SEO, or search engine optimization, is absolutely vital to ensuring your website’s visibility. No matter how well-designed your site may be, it does you no good as a marketing tool if no one can find it. SEO boosts your search rankings, ensuring that people who are looking for a dentist in your area can find you. Here are some quick and easy SEO tips that all dentists should follow.
Keep It Fresh
One of the easiest ways to boost your SEO is to regularly update your content. Start a blog and add new posts at least once a month. Also review your various web pages now and then to make sure the information is accurate, relevant, and up to date.
Do Your Homework
Research keywords to see what people are searching for. Develop a list of potential keyword phrases, and then run them through Google’s Keyword Planner at https://ads.google.com/home/tools/keyword-planner/. You will need to create a free account, but this helpful tool provides you with quite a few insights to help you decide where to focus your attention.
Write Naturally
Long gone are the days of “keyword stuffing,” or trying to shove your keyword phrases in as many times as possible. Write high-quality, authoritative content that sprinkles in your chosen keyword phrase as it naturally fits. Choose one keyword phrase per page.
Use Title Tags and Meta-Descriptions
Your keyword phrase should appear in the title tag for the relevant web page. Also write a short meta-description for each page that quickly summarizes the main content and includes the keyword phrase.
Don’t Change Domains
Choose a domain name that you like, and don’t change it when you update your website. Domain age and the reputation that your domain builds over time can boost your SEO.
Keep It Local
Claim your Google My Business page and make sure it is complete. Also list your site on Yelp and similar directories. Ask for patient reviews. Make sure you have a local phone number, not just an 800 number, and be certain that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are identical across all listings.
Gather Backlinks
You can create your own backlinks by linking to your website from your Twitter, Facebook, and other social media pages. To really boost your SEO, though, you will also need backlinks (sometimes known as citations) from other websites. These websites should be well established and credible, and trusted by Google. You can gather backlinks by reaching out to other sites and offering to trade links, as well as by providing guest blogs to them.
Build a Sitemap
Create a sitemap, which is simply a detailed list of all the pages on your website. If you are unsure how to do this yourself, reach out to your webmaster for help.
Ready to Get Started?
If you are interested in learning how to take your dental practice to the next level, please contact Ascent Dental Solutions today at 413-224-2659 to learn how Dr. Coughlin can help.