Seven Steps To Increased Traffic

Monday, June 23, 2008 — HIGHLANDS RANCH, COLORADO — Dental practices that are new to the Internet often assume that once they have a Web site, their work is done and visitors will miraculously find them on the Internet.

In fact, once a Web site has launched, that is when the true work begins, said Sinai Marketing Founder and President Ali Husayni, a search engine optimization expert.

Here are some dentistry Web site marketing tips for ensuring your site generates traffic and, more importantly, new patients:

Choose Your Domain Name Wisely

Ideally, a domain name should be short and easily remembered, Husayni said. Who wants to type in www.northpalmbeachcountycosmeticdentist.com every time they want to visit their dentist’s Web site?

“I recommend starting with your name,” Husayni said.

For example, if you are Scott Smith, a cosmetic dentist whose practice is in North Palm Beach County, try to secure the domain name www.scottsmith.com.

Keep domain names simple and easy to remember.

Make Sure Your Site Addresses Your Visitors’ Needs

Are you a cosmetic dentist who specializes in porcelain veneers? Then be sure to include information about the process. In this day and age, people do their research online before selecting a dentist to perform a service. You need to be the one to provide the information they want, Husayni said.

Effectively Design Pages Let’s face it: it takes more than good looks to get your foot in the door on the Internet, and a Web site that looks pretty but takes a century to load will only frustrate visitors. An effective Web page design must:

• Load quickly
• Be easy to navigate
• Have headlines and subheads that grab the reader’s attention
• Have appropriate, professional graphics
• Make information easy for visitors to find

Target Directories And Search Engines Search engines and directories such as Google, Yahoo! and Open Directory are huge generators of Web traffic. Small, specialized directories also can help guide traffic to your site. Using keywords that apply to your Web pages, search these engines and directories to see which Web sites appear first. You want your Web site to be on the first page of organic search engine results.

It’s also a good idea to periodically check major search engines- Google, Yahoo! and MSN- to make sure they are current. When you add new pages to your site, notify the search engines via your site map.

“Search engines have very specific guidelines to site maps, and this must be taken into consideration,” Husayni said. “The best thing to do is to consult an SEO firm for assistance.”

Market Your Web Site Off-Line

Even though the world is on the Internet these days, a dental practice still prints business cards, letterhead, invoices and brochures. Putting your Web address on all printed materials can draw traffic to your site, Husayni said.

Create an e-Newsletter

If you want patients to return to your Web site and refer friends and family to your practice, an e-newsletter can be an effective tool in that process, Husayni said.

One way to develop a mailing list for distributing e-newsletters is to provide a way for patients to subscribe to the online publication by visiting your Web site.

“People like to visit Web sites when they frequently post new information,” he said. “An e-newsletter can provide that information, and also provide an easy way for patients to forward it to friends and family who might be in search of a dentist.”

Search Engine Optimization

Nearly all of these tips involve a need for adequate search engine optimization. While SEO techniques can be learned over time, there are SEO professionals who can do the work for you.

“This still is a continuously growing and changing field,” Husayni said. “In most cases, it’s better to go with an SEO expert who remains up to date on the changes and the latest techniques.”

A good SEO marketing firm should be able to guarantee results and offer a free analysis of an existing site, he said.

Learn More

If you are a dentist or dental professional who would like to learn more about SEO for your Web site or you would like a free analysis performed to see how a SEO expert might assist in marketing your site, call Sinai Marketing toll free: 877-932-6559, or (303)-932-6559 for international callers. Or visit the Sinai Marketing Web site: dental.sinaimarketing.com.

About Sinai Marketing

Sinai Marketing is a search engine positioning firm that utilizes knowledge of the Internet market and ongoing research to develop and implement search engine positioning strategies for its clients. Ali Husayni created the Sinai Marketing firm, based in Highlands Ranch, Colo., in 2004. Husayni serves as the firm’s chief executive officer and search engine positioning expert.

© 2008 Sinai Marketing. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links.
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