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Reaching the first page of Google search results can make a big difference in the success of your dental practice. Having your practice website reach the very top of the list has even higher dividends.

The reasons are simple enough: research shows most users don’t go past the first results page, and more than thirty-six percent visit that top-ranked website.

Google, of course, is not the only search engine out there. But it is by far the most widely used, with Microsoft Bing a distant second. The numbers vary slightly depending on who’s counting, but their respective market shares, according to Statista, breaks down like this:

• Google: 86.6%
• Bing: 6.7%

While there are other search engines beyond these, this blog post will emphasize the importance of optimizing your website for Google.

Improve Your Ranking

There are strategies you can use to improve your ranking in Google results, a discipline called search engine optimization (SEO). You could say it involves giving Google what it wants. SEO components include:

• A Google Business Profile Formerly Google My Business, this is a free business listing necessary to rank in local searches. When people search for your practice by name, Google takes information from your listing, such as location, hours, and contact information, and displays it on the right side of search results. It is priceless exposure.
• Optimized website. Make sure the content includes the words and phrases people are searching for, called keywords (dental implants, for example). Also include up-to-date information that is easy to find, and that the site contains regularly updated content, like a blog.
• Mobile optimization. Mobile devices are increasingly important, and sites must be optimized with them in mind. Responsive web design allows sites to automatically adjust content to the screen size it is being viewed on, which improves the user experience.

There’s more to be considered, but it is well worth the effort. ProspectaMarketing can help. We are an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

In an ideal world, dentists would spend most of their time treating patients. That’s why you became a dentist in the first place, right? But we live and work in the real world, and paying close attention to the business side of your practice is essential.

The way that you succeed in a competitive marketplace, of course, is to provide outstanding dental care. That, and by attracting new patients. Bringing in new patients requires an ongoing strategy. That means marketing, and the best way to market your practice is to do it online.

Billions and Billions

These days everyone has a smartphone in their pocket or purse, and we use them for just about everything. We barely even call them phones anymore; they are devices!

Consider these jarring survey results:

• Forty six percent of those asked said they reach for their device first thing in the morning – before their feet hit the floor!
• More than two billion people worldwide are on Facebook, and there are more than one billion active Instagram accounts.
• Eighty percent of American consumers find local businesses with Google Maps.

Promoting your dental practice on the Internet is a simple way to reach a vast audience.

One of the big benefits of online marketing is that it’s much more cost efficient than traditional marketing. Your ads are more focused and localized.  You also get a much better idea of see people interact with your online ads; you can see which are the most effective. The greater “bang for your buck” means a higher returns on investment.

Digital marketing for dentists is growing year by year, and is the best way to grow your practice. ProspectaMarketing is an Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

Summer is waning, and it’s that time when thousands of students will be heading back to school. What better time to return to the ABCs of reviews?

A is for Ask. Having communication with your patients prior to sending review requests remains an integral part of growing your reviews. Consider the timing of when you are asking patients to share their feedback. For example, asking for feedback when they have just completed a life-improving or confidence-boosting procedure is likely to be much more effective than when they are checking into an appointment. Appeal to their altruistic side by asking them to share with others why they should choose your practice for dental implants or veneers or whitening or TMJ treatment. Do you set daily goals for how many patients you will ask for reviews each day? Working as a team is another great way to maximize your review growth potential.

B is for Be grateful. With reviews, patients are giving you a wealth of feedback about your practice: what they like, what is important to them, even sometimes what didn’t go well. All of this feedback can help you continue to evolve as a practice and ensure you are delivering the best possible experience for your patients. You can show your gratitude that they took the time to write a review by responding to those reviews and letting them know! Keep your responses brief and professional, keeping in mind we are always here to help with any negative reviews. We are also happy to give tips for responding to those positive ones as well. Not only does responding to all reviews show excellent patient service and gratitude, Google likes to see it as well.

C is for Create. As you create beautiful, healthy smiles, create a culture of excellence where quality patient care and effective communication are the standard; that will be reflected in your online reputation. Create opportunities for patients to share their feedback. Create a team atmosphere where review growth is a common focus.

Keeping these review ABCs in mind surely will help you ace your online reviews! Need some help? ProspectaMarketing is an Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

Like virtually every other sector of the U.S. economy, dentistry took a big hit during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. We aren’t out of the woods just yet, but the recovery is well underway.

Dental digital marketing helped many practices survive the worst of COVID-19 and is playing a key role as things continue to improve. If you have yet to embrace digital dental marketing, you’re missing out on some very powerful tools.

Good News!

Studies show that in the early days of the pandemic the use of dental services in the U.S. dropped off as much as seventy-nine percent. But it is clearly rebounding. An American Dental Association report from February of this year shows:

• Patient volume had returned to 81% of pre-COVID levels
•  90% of patients said they had resumed dental visits, or were about to

This is good news, indeed. If you haven’t already, this is an ideal time to seize the power of dental digital marketing.

Digital dental marketing means using the Internet to bring new patients to your office:

• It targets a specific audience of potential patients
• Shows real-time results
• Is more cost-effective than traditional marketing
• Has easier-to-measure success rates

Growing your dental practice is a constant challenge. ProspectaMarketing brings years of experience to the table. We are an Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

Your dental website may not wear out the way a toothbrush or a pair of shoes will – but websites do wear out. Don’t let that happen. If you can’t remember the last time you updated yours, the time to do it is now.

Websites are powerful communication tools, and it’s important that you take full advantage of everything yours can do. Its main purpose is to bring new patients to your practice: that is, to convert site visitors into patients. To do so it should be sleek, modern, and deliver a positive user experience.

What Users Don’t Like

When a website is old and obsolete, users can tell – and they will not explore it in any depth. Most users form instant opinions about sites based on appearance. Studies show that if they don’t like what they see, they will leave within fifteen seconds!

Users have high expectations when it comes to content, too. Among the things that turn them off are:

• An unpleasant experience. Important website elements include an uncluttered design, a high level of functionality, easy navigation, and high-resolution graphics.
• Lack of information. Sixty-five percent of users are looking for contact information, and eighty-six percent want to know about services and products. They also want to see patient reviews and social media links.
• It seems outdated. The Internet is contantly changing. Users expect the sites they visit to deliver what they want, but if your site is too old it may not be able to.

What Users Do Like

The points above are among the things most users don’t care for and won’t put up with. What, then, are the things that matter most?

In addition to site appearance, the most important thing is to show what is unique about your practice: what you have to offer that others don’t. This may include:

• Evening and/or weekend hours
• Same-day appointments
• Same-day dental implants
• Multi-lingual office
• Financing options

When it comes to your dental website, user experience is paramount! It must keep up with the times. Updating your site may mean anything from content revision to a complete design overhaul.

Need some guidance? ProspectaMarketing is an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

Virtually everyone is on the Internet, and most of us use it to decide whether we will go to one local business or another. We read online reviews, like those on Google My Business, to help us make up our minds. Dental practices rank among the very top of the local businesses people read reviews about.

These reviews are written by other consumers – everyday people, your friends and neighbors – and because of this, they carry an enormous amount of weight.

When it comes to online reviews, the newer they are the better. As we reported here earlier this year, most of those who read online reviews won’t bother with one that is more than a month old.

Label Me!

Google, of course, is well aware of this. Late last year the search engine giant began testing a label on Google My Business reviews that identified which ones were “new” – that is, no more than one month old. It appears Google liked the results, because that “new” label began to appear regularly in local reviews this spring. That means that consumers can, at a glance, now identify the freshest, most relevant reviews.

Never underestimate the power of fresh reviews.

• 73% of consumers only read reviews written within the previous month
• 69%  of consumers disregard reviews older than three months
• 93% of consumers search for local businesses online; up to a third of these search for one every day!
• 87% of these consumers read online reviews more often in 2020, up a remarkable 81% from 2019. (This may be due, at least in part, to COVID-19.)

As a dental professional in a highly competitive field, you need a steady stream of new and positive online reviews to help you grow your patient base. ProspectaMarketing can help. We are an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

As a health care professional you may have to remind yourself sometimes that your practice is equal parts dental office and business. As a business it needs to stand apart from all the other practices in town. And to do that, it needs a consistent, identifiable brand.

The word “brand” may make you think about a logo, or the appearance of a website. These are just elements of a brand. What, then, is a brand? In a nutshell, it is the totality of the way your patients perceive you.

The Recognition Factor

People are most comfortable with the things they are familiar with. The purpose of branding your dental practice is to promote recognition, and an inviting, positive image. When branding is done right, people will feel at ease with you. They’ll feel good about developing a lasting patient-dentist relationship, and with recommending your services to their friends and co-workers.

The elements of your brand range from the tangible to the intangible:

• Practice name
• Your logo
• The fonts, graphics, and colors on your website
• Your slogan or tagline
• The way patients experience your staff
• Your social media presence

To succeed in a competitive market, it’s essential create a brand that reflects what makes you the go-to practice in town. It must also be consistent. To really pull it off, you need a well-planned strategy. ProspectaMarketing is an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

If you don’t know the following fact, you should: the rate of Internet searches on mobile devices is absolutely exploding, and shows so signs of slowing down. It has grown by more than two-hundred percent in the last seven years!

That includes local searches for dental practices, and ignoring this trend is to overlook potential new patients. It’s more than just searches, too: the growth of smartphones and tablets to access the Internet includes using them on social media and ecommerce platforms. At the beginning of 2020 the mobile share was in the area of sixty percent. This is expected to get as high at eighty percent in the near future.

Make It Mobile

What does this mean for marketing your dental practice?

• Your website must mobile-friendly. With so many potential new patients using mobile devices, it’s essential that your practice website is optimized for smartphones and  tablets.
• Mobile ads. Advertising that runs well on desktop devices may not work on mobile devices. Mobile ads are highly effective, so be sure you take full advantage.
• Stay up-to-date with mobile marketing trends. Mobile devices lend themselves to effective marketing campaigns that help you bring in new patients and keep existing ones.

People love their mobile devices, and we can safely predict that won’t change anytime soon. Ensuring your dental practice website is mobile-ready will improve the user experience and bring new patients to your office. Help is available! ProspectaMarketing is an experienced Internet marketing firm specializing in dental practices and the tools of Internet marketing. 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.

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.

It 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.