Summer often brings a slowdown to Canadian dental practices—but your overhead doesn’t take a vacation. Cancellations increase, patient volume dips, and the phones go quieter than you’d like. While clinical activity may ease, it presents an ideal window to strengthen your online presence. A well-optimized Google Business Profile (GBP) could be the key to staying visible and attracting patients who are still searching.
Many dentists interpret fewer calls as decreased interest when, in fact, search activity often remains steady. It’s not about whether people are searching; it’s about who shows up first. An underused Google Business Profile means losing visibility to more active competitors.
Why Summer is a Strategic Time to Invest in Your Marketing
Families may be away and routines disrupted, but the need for dental care continues. Mobile searches for “dentist near me” remain consistent throughout the year. What changes in summer is the level of competition for top placement in the Google Map Pack.
If your clinic doesn’t appear among the top three local results, your chances of being found drop significantly. That’s where regular updates and attention to your GBP can give you a major edge.
The Untapped Potential of Your Google Business Profile
Too often, practices create their profile and leave it alone. But your GBP is a dynamic marketing tool that can boost real-time visibility if appropriately managed.
Common missed opportunities include:
- Outdated or incomplete service lists
- Unacknowledged reviews
- Stale or poor-quality photos
- No recent posts or updates
Google rewards active, relevant profiles. That means consistent updates, review responses, clear service details, and fresh imagery all contribute to improved ranking.
Practical Steps Dentists Can Take This Summer
- Review and Update Your Profile: Ensure that business hours, services, and your practice description reflect what you offer today. Any new technology, services, or team changes should be included.
- Post Weekly Updates: Use the GBP posting feature to share announcements, educational content, or short blogs. These posts show Google that your practice is active.
- Add High-Quality, Geo-Tagged Images: New photos of your team, office, or equipment help your listing feel current and engaging—and improve your profile ranking.
- Respond to Reviews Thoughtfully: Engaging with patient reviews, especially those that include target keywords, improves both public perception and SEO value.
- Track Profile Performance: Monitor how your listing is performing in terms of views, actions, and keyword rankings. Ongoing tracking ensures your updates are making a difference.
Support Your Strategy with Gargle BOOST
If you don’t have time to manage all of this on your own, Gargle BOOST can help. Designed specifically for dental practices, it provides:
- Custom profile optimization with tailored service descriptions
- Regular content and image updates to keep your listing fresh
- Highlighting of top reviews and keyword-focused responses
- Strategic adjustments to improve local search rankings
- Reporting that shows you exactly how your profile is performing
When summer slows down, your marketing doesn’t have to. With the right online presence, your practice can stay competitive and prepared for the patient surge that often follows the break.
Book a Demo Today
If your front desk is quiet, now’s the time to act. Let Gargle BOOST help you make the most of summer by building a stronger, more visible dental marketing strategy.
