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What's going on with SEO in 2022?

Posted on 7/25/2022 by Ralph Reynolds

As a Client Success Managers at WEO Andy and I see all the reports that go out for my teams, we have many conversations with clients about how their SEO is doing, and what we are hearing is new patients are down for all dentists, everywhere.

This is not something we take lightly at WEO. We have had many conversations with my team on what they think is going on. We talk to the Business Development team about what is going on in the industry. We talk to the Marketing Team about what's going on in the country. We look at the raw data for hundreds of clients and most importantly, we watch Google to see how they behave. Here are the primary factors we see affecting new patients in Q2 2022:

Google's Vicinity Update

In early 2021 we started seeing movement in how people were ranking. Their websites were showing up in less searches, but the website traffic and phone calls remained the same. Looking deeper we saw generic phrases like dentist, cosmetic dentist, and dental implants dropping, but localized versions of the same improving (ie. dentist portland, cosmetic dentist houston, and dental implants charleston). Google was moving businesses out of national search and giving them more clout in local search.

This trend continued through 2021 and in December Google announced the Vicinity update which they described as affecting the same things I mentioned above. Additionally, they took away value for having keywords in your business name and considered your proximity to related businesses.
More recently we have seen Google "spreading the love" to businesses that might not be spending as much energy marketing online by rotating their business into higher ranks on Google Maps from time to time. This has caused a general drop in the average number of searches all local businesses show up in as well as visitors to websites.

Covid's Affect on Dental Offices

We have a vaccine and people are getting it, however Covid cannot be ignored as a factor in new patients. Self-reporting and public testing are way down, but a rather silent section of disease monitoring has spoken up to tell us about viruses in our wastewater. The numbers found in wastewater across the nation shows we are doing nearly as bad as the last big peak. The virus load peaked in Jan'22 and has been constantly higher than any other peak since May. It's probably why you hear that everyone has Covid these days.

The Recession

So many factors to think about here. OPEC lowering production to keep global oil prices high; contributing to record inflation that makes cost of living high; increased corporate investment in current housing stock contributing to high house prices; people priced out of houses making the demand and price for rentals high; and a war with Ukraine who produces 40% of the world's wheat threatening food shortages. So many things, one general outcome: recession.

So what does it all mean?

The Google Update, the Covid, and the Recession are all contributing to consumer behavior. The global search volumes are still higher than ever so that means people are searching. Website traffic is either level or down on average, so people are still going to websites. Phone calls from websites are down, so people aren't calling. Dentists are reporting 50-75% of their normal new patient flow meaning that even though people are interested, searching, and visiting websites, they're not calling and scheduling appointments. They're afraid to spend money.

WEO Media continues to do work to keep our dentists at the top of search whether the consumers are willing to become new patients or not. We are always adapting to the market and when people feel comfortable spending money again, your websites will be where consumers can see them.

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.

Find out if Patient Pipeline is right for you

Reputation Management

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

Boost your Online Reviews

Social Media

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

Put your socials to work

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Scheduling

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: 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!
•	Patient Education Videos: What's the best way to make sure a patient follows through on treatment recommendations? Make sure they have the information they need to understand the benefits of dental treatments offered by your practice.
•	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 across the country 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 SW 171st Ave, Beaverton, OR 97006; 888-246-6906; weomedia.com; 6/6/2025

What's going on with SEO in 2022?

Google's Vicinity Update

Covid's Affect on Dental Offices

The Recession

So what does it all mean?

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:

Patient Education Videos:

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):