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What is a "secure" website and does your practice need one?

Posted on 2/24/2017 by Wendy Hensley, Marketing Manager

Illustration of a secure dental website URL from WEO Media

There's been a lot of buzz lately about websites being secure and its relationship to search engine rankings. The incorrect assertion that is being circulated is that Google gives specific and significant preference to sites that are secure and therefore shows those websites higher in the listings.

Because of this, we've seen several companies using this information to scare dentists into unnecessary website redesigns. They are told they "have to have a secure site to be competitive" or even "Google did an annual check of your website and it isn't secure". The trick is geared to frighten the office into switching to the new vendor. This is not unlike the old trick that most every office has seen now where the vendor claims that your domain name is about to expire and only they can recover you registration. Fear is the motivator to bypass understanding and skip to incorrect action.

So, before you put money into that potentially costly effort, let's take a moment to understand what a secure website really is. Why does it matter to Google that your website is secure? And do you need a secure website to bring in new patients?

What does secure mean

When someone talks about a secure website, they're referring to the website being able to transmit data from the website to the user and vice versa using an encrypted secure socket layer (SSL). That's why some websites use https instead of simply http. The "s" stands for secure.

This is commonly seen with ecommerce websites. Credit card information is being transmitted back and forth between the website and the user so the connection between them must be secure. If it's not secure, the company is taking a huge risk that important information could be stolen during transmission.

What secure doesn't mean

A secure website doesn't mean it's immune to hackers or a wide variety of attacks. It only means that the information is protected during transmission from your computer to the server.

Having a website that's hardened against hackers requires effort at both the website level and the server level. At the website level it requires software and code updates, including plugins, scripts, and forms. At the server level, it requires the server to be protected by multi-layers of defenses. Some systems include the ability to identify and block hacks as soon as they come in including new ones that have not been seen in the past.

If someone is trying to tell you that your site isn't secure just because https isn't in use on your website and thus you're open for hackers, they likely are using a scare tactic to get you to take some action that is probably not in your best interest.

Do you need a secure site?

Because there's an additional layer of encryption on the web pages being transferred to and from secure sites, it's important to note that often they run slower than other websites. They can also cost more because you must pay for, install, and maintain a security certificate.

If you have a basic website without any sensitive patient health information (PHI), online submittal forms, or collection of payment information then you likely don't need a secure website for the purpose of encrypting sensitive data during transfer.

If you have a website with forms that transmit patient information from the website to your office, then you'll need to have some form of security in place. Often you can use applications that are secure and then won't need to make your entire website secure. That gives you the benefit of the security without the slowness on the rest of your pages.

Does Google care?

Google's long term goal is to have every website transmit data securely, which makes sense. To this end, Google cares strongly if you have an e-commerce website and are collecting credit card information. If your website is informational, they care very little. Google has stated that less than one percent of all websites rankings benefit comes from the website being secure. We expect this percentage to increase over time but your dental website rankings are not likely to go up or down based on having all pages on your website transmit securely over https.

What to do if you're concerned about hackers.

Make sure your website isn't built on open source platforms like WordPress. Remember that open source platforms have many people writing/coding/buying/using them but the plugins often aren't updated regularly leaving security holes that hackers can detect and exploit.

Make sure your marketing company is hosting your site on a server that has multi-level anti-hacking protections. For instance, on the WEO servers we use a combination of security hardware and software systems and have additionally developed multiple proprietary software systems to further identify, monitor and block potential and evolving hacking attacks in real time.

WEO Media is proud to have a robust content management system (CMS) that's tightly controlled and hosted within our own environment. Because of our attention to security at many levels, we have not experienced a single client website on the WEO system that's been successfully hacked. Although we defend against hundreds of attacks daily, sometime spiking into the thousands around holidays, we automatically shut down those threats and modify our protections as new threats evolve.

Learn more about our Secure Dental Websites

If you have questions about website security and would like to talk with one of our marketing experts, please contact us.

Marketing Services for Dentists & Dental Specialists

As leaders in our industry, we here at WEO Media can help you and your team navigate the intricate complexities surrounding today's dental marketing.

Dental Websites

Your dental website is the first impression your potential patients have of your practice, make sure that impression is the one you want to make.

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Dental SEO

When your business is at the top of Google’s search results, you should see a significant increase in website traffic.

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Dental PPC

Pay per click ads typically pop up at the top of search engine results pages and are an effective tool if you want to drive more traffic to your website.

Learn More about PPC

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Patient Pipeline

Optimize marketing efforts, increase practice revenue, and get higher returns on your investments.

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Reputation Management

Drive patient reviews to the most important online review sites for dentists: Google, Facebook, and Healthgrades.

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We will work with you to implement strategies designed to grow your followers, and ultimately grow your practice.

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Along with the basics, we also offer a wide-variety of additional marketing services. Some of these services include:

•	Credit Card Processing: We have partnered with an online credit card processing company to help your patients pay through your website. Our partnership also helps you save money with lower rates and transaction fees.
•	Dental Practice Photography: As we mentioned in a previous section, custom photography can help potential patients feel connected to your practice before their first appointment. If you need an experienced photographer to update your online photos, our team is here to help!
•	Direct Mail Campaigns: Believe it or not, direct mail campaigns are still a powerful promotional tool, especially for people that have just moved to your area. If you want to target this demographic, we can design a custom campaign tailored to your office and brand.
•	Email Based Newsletter for Patients: An electronic newsletter is one of the best ways to stay in touch with your current patients. We want to avoid the old adage, “out of sight, out of mind.” Staying visible with a newsletter can lead to more scheduled appointments and better patient loyalty.
•	Email Hosting: We offer email hosting to ensure your business email matches your website domain. A matching domain and email address is much more professional that using Yahoo, Gmail, or Hotmail.
•	Facebook Ads: Due to Facebook’s popularity, paid ads can be a fruitful way to generate new patients leads. Facebook ads are also unique in that they allow us to target your key demographic (with laser focus) based on age, gender, geographic location, relationship status, “likes,” education, job title, and other aspects.
•	Logo, Design, and Branding Services: Your logo and brand may be more important than you think. Talk with our design team to learn more about your possible options, whether you need a new logo or want to update an existing one.
•	Online Bill Pay: Much like our credit card processing, online bill pay makes it easier for your patients to pay for their treatments, especially if they need a payment program. We use the latest software and security measures to ensure a seamless billing process.
•	Patient Forms (Fillable PDF): A fillable PDF makes it easier for your patient to complete their paperwork before their first visit. This reduces your set-up time, allowing you to see more patients throughout the day.
•	Patient Forms (Secure Online): Secure online forms cut paperwork out altogether, meaning your staff will not have to waste time transferring the data to your computer system. It is also a more environmentally-friendly option, a nice selling point for patients that want to keep it green!

We Provide Real Results

WEO Media helps dentists in Portland, OR acquire new patients, reactivate past patients, and better communicate with existing patients. Our approach is unique in the dental industry. We work with you to understand the specific needs, goals, and budget of your practice and create a proposal that is specific to your unique situation.

+400%

Increase in website traffic.

+500%

Increase in phone calls.

$125

Patient acquisition cost.

20-30

New patients per month from SEO & PPC.

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Are you ready to grow your practice? Talk to one of our Senior Marketing Consultants to see how your online presence stacks up. No strings attached. Just a free consultation from experts in the industry.

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Why Choose WEO?

Not your Average Dental Marketing Agency

WEO Media specializes in dental marketing for dentists across the country, offering a comprehensive suite of services tailored specifically for you.

We have helped dental practices across the country enhance their online presence, attract new patients, and increase patient retention. We understand the unique challenges and opportunities within the dental industry. Our expertise in SEO, website design, and content marketing ensures that your practice is easily found online.

Ensure your practice remains competitive in an ever-evolving landscape, our commitment to innovation means your marketing efforts will always be cutting-edge.

At WEO we take the time to understand your practice's specific goals and tailor our marketing strategies to meet your needs. Whether you need a new website, social media management, reputation management, or pay-per-click advertising, WEO Media provides customized solutions that fit your needs and budget.

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WEO Media, 125 S. 1st Ave, P.O. Box 249, Hillsboro, OR 97123 • 888-788-4670 • weomedia.com • 2/6/2025 • Page Phrases: Dental Marketing •

What is a "secure" website and does your practice need one?

What does secure mean

What secure doesn't mean

Do you need a secure site?

Does Google care?

What to do if you're concerned about hackers.

Marketing Services for Dentists & Dental Specialists

Dental Websites

Dental SEO

Dental PPC

Patient Pipeline

Reputation Management

Social Media

More Services

Credit Card Processing:

Dental Practice Photography:

Direct Mail Campaigns:

Email Based Newsletter for Patients:

Email Hosting:

Facebook Ads:

Logo, Design, and Branding Services:

Online Bill Pay:

Patient Forms (Fillable PDF):

Patient Forms (Secure Online):