Part Three of Three
In this blog, PART THREE of the three-part series, I’ll explain some important factors of dental SEO copywriting. You’ll learn about internal and external linking, including standard procedures for adding links to your online content. You’ll also learn how to write a great meta description. Further, I’ll give you a checklist for on-page SEO content, so you can apply all 6 insider secrets to your blogs and web content. How’s that for a power-packed blog post? 😉
As a dental SEO and copywriting agency owner, and having 22 years of experience, I’ve gained great insight into internet marketing for dentists. I want to share that intelligence with you today, so let’s jump right in.
Linking Standards for Dental SEO Copywriting
Links create a spiderweb-like structure, adding connection points throughout the pages of a website or between a webpage/blog and external sites. Links allow Google to understand the relationships between specific internal and external pages with the on-page text.
Rules for Internal Links
Internal links take readers to other locations on your website, from text on your website. For instance, if your content focuses on dental implants, it could feature links to sedation, oral surgery, or dentures as each topic is covered within the text.
IMPORTANT! Internal website links should be embedded on text that relates to the destination page.
In the example below, italicized text indicates where you should embed a link to your sedation page.
Example of where to embed an internal link: If you’re concerned about comfort, stress, or anxiety, consider sedation dentistry for your dental implant procedure.
Rules for internal linking in blogs:
- Link your keyword (and surrounding phrase) to the destination page in the first paragraph
- Open links in same window (not new window)
- Link to your contact or appointment page from your ending call to action (embed link on your phone number or “contact us” verbiage)
- Just two internal links per blog: keyword destination page from first paragraph; contact page from call to action
Rules for internal linking on webpages:
- Link to one or two related services mentioned in the text (open in same window)
- Link to a bio if the dentist, insurance specialist, or hygienist are mentioned (optional)
- Link to contact page from call to action
Rules for External Links in Dental SEO Copywriting
The guidelines for external links are similar for application on blogs and webpages.
- Embed link on source name, data/fact, product, or keyword about the destination
- All external links should open in a new window (important!)
- One to two external links are sufficient in a blog, though no external linking is acceptable for webpages
All external links should open in a new window.
Composing a Meta Description
Your SEO plugin (Yoast or All in One SEO, for instance), will provide prompts to enter a keyword and meta description at the bottom of your WordPress page. The meta description should contain 155 characters or less, including spaces.
A meta description is basically a blurb about a blog or webpage. Your meta descriptions will compete with at least 9 other entries on page one of Google results, so they must do more than describe your content. The blurbs should hook, or entice, the reader.
Appeal to the reader’s emotion with questions, shocking statistics, little-known facts, or something else that captures the interest of your target audience/avatar.
How Meta Descriptions Work
When you go to Google Search and type in a keyword phrase, like “implant dentist Dallas,” the results may show (1) a few paid ads at the top of the page; (2) map listings for 3 or 4 results; (3) a snippet of information and/or related questions and answers about implant dentists. In many cases, 1, 2, and/or 3 above may not appear in search engine results pages (SERPs). However, 10 organic results–those based on SEO–will always appear in SERPs.
Since polls reveal that 70% of web users don’t click on ads, you need to focus on competing for map listings, snippets, and position one in organic results. Having an optimized site with weekly blog posts, and accumulating Google Reviews, will help you compete for these 3 entries.
Organic results look like this. The meta description is listed below the purple title:
On-Page SEO Checklist
Here’s a cheat sheet for SEO dental copywriting. After writing your blog or page, compare it to this list and add what’s missing to improve on-page SEO.
- Keywords (one primary per page)
- Content length (500+ words)
- H-tags (in descending order)
- Image selection (unsplash.com for free pics)
- Alt-image tags (include keyword if possible)
- External Links (open in new window)
- Internal Links (open in same window)
- Meta description
Call the experts for all of your dental SEO copywriting and content marketing needs!
If you’d like professional, expert assistance with SEO dental copywriting for your website or blog, call Riese at 972-679-6885 or email him at [email protected] today. We have affordable pricing and packages for ongoing blogging with SEO. If you need a custom project written, ask for a quote! We also offer discounts for bulk monthly orders, which is often a favorite with website companies, consultants, and agencies.
