How to Choose a Dental SEO Company?
06/20/2024
Growing your dental practice without SEO is like going up a creek without a paddle. It’s almost impossible to grow your practice in a digital world where more and more people use search engines to find a dentist –71% of them, to be precise.
Scaling your online presence and attracting more footfall to your clinic comes easy if you have a robust dental SEO plan. That’s where a seasoned dental SEO company can help. They know every trick in the SEO book, which can help your practice thrive online.
But how do you find a dental SEO agency that lives up to your expectations?
Let’s find out.
Know What You Need
As Neil Patel, a renowned SEO expert, says, “The key to success with SEO is to have a clear goal and a well-defined strategy.”
That means before you invest time and effort in finding a dental SEO company, first you must know what SEO goals you plan to achieve. These goals can vary depending on your practice’s size, location, and budget.
But they typically include:
- Increasing your website traffic
- Building your online presence
- Ranking higher in local search results
- Getting more calls and walk-ins to your clinic
- Improving your backlink profile
Clear SEO goals help you find the right dental SEO agency, not to mention set your budget. Most agencies offer service-specific packages, which allow you to decide your budget and manage your expectations.
For example, if you want to attract patients, you need to find an agency specializing in local SEO. Getting more local traffic might also require you to set aside a budget for pay-per-click advertising (PPC).
Research and Shortlist a Few Agencies
Once you know what you want, it’s time to research and shortlist a few dental SEO agencies. Start by making a list of as many agencies as possible.
Google is the best place to start, but optimize your search for local results. If your clinic is in Wilmington, NC, using keywords like “best dental SEO agency in Wilmington, NC” or “best dental SEO agency near me” can help you find local experts quickly.
Another way to shortlist a few agencies is to ask your friends. If someone from your professional network has already sought dental SEO services, they might be able to recommend an agency.
When researching an agency, check their website carefully. The agency’s website can tell you a lot about its SEO prowess. If the website looks well-structured and optimized and ranks higher in search results, it strongly indicates that the agency knows what they are doing. While at it, check their blog and social media to understand how well-versed they are with the latest SEO tactics.
Evaluate Their Industry-Specific Knowledge
Naturally, you would want to hire an agency with hands-on experience in dental SEO. They understand your challenges and help you grow your online presence.
One way to gauge their industry-specific expertise is to ask for case studies or check out their client portfolio. These offer a glimpse into how the agency has helped its clients grow their practice. Most companies would be happy to share these details.
When you are digging through their track record, be sure to check if they:
- Are familiar with SEO best practices
- Have experience in handling clients like you
- Know both standard and local SEO
- Are equipped with the latest SEO tools and techniques
Don’t Forget to Check Reviews
Don’t underestimate the role of customer reviews in finding the right agency. Nine out of ten consumers read reviews before going ahead with their purchase, so should you. Third-party websites like Google and Yelp are great places to see how customers react to the agency’s service.
When you are going through the review, check:
- If the agency has plenty of reviews
- The average rating and overall customer satisfaction
- How they respond to negative reviews
- If the reviews are consistent, especially for service, reporting, and results
- Recent reviews to get the most current feedback
- For reviews that may seem fake or biased
Understand Their SEO Practices
It goes without saying that the agency should follow only white-hat SEO practices. Stay away from those that might consider dubious SEO tactics. These tactics might attract penalties from Google and other search engines, putting your online presence at risk.
When you speak with the agency, ask about the following strategies:
- Keyword research and optimization
- Voice search optimization
- PPC
- Link building
- Content creation
- User experience and website design
Work with an agency that maintains a proper SEO calendar and sticks to it. The agency also needs to be transparent and share regular updates about the progress. They should be able to explain what they are doing and how it will help your practice grow.
Ask About Reporting and Analytics
Reporting and analytics are two pillars of successful SEO. Ask the agency which analytics they use to measure and monitor their SEO strategies. Analytics may change depending on your strategy, but it typically includes:
- Organic Traffic: The number of visitors coming to your site from search engines.
- Keyword Rankings: Positions of your target keywords in search engine results pages (SERPs).
- Backlink Analysis: The quantity and quality of links pointing to your website.
- Click-Through Rate (CTR): The percentage of users who clicked on your website link through search results.
- Bounce Rate: The percentage of visitors who leave your site after viewing only one page.
- Average Session Time: The average time visitors spend on your site.
- Pages Per Session: The average number of pages viewed during a session.
- Conversion Rate: The percentage of visitors who scheduled an appointment.
- Page Load Time: The time it takes for your web pages to load, impacting user experience and rankings.
- Responsiveness: How well your site performs on mobile devices, including mobile-friendliness and page speed.
- Core Web Vitals: Google’s metrics related to page loading, interactivity, and visual stability.
Regular reporting is equally important. Ask the agency how they report the progress. Do they provide weekly or monthly reports? How detailed are these reports? Each report should clearly tell you how far your SEO has come, its challenges, and how the agency plans to address them.
See How the Agency Communicates
Dental SEO is a long-term game, and communication is critical to its success. Whether it’s email or phone, the agency should proactively communicate with you, keeping you in the loop regularly. They should be willing to address your questions and concerns immediately.
When you speak with the agency, ask how they will communicate with you and how frequently. Most dental SEO companies use project management tools like Jira or Asana to track work progress, while email, chat, and phone are the standard communication channels.
Find Out How Flexible the Agency Is
Flexibility, or the lack of it, can be a deal breaker for many because dental SEO is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Whether you are a small-town practice or have multiple locations, you need a customized SEO package.
Ask the dental SEO agency if they provide customized solutions. They should listen to your business goals and create a plan that aligns with them. Moreover, the agency should adapt to your growing business needs and update your SEO plan accordingly.
How Much Will Their Services Cost
When looking for a dental SEO agency, you’ll always have to balance the cost and quality of service. Settling for the cheapest solution might backfire in the long run. You want to invest in good-quality services, even if it means spending a little more. Dental SEO offers excellent ROI, sometimes over 100%, making it worth every penny you spend.
But when you discuss the costs, ask about:
- What’s covered in the package
- Detailed breakdown of pricing
- Expected results and refunds, if any
- The length of your contract and its terms
- Exit fees or retainers, if any
- The flexibility to scale up (or down) your plan
Most SEO companies offer monthly packages, but you can ask for a customized solution tailored to your business goals. Just be sure to understand the pricing structure to avoid any unwanted surprises later.
Watch Out for These Red Flags
When looking for a dental SEO company, watch out for a few red flags. For one, never work with an agency that promises instant results and guarantees the #1 spot. Dental SEO takes time and effort. If you come across a claim that’s too good to be true, it most likely is.
Secondly, avoid companies that aren’t willing to share their strategies, portfolios, or pricing breakdowns. Choose an agency you can trust, which begins with transparency. Also, be sure the company complies with the standard SEO practices.
Once you’ve shortlisted companies that tick all these boxes, compare them and choose the one that best fits your needs.
Conclusion
Choosing the right dental SEO agency may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. If you keep all the above factors in mind, you can find someone who will drive more traffic and boost your conversions. Just be sure to vet the agency properly before signing up.
Ready to grow your dental practice? DentaMarketing can help. We focus on nothing but dental SEO, bringing you the latest, proven solutions. Get in touch today for a consultation.
FAQs
What Should I Look for in A Dental SEO Agency?
Look for the experience, SEO skills, transparency, communication, and costs. If you need a customized solution, see if the agency offers one. The bottom line is to find someone equipped with all the bells and whistles you need.
How Do I Know If the Agency Is Experienced?
Looking at their client portfolio or case studies can tell you about the agency’s overall experience and success. Most companies display this information on their website. If not, you can ask to share details when you meet.
Will Dental SEO Improve My Ranking?
Although you won’t see the results overnight, a proper SEO strategy should strengthen your online presence. Depending on your goals, it can help you increase conversions or get more web traffic.
What Type of Reporting and Analytics Should I Expect?
Most companies offer detailed monthly reports that cover changes in traffic, rankings, and conversions, among other things. Regular updates help you track your SEO progress and adjust your strategy.