Why Isn’t My New Dental Website Ranking On Google?

So you just got your domain and launched your first website. It’s clean, comprehensive, and boy is it a looker. But when you type in your practice name on Google, your practice isn’t showing up. It can be frustrating to launch a new website and not instantly see results.

So, what should you expect when your new dental website launches? How long will it take for your website to show up when you search for your practice name on Google? And how long will it take for you to start ranking for those high volume keywords? We’ll answer all of these questions and more. Are you ready? Let’s dive in.

The Truth Behind Dental SEO

While we often talk about Google changing constantly, the truth is that Google’s search algorithm is often very cautious when it comes to change. Google values sites that have a history, and the age of a website domain can often be an overlooked factor when it comes to ranking. So, much like the new business on the block that has to win the trust of clients who will ask themselves; “Will this business stick around or is it a flash in the pan?”, Google will watch your new website build up trust before it will jump you over more established credible resources.

Google’s cautious nature can be frustrating, but it’s a trait you should embrace. Let’s pretend to fast forward two years from now. Your website has been owning top spots for high volume keywords for a while, traffic is sky high, and you’re getting more new patient calls than ever. It didn’t all happen at once, but you invested in growing your online clout and now you're reaping the rewards. Then suddenly, a new practice opens down the street and their brand new websites replaces yours in search results in just a few days. Does this seem fair? Would you feel that Google is ill advised to trust such a new business with no online reputation to speak of? Probably. Having insight on Google’s ranking tactics can give you a better understanding of what you can expect once your dental SEO strategy launches.

What Should You Expect

It usually takes between 4 - 8 weeks for your website to start showing up when you search for your practice name. Take a look at the other websites you need to jump over- Yelp, Facebook, Patientconnect360. These are all very credible domains that have been around for a while. Give it a few weeks, and Google will realize that your new website is the official online home for your practice and you’ll start climbing the ranks.

Okay, but what about non branded keywords? When will you start showing up for “dentist near me”? Every market is different, so there is no way to guarantee a timeline. That being said, websites built by Wonderist can expect to see keywords ranking on page one after three to six months of a dedicated Search Engine Optimization campaign, but keep in mind that this amount of time may not guarantee a number one ranking. 

How Does Google Work?

Google’s algorithm to analyze and rank websites changes constantly. It prefers older domains, domains with core keywords in them (i.e. sandiegodentist.com), a consistent flow of unique content, deep sites with pages written specifically about the services and topics you want to rank for, users that engage with websites by visiting multiple pages and taking time to read the content, and offsite factors like good reviews, built out listings, and good backlinks. 

Why Do the Ranking Results I See In My Report Differ From What I See On My Phone?

Google is hyper local, and ranking results can change from block to block. If you Google “Best Burgers” on one side of town you can expect to see different results on the other side of town. The reports we share measure your practice from a single point close to your practice that may or not be where you are actually located. We do have more advanced tools that let us see how you’re ranking in a specific location on a more granular level. Here is a screenshot to show you  how rankings can change as you move around your town. Each dot represents a half mile.

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Okay, so we are using a bunch of crazy new terms. Does it sound like a boat load of jargon? Let’s break it down.

The Dental SEO Basics

Dental SEO can be complex, but having a grasp on the basics can help you better understand how our team will provide the best SEO plan for your practice’s site.

• Older Website Domain - Your domain is your website’s address, and Google prefers when its been around for a while. Why? Because older domains have had more time to establish a relationship and build a stronger reputation with Google, making them more likely to rank. It’s similar to how us humans evaluate our relationships - we prefer people with a track record in our lives that we know well as opposed to new acquaintances.
  
  If you’re a scratch practice or planning on rebranding, chances are you’re in need of a brand new domain. But don’t worry, our team has tricks up their sleeves to help your new site establish a relationship with Google early on, so your website has the potential to rank well once your practice opens or rolls out new branding. 
  

• Content Deliverables - A great website isn’t static - it’s constantly providing resources to help your potential patients out. Our Growth SEO Package provides 500 words of original, SEO-optimized content about the topics your patients are searching for, so you can sit back, relax, and watch your site grow.
  

• Optimized Service Pages - Let’s pretend you’re a cosmetic dentist in San Diego. We’d want to make sure your site includes pages that outline each of your cosmetic services, specifically for your target market. Sounds easy, right? Not necessarily. Many dentists run into problems trying to rank for lots of different keywords clumped all on one page. Google prefers sites with individual landing pages focused on each keyword. Trying to rank for different neighborhoods by stuffing all the names on the homepage isn’t as effective as having a landing page that explains about how the practice serves each one. The more specific we can target your market (even down to the neighborhood), and the more thorough and lengthy each service page is, the more likely your site is to rank for those service-specific keywords.
  

• Headers, Title Tags, and your URL - Have you ever noticed the descriptive text that appears on your browser’s title bar?
• Header:
  

• Title Tag:
  

• URL:

• That’s your header, title tag, and URL - and making sure they’re keyword optimized is vital in boosting your page’s chances of ranking. All of our SEO packages optimize your entire website for your practice name, market and specific services. Nice!

• No Index Code & Google’s Search Console - Removing your No Index Code and submitting it to Google’s Search Console allows Google to “see” your page, analyze it, and make a decision on where it wants to rank you on its search results. 
  

Still sounds confusing? That’s where we come in.

Let’s Get Your Dental Website SEO Started

One could compare the Wonderist SEO action plan to an in-office whitening treatment. Sure, you could buy the kit from a trendy Instagram influencer or at your local CVS. But will the results come even close to a whitening treatment from an experienced team of professionals? Hardly. Our team is here to help you climb the ranks and get your site where you need it to be.

How Wonderist Could Help Propel Your Practice’s SEO

Launching a new website is often not enough to push you to the top of Google. Your new website should be able to get you to rank for your own branded keywords, but additional work will be needed to help it climb over other more established websites to get to the top. Our in-house team of SEO experts understands what it takes to rank your website for valuable keywords, and combines onsite and offsite dental SEO strategies to ensure your practice's website is in the best position to rank in your market. Maybe your practice has never taken a dive into SEO and needs help targeting a smaller market. Or perhaps your practice is located in a competitive market and could use a more aggressive strategy. At Wonderist, we provide a multitude of SEO packages to fit your market, your practice, and your needs- and best of all, our team is available to provide insight and clarity as your site embarks on its SEO journey.

Interested in Learning More? 

Interested in building a new website for your practice and want a SEO plan to help get more traffic and phone calls?  Schedule time with Forrest today to learn more!

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