Dental hygienist: Our tips to boost your visibility!

In an era where patients increasingly turn to online solutions to choose their healthcare professionals, it is now essential to take care of your image and visibility on the Internet.

Whether you’ve been practicing for several years or are just starting out as an independent or employed dental hygienist, here’s a quick guide to boost your online visibility and attract new patients.

Enhance your local visibility with Google and online directories

Our first piece of advice: master your local visibility! Patients often look for a dental hygienist close to their home. And to find one, it’s highly likely they’ll start with a Google search! To maximize your chances of appearing at the top of the search results, we suggest two tips.

1. Create a Google Business Profile

By creating your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) with your contact details, hours, services, and photos of your practice, you increase your chances of appearing first in Google search results and on Google Maps. A complete Google Business Profile gives legitimacy to your dental practice, making Google more likely to promote it.

Moreover, having a Google profile gives you access to several benefits. For instance you’ll be listed on Google Maps for patients looking for hygienists nearby.

You’ll also benefit from a review system where your patients can leave feedback, enhancing your credibility and encouraging new patients to choose you. In fact, 47% of people surveyed find Google reviews more reliable than recommendations from friends or family! We previously covered how to manage your online reviews effectively in another article.

Lastly, your profile allows you to display your hours and provides access to statistical tools to track interactions with your profile.

2. Use an online appointment booking platform like OneDoc

To take it further, consider registering with an online appointment booking platform. This has two main advantages: increased visibility and a streamlined experience for your patients.

Your OneDoc profile page is highlighted in search engines. By filling out your information, experience, and services, you are more likely to appear in search results. Try it out! Search for a colleague’s name — if they use OneDoc, chances are they’ll appear among the top results.

Additionally, our dedicated team helps you create a personalized profile. We’ll highlight your areas of expertise and give you tips to optimize your profile for the best possible search rankings!

Create your own dental hygienist website to boost visibility

To strengthen your online presence and inform your patients, a website is a valuable tool, especially if you aren’t listed in online directories. Moreover, a website offers several advantages:

SEO and visibility: The better your site is optimized with relevant keywords about your profession, the more likely you are to appear in top search results. This solid digital presence helps attract new patients.
All your info in one place: A website provides a personalized space where you can detail your services, specialties, share oral hygiene tips, and enhance your SEO.

Solutions like WordPress make website creation affordable, even if you choose to outsource the task. Plus, you can easily integrate online appointment booking with a widget to simplify the patient experience.

Use social media to strengthen your presence across channels

To increase your visibility, consider maintaining a presence on social media. It’s an easy and cost-effective way to get known. You can learn more about social networks suitable for healthcare professionals in our article, but here’s a quick overview of useful platforms:

LinkedIn: The go-to professional network. On your profile, showcase your background, degrees, and specialties. LinkedIn helps you connect with other healthcare professionals, share relevant articles, and enhance your professional image.
Instagram: Create a page for your practice. Share detailed information about your services, working hours, and feature photos of your clinic and staff to give a more human touch to your practice. A regularly updated page reassures patients by providing an accessible source of information.

Bonus tip: Engage with your community!

Taking a moment to respond to a message or comment shows your availability and dedication to patient relationships. This simple gesture can be a decisive factor when patients choose their healthcare professional.

Polish your online presence and grow your client base!

In an increasingly digital world, your online presence makes all the difference! Optimizing your local visibility, creating social media profiles, building a solid website, and leveraging platforms like OneDoc are complementary strategies that will help you attract and retain patients.

By investing a bit of time in your digital presence, you’ll gain visibility and credibility, ultimately contributing to the growth of your dental hygienist practice.