Your Google Business Profile (the old "Google My Business") is the free listing that appears in Google Maps and the local "dentist near me" results. For most practices it drives more new patients than the website itself — and it's completely free. Here's how to set it up properly and keep it working.
Step 1 — Claim and verify
Go to google.com/business and claim your practice with its real address. Google verifies you (usually by postcard, phone, or video). Don't skip this — an unverified or unclaimed listing can show wrong info and you can't control it.
Step 2 — Categories (this matters a lot)
Set the primary category to "Dentist", then add specific secondary categories you actually offer — Cosmetic dentist, Pediatric dentist, Emergency dental service, etc. Categories strongly influence which searches you appear for, so be accurate and specific.
Step 3 — The core details
- Name: your real practice name, no keyword stuffing (that risks suspension).
- Hours: accurate, and updated for holidays — wrong hours is the fastest way to lose a patient and earn a bad review.
- Phone: your main line, matching your website exactly.
- Website & booking link: point them at your site so listing and site reinforce each other.
- Services & description: list what you actually do, in plain language.
Step 4 — Photos
Add real photos and refresh them periodically: the exterior (so patients can find the door), the interior (clean, welcoming), the team, and you. Listings with real, current photos get more clicks and calls than bare ones.
Step 5 — Reviews (the engine)
This is what separates a listing that ranks from one that doesn't. Ask every happy patient — make it one tap with a short link or QR code — and respond to every review, positive or negative, professionally. Review count, recency, and your responses all feed your local ranking and your trust.
Step 6 — Keep it alive
Post the occasional update (a new service, a holiday hours note), answer the Q&A section, and keep everything accurate as things change. A maintained profile beats a set-and-forget one.
FAQ
How long until it helps? A well-optimized profile with steady recent reviews can start moving in weeks — faster than broad website SEO.
Can I have more than one listing? One per real location only. Duplicate or fake listings get suspended.
Does it replace my website? No — it sends people to your site, which has to be ready to convert them (see getting more new patients from your website).
Want the website half handled so it's ready to receive that traffic? We'll build you a free redesign first — see yours.