create a website and SEO strategy that will attract more patients and grow your dental practice.