It’s no secret that Google is the world’s biggest search engine. As such, it pays to have visibility on it. If there was a free way to boost your presence on Google, would you do it? Of course you would! Well, that’s what you’ll get with a Google My Business (GMB) listing.
Let’s discuss why GMB listings are important for dental practices (and businesses in general), how they benefit you and how you can improve your GMB listing.
Why You Need a Google My Business Listing
As stated above, a GMB listing is free. That alone is reason enough to create one. But we understand, dentists have limited time. The thing is, you won’t show up on many Google platforms (e.g. Google Maps) if you don’t have a Google My Business listing. You also can’t get the most out of Google Ads if you don’t have a GMB listing. While random internet users can create a listing for your business, you’ll only get the most out of it and enjoy its benefits if you claim/create one and manage it yourself.
Benefits of a Google My Business Listing
You want local residents to find your dental practice, right? An SEO-optimized website is a good way to do this, but you should always have a GMB listing early on in the process. Here are some of the benefits of a Google My Business Listing:
- It’s easier to show up for local searches and map searches.
- You have a better chance of showing up on Google’s Local 3-Pack.
- You establish yourself as a verified business and earn more trust.
- You gain reviews and obtain even more credibility—especially when you respond to reviews—resulting in a rankings boost.
- It’s easier for people to learn more about your business.
- You have a better chance of improving traffic to your website.
How to Improve Your Google My Business Listing
According to Google, “46 percent of searches have local intent.” As such, it’s important to optimize your GMB listing with that in mind. While it’s ideal to partner with a dental marketing agency to optimize both your website and GMB listing, since they have experience doing so in markets across the country, there are a few best practices you can follow. Here are some tips for improving your Google My Business listing:
- Add local keywords to your description (e.g. “dental implants <city>”).
- Create services you want to prioritize.
- Add professional-looking logos and images.
- Make sure hours and other information is updated.
- Use Google Posts regularly.
If you’re interested in learning more about how we can help improve (or create) the GMB listing for your practice, contact us today!