Local Search Marketing FAQ

Local Search Marketing is a highly effective way of attracting motivated buying customers and putting them in front of your products and services. Most people, when looking for a product or service, want to find a local business to help them solve a problem. Attracting new business here means connecting with customers who are more likely to spend money with your business.

There are 2 types of local search queries. The first adds a geo-targeted location modifier (city, town or post/zip code). The second is an 'implicit local search' , the person does not use a location modifier, but the search engine assumes the search is local and uses information associated with their account, IP address, location or smartphone to return local results.

Claim and set up your business listings on Google Business Profile, Bing, Yelp, ZocDoc, Citysearch, Brownbook and up to 50 other online directories. Complete every section fully with the same information, paying particular attention to your Name, Address, Phone number (NAP), website URL and primary keywords. Add opening times, payment methods and photos.

It gets you found on page 1 in the local pack. No one else can hijack your web presence. You have full control over your brand, messages and content. It ensures search engines find the correct information about your business and deliver targeted results to your prospects. It improves your rank in SERPs and makes it easy for people to find your location.

Once we claim your Google Business Profile page, Google sends the business owner a postcard with a verification code. This can take 2–3 weeks to arrive by mail. Once we receive the code we can set your profile live. We also claim around 50 local business and niche listings, produce a video and claim your listing with two to four major data aggregators.

Three key components: (1) Accuracy of Data , consistent NAP and website across every listing; (2) A Complete Listing , every field filled, including videos, photos (named with keywords), opening times and descriptions; (3) Keep it Up to Date , fresh coupons, special offers, updated opening times and active review management.

Ask current happy customers for reviews. Provide a direct link to your listings. Request an ABC Review Strategy from us for a custom package targeting your top three review sites. Add review links to email signatures and autoresponders. Use social media to invite fans. Never create fake reviews , you will get caught and erode trust.

Yes. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube all have branding benefits for local SEO. Use your Facebook Page 'Contact Us' button and Appointment Scheduler. Post regularly with keywords, hashtags and location modifiers. YouTube is the second biggest search engine , upload videos with good descriptions, keywords and links back to your website. Share videos across your website, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

We specialise in local SEO and digital marketing for orthodontists, but we also build websites, produce video marketing and offer SEO services. We build sites with strong on-page SEO, hypnotic copy and conversion-focused layouts. Our video strategy sees clients dominating normal search results for major keywords. We set up and optimise social networks and build natural backlinks through directories, guest posts, press releases and outreach.

Traditional marketing , TV, radio, newspapers and paper directories , has dropped dramatically. Customers are online searching on desktops, smartphones, tablets and via voice. A responsive, mobile-friendly website with correct local search listings is the future. Targeted local mobile marketing has a high response rate and ROI.

SEO will work for any business, but expectations must match your niche. In low-competition markets, SEO can skyrocket results quickly. In saturated markets like finance or insurance, focus on specialised segments where big players are not placing emphasis. An experienced SEO expert can assess viability and give you a realistic roadmap.

Employ a content-driven strategy. Inundate your audience with relevant articles, tutorials and videos. Prospective clients will flock to you for answers on how to solve their problems. Search engines deem authority websites as the most helpful for their users.

SEO takes time. A new niche with weak competition can see results in 3–4 months. Saturated markets may take a year or more. Moving up the results and ranking for long-tail keywords builds your brand regardless. An experienced agency can give you a realistic timeframe based on case studies.

Packages range from a few hundred dollars per month for minimal intervention to several thousand dollars for challenging projects. The overlooked cost is the opportunity cost of not doing SEO , falling behind competitors in search has major consequences. With the right strategy and profit margin, SEO pays for itself.

Look for case studies and measurable results. An agency should be willing to show proof and let you speak with current clients. They should offer a clear roadmap, not inflated expectations. A complimentary consultation where you can ask questions and discuss needs is essential.

A specialised agency wins today. Search engines now use AI (like Google's BERT) to judge content relevance and user interaction. Technical aspects must be tailored to your orthodontic audience , from call-to-action placement to site speed. A specialised agency that knows orthodontists can plan design and implementation far better than a generalist.

Determine the lifetime value of a patient (average total revenue per patient). Subtract your cost per acquisition. Divide the result by your marketing spend and multiply by 100 for your ROI percentage. For example: $6,000 patient lifetime value minus $2,000 acquisition cost = $4,000 income. $4,000 ÷ $2,000 = 200% ROI. Four new clients per month at $500 acquisition cost each = 800% ROI.

Very important. Google ranks websites based on relevance and user interaction. A complete Google Business Profile with positive interaction reinforces your authority. Facebook and Yelp reviews also matter as social signals , they may not be make-or-break, but organic positive reviews certainly help.

Email marketing is highly effective. Building an email list lets you keep in touch with clientele, inform them of specials and share orthodontics best practices directly. Unlike Facebook , which limits organic reach , email lands directly in inboxes. Mailchimp is a good platform to start.

Find an agency with proven orthodontic case studies. Ensure they are HIPAA compliant. They should offer a complimentary consultation with a clear roadmap. The more versed they are in orthodontic SEO, the better your results will be.