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AI and SEO: What Dental Practices Should Know

AI has become a major topic of conversation today, with many people having strong opinions about what it means for the future workplace. However, as a dentist, you may have more specific questions about whether AI could help you improve your dental practice’s workplace, catapulting you to the top of the page with just a few adjustments. We’ll look at the realities of Search Engine Optimization (SEO), so it’s easier to make a long-term plan.

AI and SEO: The Basics

AI has a general handle on what your site needs to reach the top slot of Google or Bing. You’ll need more than just the right keywords, you’ll also need to know how people in your area search, what information they’re looking for, and how you can answer their questions in a way that makes them want to visit the site again and again.

In other words, AI can be a good way to start your research. It’s up-to-date, it’s conversational, and it can probably provide more specific answers than just typing your questions into a search engine.

AI and SEO: The Nuances

SEO prioritizes quality content. If everyone uses AI content to improve their site, your dental practice won’t stand out. There have been dozens of stories about people having tremendous success implementing AI to improve their website’s rankings, but a major dropoff often follows their initial success.

In other words, if you want sustainable rankings, you may not be able to rely on AI to get it done. Content marketing services in San Diego, CA can do more than just help you add new pictures and blog posts to your site. From patient testimonials to social media, you may need some professional intervention to pull it all together.

Better Marketing in San Diego for Dentists

The best marketing teams in San Diego, CA may use AI as a tool, but they also know that it’s by no means a fool-proof solution. While dental practices may be more insulated, thanks to a client base and the ubiquity of their services, the reality is that all business owners need to think ahead regarding their web presence.

If you’re interested in improving your dental practice’s visibility, contact the team at Digital Marketing Professionals!

3 Email Tactics to Encourage Customers to Schedule Their Annual Eye Exam

An annual eye exam can be easy for customers to put off, especially when the pandemic knocked a lot of people off their regular routines. If you’re looking for ways to bring your clients back to the office, we’ll look at how email can help convince them to make an appointment.

1. Segment Your Audience

You’re likely already segmenting your audience to some extent (e.g., by location, etc.). However, consider how getting into the finer details can make a difference in the response rate of your email campaigns. For instance, if your adult clients have children who are also patients, consider an email campaign that encourages everyone to stop by for a visit. If your optometry marketing in San Diego, CA is specific to the individual, it’s likely to net you better returns.

2. Target Client’s Health

You don’t need to explain how important a person’s vision is, but you may need to talk about the most common threats to people’s eyesight. This is where you can combine segmenting with your email content. For instance, while cataracts may occur to people at any age, they’re unlikely to be a common problem for people in their 20s. In this case, an email to young students and professionals might focus more on what a computer or mobile phone screen does to the eyes over time. As you move forward into the upper age groups, you can talk more about the threat of glaucoma or macular degeneration. This is less to invoke fear and more to get people to think about prevention.

3. Find a Digital Marketing Professional

If you’re having a tough time keeping up with your email campaigns, it might be time to get some help. The right healthcare marketer in San Diego, CA can have a market effect not only on your revenue but also on the relationships that you have with your patients. The expert staff at Digital Healthcare Professionals can help you standardize your email schedule, so your clients can count on regular communication. They can also help you send messages that are likely to resonate with the reader. If you’re looking for better content, contact us today to learn more about our services.

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5 Tips for Picking the Right Pictures Dental for Your Website

Picking the right images for your dentist’s website can be tricky. The right images will help draw in your audience and market your dental practice to potential patients. The wrong images could have the opposite effect. If you’re working with a digital marketing team, they can create a website that will accomplish your marketing goals. Below are some of the strategies that your digital marketing team will use to put images on your website.

1. Keep the images relevant.

Use images that are relevant to the pages where they’re being displayed. Images that lack relevance to the content can be confusing to patients and may even send them looking in the wrong direction for the content they’re seeking. Using relevant images can create the impression that your website is well-organized, thoughtful, and professionally created.

2. Optimize the images for fast loading.

Large files can take a long time to load, especially when the user has slow internet access. This can limit the accessibility of your website and may limit which patients are able to find your business.

This is especially important if a large part of your patient population comes from rural areas where Internet access is often slower, but it applies to all dental practices. Images can be optimized for fast loading, but it’s important to pay attention to size and ensure the optimization happens.

3. Crop the images in interesting ways.

Interesting cropping can make the images themselves more interesting. It’s also important to crop images so they’ll integrate fully into the webpage where they’re displayed.

4. Show your target population.

Are your patients mostly children and teenagers? Is your practice a family practice? Choose the images for your website based on the population that you’re targeting.

5. Ensure they’re suitable for all devices.

Mobile browsing is very common now, and this means that many of your patients may be looking at your website from their phones. Take time to ensure that all patients can see the images on your website from their mobile phones and other devices.

Want a relevant, effective website that attracts customers? Digital Healthcare Professionals can help. Contact us to learn more about how our customizable website design services can boost your patient base.

Fine-Tuning Your Demographics: How Optometrists Can Take a Deeper Dive

Marketing for optometrists can look relatively straightforward from the outside. For instance, if you work in a city that attracts the retiree crowd, then your advertising will focus on issues like glaucoma or cataracts. If you’re in a city with plenty of young families, you’ll likely advertise sales on eyewear for kids. However, there are ways to take a deeper dive and filter your customers so you can say the right things to the right people.

One to One

The goal for optometrist marketing in San Diego, CA these days is to get as close to one-to-one as you can get. Ideally, you would alert a fashionista that the perfect pair of frames has gone on sale for them based on their facial measurements and style preferences. In the real-world, this is a tough ask for optometrists — especially if they work with patients from a variety of backgrounds. However, filtering by location, income, age, and even insurance coverage can all go a long way to fine-tuning your demographic.

Needs and Wants

Once you start tinkering with your lists, it’s a matter of considering the needs of your patients. So, a young professional with a starter job may have a very different budget and priorities than a retiree who needs cataract surgery. With every new marketing initiative, you have to think about the people on the list will receive the messages. Consider how the parent of a teenager would react to a postcard with a picture of a toddler on it. Or how a senior on a fixed-income would feel if they visited your website only to see pages splashed with photos of expensive designer frames.

Optometry Marketing in San Diego, CA

There’s a lot to consider if you want to redefine your target audience in San Diego, CA, but the basics are easy to understand. The goal of a marketer is to reach out to the local audience and get their brand noticed. If you need a staff with expertise in this matter, the staff at Digital Healthcare Professionals can help. Our marketers specialize in local healthcare practices. We understand not only what you have to offer, but how different people are likely to react to different products and services.

How to Gain Organic Optometry Practice Recognition with Provider Directory Websites

Were you aware that 94 percent of modern patients look for reviews about a medical provider online before they schedule an appointment? This is important to remember as an optometrist because your online reputation will have a substantial impact on your profitability and ability to attract new patients. Provider directory websites can unlock a new line of access to people who are already looking for your services. Find out how to use these websites to the advantage of your optometry practice.

First, What Is a Provider Directory Website?

Provider directories are healthcare provider websites that build an informational directory of medical providers. These directories usually have a substantial amount of information about a provider, such as:

  • Their location and contact information
  • Their areas of specialty
  • Their educational or training background
  • Their healthcare affiliations

In addition to the general provider information, many directories allow patients to leave reviews or ratings for each provider. This means each listed provider can achieve a certain star or satisfaction rating based explicitly on reviews from prior patients.

How Do You Get Your Name Listed On These Directories?

There are numerous provider directories to look for that can help get your name established as an optometrist, such as VitalsDoximity, and Healthgrades. Each directory can have its own method for providers to get listed. For example, Healthgrades asks providers to create an account and their own provider profile on its website.

Tips for the Best Directory Profile

The best provider directory profile offers a comprehensive look at the provider, the provider’s professional background, and the details a prospective patient will want to know. A few things that can be important to include when creating a profile on a provider directory will be:

  • A clear, up-to-date picture
  • Accurate contact information
  • A functional link to your optometry practice’s website
  • Reliable information about current services provided
  • Background information, including education and affiliates

Need Help Building Your Online Reputation as an Optometrist?

Your online reputation is extremely important in the modern world. If you are struggling to get your reputation established online as an optometrist, we can help at Digital Healthcare Professionals. Reach out to the team to discuss your needs today.

Professional Dentist tools and chair in the dental office.

The 4 Keys of Building Your Dental Office’s Digital Presence

Professional Dentist tools and chair in the dental office.

The average patient these days will never look in a phone book. Most people get advice about finding a dentist straight from the internet. This means your digital presence is just as important as your real-world one, but so many dental practices struggle to build that presence effectively. In truth, building a healthy digital presence through digital marketing in a world where so many others are doing the same comes down to four key strategies.

The average patient these days will never look in a phone book. Most people get advice about finding a dentist straight from the internet. This means your digital presence is just as important as your real-world one, but so many dental practices struggle to build that presence effectively. In truth, building a healthy digital presence through digital marketing in a world where so many others are doing the same comes down to four key strategies.

Mind Your Website

The website used to represent your business is the epitome of your online personality. Therefore, this digital hub must:

  • Operate flawlessly
  • Represent your brand appropriately
  • Deliver information your patients want to know
  • Attract people to get to know your practice

If you have a lackluster website that does nothing for your brand or does not function well, you are actually better with no website at all.

Track Your Reputation

What would patients learn about you if they were to look at your reputation online. This is ever-important when it comes to digital marketing. If you don’t have any reviews or get mostly negative reviews, this can detrimentally affect how many patients are willing to trust you with their care.

Know Your Competition

Look at what kind of presence your competition has. Are nearby dental practices getting more business but you don’t know why? Your online marketing efforts may be lacking, or there could be something about your digital presence that does not stack up to competitors.

Perfect Your Content

Content is king in digital marketing. The words and imagery used on your website should reflect the professionalism of your practice, give value to visitors, and even lead web traffic to your site. Through search engine optimization, you can see your presence grow and your practice become much more popular among patients.

Build Your Digital Presence with Professional Digital Marketers

The more defined your digital presence, the more your dental practice will grow and flourish. If you are struggling with getting the traffic you need to your website or seeing measurable results, you may need help from digital marketing professionals. Reach out to us at Digital Healthcare Professionals to get a custom quote and discuss how we can help you build your online presence.

If you have a lackluster website that does nothing for your brand or does not function well, you are actually better with no website at all.

Track Your Reputation

What would patients learn about you if they were to look at your reputation online. This is ever-important when it comes to digital marketing. If you don’t have any reviews or get mostly negative reviews, this can detrimentally affect how many patients are willing to trust you with their care.

Know Your Competition

Look at what kind of presence your competition has. Are nearby dental practices getting more business but you don’t know why? Your online marketing efforts may be lacking, or there could be something about your digital presence that does not stack up to competitors.

Perfect Your Content

Content is king in digital marketing. The words and imagery used on your website should reflect the professionalism of your practice, give value to visitors, and even lead web traffic to your site. Through search engine optimization, you can see your presence grow and your practice become much more popular among patients.

Build Your Digital Presence with Professional Digital Marketers

The more defined your digital presence, the more your dental practice will grow and flourish. If you are struggling with getting the traffic you need to your website or seeing measurable results, you may need help from digital marketing professionals. Reach out to us at Digital Healthcare Professionals to get a custom quote and discuss how we can help you build your online presence.

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Google My Business

Google My Business may sound like a generic concept. (Of course people are Googling your business, that’s how the majority of consumers come across new products and services!) However, it’s actually a specific tool that can be critical for your Search Engine Optimization (SEO). We’ll look at what it is and how you can leverage it to shorten the space between you and your target demographic.

What Is Google My Business?

Google My Business is a free service from Google that can help you both manage and boost your business profile. Once you claim ownership and attain management rights, you can start using the features to give you more visibility on Google. Considering Google has 3.5 billion searches per day, this is the search engine that you want to focus on.

What Is a Business Profile?

A Business Profile on Google refers to your listing. If people search for something in your city or town, Google Maps will position your company in the local results as long as you have a profile. Anyone can set up a profile, which will then automatically add your location to the maps section. All you need is the location, name, and business category to get it done. As long as it’s not a duplicate, Google will accept the information and set up the profile.

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What Does Google My Business Mean for Local Marketing?

The most basic profile in the world will still provide you with some degree of visibility. Customers can use it to post photos, leave reviews, and get their questions answered. However, your local SEO success will take more effort than just inputting a few facts about your business.

  • Check-in Online: The more customers see you respond to your profile, the more likely they are to engage with it. For instance, if someone asks a question and you answer it the same day, it encourages the next interested party to reach out the same way.
  • Publish posts: You can manage your profile in much the same way that you would your Facebook profile. Tempt prospective customers to learn more about new products or special discounts when you maintain your profile.
  • Maintain your account dashboard: This is where you can list more information about your business, including hours, website links, pricing, and what makes you different from your competitors.
  • Incorporate keywords: Knowing how local people search for you can go a long way toward building in keywords to your business profile. Google will also promote certain sections of your profile based on relevancy to your customers. Use the analytics tab of the free platform to see who is finding you and how.

How Digital Healthcare Solutions Can Help You Succeed

Keep in mind that anyone can set up a profile for you. Before a disgruntled customer has the chance to do it, take ownership of your results. If you need help mastering your local SEO success, call Digital Healthcare Solutions to nail down a strategy.

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5 Things Optometry Websites Do Wrong With their Blog

  As an optometry clinic, your website is usually the first opportunity for people to get to know you. It’s why having a streamlined, aesthetically pleasing, and easy-to-navigate site is critical for getting patients in the door.

Another helpful factor? Having a compelling, high quality, value-rich blog! Here are five things optometry clinics get wrong when it comes to their blog:

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1. Not Having One

A blog is an excellent tool that can:

  • Improve your ranking on Google and other search engines
  • Provide value to your clients
  • Educate your customers

And more! In today’s world, the risk of not having a blog far outweighs the hassle of keeping one going. Fortunately, blogs aren’t all that difficult to manage—and consulting with a digital marketing agency makes it even easier for you and your team.

2. Not Updating Regularly

Keeping your blog updated encourages readers to keep coming back. We encourage optometry clinics to schedule new posts at least two to three times per week to keep their content fresh and up-to-date.

3. Not Making Their Blogs SEO-Friendly

You need to make your blog visible and easy to find among all the other content on the internet. Becoming savvy with SEO—or collaborating with a digital marketing company that has advanced SEO insights—can help you stand out among the competition.

SEO stands for “search engine optimization.” SEO basically refers to best-practice strategies that make it easier for people to find your website, including:

  • Keyword-rich tags, meta descriptions, and URLs
  • Inbound links to other pages on your website
  • Outbound links to other related websites (ideally reputable and professional ones like the American Optometric Association)
  • Enhanced image quality

4. Not Making the Blog Reader-Friendly

Reading a huge block of text is hard to do! Great blog posts that readers want to read are concise, grammatically correct, and broken up into short paragraphs. Bullet points and subheadings also make your content easier to digest.

5. Not Discussing Relevant Topics

What is your community interested in? What are their biggest areas of concern when it comes to their vision and eye health? Be sure your blog content speaks to your customers’ needs and goals. This provides genuine value for them and establishes you as a reliable resource and a trustworthy provider.

Digital Healthcare Professionals is here to help build your online presence, connect with your audience, and provide value for your existing and future clients. Contact us at 858-480-9804 if you’d like to upgrade your optometry blog and elevate your reader’s experience.

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5 Things Dentists Should Communicate To Their Audience During COVID-19

2020 brought a lot of changes for dentist offices, and with the way COVID-19 is going we can expect these changes to continue. In fact, the American Dental Association projects that U.S. dental care spending could decline by as much as 20 percent in 2021.

But pandemic or not, people still need (and want) their routine dental cleanings and other dental services.

The problem is, many current and prospective clients might be uneasy about visiting the dentist. Some may not even be sure if they can visit the dentist, depending on local or state regulations and mandates.

What this means is that it’s more important than ever to communicate with your customers clearly and frequently. Let them know what’s going on around your dental office and what you’re doing to keep patients and staff safe.

Need some ideas? Here are five things we think all dental offices should inform their customers about in the era of COVID-19.

1. Current Hours of Operation

Have your hours of operation changed recently? Be sure to update this everywhere customer inquiries may occur, including your:

  • Website
  • Social media
  • Automated voice messaging services
  • Search engine business info
  • Email newsletters
  • Physical signage
  • Any paid advertisements

2. Changes in Patient/Visitor Policies

Let your customers know if you’ve initiated any new visitation requirements, such as pre-appointment quarantining or COVID-19 testing, restricted visitor policies, reduced in-office capacity, and more.

3. How Patient and Staff Safety is Being Optimized

Reassure patients and staff that you’re doing everything in your power to reduce the risk of infectious disease spread. Possible changes to highlight include:

  • Updated hygiene and cleaning practices
  • Updated aerosol extraction devices or technology
  • Social distancing measures
  • Additional in-office hand sanitizing stations

4. The Potential Risks of Delaying Dental Care

Putting off necessary cleanings and other types of dental care due to a fear of visiting the office can lead to costly consequences down the road for your patients. Now is a good time to encourage patients to seek care if they have any concerns.

5. Any Special Offers and Discounts

If your office offers discounts, promotions, or special packages, showcase them early and often on your website and social media accounts. Special pricing and services could be especially beneficial right now for any customers who are struggling financially due to COVID-19 but are still in need of dental care.

 

Stay relevant, stay visible, stay safe, and stay operational. Contact Digital Healthcare Professionals at 858-480-9804 if you’d like to discover how we can help you grow your practice, improve your website, and keep your community in-the-know during this rapidly evolving time.

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The Importance of Link Building for Dental Practice Websites

In general, link building involves creating links between websites or webpages using hyperlinks within the content. Your dental practice website could benefit from proper link building, but why is that the case? Here is a look at some of the reasons why having good link-building strategies in place is important for your website.

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Link building onsite helps site visitors navigate between pages.

Internal linking involves simply installing links in your content that lead to other pages on the same website. For example, if you have a blog that covers the topic of tooth extractions, a link leading back to the service page on extractions on your website could be logically placed within the text. If the reading visitor reads your blog and then wants to know more about tooth extractions at your site specifically, they can easily navigate to that page. Likewise, internal links installed in call-to-actions could lead the visitor to a “contact” or “request an appointment” page.

Link building enhances the rankings of your website on major search engines.

The more times web users are led to your website, the better. Therefore, if you have backlinks placed on other pertinent websites that lead to your site, you may automatically get a boost in traffic. In addition, big search engines like Google use crawlers to find your links among other websites. And these links can automatically mean that Google will see your website as more important and worthy for a higher ranking in search engine results pages.

Link building helps keep visitors on your website longer.

Bringing visitors to your practice website from multiple backlink points is always a good thing. However, internal links help keep a visitor on your site for longer periods of time. For instance, a visitor may be led to your dental website after searching out information about dental implants and finding your blog listed in search results. Once they are reading the blog, the built-in links to other informational pieces within the text can retain their attention and hold them on your website for longer periods.

Let’s Talk About Your Dental Office’s Digital Marketing Strategy 

When it comes down to it, a number of small factors affect how well your dental practice’s website performs. Link-building may be a small objective, but it is an objective that can yield effective boosts for your site rankings among search engines. If you are ready to see your dental practice website better perform, reach out to us at the Digital Healthcare Professionals for help.