Dental SEO 101 Podcast

About Dental SEO 101 Podcast

The Dental SEO 101 podcast is your ultimate resource for optimizing your dental practice's online presence! The host, Ross Dunn, simplifies the complex world of digital marketing, offering strategies explicitly tailored for dentists. Each episode covers essential topics such as the fundamentals of SEO, local SEO strategies, and tips for enhancing your website's visibility. Learn actionable techniques to attract more patients and boost your revenue while maintaining exceptional customer service. Whether you're a seasoned practitioner or just starting out, Dental SEO 101 equips you with the tools to thrive in today’s digital landscape. Subscribe now to ensure your practice is set for long-term success, and take the first step toward a profitable future!

Publisher

Ross Dunn

Category

business · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jun 2024

Latest episode

20 Apr 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   20 Apr 2026

   Dental SEO 101 - How AI and Google Ads Are Transforming Dental Practice Marketing in 2026

   In this episode of Dental SEO 101, Ross Dunn shares key 2026 dental SEO and AI predictions, insights on AI-driven search changes, Google Ads updates, and practical tips to keep your dental practice ahead in the evolving digital landscape. Essential listening for staying competitive and informed in dental marketing. NON SEO <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< OpenAI shares more details about ChatGPT Ads https://searchengineland.com/openai-details-how-ads-will-work-in-chatgpt-468929 (https://searchengineland.com/openai-details-how-ads-will-work-in-chatgpt-468929) On the OpenAI Podcast, OpenAI executive, Assad Awan provided some insights into how ChatGPT Ads will work. Who will See Ads Ads will appear for free and go-tier users Plus, Pro, and enterprise subscribers will not see ads Enterprise workspaces will remain ad free Additional Info Ads will be visually separate from model answers Conversations will not be shared with advertisers Ads will not appear for topics such as health, politics, and other sensitive chats Users can adjust or turn off personalization. Perplexity stops testing advertising https://searchengineland.com/perplexity-stops-testing-advertising-469452 (https://searchengineland.com/perplexity-stops-testing-advertising-469452) Perplexity began testing sponsored placements back in 2024 According to the Financial Times, they have now phased out their paid ad testing with no plans to bring them back. They believe that sponsored placements - even labeled ones - risk undermining trust. A perplexity executive said “A user needs to believe this is the best possible answer” and that “once ads appear, users may second-guess response integrity”. Ross Dunn’s SEO Predictions 2026 <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< More companies will be posting AI ethics statements. By late in the year, more customers will become aware they exist and begin looking for them. AI slop will become so prevalent, people will be making extra efforts to show their content was written by a human hand. Will there be a "Written by a Human" seal on content? Who knows. By the end of 2026, Google Search Console will still NOT have a way to separately analyze AI mode or AI overview data. 2026 will be the year when authentic brand storytelling becomes the mainstay of successful practices. Show that your practice stands out from the rest! Make people want to come to your practice for the experience and the people. Many practices will erroneously lean too heavily into chasing AI results while letting their SEO lapse - this will cause significant losses in online exposure. AI is far too unstable still… don’t try to catch it, just improve your authority and content quality signals. The quality of Google’s local SEO results will be further eroded by AI trying to add "value." AI will present incorrect facts about local businesses, and Google probably won't do anything about it (unless it makes headlines). AI Agents will become common knowledge among the general public as they become ubiquitous. SEOs will be re-engineering the infrastructure of websites and associated content to provide AI and AI-driven search engines with clearer authority signals. We have already begun doing this for clients - it is not something done lightly, so it does require an experienced SEO (AI still sucks at this). DREAM: The growing alarm that AI growth is surpassing safeguards will spark a global initiative to slow it down over the next few years to allow safeguards to catch up. More pessimistically, I believe we will see more AI Safety/Governance employees quitting in disgust or protest from the leading AI companies as their concerns and guidelines are thrown out the window. General SEO News <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< AI Overviews Reduces Clicks as Much as 58% (Ryan Law at Ahrefs) https://ahrefs.com/blog/ai-overviews-reduce-clicks-update/ (https://ahrefs.com/blog/ai-overviews-reduce-clicks-update/) Back in April 2025, we found that AI Overviews reduced clicks to top-ranking content by 34.5%, despite Google’s statements to the contrary. As of December 2025, “we found that the presence of an AI Overview now correlates with a 58% lower average clickthrough rate for the top-ranking page.” Bing Webmaster Tools officially adds AI Performance report https://searchengineland.com/bing-webmaster-tools-ai-performance-report-468751 (https://searchengineland.com/bing-webmaster-tools-ai-performance-report-468751) On Feb 10, 2026, Microsoft announced the launch of AI Performance reports in Bing Webmaster Tools! (Google, are you paying attention?) The tool, currently in Beta, shares how your content is cited within Microsoft Copilot as well as select partner integrations. At this time, data is quite limited, but it is a great start. After selecting a predetermined or custom date range, you can see the total citations over that time period along with the average number of cited pages per day. You can also see which queries you were cited for as well as which URLs have appeared; however, you can not see which queries served which URLs, only the number of appearances. It is important to note that this report only shows citation frequency, there is no indication of ranking position or prominence. Data is available going back as far as November 01, 2025 Google Says Links Will Be More Visible In AI Overviews https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-says-links-will-be-more-visible-in-ai-overviews/567719/ (https://www.searchenginejournal.com/google-says-links-will-be-more-visible-in-ai-overviews/567719/) Googles Robby Stein posted to Google, updates to how citations will be displayed in AI Overviews Stein wrote: “In AI Overviews and AI Mode, groups of links will automatically appear in a pop-up as you hover over them on desktop, so you can jump right into a website to learn more. And we’ll show more descriptive and prominent link icons within the response across both desktop and mobile. Our testing shows this new UI is more engaging, making it easier to get to great content across the web.” Hopefully this leads to an increased click through rate for those cited! 75% of ChatGPT users rely on ‘keywords’ for local services: New data https://searchengineland.com/chatgpt-users-keywords-for-local-services-data-467715 (https://searchengineland.com/chatgpt-users-keywords-for-local-services-data-467715) There is a lot of push to move away from keyword based seo. And while a focus on Topics and other techniques grows, new data shows that people still use traditional keyword type searches.

2. 

   15 Nov 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - Maximizing Dental SEO in the Age of AI - Actionable Tips for Ranking Success

   🔒 Site Security is a Must By October 2026, Google will actively warn users against non-secure (non-HTTPS) websites. While most sites are already secure, double-check your practice’s main and secondary sites to avoid being left behind. 🎨 Multimedia Content Supercharges SEO Don’t just rely on text. Mix things up! Add before/after photos, educational videos, infographics, charts, and even audio clips to your site. This keeps visitors engaged and boosts your rankings on both Google and AI-driven search engines. 🏆 Authority Building Still Wins the Day Earned media—like local news features, interviews, community events, and awards—brings genuine authority to your online presence. AI and Google love to see you being vouchsafed by reputable sources. 📄 Format for Humans & AI Start your pages with a quick summary (the classic TL;DR!). Use headings, bullet points, and include your personal voice and expertise. Avoid generic, cookie-cutter AI content; quality and authenticity stand out more than ever. 🦷 Show Off Your Expertise (EEAT) Make it easy for Google and AI to recognize your expertise by showcasing your credentials, education, and awards on a dedicated “About” page. Link all your social profiles back to it, and vice versa. 🔄 Planning a Site Redesign? Do This! Back up & have a recovery plan (just in case!) Audit and preserve top-performing content and URLs Use 301 redirects if URLs change Double-check internal links Choose an SEO-friendly CMS (WordPress is a good bet) Keep/page improvements like boosting site speed, but don’t tinker too much with pages already ranking well Ensure the site is unblocked for search engines at launch! Monitor performance with Search Console and analytics 🤔 Has AI Changed the Game? Yes—and no. AI lets us do more, faster, but the foundations remain: high-quality, authoritative, helpful content. Don’t get caught up in hype; mix smart AI strategies with good old-fashioned effort and you’ll stay ahead. (00:00) - Intro (00:40) - Chrome To Warn Users Before Loading HTTP Sites Starting Next Year (22:45) - How to Add AI-Generated Multimedia to Your Content in 10 Minutes (With Real Prompts That Work) (04:38) - SEO for AI Search is Vital, But It Isn’t as Big of a Change As Many Want You To Think (06:34) - Enhancement Area 1: Authority Building (08:18) - Enhancement Area 2: Content Formatting (10:38) - Enhancement Area 3: Expertise (16:30) - GEO Startup Lorelight Shuts Down (18:39) - How To Maintain Rankings after a Redesign (23:54) - Closing & Contact Information

3. 

   12 Sept 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - Adapting to AI, Local Authority, and Multimodal Content

   Thrive in the Age of AI Search AI tools like Google’s overviews and ChatGPT are providing instant answers to basic dental questions. Instead of relying on those "what are braces?" searches, focus on making your website a living resource with: Genuine opinion pieces Helpful resources for all audiences (including the elderly and visually impaired) Regular content updates that add real value Stand Out With Multimodal Content Don’t just write – show, explain, and connect through various formats: Infographics and custom imagery Videos (including patient testimonials) Layer these elements over time so creating isn’t overwhelming This not only serves your patients better, but also increases your chances to be cited by AI results! Be a Local Pillar Hyperlocal reputation matters more than ever. Support a charity, sponsor a local team, or let your staff champion the causes that matter to them—and tell these stories on your website. Bonus points: Get backlinks and testimonials from those you support! Reviews, Reviews, Reviews Third-party reviews, first-party testimonials, before/after case studies, and video thank-yous all help build trust and visibility. Don’t be shy; ask for them and display them proudly! Don’t Fall for Cheap SEO Gimmicks With AI buzz everywhere, some agencies are making big promises at low prices—often leading to messy, spammy outcomes that can hurt your website for months. Invest in trusted pros who build for the long-term. Other Key Updates & Warnings Apple is gearing up to launch an AI-powered search for Siri in 2026. (“World Knowledge Answers” is coming but might use Google’s Gemini—shocking!) Google launched a new spam update. Following the rules? You’re okay. Cutting corners? Beware big traffic drops. Website security remains critical. Hacked sites can lose 50% of their traffic overnight. Protect yourself with strong passwords, two-factor authentication, regular updates, and thorough backups. (90 days is Ross Dunn's recommendation!) Metrics That Matter AI search traffic (from LLMs like ChatGPT, Perplexity) now converts just as well as regular SEO traffic—but is still a tiny slice of total visits. This will grow, so get ready! ChatGPT referral traffic is on the rise and, for some sites, even higher than Bing. Have questions or want your own SEO challenge discussed on the podcast? Email us at info@firstdentist.com! (00:00) - Intro (00:33) - How Dentists Can Stay Competitive in Search Results (08:34) - Apple to launch AI search for Siri in 2026: Report (10:11) - Google releases August 2025 spam update (11:51) - Ahrefs Launches Tracker Comparing ChatGPT & Google Referral Traffic (13:28) - Google Traffic Drops 50% After Site Hack; Recovery Can Take Time Says Google (18:50) - LLM traffic converts about the same as organic search: Research (20:19) - Google AI Mode may become the default Google Search experience “soon.” (21:52) - Nearly all ChatGPT users still rely on Google: Data (23:48) - Closing & Contact Information

4. 

   18 Jul 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - Google Review Blackmail and Safely Using AI Content

   🚩 Google Review Blackmail: What You Need to Know Scammers are at it again—posting negative Google reviews and then demanding payment (often in the form of gift cards) to prevent future attacks. Do NOT pay them! Report and flag the reviews on Google. Submit a support request via Google’s Help Center. Don’t panic. While Google’s response can be uncertain, every report helps your case. Need support? Reach out to us—we’re here to help you protect your reputation! 🗺️ Service Area Changes in Google Business Profiles Google now disallows adding countries or states as your service area for local businesses. Instead, you must specify up to 20 cities, postal codes, or specific regions within a two-hour drive from your location. This mostly applies to mobile dental businesses, but it’s good info for everyone managing listings. 📉 June Core Update & Search Impressions Drop A recent Google update has led to significant drops (40–90%) in search impressions for many dental practices. Don’t overreact or stress—these fluctuations are common during big updates. Monitor your metrics, and stay tuned for things to stabilize. ⚠️ Suspicious Review Warnings Some Google profiles are getting “suspicious reviews removed” alerts. If you see this warning after flagging blackmail reviews, let us know—it shouldn’t penalize you for protecting your reputation! 🤖 AI-generated Content & Google Rankings A study found that Google does not penalize AI-generated content—as long as the quality is solid. In fact, 86%+ of high-ranking pages had AI-assisted writing. The key? Blend human expertise with AI, and always focus on delivering real value. 🔎 New Google Search Console Feature You can now compare the past 24 hours’ performance with previous periods in Search Console. Small but useful for tracking the real-time impact of changes! 💻 Core Web Vitals Bug If you see a weird drop in “good” or “needs improvement” URLs (but not an increase in “poor”), don’t panic. This could be a sampling issue, not a sign your site is in trouble. Quick Tips: Always respond to negative reviews professionally. Focus on building quality content (AI is fine IF you add your expertise!). Stay calm during Google updates—most changes iron themselves out. Got questions or need personal SEO help? Email info@firstdentist.com. (00:00) - Intro (00:34) - Google Review Scams (02:08) - Google Disallows Adding Countries Or States To Service Area Businesses (03:12) - June 2025 Google Update May Be Affecting Local Search Impressions (05:29) - Suspicious Review Warnings on Google (07:21) - June 2025 Core Update Underway (08:07) - Google generates nearly 13% of People Also Ask answers (09:29) - Google Search Console adds 24-hour comparison views (10:23) - Possible Core Web Vitals Bug in Google Search Console (12:50) - Barely Indexed Sites Can Mean Google Isn't Convinced Of The Site Overall (15:20) - Google AI Overviews rank below Position 1 in 12.4% of cases: Study (18:11) - Ahrefs Study Finds No Evidence Google Penalizes AI Content (20:59) - Closing & Contact Information

5. 

   13 Jun 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - Google AI Updates and How to Gauge SEO Success

   Google’s AI Overviews & Ads: What’s Changed? Google’s new AI Overviews are now appearing in search results, and surprisingly, advertisers are seeing the same rate of paid clicks whether AI is involved or not. What does this mean for you? Paid ads remain a vital piece of the marketing puzzle—even as search changes. If you’re running ads, you now have three placement options: above, within, or below the AI answer. Make sure you’re taking advantage! Heads Up: Google is pushing “AI-powered” automatic bidding for ads, but Ross Dunn urges caution. These systems are a black box and often give you just the basics—conversions with very little context. A skilled ad specialist can capture granular insights on how your money is spent, which helps you make better advertising decisions. Google Business Profile Updates If you’ve noticed changes in your Google Business Profile Q&A section, you’re not alone. Google is showing these only: If a user clicks a map pack result in search Across all searches in Google Maps You can still access all questions and answers via your business profile, so keep them updated! Proactively answer common or potentially deal-breaking questions—this saves time and may help convert more curious searchers into patients. Is Your Data Telling the Truth? Traffic analytics are trickier than ever. With the phase-out of Universal Analytics (GA3), privacy changes, ad blockers, and now AI overviews in search, website traffic data is less reliable year-over-year. The key takeaway: ⭐ Focus your tracking and reporting on conversions, not just general traffic. ⭐ Make sure your conversion tracking (calls, form fills, multi-page visits, etc.) is properly set up. If you’re not sure, ask your team or reach out for help! AI Agents & Website Congestion – Is Your Hosting Ready? AI bots are crawling the web more than ever. If you run a larger site or your hosting is on the basic side, be prepared to monitor and upgrade as needed. Limit plugins on WordPress, review your robots.txt, and consider a content delivery network if your site is media-heavy. New in Google Search: AI Mode & “Deep Search” US users now have an “AI Mode” in Google Search—with much longer, more in-depth answers. The new “deep search” can even generate expert-level reports citing multiple sources. Cool, but also full of potential inaccuracies—double-check before trusting important info! The best news? Google Search Console will soon show data from AI-driven searches so you can see how much AI traffic you’re really getting. Final Word: The digital landscape keeps shifting, but a solid focus on conversions and consistent profile management is key. Got questions or need help setting up tracking? Reply to this email or reach out at info@firstdentist.com. (00:00) - Intro (00:48) - A Note on the Future of Ads in AI (05:33) - Google testing “recently viewed” label (06:30) - Google Search Ranking Volatility Heats Up May 29th (07:07) - Google Updates When Local Questions & Answers Display (09:49) - A Note on Traffic Analysis (14:59) - Google’s Gary Illyes Warns AI Agents Will Create Web Congestion (18:46) - Google launches AI Mode to all U.S. searchers (20:42) - AI Mode in GSC (21:45) - Closing & Contact Information

6. 

   9 May 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - How to Increase AI Search Results for Your Practice

   🔍 LinkedIn Engagement: What Works Now A recent LinkedIn study analyzed over half a million posts and found: Posts with links get 13.57% more interactions and 5% more views. Carousels drive the highest engagement (45%). Polls double engagement rates. Pure text posts perform worst. Takeaway: Next time you post about your practice, add value with links, try interactive polls, or experiment with carousels to stand out! 🦷 Google Business Profiles: Watch for Review Bugs A pesky bug is causing old, fake, or previously removed reviews to show up again in Google Business Profiles. Google has acknowledged this, but fixes may take time. Tip: Double-check your online reviews and report persistent fakes. Stay vigilant, as these issues can resurface unexpectedly. 🤖 AI Search & Overviews: How Dentists Can Stay Visible AI is changing how people search—and how Google decides which practices get seen. Organic search traffic is seeing a shakeup, but not all drops are bad news for patient acquisition. Here are Ross’s top tips: 1. Add Structured Data (Schema Markup) Think of it as a roadmap for search engines. Highlight key info like services, staff credentials, or new technology for richer search results. 2. Target 'Long Tail' Search Terms Use natural language phrases, especially for voice search. Patients are searching with full, detailed questions more often. 3. Use Authentic Images & Videos Regularly create and share office videos or patient experiences (with permission). Batch filming can create months of content in a single day! 4. Prioritize YouTube Repurpose videos for YouTube. High-quality, authentic dental videos can boost local visibility. 5. Encourage (But Carefully Manage) Interaction Discussion and comments can signal valuable content, but moderation is key to avoid spam or headaches. 6. Update Key Content Regularly Refresh cornerstone pages when you upgrade technology, add staff, or change locations. An up-to-date site signals life to both Google and potential patients! 🚩 AI Content & Google’s Quality Standards Google’s new Quality Rater Guidelines are here. Key points: Don’t publish generic, low-effort AI content. Always edit, personalize, and expand with your expertise. Avoid misleading claims. Double-check AI-generated facts. Add value above the basics. Your unique perspective and local reputation matter! 🛡️ A Look Ahead: Controlling AI Access to Your Content There’s early buzz around a new standard, LLMs.txt, which seeks to let site owners better control how AI crawlers (like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini) use your content. While still in the proposal phase, it's something to watch—and First Dentist will be ready to implement when it’s industry standard. 💡 Final Thoughts from Ross SEO and search are moving targets—especially with AI in the picture. But with the right strategy, dental practices can keep growing. For personalized help or to get your next question answered on the podcast, drop us a line at info@firstdentist.com! (00:00) - - Intro (00:36) - - LinkedIn Engagement Study: Links & Carousels (01:51) - - Google Business Profile Bug: Removed Reviews Resurfacing (02:56) - - Improving Your Site's Visibility in AI Search (04:17) - - Tip 1: Add Structured Data with Schema Markup (05:26) - - Tip 2: Target Long-Tail Keywords for Voice Search (07:31) - - Tip 3: Incorporate Images and Videos (10:18) - - Tip 4: Encourage Visitor Interaction (11:14) - - Tip 5: Keep Your Content Fresh (13:11) - - Google Quality Rater Guidelines Update (15:56) - - AI in Search: Google AI Overviews Self-Linking Issue (16:53) - - Google Using AI to Clean Up Paid Ads (18:03) - - LLMS.TXT: Proposed Standard for AI Content Crawling (22:51) - - Closing & Contact Information

7. 

   26 Mar 2025

   Dental SEO 101 - AI Facts and How to Avoid Google Suspensions

   Join Ross Dunn as he dives into essential strategies to protect your dental practice from Google suspensions. Learn about common pitfalls and how to navigate them effectively. Plus, uncover fascinating insights about AI and its impact on the SEO landscape. 🔥 In This Episode: 1. Search Volumes Are Soaring Did you know Google now processes over 5 trillion searches per year? That’s 158,548 per second! The opportunity to be discovered is greater than ever—make those listings count. 2. Google’s Fingerprinting Ban Is Gone—What Does That Mean for You? Google has lifted its ban on “fingerprinting”—a way advertisers track you across different browsers by collecting info like your OS and screen resolution. Firefox offers better protection, but privacy is harder to maintain. Watch for those "creepily accurate" ads! 3. Chegg vs. Google: The AI Overview Controversy Educational giant Chegg is suing Google for using their content in AI Overviews—those summary answers at the top of search results—without sending any traffic back. This matters for dental practices: If Google uses your content for its own summaries, you might lose visitors. Stand out by sharing unique details and going deeper than your competitors. 4. Behind-the-Scenes of Dates on Your Content If you show both “date published” AND “date updated” on your articles, Google may get confused and prioritize the older date—hurting click-throughs. Best practice: Display a single, relevant date to showcase freshness. In your SEO schema (the hidden part), it’s okay to list both. 5. Google Business Profile: Avoid Major Changes! Suspensions Are Up: Innocent edits (like changing your practice name or categories) can get you suspended for a month or more. Stick with Minor Updates: Adjust hours, photos, and videos—it’s safer and even encouraged. Local Ranking Trick: If your homepage ranks organically, use a service or location page as your website URL on your Google Business Profile. This could help you show in BOTH local (map pack) and organic results—without filtering yourself out. 6. Survey Says: Google Is Losing Trust 42% of people say Google is less useful 61% of Gen Z use AI tools instead Quality and trust are slipping—now’s your time to stand out with genuine, quality content 7. AI Search: Proceed with Caution New research shows AI chatbots make mistakes (over 60% wrong answers!) and even fabricate citations. Rely on quality, well-attributed sources for your content—and be wary about trusting AI for accurate references. Takeaways for Dental Practices: Keep your content up-to-date, but don’t clutter it with too many dates. Make only minor, strategic changes to your Google Business Profile—consult with your SEO if in doubt. Add detail, local flavor, and regular updates to your website to appeal to both users and AI-powered search. Stay cautious with new AI tools and watch your website’s traffic like a hawk. Unique, high-quality content will give you the edge as Google—and your patients’ search habits—change rapidly. (00:00) - Intro (01:36) - Firefox May Not Be a Privacy Champion (03:23) - The AI Content Dispute That Matters (05:31) - Optimize Page Date Display (07:31) - How to Avoid Google Business Suspensions (10:20) - Make Only Minor Changes to a Google Business Profile (12:05) - Google is Losing Marketshare (13:38) - How Dentists Can Differentiate (14:31) - Be Careful Using Chatbots For Your Practice

8. 

   15 Nov 2024

   Dental SEO 101 - Critical Updates and How to Be Found on SearchGPT

   This episode of Dental SEO 101 Podcast discusses critical updates regarding FTC review guidelines, outdated SEO practices, and strategies for optimizing dental websites, including adapting to the emergence of SearchGPT.

9. 

   13 Sept 2024

   Dental SEO 101 - Google's Core Update

   This episode analyzes Google's August 2024 core update and its implications for dental websites, emphasizing human-friendly content and long-term SEO strategies.

10. 

    16 Jul 2024

    Dental SEO 101 - Google's Big Purchase & SEO Updates

    Hosts Ross Halili and Scott Krigbaum discuss Google's potential acquisition of Wiz, ad-buyer trends focusing on conversions, core updates rewarding helpful content, domain name relevance, and the integration of 3D/AR in local search.

11. 

    20 Jun 2024

    Dental SEO 101 - The Google Leak

    Host Ross Dunn analyzes a recent Google algorithm document leak, revealing key ranking attributes and practical SEO takeaways for dental practices, including user behavior, website evaluation, and content factors in this interview.

Podcast Authority Score: 23 / 100

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