Dental Practice Marketing - Accessibility

Dental Directories - Database Fed

Some dental directories utilize a database of information that is stored on a server and "delivered" in a page format. The webpages actually don't exist on the world wide web. They are designed to deliver content quickly and to handily deliver nice "patient features" such as dental information, health topics, etc. How to determine if a directory is database-fed? If the URL window shows something like:

http://www.xxxx.com/find_a_dentist/gbd/xplaydentistindex.asp?sSearchType/,

it is database-fed directory. While these types of directories do a commendable job for delivering useful content, the practice listings or website formats appear to be extremely similar and are poorly indexed by search engines, if at all. Usually the only method of finding this type of dental practice website or listing is by using the directory structure. Some of these directories are inexpensive... some are expensive.

Accessibility from the world wide web is poor.

Dental Directories - Deep-linked

Another form of a dentist directory is the type that contains either practice listings or even entire websites that actually "exist" in the form of standard html pages. Theoretically they should be indexable (or found) by search engines. The difficulty however is that some search engines will not "travel down" several levels to index those pages. This is referred to as "deep linking."

Here is a URL example:

http://somedentadirectory.com/us/texas/dallas/cosmetic/primedentclinic/index.html

Directories that utilize this structure often provide attractive patient features, free email service and the choice of having just your practice information listed or even an entire website that is often of the "cookie cutter" format. Performance of this type of directory is good if a visitor is using the front end or directory structure for locating a practice based on procedure or geographical search. In terms of being found by the popular search engines, performance is not as good. Fees for this type of listing can be attractive.

Accessibility from the world wide web is good in some search engines.

World Wide Web - Maximum Accessibility

Owning a unique domain name, website and hosting service provides the potential of being found from anywhere in the world. Properly developed "technicals" should deliver website content to anyone who uses a popular search engine and is looking for "you, what you do, or where you are." As example, someone in Tokyo is moving and looks for "anaheim cosmetic dentist." If you have an Anaheim dental practice, your website is "supposed to" appear. A more common example of this practice is people vacationing in your area, such as Florida and New York and wish to combine vacations or business travel with dental care.

The examples above are included to demonstrate what the world wide web is capable of. You should be able to EXPECT that your website will be found by patients in your geopraphic area. If your dental website cannot be found... then something is wrong. Your website is failing to operate as it should.

Having a beautiful and functional site is not enough. As mentioned elsewhere, the concept of "build it and they will come" does not always work.

Technicals refers to the html coding underlying your website layout and design that make your website content accessible to the search engines so the search engines can make it accessible to the viewing public. If the search engines can't access your site properly, your practice will not be found.

Dentists considering the development of a website that is productive will need to focus on technicals. Either by themselves or with the help of a website designer who understands "technicals." Dentists with existing websites can obtain help for incorporating the needed technicals.

How to determine if your website needs technicals? Easy.... if you can't find it using common dental terms including the name of your city using the popular search engines, then chances are your website needs "adjustment."

Getting Help

Contact us if you need additional basic information about these topics or your existing website or a website you are planning. Now there is expert help for getting found on the internet, within as little as 3-4 days. In 4-6 weeks your practice can be found anywhere and everywhere.