I’ll Say It Again. Listen Carefully! Content Is King!

Posted on July 9, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

How to get to #1 on Google in 2 days – no kidding!

Google-loves-great-content

When it comes to Google search results supremacy, it seems everyone is looking for a gimmick… a way to game the system… tricking Google into listing their website on the first page.  The SEO experts who sell their services to dentists promise that they hold the key.  All you have to do is commit to a monthly service fee, and they’ll take care of the rest.  I’m not opposed to having an SEO on retainer.  But, I’m here to tell you that you can’t just write a check and be good-to-go.

They’ll also tell you that Google is always changing (true), so you have to always be… well… writing them a check (maybe true).  I’m NOT suggesting that your SEO or webmaster isn’t earning his or her keep.  Maybe they are.  Maybe they aren’t.  But, they may be constantly “optimizing” a website that basically sucks.  “Polishing a turd,” as it were.  And, if your website’s content sucks…  then your website is a turd, no matter how well your SEO “optimizes” it every month.

I want my SEO – Patients for nothin’ and my clicks for free…

(Hat tip to Dire Straits and Sting)

Even if your SEO somehow manages to get your site listed well, even with bad content, the HUMAN visiting the site will not likely convert into a patient.

Ever since I’ve been marketing myself online (since 1999) and sharing what I’ve learned, Continue reading →

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Another Silly Cold Caller – by Email

Posted on July 8, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

I just got an email today from a firm that does SEO for dental websites.

Dear Dr. Mike,
Kindly take thirty seconds to pull up Google and search for a Dentist in (my town). Do you see how Dr. Mike XXXXX, Dr. Jamie XXXXX, Dr. Hugh XXXXXXX and others are capitalizing on your practice not being listed as one of the “Red Bubble” Google+ listings on the first page?   My Company works with dentists to help build their online presence and get them first page listings on Google.  We are affordable, we don’t bind you into a contract and we guarantee our results. If you are interested, send me an email back and I’ll send you the details.

Here’s the funny part.  Continue reading →

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Treachery. Trickery. Subterfuge. Solicitors will do anything.

Posted on July 3, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

angry callerI expect that all of us have had solicitors call our offices and trick the front desk into putting the call through to us (the doctor).  They’ll say just about anything… even claiming to be the doctor’s personal friend.  I’ve had them pretend to be my accountant among other things.

Fortunately, my office manager is a sharp cookie.  Nobody gets through without fully divulging who they are and their purpose for calling.

Today, we got a new one.  And, my Google-fu has failed me in terms of figuring out which stupid company it was this time.

A woman called, claiming to be “Veronica” from Dr. John Base’s office in San Francisco.  (My office manager makes everyone spell their name as she writes it down.)  Veronica said that I called them and they were returning my call regarding some patients Dr. Base wanted to refer to me.  My office manager put “Veronica” on hold and asked me if I knew anything about the call.

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Do you know a Dr. John Base?  Continue reading →

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Dressing Up Your QR Code

Posted on June 24, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

You’ve probably seen these funny looking squares around.  They can be scanned with a cell phone to take the user to a website, Youtube video, review site, brochure, or other media.  I’m still not convinced QR codes have caught on in the U.S.  But, I have a QR code on my practice  business card.  I figure it can’t hurt.  It doesn’t take up much space.  If I was running print ads, I’d use a QR code there, too.

Recently, I’ve seen QR codes that were fancied up with logos.  I checked it out online, and some QR code generators can do it for you…. for a price.  But, I just found out if you’ve got Photoshop, and you can follow instructions, you can do it yourself.  And, it works!

Recently, I met up with Dr. Howard Farran after he gave a lecture in Fort Lauderdale.  We went to the “happy hour” at the bar and several of his attendees joined us. Continue reading →

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Dissecting a Micro-Site

Posted on June 22, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

ego-surfing

bing-logoJust for fun, I was ego-surfing on the search engine, Bing.com.  I am a die-hard Google fan.  But, I wanted to check it out and see how my website performs on Bing.  Admittedly, I have made absolutely no effort to optimize my sites on Bing…. Yet.

But, that’s not the point of this blog post.  I searched for “dental implants” in my city.  My site shows up well on the first page of search results.  But, my curiosity extended into checking out OTHER dentists’ websites.  One in particular caught my attention, so I clicked on the link.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

As it turns out I know this dentist.  Continue reading →

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Out of the Mouths of Patients – Website Feedback

Posted on June 21, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Google-dentistYesterday, I had a new patient.  She was a very nice young woman, 22 years old, who is both an LPN (nurse) and college student.  It had been a year since she’d seen a dentist.  She didn’t have any treatment done by the last dentist because she didn’t feel comfortable there.  She needs a fair bit of treatment, and she’s now ready.

She found my practice via a Google search.  I often ask patients which search terms they used (if they can remember).  I also ask if they looked at other websites.  If so, then I ask why they chose mine over the others.  This articulate young woman was happy to share the process of her decision. Continue reading →

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Posted in Websites, What Happened Today | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Content IS King in Websites – It’s not just me!

Posted on June 12, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Gary TakacsI don’t often link to other articles in my blog.  But, my friend, Gary Takacs has made an appearance of sorts on the Forbes website in an article titled, “Design Doesn’t Matter? Website Strategies For The New Era Of SEO And PR.”  Gary shows up in the article on the 2nd page by virtue of an embedded video of him interviewing Jack Hadley.

Jack Hadley - founder of MySocialPractice.com.

Jack Hadley – founder of MySocialPractice.com.

A quote from the article by Jack Hadley (My Social Practice):  “I wouldn’t worry about the design and graphic elements of your site so much. In fact perhaps not at all. I’d be far more concerned with the content.”  That’s coming from a guy who built his career on DESIGN.

I’ve was RIDICULED for saying that YEARS ago on Dentaltown.  I persist in my position on this.  Dentists like shiny things and they assume everyone else does, too.  Website designers with “mad graphic design skillz” know this and cater to those dentists.  Some of those dentists laugh at my website, which is rather spartan when it comes to the eye candy.  Laugh all you want.  My website works!  I wrote every word… about 55 pages worth.  I took every photo… about 500 of them.  Those things spell:  congruence, credibility, and resonance.

Another excerpt from the Forbes article: Continue reading →

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The ONLY Way to Stop a “Mass Shooter” Is….

Posted on June 8, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

This is MrColionNoir’s best rant, yet!  I thought it was worth sharing.  His commentary should simply be considered common sense.

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Are Spelling and Grammar Important?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

spelling

This is my second article in the same day.  I’m feeling froggy!

Edit:  I just realized this is also my 200th post!  Wow!

Last night, I was watching TV and a local dental ad came up.  Something was catching my eye, but I wasn’t sure what it was.  It just didn’t look right.  So, I used the DVR to back it up and then paused it.  It’s interesting how our brains will make corrections automatically, so we can miss mistakes at first glance and even the second glance.  Then I saw the reason(s) it didn’t look right.

Flexable? Afforable? And no space between "afforable" and "payment?"

Flexable? Afforable? And no space between “afforable” and “payment?”

I posted this on Dentaltown.  Most thought it was not a good thing.  Some argued that it’s not a big deal.

Personally, I do think it’s a big deal.  I suppose I’m a snob.  No… I’m quite sure I’m a snob!

I submit that a professional’s marketing Continue reading →

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“Can I trust my dentist?” How Would You Answer?

Posted on June 7, 2013 by The Dental Warrior

Just this morning, I got this email via my practice website:

My 20 year old daughter had a filling come out (tooth 12).  She needed root canal.  They referred her out even though all the dentist do that procedure in the office.  The crown (d2740 porcelain ceramic substrate) was covered by the DHMO.  They added a $500 lab fee and mandatory upgrade.  When fitting the crown he did a gingivectomy and apically positioned flap surgery on the tooth.  No cuts on the gum.  Can I trust him??

 

Here’s what I wrote back: Continue reading →

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Posted in Practice Management, What Happened Today | Tagged , | 4 Comments