Orthodontic Blogging Guide: Strategies for SEO Success

Why add search-engine-optimized blogs on your website?

• Builds authority with Google by increasing the website content and indexed pages
• Builds trust and rapport with your patients
• Targets more relevant keywords than the main pages of your website.
• Encourages backlinks, or links from other websites that point to your blog which is an important factor in SEO. They signal to search engines that other websites consider your content to be valuable and relevant. 
• Blogs can encourage social sharing

Ready to learn how to attract readers and engage more website visitors? Let’s get into these helpful resources and critical strategies to improve your website ranking with orthodontic blogging.

To know how to boost your practice website and reach more people online. Why should you add search-engine-optimized blogs to your orthodontic website?

• Boost Google Authority: More content means more pages Google can index, which builds your authority.
• Build Trust: Blogs connect with patients, showing expertise and building trust.
• Target Keywords: Blogs can focus on specific keywords that your main pages might miss.
• Encourage Backlinks: Other sites linking to your blog boost your SEO credibility.

Ready to learn how to attract readers and boost your site’s ranking with orthodontic blogging?

What is the Ideal Length for an Orthodontic Blog Post?

The length of your blog post is an essential aspect of SEO. At least 300 words are considered a bare minimum and a good approach for providing information; longer blog posts (such as 1,000 or more words) often have higher rankings. Longer blog posts give a deeper understanding of topics, communicate more knowledge, and incorporate essential keywords, resulting in higher ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Considering the length of your orthodontic blog post will help develop good content that informs and engages the readers which also builds authority with Google’s ranking algorithms.

What’s the Best Approach to Writing Content for SEO?

Creating content that’s easy to read and optimized for search engines is important for getting a good ranking on Google. Google likes valuable, user-friendly content, so focus on that instead of just trying to please the algorithm. Here are some strategies to help you:

• Natural Keyword Integration: Integrate keywords such as orthodontist, braces, or Invisalign seamlessly into your content and ensure they fit naturally for a good user experience. For instance, if you’re discussing ‘orthodontic treatment’, use this phrase naturally, as if you’re talking about orthodontics with a friend. Don’t repeat the phrase too much – this is known as keyword stuffing and Google may penalize the post if mentioned too many times.
• Valuable Information: Share special information and knowledge so readers can trust your content and find it valuable. This helps make your blog post really useful. By doing this, you show that you are an expert in the topic.
• Engaging Narrative: Transforming facts into stories can bring your blog post to life and make your readers feel connected and involved. This approach is a powerful tool in your blogging arsenal. Use real-world examples if possible.

Using ChatGPT to Help Write Your Orthodontic Content

With the recent advances in AI technology, language tools like ChatGPT can help you create blog content! Think of it like a first draft generator — not the final copy. Be sure to review, proofread and edit your AI-generated content before posting it anywhere.  Google knows if the Blog post is generated by AI.  Does Google penalize AI generated blog content?  Read this blog post to find out more.

The quality of your AI-generated writing will depend on the quality of the prompt. The more specific you are in the request, the more usable content you’ll get. 

A good prompt will save you lots of editing time. Include your location, practice name, and doctor names in the prompt for even more optimization. Here’s an example:

Instead of… “Help me write a blog post about lingual braces”

Try a prompt like… “Help me write a 500-word blog post about lingual braces that go behind the teeth. Highlight the advanced technology. Explain the aesthetic benefits, custom design, and more comfortable treatment. Include a couple of corny dad jokes about smiles. Encourage readers to visit Dr. Fred Rogers at Neighborhood Orthodontics in Pittsburgh PA.”

What Reading Level Should Your Blog Post Target?

Making your blog easy to read is very important. Write your content at a 5th to 9th grade reading level so everyone can understand your topic. Readers don’t want to spend time trying to figure out what you mean. If you are explaining technical or complex topics, use simple language to make it clear.

If you need to use technical words, only use them when necessary, and explain them in simple terms. Instead of malocclusion… use bad bite. The main goal is to share knowledge through your content, not to impress people with difficult words.

How to Structure Orthodontic Blog Posts for Maximum Readability

Another factor of readability is well-organized content, which will make everything easier to understand and follow when reading. Here are some strategies to consider: 

• Short Paragraphs: It’s easier to read paragraphs with 2-3 sentences. This makes the content easier to digest and understand. Reading on a screen can strain your eyes, which is different from reading a book or paper. Reducing long paragraphs and having white space between paragraphs is less intimidating to the reader.
• Bullet Points and Lists: Bullet points or numbered lists let you easily highlight the main points of your content. Most consumers today scan and read content quickly. Using bullet points helps readers retain more information..
• Incorporation of Subheadings (H2 Tags): Divide your content into sections with descriptive subheadings. This helps readability and also ranks well in SEO. Subheadings make it easier for readers to navigate your blog post and find specific information quickly. They also signal to search engines like Google what your content is about, improving the chances of it appearing in relevant searches.

Why Are Visuals Crucial in Orthodontic Blogging?

Ever clicked on a blog post just because of an awesome picture or cartoon? A picture can say a lot without using any words. Choosing a fun or eye-catching image that fits your topic can really grab people’s attention! Looking for that perfect blog image that pops? Here’s how to do it right:

• Quality Relevant Images – include images no higher than 100 kb that add value to the content.  200 by 300 pixels work well.  Avoid using irrelevant pixelated photos. 
• Copyright Sources: Use images you own, whether paid or free. Do not download images from Google search and publish them on your website – you could be served with a legal notice and pay a hefty fine. There are AI programs that crawl the internet looking for image copyright violations. It isn’t worth the risk!   Istockphoto.com is a great source with over 300 millions photos to choose from when purchasing relevant images
• You can find some decent free images on pexels.com and unsplash.com. For higher-quality stock images, check out istockphoto.com and shutterstock.com (you will have to pay to download from these sites).
• Infographics and Videos: Infographics or videos break down complex information into visually appealing presentations that are more engaging and shareable.  However all video must be added to YouTube first and embedded into the blog post to not negatively affect the download speed of the website.  Infographics must be in a photo format that is acceptable such as jpg or png and minimal kb.

How to Optimize Orthodontic Blog Posts for SEO Keywords

One of the most important things in SEO is strategic keyword placement. Here is how to do it the right way:

• Title Optimization: Create descriptive and accurate titles that include your primary keyword, engaging readers and encouraging them to click on the title. Keep the title length to no more than 50 – 60 characters, including spaces and avoid multiple primary keywords.  Focus on one keyword for each post. Google won’t read past the recommended character count so keep that in mind. 
• URL Customization: Customize your blog post URL to keep your primary keywords short and readable—avoid symbols and unnecessary words such as and, the, and &.
• Meta Description: Write a descriptive meta description (150 characters or less) that summarizes the content of your blog post with your main keywords. This approach will help you rank higher in search engines.  Same as the title tag, Google does not read past the programmed character count for the meta description when indexing the post.

Bonus Tips for Orthodontic Blogging Success

• Regular Updates: Active blogging proves your site is relevant and active to Google. Post regularly to maintain reliability and consistency in providing valuable information to your readers. We recommend it at least twice a month.
• Share on Social Media: To increase engagement around your blog, share your blogging on social media platforms to reach your target audience.
• Share to Google Business Profile: Create a “Post” on your Google Business Profile(s) with a short snippet from the blog, including the image, and a link to the full blog on your website. Google likes to see activity on your profile!  

Improve Your Practice Visibility

Effective orthodontic blogging will lead you to develop a trusting relationship between your audience and your orthodontic practice. These helpful resources and guidance can improve your online presence and help you become a reliable source, nurturing patient trust and audience engagement. With these SEO success ideas, you can apply this strategy today to improve your online presence in 2024.

At Kaleidoscope Digital Marketing, we understand the importance of staying on top of your digital game. Need some help launching a blog program? Get in touch with us today for a free consultation!