How Can Dentists Improve Their Google Local Presence

How Can Dentists Improve Their Google Local Presence

What was discussed?

Quote of the day: “Imagine your life is perfect in every respect, what would it look like?” – Brian Tracy

Google Local, Google Maps, and Google My Business are the search results that show up in the form of a small map whenever you search for a place on Google. Improving your presence on that map is great since most people are drawn to those results due to the different look and placement of them on the search results page.

How Google Determines Who is Displayed in These Results

1. Prominence

Prominence refers to how well your office is known in the community and online. Sometimes you see places that have a small internet presence, but rank well on these results. Part of the reason for this is Google takes a lot of different factors into account, including how prominent that business is in the real world.

Another determining factor in prominence is links that are coming to your website. When Google looks at these links they’re taking into consideration both the amount of links to your site, who is linking to your site, and the quality of those links.

Your rank in the organic search results (the search results below the map) can sometimes correlate with a good local map listing result.

2. Distance

This is how Google determines the local map positions. If you’re searching for a dentist in Phoenix, Google is going to look in Phoenix first. Typically, Google will look closer to where the searcher’s IP address is. If you’re a dentist in Scottsdale (outside of Phoenix), then you probably wouldn’t show up for a search term using Phoenix. If there was only one dentist in Phoenix, then you’d probably show up in that even though you weren’t in that city. For the vast majority of dentists, you need to be in the vicinity of where they’re searching.

3. Relevance

Google will try to understand your practice, who you are, and what you do. If you’re a doctor that does a lot of cosmetics and Google sees that on your site, in your Google My Business listing, and in the different descriptions associated with your business, then the chances of you showing up for cosmetic queries are much higher than if you didn’t mention it.

How to Improve Your Google Map & Google Local Listings

1. Share Your Business Listing with Your Patients

Let your patients know that you’re on Google+ and other platforms and that they should follow you. When Google sees that people are following you and engaging with you, it’s considered a good sign.

2. Create Raving Fans

Have patients that are going to go out and be your advocate, people that are going to spread the good news about your brand. Make sure that they’re aware of any referral programs you have, they’re leaving reviews, and that they’re talking about you whenever they can. This can help other people choose your business over anyone else.

3. Manage Your Reviews

It’s important to get reviews, but it’s also important to respond to those reviews. Listen to Episode 84 where we talked about building an amazing online reputation. Responding to reviews that you get that are less than stellar shows patients that you care about everyone’s experience and that you take feedback to improve your practice.

4. Keep Information Consistent

This is important as far as your business name and phone number are concerned. If Google is scanning the web for your business and the phone number, website, and address are inconsistent across the different sites that you’re listed on, that’s a bad sign in Google’s mind. They’ll forego your listing for one that they can be confident is accurate and correct. When your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all platforms, you’ll be able to show up higher in the search results because Google will be more confident that the information they’re providing to the searcher is accurate.

5. Be Visual

Share photos! Many people are extremely visual learners and like to receive content visually more than in words. If you share photos on your Google My Business page and are continually updating them, this will show Google that you’re active and are engaging. People will enjoy it and it’ll improve your results. If Google sees a business that looks great, but doesn’t engage with their followers – they’ll go with the business that looks great and does engage with their followers.

If you need assistance with improving your presence on Google My Business, be sure to contact us today so we can see if we're a good fit for each other.

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @TitanWebAgency if you enjoyed this podcast!

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