New Year Resolutions

Even though it is already March, there is still plenty of time to make your website your #1 referral source. It's not easy and will require time, attention and money, but if you make the investment, it will pay dividends. Here are a few things you can resolve to do that will pay off in 2007:

1. Add two new pages every month. Search engines are looking for fresh original content - and consumers are too. So help them out by adding new pages to your website every month. There are lots and lots of things to write about. Just think about all the questions you answer for your clients every day. We can help too. Page 1 writes lots of content for our dental website sites every day. Think ahead. Identify 12 topics for new content. We will write all twelve pages and you can review and edit them all at once. Once approved, we will add two pages a month like clockwork and the search engines will see your site as a growing resource about consumer oriented dental information.

2. Add a blog to your site. For the same reasons explained above, a blog can be a tremendous resource. It doesn't take long to make an entry. 15 minutes at most. Just think about what you did today or what what questions your patient asked you. If one patient asks a question, it is likely that many others have the same question. Just type up the question and your answer. If you write two or three blog postings a week, the search engines will start to take notice. You can make it easy on yourself by asking your marketing director or your office staff to write blog entries. The more the merrier. You just need to make that commitment.

3. Add a privacy policy to your website. This is a minor item, but it does help create an aura of legitimacy to your website.

4. Get more inbound links. Links are one of the major ways that search engines judge the credibility of your website. The more links you get from more credible sites, the better. Ask your colleagues at other non-competing practices to link to your website. Ask other medical professionals and dental labs to link to your site. Go to the websites of your college and dental school. Make sure your listing with the alumni association includes your website address - maybe link directly to your bio page. Ask for links back from charities or other community organizations that you contribute to or participate in. All these will help you, but you can still do more.

5. Buy links (carefully) from reputable websites where you can do so without indicating that you are buying them. We can help you with this.

6. We will help you with links from directories. There are lots of them.

7. Make sure your yellow page listings (online) all link back to your website.

8. Write articles and get them posted in the local newspaper. Most of them include an online edition. There are lots of websites that will accept a credible article from you. Make sure that you include a hyperlink back to your website.

9. Write a press release each time you take a continuing education class or receive an award. Celebrate your victories. Send it to your local publications. There are lots or places that will publish your press releases.

This only scratches the surface. There are lots more ideas where this came from. The point is RESOLVE to get busy to help promote your website in 2007.

Dan Goldstein
Page 1 Solutions