Dental SEO

Directories

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One of the first things a local SEO professional will talk about is directories. We want to quickly cover what they are, how they work, and why you need them, but first...

A Little Directory History


If you go back, way back, to the 80s, dentists will remember when the ADA said it was finally appropriate to do marketing. More specifically they permitted dentists to place a single AD in the Yellow Pages. This was highly effective, mostly because there was no other way to find a dentist at the time. It was like printing money. A single $25 listing would generate all the business a dentist would ever need.


Ultimately the purpose of directories is for you to get new patients, so that you can make money and justify the cost of marketing.


The Early Days of Internet Marketing


When people were signing up in droves for AOL, if you could get a listing in DMOZ, it was similar to placing an AD in the Yellow Pages. Once in DMOZ you would show up on every search engine. It was the only place online where this type of data was aggregated.

Data Aggregators


Back in the days of DMOZ, data aggregators were offline curators of mailing and telemarketing lists. For about $100 you could get a confirmed list of 1000 businesses or people who you could market to. Since then they have moved to the internet and found more and more ways to gather, curate, and distribute this data.

Nowadays, data aggregators are integral to the directory world. They provide the foundation of data that all directories start from. There are a lot of directory management services out there, and they all connect with the four major data aggregators (Factual, Foursquare, Infogroup & Localeze) to get your data out there.

How to Get Your Data Out There


The usual process is you submit your data to a service (your agency usually does this) who then pushes it to the four major data aggregators. These aggregators will collect this data over the course of a month. This data is then processed over the next month and made part of their primary database. The primary database is then accessed by directories periodically, as often as a month or as infrequent as a year depending on what the directory pays for access. All this to say it can take a 60 to 90 days just to get your data out there.

Directories


Let’s get to the actual directories, where prospective patients can find you. Directories are online websites with lists of businesses that people can search. There is a whole ecosystem of directories and naturally Google is at the top. This is followed by Yelp, Bing, Yahoo, and for doctors & medical professionals you have Healthgrades.

Directory Tiers


There are a few levels of directories:
•  Google, Yelp, Bing & Yahoo
•  Semi-Relevant Specialty Directories –
•  Healthgrades, 1800Dentist, etc.
•  Hyper Local Directories –
•  Usually tied to local newspapers, radio or TV Stations.
•  Spam Directories –
•  Some folk tryin to make a buck.

Top Tier Directories


The top tier of directories actively update their data and tend to be as much a source for data as a directories. They command so much attention from the market that businesses will actively update their information directly on the directory’s platform. They can also act like an aggregator with APIs to query their data.
Graphic of multiple SEO directories


Specialty Directories


These companies focus on a specific business vertical to make themselves more relevant to searches about the vertical they support. Do a search for a doctor and you might see their Healthgrades profile in the search. Have a Healthgrades profile? Link it to your website and it will be more relevant for the types of search your profile shows up in.

Hyperlocal Directories


This is a real grab-bag of websites that might be relevant for your city. If you see one of them coming up in searches for businesses in your city, it might be worthwhile to sign up.

Google is a Directory


They’re the most-searched search engine. Go, sign up for Google My Business, do all the things they ask. They require you verify that you own the listing and they will be most confident in the data you provide manually. If you do nothing else online, do this.

Reviews


Oh yeah, reviews are good too. Check out our video on our Online Review Generation service.

This is a lot of things.


We get it. There is a lot to this directory thing. Some things are easy, some are hard, and your time is better spent on production. If you want all the things, but you don’t want to spend all the time, give WEO Media a call today. Directory optimization is a standard part of our Premium SEO Services. Our SEO experts didn’t research this article, they lived it, and if you want that kind of expertise WEO Media is for you.
Dental Marketing in Action at WEO Media


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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.


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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.


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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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Social Media


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



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!
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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.




Schedule a consultation that works for you


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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Directory Optimization for Dentists: Boost Your Local SEO Rankings
Maximize your dental practice’s online presence with directory optimization. Learn about top directories, data aggregators, and improving local SEO rankings.
WEO Media, 125 S. 1st Ave, P.O. Box 249, Hillsboro, OR 97123, 888-788-4670, weomedia.com, 12/13/2024, Related Terms: Dental Marketing,