If you’re wondering how to set up GMB, then you’ve come to the right place.
Google My Business (GMB) plays a vital role in digital marketing for your dental practice. This is because most patients utilise search engines, such as Google to find dependable dentists in their regions.
The GMB profile establishes an online presence and provides prospective patients with all the information they need to get in touch with you. Additionally, a GMB profile also does wonders for your local SEO, as your GMB profile can boost the rankings of your website for local searches.
Benefits of Google My Business for dentists
Local businesses can significantly benefit from a Google Business profile. According to research, 84% of all local businesses that have a presence online are found using discovery searches. Most patients use their mobile devices to search for dentists near them. Therefore, your business needs to rank higher in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) to become apparent to the target demographic.
With a Google Business profile (GMB) set up, your local business can do just that. If you learn how to set up GMB correctly, you can not only help your patients easily find you online, but you can also invite more traffic to your website and establish your business in the digital world.
Additionally, a Google Business profile (GMB) can also deem your practice dependable in the eyes of the patients. However, you will need to perfect your profile to stay ahead of the competition to make this happen.
Essentially, your GMB profile includes your business hours, your working hours, and your business’s verified location. This information helps prospective patients easily discover where your practice is located. Additionally, the profile also helps boost your rankings for local searches. For instance, in local SEO, the GMB profile appears higher for specific keywords such as ‘dentists near me’.
In fact, according to HubSpot, 72% of consumers searching for local queries will visit a business within a 5-mile radius of their domiciled location
So, let’s take a look at how to set up GMB and perfect it effectively.
Setting Up GMB profile for your dental practice
Creating a GMB profile can quickly help your local business connect with your patients. The process for account creation is also quite simple. To create a Google Business Profile for your dental clinic, take the following steps.
- Visit the homepage of Google My Business (GMB)
- Log in with your personal or business email account to access your GMB account
- Click ‘Manage Now’
- Enter the name of your local business and claim it. However, if you cannot find your dental clinic, click on ‘add your business to Google’
Claiming your dental clinic on Google maps will help establish a reputation online, as this initiative can make your business appear professional and official on the search engine. The local SEO rankings will also be higher if your business is claimed and verified. This means more patients get to learn of your clinic and the services available there.
Building a profile
The first step in setting a GMB is building a profile. Once you claim your business, you will have to fill out a series of queries to submit more information about your dental practice. This will include your business name, the location, the type of dental practice you have (for instance, are you a family dentist, orthodontist, dental surgeon, etc.), and a link to your website.
After entering this information, Google will send a verification postcard to your clinic’s physical location with a verification code that you can use to complete the process.
It is important to note that when you are entering information about your local business, all the data must be coherent with the information on your website. Local SEO depends heavily on consistency, so make sure the business name, address, and phone number featured on your Google Business profile match precisely with your website and social media handles. Incorrect or missing information is one of the leading mistakes people make with GMB. So, ensure everything is filled out correctly.
Often, clinics make the mistake of using an incorrect address to broaden their targeted region. However, Google can detect this tactic and flag the profile for inaccuracy. This is bad for your online reputation and digital presence since Google may downplay your clinic in the search results, allowing your competitors to rank higher.
If there is inconsistency in the information presented, your business will suffer the consequences of lowered search result rankings.
How to set up GMB – Adding quality images
After creating a GMB listing for your dental practice, the next step is to optimise it. You can easily do this by adding professional photographs of your clinic. Taking this initiative will help you customise your listing and set yourself apart from the competition. This will also increase your clinic’s credibility, thus inviting more patients to visit your website and book appointments.
You can add various types of images to attract patients. For instance, you can feature appealing photos of your waiting rooms, friendly staff, high-tech equipment, and satisfied patients.
Replying to customer reviews
Another step you can take to improve your GMB profile is responding to customer reviews. Reviews are one of the most critical factors of Google’s business directory, as most patients select a dental practice after assessing their ratings. In addition, don’t forget to ask existing patients to leave a review.
According to research, 70% of all consumers will happily leave feedback if asked.
It is vital to give a cordial reply to both positive and negative reviews. In the case of the latter, it is best to resolve the patient’s complaint or concern. Therefore, you can log in to your GMB account to explore and offer an amicable response to each of your customer reviews.
You can also foster engagement with your GMG profile to increase your rankings. This can be done using the questions and answers feature to respond to patient concerns.
Add a Booking Feature
Google has also provided a booking feature to offer convenience to users in 2022. Now you can leverage this tool by allowing patients to directly schedule an appointment from your GMB profile without visiting the website. You will have to connect your profile with a booking provider to save your patients an extra click. However, this initiative can increase your online appointments.
Wrapping up
Now that you’ve learned how to set up GMB, you need to get the best out of your profile. One of the best ways to do this is to update it regularly. Consider creating engaging posts, adding new services, promotions, and events. With a GMB setup, you can increase traffic and rankings to your website, invite more patients, and ultimately, increase your overall revenue.
If you’re looking to leverage GMB for your dental clinic and need help, come and talk to Mediboost. As medical marketing experts, we’ll help you to create, perfect, and maintain your GMB profile, garner more leads, and convert them into patients. Call today on 1300 163 058 to schedule a consultation.
References
Bright Online – Google My Business Insights Study
https://www.brightlocal.com/research/google-my-business-insights-study
HubSpot – The Ultimate List Of Marketing Statistics in 2022
https://www.hubspot.com/marketing-statistics?hubs_post=blog.hubspot.com%2Fmarketing%2Flocal-seo-stats&hubs_post-cta=HubSpot%20Marketing%20Statistics&_ga=2.219158233.1970540613.1611851681-724872914.1600199875
SEM Rush – Are You Making These 9 Common GMB mistakes?
https://www.semrush.com/blog/are-you-making-these-8-common-google-my-business-mistakes
Search Engine Land – 70% of all Consumers Will Leave A Review For A Business If Asked
https://searchengineland.com/70-consumers-will-leave-review-business-asked-262802
