Get More Patients Through Local SEO
You’re running an orthodontist practice, and getting new patients is a priority. But here’s the thing: today’s patients aren’t flipping through phone books. They’re using Google. In fact, 77% of patients use search engines before booking an appointment. If your practice isn’t showing up in local searches, you’re missing out. Don’t worry—local SEO can help. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, even if SEO is new to you. This guide is designed for orthodontic marketing managers or office managers who want to get their practice found online but might not be experts in SEO (yet!).
1. Why Google Business Profile is Your Best Friend
The first thing people see when searching for “orthodontist near me” is often Google’s local map. That’s powered by your Google Business Profile (GBP). If your profile is complete and optimized, you can rank high in local searches without needing to know a ton about SEO.
How to Get Started:
- Claim and Verify Your GBP: Head over to Google Business Profile and make sure your practice is listed. If it’s not, create one. If it is, claim it and verify that you’re the owner.
- Fill It Out Completely: Enter your name, address, and phone number (NAP). These should match your website and any other listings. Inconsistent info can hurt your ranking.
- Categories Matter: Set “Orthodontist” as your main category, but you can add related services like “Pediatric Dentistry” as secondary categories
- Add Photos: Practices with photos get 42% more requests for directions. Add pictures of your office, your staff, and some happy (smiling) patients.
Reviews Matter—A Lot!
Did you know 72% of patients use online reviews to find a new healthcare provider? Getting good reviews boosts your local ranking and builds trust. Don’t hesitate to ask your happy patients for reviews, and always respond to them. Whether it’s a glowing review or constructive feedback, your response shows you care.
Learn more about how to improve the engagement of your Google Business Profile
2. Make Your Website Work for You
Your website doesn’t need to be flashy, but it does need to be functional and optimized for local search.
Start with These Basics:
- Title Tags and Meta Descriptions: These are the titles and short descriptions that show up in search results. They should clearly state what you offer and where you’re located. Example:**** “Expert Orthodontic Care in [City] | [Practice Name].”
- Include Location Information: Use your city’s name in headlines and throughout your page content. Let Google know where you’re located, so patients nearby can find you.
- Service Pages: Have a dedicated page for each service you offer, like “Braces in [City]” or “Invisalign in [City].” This helps Google know exactly what you do and match your services to what people are searching for. Bonus Tip: Add Location-Specific Pages If your practice serves several towns or cities, create individual pages for each. For example, “Orthodontist in [Nearby Town]” can help you capture patients from surrounding areas.
3. Citations and Backlinks: Boosting Your Local Presence
Think of citations and backlinks as your digital word-of-mouth. Citations are online listings of your practice’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on various websites.
Build Citations in Key Places
- Make sure your practice is listed on big platforms like Yelp, Healthgrades, and even local directories.
- Keep your NAP details consistent across all sites. If your address is written differently on different listings, Google might get confused.
Backlinks Are Key
A backlink is a link from someone else’s website to yours. The more reputable the site, the more valuable the link. Getting links from local organizations, dental associations, or even other medical professionals will help Google trust your site and rank it higher.
****Do you know already how to build backlinks? We have 4 link building tips to double your local SEO search visibility for you!
4. Content That Speaks to Patients
72% of marketers agree: creating good content is one of the most effective SEO tactics. You don’t need to hire a fancy writer—just focus on answering common questions patients have.
Easy Content Ideas:
- Blog Posts or FAQs: Answer questions like “How much do braces cost in [City]?” or “What’s the difference between braces and Invisalign?” This content helps attract people who are searching for these topics in your area.
- Share Testimonials: Let your happy patients tell their stories. Adding testimonials to your website is a simple way to build trust and show others the great results you’ve delivered.
****Curious how we already help dentists and orthodontists worldwide with boosting their online visibility? ****
5. Optimize for Mobile and Voice Search
Patients aren’t just using computers to find orthodontists—they’re using their phones, too. 46% of patients even use voice search to find healthcare providers. So, making sure your website works well on mobile devices is a must.
Keep These in Mind:
- Make It Mobile-Friendly: A slow or clunky website won’t cut it. Ensure your site loads quickly and looks good on a phone.
- Voice Search Matters: Optimize your content for how people speak. For example, use phrases like “best orthodontist near me” or “affordable braces in [City].”
6. Measure What’s Working—and Tweak What’s Not
SEO isn’t set-it-and-forget-it. Use tools like Google Analytics to see how many people are visiting your site, which pages they’re looking at, and how long they’re staying. This info helps you understand what’s working and what might need improvement.
Wrapping Up - Local SEO is Your Practice's Best Tool for Growth
Local SEO might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. If you follow these steps—optimizing your Google Business Profile, creating a solid website, getting reviews, building citations, and focusing on good content—you’ll see results. With many patients booking appointments after finding a provider online, improving your local SEO can lead directly to more patients walking through your door.
By taking these simple steps, you'll ensure your practice is easy to find, easy to trust, and always one step ahead of the competition.
While local SEO seems straightforward, maintaining it can be challenging. With Obenan, you can not only automate the most important local SEO tasks and streamline your online presence optimizations, but also have our local SEO experts help optimize all your online information for better local search visibility.
