dental domains & SEO

Choosing A Dental Domain Name

Important to any dental website is its visibility in the search engines. SEO is a process that improves a website's potential
to rank well in the search engines. SEO uses essential keywords woven into page content to emphasize a website's topic.

Better Recognition By Search Engines
A keyword-rich domain name is a significant factor in SEO. Your domain name enhances the process of search engine optimization by up to 20%. The domain is yet another area of your website where search engines look for keywords about your business.

A keyword-rich domain name combined with on-topic text makes it easier for search engines to determine what your website is about while also helping to position it within the search results.


Domain Keywords Match Search Results

That domain names are substantive to ranking results is easily proven when searching Google. Search for a dentist in a given location and you'll see websites which in addition to matching keywords in titles, descriptions and content snippets, Google also highlights keywords in a domain name that match the searched phrase.

While there are no absolute assurances regarding search engine positions, one doesn't have to be a rocket scientist to see that having pertinent keywords in a domain name has a positive impact on their website.

Keep Domains Brief & Professional
When selecting a domain name for your dental office, find a *TLD (few characters as possible) that contains
a primary keyword representing your specialty, or a term such as dentist, dental, dentistry, etc. Since the target market of most dental practices is region specific, including the city or town is also recommended.

*TLD = top level domain = .com, .net, .org domain extensions. » use this tool to check domain Whois status

Hyphenated domain names can sometimes be effective, yet in general they should be avoided if one without a hyphen is available. It's not advisable to choose a very long domain name (25+ characters), one with numbers, or one with an over abundance of keywords and hyphens. Doing so might be interpreted by the search engines as spam and even inhibit your website's future ranking; it's also the signature of inexperienced webmasters.

Extra Linking Bonus
Another good reason to select a keyword-rich domain for your practice is that should dental webmasters decide to link to your website, it's likely they would include relevant keyword text in the link, which is an important aspect of SEO. Also, online directories will often use the domain's link text for website submissions.

Choose A Memorable Domain
The domain you select is a matter of knowing what works with SEO, together with which one is easier for the public to remember. This can be especially important if you want to emphasize your brand, or you intend to advertise the website on radio, TV or in other publications.

Another consideration is how well it compliments business cards, office stationary, or an outdoor sign. If it passes the "radio test" or rolls off the tongue easily, the domain is an appropriate match for advertising.

The following domains will all rank equally well in the search engines. That said, the next selection criteria are character length and how memorable the domain is to other people.

1) CITYdentist.com - 11 characters, 4 syllables
2) theCITYdentist.com - 14 characters, 5 syllables
3) CITYfamilydentist.com - 17 characters, 7 syllables
4) CITYfamilydentistry.com - 19 characters, 8 syllables

As you add to the number of characters, you reduce the domain's simplicity to spell. As you add more syllables, it becomes less memorable. If all 4 domains are available, the choice becomes a personal decision.

Registration Details
When registering a domain for your practice website, it's advisable to use the dentist's real name, or the practice's legal, or assumed name together with the actual address of the dental office and its phone number.

It's also a good idea to register the domain name for as many years as possible. Research indicates that search engines use this information as part of its algorithm to further analyze a website and assign preference.

Practical Utility
Domain names are inexpensive and dentists are often tempted to purchase more than they actually need to represent their practice -- and for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it may appear to be a good investment. However, if you have no intention of developing them, there's little point in registering "vanity" domains.

Summary

There are many complexities of SEO that will improve search engine ranking; and choosing the right domain name for your practice is one of the foundational building blocks for dental website success. Together with well-written content, a suitable domain name can give you a head start toward better visibility on the Web.

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