Local SEO Tactics for Dental Practices for Success
If you’re running a dental practice and aren’t showing up in local searches, you’re leaving money on the table. Patients rarely scroll past the first few results, especially when looking for something as immediate as dental treatment. This is where local SEO for dentists comes in, focusing on what you actually need to do to be visible, get calls, and book more appointments. No theory. Just proven tactics.
What Makes Local SEO Different (And Why Dentists Should Care)
Local SEO isn’t about being famous, it’s about being found. Traditional SEO targets wider audiences with broader content. Local SEO for dentists focuses on ranking your clinic in front of people searching for services like “emergency dentist near me” or “teeth whitening in [town name].” The aim is to dominate map packs and localised search terms.
Dental clinics are classed as competitive, high-reward niches. People don’t shop around forever -they pick a clinic they trust quickly. That makes visibility crucial. If you’re not appearing in local results, you’re almost invisible.
Our local SEO services make sure you don’t miss out on this visibility.
Step 1: Proper Google Business Profile Setup
This isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. The majority of dental bookings start from the map pack. That means your GBP is often the first and only thing people see.
Here’s what to get right:
- Business name: Keep it natural. If your clinic is called “Oak Dental,” leave it at that—don’t cram in location keywords unless it’s actually part of your name.
- Categories: Primary = Dentist. Add secondaries like “Emergency Dental Service” or “Cosmetic Dentist.”
- Description: Include main treatments, location mentions, and USP.
- Photos: Real, recent, relevant, and regular. These can include images of the interior, team etc.
- Opening hours: Keep them up to date. If it says “open” and you’re not, expect a bad review.
Bonus: List out your treatments in the Services tab with prices if possible. Patients compare profiles.
Step 2: Nail Your On-Site Basics
Each core page on your site should be structured to support your GBP. Think of it like this: your GBP ranks in the map pack, and your website ranks below it.
Key things to get right:
- Homepage targets “[Dentist] in [Location]”
- Separate pages for each service (not a bullet list on one page)
- Location pages if you serve multiple areas (especially if you don’t have a GMB there)
- NAP (Name, Address, Phone) in the footer, matching your GBP exactly
Keep each page focused. One service, one intent, one location. Don’t water it down.
Step 3: Reputation Management That Actually Works
No one reads every review, but they always check the rating. You need volume, recency, and relevance. That means:
- Aim for consistent review collection, not just one big push.
- Ask patients to mention which treatment they had and where they had it (location).
- Reply to every review, especially the negative ones (briefly, professionally – and use the negative ones as an opportunity to resolve an issue rather than defend it).
If you’re not asking every patient, you’re missing easy wins. Reviews are social proof and a ranking signal. Simple as that.
Step 4: Build Authority With Smart Content
You don’t need a blog full of waffle. But you do need useful pages that prove you know what you’re doing. Focus on:
- Individual service pages (e.g. “Root Canal Treatment in Leeds”)
- FAQs that patients actually ask
- Local guides or tips that relate to your practice
Example: Instead of writing “The History of Braces,” try “Best Options for Adult Braces in Sheffield.” Keep it local and specific.
This content should link internally to your key pages. Google sees the structure and assigns more authority to the most linked pages. Basic, but overlooked.
Step 5: Link Building That Isn’t a Complete Waste of Time
You don’t need 100 guest posts. But you do need a few solid links from sites Google trusts – ideally local or healthcare-relevant.
- Start by checking where competitors are getting links from.
- Look for genuine opportunities: local business directories, dental associations, industry blogs.
- Don’t buy backlinks from vendors or agencies bragging about DR (Domain Rating). Relevance beats DR every day of the week.
- Build local relevance with mentions from nearby sites – sponsors, partners, suppliers.
If you’ve got strong on-page and decent reviews, just a handful of quality links can tip the scale.
Step 6: Tracking Performance (Without the Guesswork)
If you’re not measuring, you’re guessing. Set up the basics:
- Google Analytics 4: Track website behaviour and conversion events.
- Google Search Console: Monitor rankings, search query impressions & clicks, and indexation issues.
- GBP Insights: Check how many calls, directions and website visits are coming from your listing.
What to Ignore (For Now)
- Chasing “Dentist London” rankings when you’re based in a small town.
- Posting daily on Google Posts thinking it’ll shift your rankings. The biggest advantage to posting is showing that you’re active. But, if you’re short on time or resources, regular posting isn’t a priority.
- Stuffing keywords into your business name if it’s not actually your name.
Focus on the fundamentals. That’s what ranks.
Want to get found fast? Get in touch to find out how we can help boost your bottom line.
