Over 90% of all online activities start with a search engine. If you’re not using search engine optimization (SEO), there’s a chance you’re missing out on patients. By learning how to improve SEO for your orthodontic practice, you can reach more patients online.
The next time they search for an orthodontist, your website will appear!
However, Google’s search engine algorithm changes throughout the year. If you’re not up-to-date with the latest strategies, you’ll fall behind the competition.
About 75% of consumers don’t look past the first page of a search. You need to reach the top page to get ahead of your competitors. Otherwise, you’re missing out!
Make the most of your SEO strategy with these seven easy tips today!
1. Start With Strong Research
Before doing anything else to improve SEO on your blog, you need to research your target audience.
First, determine who your ideal patients are. Define your patients based on demographics such as:
- Age
- Gender
- Location
- Marital status
- Household income
- Dental needs
- Buying behaviors
- Interests
If you’re targeting a large audience, segment your patients into smaller personas. Then, you can create content that appeals to each audience group. Using personalized language is a great way to appeal to potential patients.
Next, determine which questions your patients are asking when they’re online. For example, maybe parents search, “When should my child visit an orthodontist?” Maybe your patients are searching for “orthodontic services.”
Either way, you’ll want to make a list based on these search queries. You can use these tools to start researching:
- Google Trends
- Google Keyword Planner
- Ahrefs
- SEMRush
- Google Search Console
Think about the problems your patients are facing and the questions they’re asking. Then, create content that answers their questions.
By choosing strong keywords, you can develop an effective SEO strategy that’s bound to attract readers (and patients).
Using Your Keywords
After choosing strong keywords for your SEO strategy, it’s important to know how to use them.
First, write your blog post based on your list of target keywords. Choose one longtail keyword for each post. You can also use related secondary keywords throughout the content.
Then, make sure the keywords appear throughout the post. For starters, your keyword should appear in the:
- Post title
- Opening and closing paragraph
- Body copy
- Header
- Image alt tags
Don’t overstuff the content with your keyword. Instead, make sure to write using a conversational tone. Then, incorporate the keyword naturally within the content.
Don’t forget to add an eye-catching image to your post, too. Then, add your target keyword as the image’s alt tag.
2. Understand User Intent
Google’s search algorithm is becoming better at understanding searchers and their behaviors. It’s not enough to target your keyword. In order to improve SEO for your practice, you also need to understand the patient’s user intent.
Searchers usually look for a service or information. When creating your content, make sure you consider the patient’s user intent. Are they looking for a helpful service or an answer to a question?
When communicating with patients, make sure they understand you’re there to help. Keeping your content aligned with their search intent will encourage them to return to your site or practice for the answers they need.
3. Improve the User Experience
It’s not enough to improve your SEO strategy. For better results, you also need to improve your website.
An old, slow-loading website will scare off potential patients. Instead, improve your website and SEO strategy using user experience (UX) design trends. For example, you should:
- Speed up your website
- Improve your navigation
- Mobile-optimize your site
- Make content easy to read
- Ensure links are easy to click on
You can use Google PageSpeed Insights to learn what’s slowing your site down. Improving UX will keep people on your site longer, which increases dwell time and your clickthrough rate. Boosting both can help improve your search engine ranking.
4. Make Sure You’re Mobile
Mobile optimization is an important component of a strong SEO strategy. If you’re not mobile-optimized, you’re missing out on mobile users. When they can’t interact with your website, they’ll leave.
In fact, Google now uses mobile-first indexing to determine rankings. If you’re not mobile, you’ll appear after competitors.
Use Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to make sure you’re optimized.
5. Try Different Forms of Content
It’s important to make regular website updates and post content often to appear for different content keywords. To improve SEO on your blog, try different forms of content. For example, you can try:
- Blog posts
- Infographics
- Quizzes
- Polls
- Videos
- Ebooks
Interactive content like quizzes and polls are a great way to increase engagement on your site. Remember, boosting your clickthrough rate and dwell time can help your ranking!
6. Keep up With the Trends
Google’s search algorithm changes throughout the year. If you want to keep communicating with patients, make sure to keep up with the trends.
For example, voice searches will account for about 50% of all searches by 2020. More people are searching using Google, Siri, or Alexa. The increase in voice searches has changed how companies target their customers.
First, you’ll need to remain up-to-date with keyword research. Consumers use conversational language when searching with a voice assistant. Those target keywords are using longtail (four or more words long).
Then, use the target phrase in your opening paragraph, along with a brief answer to the query. This strategy will help you appear for more voice searches.
You should also adjust your content to appear for featured snippets. Appearing for Google’s “position zero” at the top of a search page will help you generate more site traffic. Neglecting the latest trends, on the other hand, will leave you a step behind competitors.
7. Go Local
Within a year, “near me” searches on Google doubled. In fact, about one-third of all mobile searches are related to the consumer’s location.
If you want to reach more local patients, make sure to use a local search strategy. First, develop a list of location-based keywords. Start creating content that appeals to your local patients.
Don’t forget to update your Google My Business listing, too!
Use These 7 Ways to Improve SEO for Your Orthodontic Practice Today
Bite into these SEO strategies! By learning how to improve SEO for your orthodontic practice, you can attract more patients and boost business. Gather new patients and start booking appointments with these tips today.
Eager to improve your orthodontic practice’s SEO strategy? Contact us today to get started.