Keyword Research Tips for Dentists

As a dedicated dentist, attracting new clients can often come down to the fine art of your online visibility. The not-so-secret weapon here? SEO and something called keyword research.  In the end, success often comes down to long keywords (also referred to as longtail keywords). Backlinko's recent SEO CTR study reveals that keywords between 10-15 words long draw a whopping 1.76 times more clicks than their single-word peers. The magic is in the detail. Longer, more specific keywords align perfectly with a searcher's intent.  This leads to a more favorable click-through rate (CTR).

These long keywords tend to have less competition,  There just aren't as many people writing to the long variants of keywords.  A good example of this is location-based longtail keywords.  These regional keywords provide the possibility and better odds of achieving higher rankings more easily.  Inherently this boosts your CTR. If a prospective patient searches for, “Affordable dental crowns in Brooklyn with convenient evening appointments,” this is your chance to leverage long-tail keywords to amplify your online presence.

The Significance of Keyword-rich URLs

Your website's URL structure is another crucial factor in bolstering your CTR. URLs that incorporate terms similar to the keyword that you're targeting register an impressive 45% higher CTR than average website traffic. Prospective patients, seeing a URL that mirrors their search query, will perceive your webpage as more relevant.  This compels the prospective patient to click through. Therefore, URLs that echo the potential search terms of your audience become an invaluable tool in your SEO strategy.

Answer the Question

Don't focus your SEO on question vs. non-question-based keywords.  Instead look at it as providing the answer, no matter what means of quality content takes you there.  While Backlino compared average organic click-through rates on question terms (How, Why, What, and Who, or titles

with a question mark) to non-question terms, they found that question titles only had a slightly higher CTR than that of the comparison group.

Answer the Question - Strategies for Dental Keyword Research

Don't Deliberate Too Much About Questions in Title Tags. Answer the Question!

Optimism Wins: Positive Titles

Let's explore the impact of your website's title tags. It turns out, positivity isn't just great for life—it also shines in SEO! Titles that radiate a positive sentiment tend to enhance the CTR by approximately 4%. This suggests that potential patients are more likely to click on search results that promise a positive outcome. Hence, a title like “Experience pain-free root canal treatment at our friendly Brooklyn clinic” might enjoy a higher CTR due to its optimistic undertones.  While things like this seem simple enough, they're missed in basic everyday SEO tactics that you can put into play immediately.

Tailoring Your Strategy

SEO isn't a one-size-fits-all strategy.  While these insights offer a promising starting point, it's vital to tailor your approach to the unique needs of your dental practice.  You know your target audience better than anyone.  You interact with your patients each and every day. By taking into account your keyword length, URL structures, and the sentiment of your title tags, you set the stage for a more potent online presence and positive first interaction.

SEO is a fascinating topic.  We live it and breathe it every day.  While I love encouraging new SEO enthusiasts and giving them tips here, there's no substitute for years of experience.  If you need personalized SEO help, please do not hesitate to contact us.