Step-by-Step Guide to Dominating Your Neighborhood’s Local SEO
Why the 3-Pack Is the New Front Page
When someone searches “dentist near me,” what they see next determines everything.
That little map box at the top of local search results—the Google 3-Pack—has become the most coveted digital real estate in dentistry. Show up there, and you’re in front of ready-to-book patients. Miss it, and you’re invisible.
If your practice is buried under a dozen others, your growth isn’t just stalled—it’s being given to your competitors.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to rank higher in the Google 3-Pack using proven local SEO strategies for dentists. From optimizing your Google Business Profile to building location authority through citations and reviews, you’ll get the exact playbook our team at Geeks for Growth uses to help dental practices win their local market organically.
What Is the Google 3-Pack—and Why Dentists Must Be There
The Google 3-Pack is the map listing that appears above organic results for local intent queries (like “pediatric dentist in Salt Lake City”). It includes:
- A map snapshot
- 3 business listings
- Links to call, directions, and reviews
Studies show 44% of people click on a business in the 3-Pack—which means not ranking there means not getting found.
Step 1: Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
This is your #1 asset for local SEO for dentists.
Make sure your GBP is:
- Filled out (Name, Address, Phone, Hours, Services, Description)
- Includes target keywords like “dental implants in [City]”
- Uses geo-tagged images of your practice and staff
- Has regular weekly updates (posts, Q&As, photo uploads)
Use long-tail keywords like the ones below in your descriptions and posts.:
- how to optimize Google Business Profile for a dental practice
- dentist local SEO strategy
Step 2: Build and Manage Consistent Citations
Citations are online mentions of your practice’s NAP (Name, Address, Phone).
Start with:
- Healthgrades
- Yelp
- Apple Maps
- Yellow Pages
- Dental-specific directories like ZocDoc or 1-800-Dentist
Pro Tip: Use a tool like BrightLocal or Whitespark to find and fix inconsistent listings. Inconsistent citations are one of the top reasons dentists fail to rank locally.
Step 3: Get (and Respond to) More 5-Star Reviews
Local SEO isn’t just about listings—it’s about trust. And Google reads volume, recency, and sentiment of reviews when ranking you.
Implement a simple system:
- Ask every patient before they leave
- Use automated SMS/email follow-ups
- Respond to all reviews, positive or not
- Include keywords like “gentle family dentist in Salt Lake City” in your responses
Keyword-rich review responses improve both your relevance and click-through rate.
Step 4: Create Local SEO-Friendly Landing Pages
Your website still plays a role, especially in reinforcing your location relevance.
For each office location:
- Create a dedicated page (e.g., “Cosmetic Dentistry in Provo, UT”)
- Include local keywords, Google map embed, and testimonials from that location.
- Use schema markup for local business and medical organization
This is where terms like “dental SEO services” and “multi-location dental marketing” shine organically.
Want the Full Marketing Makeover Blueprint?
Ranking higher is just one piece of the growth puzzle.
Explore our full Dental Practice Makeover Guide to see how your front desk, brand, website UX, and content all work together to boost conversions, trust, and long-term loyalty.
Read The Full Dental Practice Makeover Blueprint →
Conclusion: The Map Is the New Homepage
If your practice isn’t ranking in the 3-Pack, you’re losing patients who are ready to book right now.
From optimizing your Google Business Profile to getting 5-star reviews and owning your local listings, these steps aren’t optional—they’re essential.
And if you’re too busy pulling teeth (literally) to pull rankings? That’s where we come in.
Let’s Get You in the Google 3-Pack.
→ Book a Free Local SEO Strategy Call With Geeks for Growth
