Experts in the culinary arts have a saying: the first bite is with the eye. To put it another way, first impressions matter. Your dental practice can make an excellent first impression on potential new patients by optimizing your local search engine presence.

shutterstock_692979352_resizedIt is no longer enough for dentists to simply hang out their shingle; you need to let people know you’re there. That’s where your local listing comes in: you give your practice a high profile on the Internet. That means presenting essential information that is accurate, consistent, relevant, and easy to find online.

Your Online Presence

The vast majority of people, upwards of ninety percent, go online when they are looking for a local business. Nowadays most of these are by smartphone or tablet.

  • 68% of online searches for health care providers, such as dentists, are done on a mobile device
  • 50% of mobile users are likely to contact a business they find via a local search within twenty-four hours
  • 78% of these users become customers (or patients)

All of this bears out the importance of optimizing your online presence. You’ll rank higher in search engine results and make a great first impression, leading to new patients.

So, how do you influence your practice’s ranking in search engine results?

Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful and free tool. You have probably seen Google My Business listings, even if you aren’t familiar with that term. GMB listings is the information that shows up at the top of a local business search in the form of maps, contact information, and even patient reviews.

Getting started with GMB is as simple as signing into your Google account, filling out a form, and submiting it for verification. From there an old-fashioned postcard with a verification code will be sent to you, usually within a few weeks. You’re off and running!

Sound at all daunting? ProspectaMarketing is an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing, including local listings and Google My Business. We help you reach key prospects who are looking for what your practice has to offer. Our unique and thorough approach provides visibility, financial accountability, and ongoing refinement and improvement. You can find out more by contacting Lane Anderson toll-free at 1-877-322-4440 Ext 101, by email using the form on our Contact Us page, or online at ProspectaMarketing.com.