Did you know that “near me” Google searches have increased by over 200% in recent years? That means more people are searching for local businesses than ever before. And if your Google My Business profile isn’t properly optimized, you could be missing out on capturing new website visitors.
In this guide from The Dental SEO Experts, you’ll learn five essential tips for successful Google My Business profile optimization. So, keep reading if you want your dental practice to take advantage of the increased local searches.
What Is Google My Business?
Google My Business is a free service offered by Google that allows businesses to create a company profile that appears directly within search results. Typically, Google My Business profiles appear when a person searches for local services that relate to a particular business. For example, if you operate a dental practice in California and someone searched “dental practice near me,” your profile will appear if set up correctly.
Why Do You Need Google My Business?
So, why bother setting up a Google My Business profile properly?
Increased Visibility
When set up and optimized, your business will appear in an embedded profile box on the search page when a web user searches a relevant local term. This gives your business much more real estate than you would be afforded otherwise. As a result, users are more likely to click on your profile and website to learn more about your dental practice, instead of clicking on competitors who appear as normal search results.
Increased Credibility
Having your Google My Business profile appear embedded in search results adds a sense of credibility to your practice. Just like how users trust the first five Google results more than others, appearing to be recommended and verified by Google helps to give your practice a greater sense of legitimacy.
Showcase Customer Reviews
As a quality dental practice, you likely have many positive reviews from patients. A Google My Business profile is an excellent way to showcase your reviews to potential customers. This helps you appear more credible while showing off the quality of your services compared to competitors.
5 Google My Business Optimization Tips
Now, let’s get into exactly how you can optimize your dental practice’s Google My Business profile for maximum visibility.
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Regularly Post Content
Like any social media profile, you should aim to regularly post content. This signifies to both Google and visitors that you are an active business seeking new clients. Posting content on Google My Business is also an opportunity for you to showcase your expertise as a dentist.
For example, you can post about what patients should expect during dental procedures and even step-by-step breakdowns of how they work. Not only does this make your knowledge clear, but it also helps to calm patients' anxiety surrounding procedures, allowing them to know what to expect.
Related Article: 4 Essential Content Creation Tools for Your Dental Marketing
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List Your Project and Services
Google My Business allows you to list all your products and services, along with descriptions, thumbnail images, and prices. This means that when potential customers find your profile, they get a quick and convenient overview of what you offer, allowing them to easily determine if your practice is what they’re looking for.
In other words, listing your products and services is an excellent way to generate leads from people genuinely interested in your dental services, not individuals just looking for further information.
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Update Your NAP
Your Google My Business profile should have an up-to-date name, address, and phone number (NAP). Otherwise, potential customers may not be able to contact you with your available details. You should aim to make it as easy as possible for customers to contact you.
Credibility is also impacted when your NAP details aren’t up-to-date, as your practice may look illegitimate or like it’s no longer operating. As a result, it’s imperative that you keep your NAP details accurate and current.
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Upload Photos
High-quality and visually appealing images can help to capture the attention of potential customers and make a great first impression. You can showcase your practice's facilities, team, services, and products through images. By doing so, you can help potential customers better understand your practice.
What’s more, adding photos to your Google My Business profile can improve your search engine rankings, as Google values visual content that enhances user experience. So, take the time to add photos to your profile and keep them up to date to attract more customers and improve your online visibility.
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Add FAQs
As with any business, customers will have questions about your services. That’s where the Google My Business frequently asked questions (FAQs) section comes in. You’re able to ask and answer common and important questions for all visitors to view.
Adding FAQs allows you to answer potential customer concerns before they’ve even contacted you, putting their minds at ease and increasing customer experience. This can also help to reduce the volume of inquiries or support requests you receive, freeing up time for you and your team to focus on other important aspects of your practice.
Google My Business Management From The Dental SEO Experts
At The Dental SEO Experts, we have extensive experience in managing and optimizing Google My Business profile. So, schedule a free consultation with us today and let us help you improve your online presence.
