Is Google My Business (GMB) all that important when it comes to marketing your practice? Consider this, recent studies show that 86% of online customers use Google to find a local business.
If your Google My Business page isn’t properly optimized, you could be missing out on 86% of the potential patients who search for you – and that’s pretty significant. So, yes, Google My Business is important when it comes to marketing your orthodontic practice.
The best part is – GMB is free to use, and can reach hundreds (if not thousands) of potential patients in your area. If you’re not taking advantage of Google My Business features, your practice is missing out.
Here are 4 essential Google My Business tips to help orthodontists use this valuable platform to its fullest potential:
1. Claim your business listing.
The first, most important Google My Business tip is claiming your business listing. When you “claim” your Google My Business page, it means you become the owner of the page and have the ability to edit any business information, respond to reviews, and post promotional and/or informational content to the listing.
To claim your practice’s business listing, you will need to verify your practice address and/or phone number to prove legitimate ownership – then you’re free to manage your business listing (or better yet, have your partners at eNox Media manage it.)
2. Make sure all business information is accurate.
Your Google My Business page may be the first thing your prospective patients see when they search for you, or for an “orthodontist near me.” The last thing you want is to direct your (could-have-been) new patient to a disconnected number. Is your practice website linked correctly? Is your practice address correct?
If you’re wondering how to optimize Google My Business, it’s critical to first ensure your key business information is accurate. Inaccurate information and/or disconnected phone lines or website links can lead Google to believe that your business isn’t legitimate, which can decrease your rankings and lower your online visibility.
Having an outdated business listing is also likely to drive your could-have-been new patients directly to a competing practice’s doorstep.
3. Put your best foot forward – images, information, description, and all.
Think of your Google My Business page as the first impression you make on your prospective patients – similar to your website. In fact, you should treat every part of your online presence – website, social media pages, GMB listing – as if it’s the first impression you’ll make on a new patient.
Put your best foot forward and give them a reason to choose your practice. The images your practice uses to showcase your office can have a significant impact on how new patients perceive you. Opt for high-resolution photos that show the warmth and cleanliness of your office.
Prospective patients want to feel comfortable choosing your practice – and a grainy, dim-lit pic of your practice’s side door won’t achieve this. If there’s one thing you should invest in for your practice, it’s good quality images. You don’t need a professional photographer to make this happen either; most iPhones and Android cameras produce the quality you need!
Make sure that the first picture displayed on your Google My Business page is a good representation of your practice, in case that’s the only place your prospective patient uses to look for you. We can develop a strategy to help you represent your practice in a professional, inviting light.
4. Take advantage of all Google My Business features.
Google My Business is completely free, so you might as well use all of its features, maximize your online visibility, and give your practice the best chance at securing a new patient.
When updating business information, fill out as many fields as possible. Many businesses neglect these fields: services, hours, appointment links, and business description. Why not take every chance to connect with a potential patient and answer their questions?
List all of your services; ensure that your hours are listed and accurate; link your website’s appointment request form, and tell potential patients what your practice is all about. Add your mission statement or the reason your practice is unique.
“Posts” is another underrated feature of Google My Business. This section allows you to post relevant content to your business listing. When a user searches for your practice, they’ll see your recent posts and any promotions you add to your listings. Posting once per week on your GMB is not only another opportunity to engage potential patients, it has also shown to improve local search rankings.
You can add posts that link back to your website and promote recent offers – for free. See? Underrated.
Have eNox Media manage your Google My Business page.
Partnering with eNox Media is hands-down the #1 way to get the most out of your Google My Business page. We’ve been doing this for a while, so we know what works, which strategies produce the best results, and which routes are the most cost-effective.
We’ll develop a custom plan that allocates your marketing budget into channels that generate the type of results you’re looking for. You tell us your short term and long term goals, and we develop a plan that gets you there.
Let’s start with a complimentary discovery session to see if we’re the right fit for each other. We’ll tell you what we can do for you, and you tell us any challenges you currently have with your marketing efforts. We’ll go from there!
