Is your dental Facebook page optimized for organic search? If not, it's something to start thinking about.
Sure, Google is the largest search engine. However, Facebook sees over 1.5 billion searches every day and over 600 million users visit business pages every day. Hence, why Facebook local search marketing has become so important.
Stay ahead of the curve and optimize your dental Facebook marketing for local search.
Facebook Added the Local Feature to Its App
Facebook Local used to be a separate app. However, Facebook has now brought these features within its main app – making it the most direct challenge to Google's local search option.
The feature reveals business locations around users – highlighting those locations their Facebook friends have visited and recommended.
Here's the key point: The algorithm leans toward locations that Facebook friends have checked into and/or recommended.
This Local feature optimizes an older update called Facebook Places. With Facebook Places, local businesses can ensure they are appearing in relevant searches at the top of the list.
This is not just one more thing you have to add to your dental Facebook marketing strategy. Facebook Places is essentially your businesses page – as long as you also have an address tied to it.
ACTIONS:
- Get recommendations and check-ins on your Facebook page
- Make sure your practice's Facebook business page is properly set up with your correct address and information (Don't forget to link to your website too!)
Facebook Boosts Reviews & Recommendations
Without question, word of mouth referrals are often the best prospective patients. And in today's world, Facebook is one of the most common places for friends and family to give recommendations.
Facebook recognizes this and has recently made the recommendations feature more prominent on business pages. Along with asking for reviews if you've visited a location, Facebook is now asking for a simple yes or no recommendation. Simplifying the process will lead to more responses on business pages and opportunities for reviews.
When someone responds, not only will these recommendations be added to your business page, they will also be shared with that person's Facebook friends. It's word of mouth marketing in the 21st century.
How does this affect local search on Facebook?
Facebook is quite secretive about its search algorithm. Unlike Google, finding tips to boost your rankings is challenging. However, through multiple tests, one thing is certain – Facebook favors pages with high engagement.
So not only will this recommendations feature boost your word of mouth referrals but it will also set your business page up for success with Facebook's search algorithm.
Social proof through check-ins and recommendations is a vital part of the SEO strategies on Facebook.
If you're not sure if your Facebook business page is set up properly to optimize for local search, then schedule a free digital marketing review with one of our experts.
With this 5 factors of digital marketing evaluation, they'll review your Facebook page, website, and Google local search results. At the end of the conversation, you'll walk away with actionable tips to improve your dental digital marketing efforts and get more new patients from the Internet.
