5 Orthodontist SEO Tips for Ranking #1 In Google

Not booking as many new patient appointments as you’d like? Feel like you just need more exposure to fully unlock the financial potential of your practice and get the patient flow your practice warrants?

In the modern age, there’s 1 proven way to get exposure: ranking #1 in Google searches.

While Google Ads can drive new patients at a cost, ranking highly in Google searches is something that no money can buy. It requires a concerted effort to improve your website and marketing strategy: SEO for orthodontists.

What is SEO for orthodontists?

There are over 1 billion websites on the internet. So how does any single website stand out and show up in a Google search result? Search engine optimization, otherwise known as SEO.

Despite what some agencies and orthodontic consultants might have you believe, SEO is not a simple trick that will lead to a #1 ranking in Google. It takes research, hard work, and experience. But even if it takes a lot of work, orthodontist SEO is quite simple. And more importantly, it’s the best way to consistently earn new patients. We’re not talking a month here or there of a few more patients trickling in, but a fundamental change in the amount of patients walking through your doors.

How does orthodontist SEO work?

SEO considers Google’s ranking algorithm and focuses on improving these areas of your website and online presence. 

Above all else, Google cares about matching a user with the best possible search results. So in the case of someone looking for “braces in Omaha, NE,” the best result would be a trusted orthodontist that can provide orthodontist services to that specific user in Omaha.

So if you’re an orthodontist in Omaha, NE, how do you convince Google that you’re the best practice for the job? Orthodontist SEO.

5 orthodontist SEO tips

While not every website can rank #1, there are a lot of things you can do to show Google you’re trustworthy and a good match for someone looking for an orthodontist in your city.

1. Build a modern website

There’s a lot more to orthodontist SEO than just your website. But your website is by far the most important thing to work on and maintain to rank well in Google. You should commit the resources to making sure that this foundational element of your SEO strategy is as strong as can be.

In 2021, a modern orthodontic website that is ready to rank needs to look great, offer flexibility, and be built on a platform that will easily adhere to SEO best practices. At :Delmain, we think there is a clear option when it comes to building your new website: WordPress.

WordPress sites don’t only look modern, but they act modern, too. They look great on mobile, and are flexible enough to create a site that represents your brand. They also load quickly and are easy to work with.

2. Discover the right keywords

If a beautiful website is the foundation of SEO, the keywords you use are the structure. Keywords are the search terms that you hope to rank for. You’ll use these in a number of ways, but most prominently with the content you write and the meta information on your website.

But how do you know which keywords are important for your practice? This is both easier and harder than you might think. Easier in that the keywords you want to rank for are words you’d expect, including ‘braces’, ‘orthodontist’, and ‘invisalign.’ Where it gets hard is finding keywords that are searched more than others. To do this, you’ll need to do some research.

There are a number of keyword research tools you can use, but we recommend Keyword Planner, a tool in the Google Ads platform.

3. Write fresh, original content

Once you find keywords, the next step is to write content centered around these keywords. This content can’t just be the same word over and over again. Your content has to be interesting, original, and designed to compel the website visitor to schedule an appointment. 

Google weeds through websites and flags ones that they believe are trying to game the system in bad faith. Remember, Google wants to match the searcher with a website that fits their needs, not just one that checks all the boxes. 

While many practices use the same borrowed content — words, phrases, and sentences used on hundreds of other dental websites — we don’t think you should. 

Google recognizes when content is plagiarized from other sites and Google views this duplicate content as spammy and thus will flag the site. Duplicate content is not only counterproductive but also reads as impersonal and doesn’t give the website visitor a true taste of what it is like at your practice.

4. Optimize your off-site digital presence

Up until now, all of our tips have been focused on building up your website into all it can be. But just as importantly is optimizing your practice’s presence on a couple of key areas off your website. 

Get your practice on Google Maps

When searching something in Google, you’ve probably noticed that different businesses show up in a map directory at the top of the page. This is called a “Local 3-Pack,” and it’s a great way to get new patients for your business. 

Registering with Google Maps will put you in the running for the “Local 3-Pack,” and also shows Google where your practice is located. This is helpful for location-based searches.

List your practice on local directories

Having your business, contact info, and address listed as many times on the internet as possible is crucially important for orthodontist SEO. These mentions on the internet are called “citations,” and they build trust for your practice. Some popular local directories include:

• Healthgrades
• ZocDoc
• Yelp

Build your reputation

If orthodontist SEO is all about trust, could there be any better way to vouch for how reputable you are then with lots and lots of positive Google reviews? In addition to looking good to Google, reviews are a great way for potential new patients to get a sense of the experience at your practice. 

If your practice doesn’t currently have lots of reviews, try using a reputation management platform such as BirdEye. This type of platform will help you build reviews on your site by following up with your patients and encouraging them to leave reviews. We’ve found that most patients love leaving reviews for a practice they love. They just need to be reminded to do it!

Get as many reputable links to your site as possible

Google views a link back to your website as the ultimate digital stamp of approval. If another site links to yours, they’re saying “Check this site out. There’s useful information here.” What could be more helpful to proving to Google that you’re trustworthy than that? 

For this reason, get as many backlinks back to your website as possible. Whether it’s a patient linking from their blog or a community newspaper linking to you from their website, it will go a long way. Just make sure that the link works and that it’s not being linked from a spammy website, both of which can do more harm than good.

5. Stick with it. Rome was not built in a day.

Most importantly of all, don’t get discouraged if you do all of this and you’re not ranking #1 the next day. Despite what many agencies will tell you, there’s no magic trick that will make you rank #1 in a week. Orthodontist SEO is something that should be nurtured and built, not a one-and-done project.

We encourage you to keep with it and adhere to these orthodontist SEO fundamentals. You’ll be better off if you do, and your site will rank better in the long run.

Current strategy not working? Don’t think your SEO partner is doing their job? Let’s chat.

Although SEO for orthodontists is a long-term strategy, when done by professionals you should notice some immediate improvements. If your current SEO strategy isn’t working or you want to dip your toes in and get results that can change the way your practice operates, get in touch with :Delmain today.

We work with orthodontic practices across the country to improve rankings and get new patients in the door. Lets chat and see what we can do for you.