Link Building for Dentists: 10 Proven Strategies to Boost Dental SEO

Living in the digital era means that before making a purchase, visiting a place, or booking a service, people often turn to the web for addtional information to ensure their choice is right. This is no different when choosing a doctor, including a dentist.

Because dental practices are tied to specific locations, local SEO for dentists can be the difference between significant dental lead generation and having only a few clients each month.

Effective local dental SEO requires the implementation of proven link building strategies. But what are these strategies, and how can you use them to achieve maximum results? 

We answer these questions in detail in this comprehensive guide to white-hat link building for dentists.

Link building is a crucial aspect of dental inbound marketing and SEO for dental practices as a whole, as it brings many benefits:

• Enhanced online visibility. Dental backlinks from high-authority third-party online resources contribute to a strong backlink profile. The stronger the profile, the higher a website ranks in search engines. This improved ranking increases visibility, bringing the website closer to the top search results and making it more visible to potential clients;
• Drive more traffic to your website. In addition to the organic traffic you’ll gain from a higher position in the SERPs, you will also improve referral traffic to your website;
• Establish authority. When authoritative websites mention you, it signals to users and Google algorithms that you are an expert in your niche;
• Build trust and credibility. When other credible resources link back to your business, it helps build client trust.

We have compiled a list of the best white-hat link building methods for dental practices, which we will review in detail in the article below.

1. Guest Posts. Guest posting involves having your content published on authoritative third-party online platforms. It provides you with a backlink for dental website and an opportunity to showcase your expertise in your niche. This is part of content marketing for dentists, which is not only about acquiring dental backlinks but also about building client trust and educating patients. (The price for a guest post ranges from $50 to $700.)
2. Buying Backlinks. It’s a quick and easy way to obtain links to strengthen your backlink profile.
3. Linkable Assets. Create valuable and engaging content that your audience is likely to share. 
4. Blogger & Influencer Outreach. Being mentioned by influential bloggers and reputable influencers as a top dental choice is beneficial. Take the time to find influencers and build relationships with them. (The price for an influencer backlink can exceed $1,000.)
5. Brand Mentions. Unlink brand mentions also matter for the dentist business. 
6. Local Directories & Local Listings. Narrow your link building efforts to your location to gain maximum results. Being listed in local directories and dentist listings increases your chances of being seen by potential clients in your area. (The price for a directory backlink is under $50.)
7. Local Forums. Participating in forums where people seek advice on dentists is always a good idea. (The price for a forum backlink is under $20.)
8. UGC. It stands for user-generated content, including photos, social posts, and so on left by your clients. This is a proven way to obtain dental social media links.
9. Sponsor local businesses. By doing this, you can easily acquire dental care links and improve your brand awareness: 

   — Charity events;

   — PTA events;

   — Local business fairs and events.

10. Reviews and testimonials. Whether it’s about buying something new, from cars to shoes, or choosing a dentist, people widely rely on reviews and testimonials. Getting positive ones from your clients helps not only to attract new clients but also to gain backlinks.

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Samantha Hops

SEO Executive at Digivate

A common mistake dentists (and other businesses make) is ignoring Local SEO. It’s important to focus on localized keywords from your area, even if they have a lower search volume than more generalized keywords, because those are the ones that are more likely to convert. You should also make sure that your dental practice is in all the relevant local directories so potential patients can find you. Another mistake is building backlinks where they value quantity over quality. Quality is the most important factor. You need to make sure the links you are building are to relevant websites in your niche, with high domain authority, and traffic from your target audience, and that have a reputable backlink profile. Finally, dentists tend to ignore patient reviews either by not actively gathering and sharing them on their website or by not responding to the reviews they already have. It’s important to respond to both your positive and negative reviews so that potential patients know that you care about what they have to say.

Iva Jovanovic

SEO Specialist and Content Creator

When it comes to link building, one common mistake dentists make is focusing on quantity rather than quality. They may actively look out for any kinds of links, which could lead to low-authority websites and actually harm their SEO. Many dentists also fail to dedicate time for local SEO. The power of local SEO can really affect a business, so getting listed in local directories or receiving links from local businesses is the perfect way to start.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Jason Schulz

CEO & Co-Founder, Zen Dental Marketing

The most common mistake in link building for dentists is treating a dental practice the same as any other local business. Dentists are often a trusted part of a family’s and community’s health, and they often miss the opportunity to leverage this in their link building efforts.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

A mistake I see most often is failing to have proper permalink structure or consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) for search engines to pick up web pages. Oftentimes, I see a big focus on social media efforts that do them little to no good. Overall, the lack of awareness of what link-building is and how it can be part of a bigger picture within SEO strategies and getting more traffic to their website. To overcome this, the SEO professional would need to close the knowledge gap and influence them to invest in those types of changes to assist in the overarching link-building strategies.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Guest posts

To find online resources for guest post placement, you can use the following search queries:

• Keyword + “guest article”
• Keyword + “contribute to us”
• Keyword + “contribute to our site"
• Keyword + “contributing writer” 

Use your primary keyword, e.g., “dentist in GEO”, “dental clinic in GEO”, “orthodontist in GEO”, etc.

👉 Copy the 95 suggestions from the Guest Post Template

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Iva Jovanovic

SEO Specialist and Content Creator

When choosing sites for guest posts, my first tip is to consider their domain authority (DA) and relevance to the dental industry. It's best to select platforms with strong reputations that are popular with your target audience, such as health blogs or local community websites. Also, look at the site's engagement level - do they have an active readership that is likely to share your content?

👉🏻LinkedIn

Jason Schulz

CEO & Co-Founder, Zen Dental Marketing

For guest posts in the dental industry, the most valuable links a practice can typically get is from other businesses in their area. Local schools and sporting clubs that have community blogs can be unique and highly valuable links. For example if a dental practice has a toothbrush recycling program that can often have this promoted through a guest post with the local school.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

High value websites such as the American Dental Academy, or any specialty dental blog is a great place to start. The dentist will be affiliated with multiple organizations to maintain his or her dental licensing and credentialing and those places are gold for link-building. This is a great starting point because you are building off what your client is associated with, and it can bring more credibility along with higher value links to your website.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Stephanie Long

SEO Expert, Founder of Mrs. SEO

Key factors to consider when selecting sites for guest posts in the dental industry is using Moz's Domain Authority tool. Moz's rating measures the authority of a site based on how many websites are linking to a domain. The higher the score the better the website is. Any score about 60 means the website has an excellent Domain Authority and is a good website to link to. Make sure the website is still relevant. Is their information up-to-date? Do they have a blog? If so, when did they last update it? If their content is out of date, don't link to that domain.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Buying Backlinks

Buying backlinks can bring many benefits with minimal risks if you know how to choose donor sites. So, what should you pay attention to when selecting websites to buy links from? Let’s discuss these criteria in detail:

1. Relevancy. Make sure that the website operates in the dental niche or at least is closely related to it.
2. Website Traffic. Analyze whether a website has a good amount of traffic and if it is continuing to grow. 
3. Ranking for Relevant Keywords. It’s essential for a donor website to rank for your relevant keywords. 
4. Natural Backlink Profile. A good donor website should have a backlink profile with links from various reputable online resources and a low number of spammy backlinks.
5. Analyze External Links. Ensure that the website links to quality publications relevant to your topic rather than to spammy websites.
6. Crawling & Indexing. Compare the number of pages a website has in its sitemap with the number of pages that are indexed.
7. Web 2.0 Stacking. Check whether a website has been blasted with tons of Web 2.0 spam.
8. Anchors. Analyze how many brand, target, and bad (casino, CBD, etc.) anchors the website has. 
9. Backlink Acquisition Rate. Check if the website has suspicious spikes in referral traffic. 
10. Content Quality. Take the time to read several articles to assess how well they are written and whether there are intrusive ads or keyword stuffing.
11. Publishing Frequency. If a website has numerous guest posts published in a short period of time, it may turn out to be a link farm. 
12. Domain History. Check the domain via the web archive to ensure there is no suspicious history.
13. Robots.Txt. Open the website’s Robots.txt file by going to domain.com/robots.txt and check if there are rules excluding the placement page.
14. Internal Links. Make sure that the website uses contextual internal links to other pages.
15. GEO. Make sure the main traffic location of the website matches your key geographic area.

To learn more about how to analyze a website backlink profile, view the following video: 

If you want to be a little extra nifty, try your hand at reverse engineering. Use a Collaborator link tool to get a list of all the websites that have offered backlinks to your top competitors.

This is a great way to find excellent guest posting opportunities.

Step 1 

Create a list of your competitors' backlinks using a backlink analysis tool. For backlink reporting, we used Ahrefs Backlink Checker as an example.

Step 2

Create a new list with the “My List” option on Collaborator.pro and add those links.

Step 3 

Now, you can see which backlinks are available on the platform, along with their analytical data and prices.

Linkable assets 

Creating ‘linkable’ content will help you to: 

• Boost Backlinks: Attract high-quality backlinks, improving search rankings and speeding up the organic link-building process.
• Build Credibility: Establishes your practice as an authority in the field.
• Drive Organic Traffic: Increases site visits and potential patient conversions.
• Provide Long-Term Value: Continues to generate traffic and SEO benefits over time.
• Enhance Engagement: Encourages visitors to stay longer, boosting user engagement.
• Strengthen Niche Authority: Positions your practice as a go-to resource in the dental industry.

Types of content considered to be ‘linkable’:

• In-depth Guides: Comprehensive resources on topics like oral hygiene, dental procedures, or preventive care.
• Research-Based Articles: Share findings from recent studies or surveys related to dental health.
• Expert Opinions: Provide insights or commentary on current trends in dentistry.
• Infographics: Creating visually engaging infographics about dental health topics can attract high-quality backlinks from authoritative sites, as these informative graphics are often shared across the web.

Example 1

Example 2 

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Rodrigo Lasanta

Lead SEO Specialist at Digivate

Infographics that compare different types of orthodontic treatments are great to acquire backlinks for dental practices. This type of content offers a quick overview on what orthodontic treatment can be right for visitors in a visual way which increases the chances of being referenced in other articles.

Iva Jovanovic

SEO Specialist and Content Creator

Truly, the most effective linkable assets for dental practices are informative and visually appealing content. This can include dental health infographics, detailed procedure guides, or patient success stories. Find a catchy design that's easy on the eyes, and take advantage of carousels on Instagram or photo reels on TikTok. For Instagram reels and TikTok video content, some educational videos or blog posts that answer common dental questions or explain procedures can also generate links, especially if they are clear, easy to understand, and add real value. As a bonus, try creating resources like downloadable dental checklists or interactive quizzes that can engage users and encourage sharing. Add questionnaires or voting polls to your stories to encourage user engagement.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Jason Schulz

CEO & Co-Founder, Zen Dental Marketing

The most effective linkable assets for dental practices are typically community-based content or survey-based content. We have seen effective long-term link building with practices when building around community event round-up posts. Each month or quarter the dental practice publishes a list of all the upcoming community events and dates, along with links. Then lets all of the businesses mentioned know they have done so, along with how to link back to them. Survey-based content can be as simple as “do people trust a smile with or without teeth showing more?“. This can then be a short survey done based on a handful of stock images, either online with mechanical turks or even in the practice itself.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

The best and most effective linkable assets tend to be before and after shots and stories. Storytelling is a huge driver in engagement and learning someone’s story helps the user relate and convert.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Blogger & Influencer Outreach

It’s hard to overestimate the importance and value of influencer collaborations in the digital era, where influencers have significant trust from their followers. Collaborating with the right influencers will help you reach and engage with your potential patients.

How to Identify Target Influencers and Bloggers

• Focus on Micro-Influencers: These individuals typically have 10,000 to 100,000 followers and are more engaged with their audience.
• Consider Local Influencers: Choose influencers who are based in your community to ensure relevance and authenticity.
• Use Influencer Databases: Platforms like Influencers Club can help identify dental influencers by filtering profiles with keywords related to dentistry.

Examples: 

1. Singing Dentist

2. The Bentist

3. Ashley Latter

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

There are plenty of ways to use influencer marketing for ROI. As dentists, they have an incredible resource network across not only national organizations, but also within their own communities. Dentists can use this network to build off of and share relevant related stories online. One dentist, in particular, has utilized friends from dental school to share guest posts on their websites. Additionally, dentists put their trust in certain brands of products such as Invisalign or a certain toothpaste brand like Colgate or Waterpiks, which I am a huge fan of. By utilizing those brands through omni-channel marketing efforts including influencers, you can build trust and encourage patients to book for that service or to get that product from you.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Brand Mentions

To track your brand mentions, set up monitoring tools.

• Google Alerts: Set up alerts for your clinic's name and related keywords to receive notifications whenever your brand is mentioned online.
   
• Brand Monitoring Tools: Use tools like Mention and BrandMentions to track mentions across social media and other online platforms.

Dental Directories & Local SEO Citations

Business directories and local listings are essential for local dentist SEO because they:

• Improve local search visibility, helping dentists appear in local searches.
• Boost credibility and trust with consistent and accurate citations across directories.
• Increase online presence, making it easier for potential patients to find the practice.
• Provide valuable backlinks that enhance website authority and search rankings.
• Enable patient reviews, which can positively impact reputation and attract more patients.

Grab Here 30+ Best Paid & Free Dental Directories & Local SEO Citations: 

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

Local directories have a great impact on SEO efforts for dental practices and dental marketing strategies. Hale Family Dentistry in Fort Wayne, Indiana regularly collaborates with the local university’s dental hygiene program, Indiana University Fort Wayne to find interns. As a collaboration, one of the dental hygienists' wrote a blog about diversity in the dental field. Other local directories to consider are local government listings such as Chamber of Commerce or supporting donations to city-wide initiatives like Diaper Drives. One of my clients has consistently gotten links back to their website through a large local charity organization by being a drop-off location for the diaper drive.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Local Forums & UGC 

Participating in local forums will help you succeed in many tasks, including:

• Building Dental Social Media Links: Share expertise with links to your site, enhancing authority and rankings.
• Establishing Authority: Showcase knowledge, building credibility and signaling expertise to search engines.
• Driving Targeted Traffic: Engage with potential patients, directing them to your website.
• Keyword Insights: Discover patient language and optimize content with relevant keywords.
• Reputation Management: Monitor and manage your online reputation by addressing patient concerns.

Grab here 15+ best dental forums👈

Sponsor Local Businesses & Events

This type of activity will help you with:

• Generating Local Backlinks: Local media and event coverage often link to your site, improving rankings.
• Increasing Visibility: Raises your profile in the community, leading to more local searches.
• Enhancing Reputation: Builds a positive image, attracting more patients and improving reviews.
• Content Creation: Provides unique content for your website and social media.
• Social Shares: Events get shared online, increasing your practice’s reach.

Reviews and Testimonials 

• Boosting Local Rankings: Positive reviews improve your position in local searches.
• Building Trust: They enhance credibility, making patients more likely to choose your practice.
• Driving Traffic: High ratings attract more clicks and visitors to your site.
• Providing Fresh Content: User-generated reviews keep your content relevant for search engines.
• Increasing Conversions: Testimonials persuade visitors to become patients.

We asked SEOs and marketers with years of experience in the dental niche:

Iva Jovanovic

To encourage patients to leave reviews, make the process as simple as possible. Apart from onsite methods (asking for reviews in person or handing out cards with QR codes linked to direct review submission), marketers can send follow-up emails with direct links to Google My Business or Yelp profiles. If possible, you can consider providing small incentives, such as a discount on their next visit.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Jason Schulz

CEO & Co-Founder, Zen Dental Marketing

The most effective and safest way is to ask patients to mention their location when they leave a review. When they come by the reception desk post-appointment, handing them a business card with QR code to leave a review and simply asking if you could please mention the suburb of our practice in your review, it really helps us with Google.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Cassie Hale

Digital Marketing Strategist Fort Wayne, Indiana

Being authentic. When I coach my clients on building reviews, I would rather get sample size data than ask every single patient that comes through the door. This can vary, and it depends on the practice’s goals. Additionally, I find the most success by utilizing text messages review sent the same day. Providing links directly to the review site is most effective as it prevents any confusion and higher likelihood of the patient posting a review.

👉🏻LinkedIn

Stephanie Long

SEO Expert, Founder of Mrs. SEO

The most effective ways to encourage patients to leave reviews that not only build trust but also improve SEO are: having a QR code they can scan when they checkout; offer an incentive; give a handout with detailed instructions so they can do it at their convenience.

👉🏻LinkedIn

• Focus on Quality Over Quantity: Prioritize links from high-authority and relevant sites rather than numerous low-quality links.
• Maintain Relevance: Ensure that the sites linking to you are relevant to the dental industry to maintain credibility.
• Avoid Black Hat Techniques: Steer clear of paid links or spammy practices that can lead to penalties from search engines.