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7 Problems Dentists Face with Google My Business Posted by Tyson Downs on 9/15/14 4:51 PM Find me on: Google My Business, formerly Google Places, is a program designed to allow businesses to create a comprehensive presence across platforms that Google users prefer, including Google+, Google Maps, and of course, the search engine itself. In short, it offers myriad ways for your dental practice to be found with minimal effort. And it can not only provide links to your dental website which can drive traffic to your site, but also: one-click calling options, directions to your location, and other ways to reach you, but Google My Business also offers satisfied patients the opportunity to endorse your practice, share your content, and post ratings and reviews pertaining to your profile. It's like one-stop shopping for any dentist looking to move beyond the realm of
dental websites, expand an online presence, and find new ways to connect with prospective patients. Unfortunately, there is a bit of a learning curve associated with using this platform. If you haven't used Google Places in the past and you're new to the concept of Google My Business, there are a few blunders you'll want to avoid in order to make the most of your experience. Here are some problems you may face along the way, as well as how to avoid them.
1. Not claiming your listing The solution here is simple: claim your listing. You may have a pretty full plate, what with pressing concerns like dental website design, dental SEO, and social media profiles occupying your time. And you certainly don't have time to sign up for every service that could potentially benefit your business. But Google is the most used search engine by a large margin, and solidifying your presence on this platform is of the utmost importance. So even if all you do is input pertinent contact information, you're a step ahead of where you were because you've made it easier for consumers to find you via Google. Of course, it's in your best interest to put some time and effort into learning how to manage the tools provided through Google My Business in order to connect with current and prospective patients. But at the very least, you cannot allow your listing to go unclaimed.
2. Spamming your listing with tons of keywords Utilizing keywords for the benefit of your business is a mixed bag. On the one hand, you want to keep up with relevant and trending keywords so as not to give your competitors the edge.
But any time you over-burden a profile with keywords, you risk raising the ire of search bots (not the best idea when operating on a Google platform) and raising the eyebrows of visitors. The savvy search crowd knows keyword-stuffing when they see it. Instead, add keywords in moderation and change up your content frequently to reflect the latest trends and to stay on top of desired searches.
3. Not following best practices If you know anything at all about Google, you know they are big believers in guidelines for use of their products. And Google My Business is no exception. So if you want to remain in compliance and enjoy the advantages that come with claiming and managing your listing, you need to be aware of related best practices. Here are a few guidelines you'll want to adhere to: - Own or operate the listing you claim - Use your exact business name and location - Add appropriate descriptors - Create one listing per business, regardless of the number of locations - Select the appropriate category for your business type - Avoid illegal activities (including fraud) when using Google My Business There are other guidelines pertaining to specific business types, promotions, and so on, but you get the basic idea. If you want to enjoy a successful partnership with Google and connect with their many users, following their stated guidelines is in your best interest.
4. Not keeping up to date on Google guidelines In case you didn't know, Google is notorious for changing their guidelines. Anyone who does SEO for dentists can no doubt regale you with horror stories about changing algorithms. For this reason, it's important to check in frequently to make sure you are aware of the latest Google My Business guidelines pertaining to membership with Google My Business. Unless you want to risk penalties or even delisting, the onus is on you to make sure that your business profile conforms to the most current standards and practices.
5. Not setting up a review funnel
Regardless of the platform you use to reach customers, from dentist websites and blogs tohttp://titanwebagency.com/industries-served/healthcare-professionals/, you'll want to begin the process by setting goals and figuring out how to reach them. But you also need to use analytics to track how various strategies are performing, and when it comes to Google My Business, this means setting up a review funnel that follows how users navigate your layout and reach the desired endpoint, whatever that may be. If you fail to understand how and why users are doing what you want (or not doing it, as the case may be), you can't hope to improve performance.
6. Thinking of it as "set it and forget it" When you create the content for your dentist website, chances are you won't have to update it very often since your basic information is unlikely to change significantly. Your blog is the exact opposite. While websites for dentists can remain fairly static, blogs must be updated constantly. And your social media platforms fall into the latter camp. Google My Business is like a combination of the two. You might mistakenly believe that setting up your account requires little more than a one-time data dump into the system. But if you want to make the most of this platform and continue connecting with customers, you're going to have to post, monitor, and reply, keeping the lines of communication with customers open.
7. Not interacting with status updates, pictures, videos, etc.
The beauty of social platforms is that they provide nearly unlimited opportunities to connect with and engage prospective patients. But you really have to keep the lines of communication open and make the experience personal if you want to retain followers. This requires at least a modicum of effort, and it begins with keeping platforms, including Google My Business, updated. Whether you're posting content like pictures and videos or offering discounts, deals, and giveaways, staying in touch is the best strategy for getting the most out of any social networking opportunity. Learn How to Get Google to Love Your Business, And Have It Show in the Search Results! Topics: Local SEO inShare8