How to Get Your Dental Practice to the Top of Google Maps

When someone searches "dentist near me," Google shows a map with three practices above the regular results. Getting into those three spots is the most useful local search goal a practice can have. Nobody can promise you a position, but these steps are the ones that count.

1. Claim and fill out your Google Business Profile

This is the listing that appears on the map. Claim it at business.google.com, then complete every field:

• Name. Your real practice name only. Adding keywords to it can get the profile suspended.
• Category. "Dentist" as the main one, plus others that fit, such as Cosmetic Dentist or Emergency Dental Service.
• Address, phone and hours. Keep hours current, holidays included.
• Services. List each one with a short description.
• Description. Up to 750 characters in plain words.
• Photos. Real ones of the outside, the waiting room, the treatment rooms and the team.

2. Make your name, address and phone number match everywhere

Write them the same way on your website, your Google profile, Yelp, Healthgrades, Facebook, Apple Maps and Bing. "123 Main St" in one place and "123 Main Street" in another can make it harder for Google to tell it is the same business, so pick one wording and use it everywhere.

3. Ask every patient for a review

Aim for a steady flow of new reviews, so make asking routine.

• Ask in person at checkout.
• Text the direct link to your Google review form after the visit.
• Reply to every review, good or bad, and never argue in public.
• Never buy reviews. Google removes them and can suspend the listing.

My Growth plan includes automated review request texts. It is $2,997 to set up and $497 a month, month to month with 30 days' notice.

4. Make your website say where you are

Google reads your website along with your profile. Put your city in the page titles and main headings, embed a map on the contact page, and make sure the site works on a phone. If you serve more than one town, add a page for each with its own content, not the same page with the city name swapped.

5. Keep the site fast

Google has said page speed is a ranking factor, and phone users on cellular data have little patience. Check your mobile score at PageSpeed Insights. My target for a new site is 90 or higher.

6. Get listed on other sites

List the practice in dental directories, your chamber of commerce and your city's business directory. A link from a local team you sponsor or a local news story also helps, because it shows you are part of the community.

7. Post to your profile every week

You can post offers, team news and seasonal reminders directly on your Google profile. It keeps the listing looking active.

Where to start

None of this works alone. A slow site with mismatched listings and no new reviews will not be fixed by one step. Begin with your profile and your review habit, then work down the list. To see where your own site stands, run the free audit.