As a dental professional, you may not spend your days thinking about SEO or website conversion. But how your present yourself online to patients and prospective patients is more crucial than ever before. A recent study conducted by the Pew Internet & American Life project showed that 72% of online users searched for health information within the past 12 months. That means huge numbers of your potential patients could be searching online right now for a practice like yours! To make sure your ideal patients are engaging with your practice online, keep these dental website best practices in mind. 
Become Familiar with SEO
Not sure what that stands for? It means search engine optimization. Simply put, it’s making sure your website is geared towards what your ideal patients are looking for online. SEO best practices change constantly. Partner with a marketing team who can help you evolve your dental website to keep your SEO on point.
Use Relatable Photos
We have all heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” That’s especially true when choosing photos for your dental website. Using the right photos can help convey to potential patients that your practice is a place they will feel welcome. Think of who your current patients are and who you are trying to reach, and select images that reflect their lifestyles and dental treatment goals. Incorporate a wide range of ages and ethnicities, as well as images that reflect the local community. For a touch of fun, take selfies with patients and create an online gallery.
Create Compelling Content
The content you feature on your dental website goes a long way in determining how you rank in online search engines. Search engines like Google and Bing reward websites that feature consistently updated, original and relevant content. Adding a blog to your website is one of the most efficient ways to incorporate new content. You and your team can use it to post dental health news and tips, before and after treatment stories, wellness inspiration and more.
Make Mobile Optimization a Priority
There’s a good chance you’re reading this very blog on a mobile device, which means your dental website should be optimized for mobile, too. In fact, more Google searches now take place on mobile devices than desktop computers. Not surprisingly, Google also includes mobile-friendly design as a factor in how it ranks websites in search results. Quite simply, your dental website needs to look good and be responsive on every type of computer, tablet and smartphone.
Utilize Professional Expertise
Staying on top of the best practices for dental websites can be overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. SmartPractice Director of Marketing Kristin Uhles recommends getting some help from the pros. “ProSites is a terrific resource for dental offices who need some help with dental website design, SEO, social media management and pay-per-click,” says Kristin. “I’ve seen countless dental practices grow as a result of working with ProSites.”
Whether you choose to take your website on yourself or get some professional assistance, one thing is clear. Staying on top of dental website best practices is key to maintaining and growing a successful dental practice.
