Everyone knows that one of the primary goals of any orthodontic marketing strategy is to bring in new patients and delight existing patients, so they keep coming in. But you might not know how to leverage local search engine optimization (SEO) to attract patients online and eventually grow your orthodontic practice.
Local SEO is quickly gaining speed, and not just in the orthodontic marketing realm. More and more practices are depending on inbound marketing methods to attract new patients. All it takes is searching for “orthodontists” in a geographic search on Google for six well-optimized, user-friendly websites to pop up on the first organic results.
It’s important to acknowledge that local SEO is not the only thing inbound has to offer. Don’t limit your orthodontic marketing ideas just to local SEO! That said, you should have a good grasp of how local SEO, when effectively used, can grow your practice.
How to Leverage Local SEO for Your Practice
Let’s start off by defining local SEO. Given the competitive nature of Google ranking, you have to send Google the right signals if you want your site to outrank the competition.
In the case of your orthodontic practice, if optimized correctly, your website will rank well for the keywords that are profitable for your business. To send Google the right signals, make sure you are optimizing with:
- Proper keyword research
- Content that stands out and educates
- User- and mobile-friendly web design
- Link building to establish authority in your field
There are a few practical applications to help you leverage local SEO for your orthodontic marketing strategy. The first one is easy enough: conduct an audit of your site’s current SEO. This will give you an idea of where your focus should be as you continue to optimize. Take the time to check out what your competitors are doing and analyze what you might be able to do to beat their rank.
Next, you will want to put a keyword strategy in place. Typically, keywords include phrases with your profession in them as well as services you offer and a relevant geographic term.
Example: “invisalign orthodontist atlanta.”
You will also want to track your progress with Google Analytics or a similar tool to see how your ranking and visibility online are attracting new patients. Inbound marketing is so effective because it is a trackable process and enables you to use trial and error to determine the best course of action for your practice. Not to mention, you’re able to see exactly what your ROI is.
If you’re worried about not having the time it takes to use these strategies to get new patients in the door, consider partnering with an inbound marketing agency to help you get your Atlanta practice online and start ranking on Google.