Get Noticed on the Internet

While a full-page ad in the phone book used to be a tried-and-true method of obtaining new dental patients, today’s consumers are turning more and more often to the Internet when they’re ready to choose a new dentist. A few simple steps can help ensure they find your dental practice!

• SEO: You’ve heard of it. You know what it stands for. But what is really involved in search engine optimization? Each search engine uses proprietary algorithms to rank websites according to how well they match the terms entered by a search engine user. Good SEO techniques help ensure your dental website is returned more often by web searches, and is listed within the first page of results. SEO is more than just word-stuffing, so if you’re hiring someone to write your web copy, be sure they are an SEO expert.

• Use pay-per-click to increase exposure. While the results of a web search are controlled by the search engine’s own algorithms, pay-per-click gives your dental practice immediate exposure by ensuring your ad shows up when specific terms are entered. PPC is also relatively inexpensive, since you only pay when your ad is clicked on.

• Blog for results. In addition to looking for specific keywords, search engine algorithms also favor sites that are updated regularly. One of the best ways to update your dental website without calling in your web designer is by incorporating a blog on one of your web pages. Blogs can be easily managed by you or your staff, and should be updated at least three times a week for best results with most major search engines.