Episode 4 of the Dental SEO 101 Podcast is packed with can’t-miss news and actionable tips to help dental practices like yours stay sharp, compliant, and ahead of the competition.

Here’s a quick rundown of what we covered:

🚨 New FTC Review Guidelines = Big Fines

• FTC has dropped new review regulations with penalties of up to $50,000 per violation for fake, paid, or suppressed reviews—even if they’re AI-generated or come from insiders.
• Your best move: Keep reviews authentic and never incentivize with discounts or gifts.

😬 6 SEO Practices to Stop ASAP

We break down what’s outdated and risky for your website, including:

• Buying expired domains for SEO benefit (doesn’t work anymore!)
• Purchasing links solely for rankings
• Keyword stuffing (Google’s smarter than that)
• Copying competitors—be unique and add your expertise
• Adding content “for Google” instead of your patients
• Blindly following broad SEO case studies without considering your unique situation

🏆 What Sets Top Dental Sites Apart?

Learn the secrets from the most successful local practices:

• Show genuine personality and real patient moments on your website
• Keep your Google Business Profile fresh (including updating hours and posting photos!)
• Respond to every review, personalize your thanks, and always handle negatives gracefully
• Be active and authentic on social media—show your practice culture

📱 SEO News You Need to Know

• SearchGPT is coming: It uses Bing, not Google! Make sure your site is indexed on Bing to maximize future AI search referrals.
• Core Web Vitals: Don’t obsess—focus on good user experience, not perfection.
• Content length myths: There’s no magic word count. Unique, valuable content wins, whether it’s short or long.
• SEO tools: Use them wisely, but don’t rely on them entirely. Real-world experience matters most.

💬 Got Questions?

We love answering your SEO questions—email them to info@firstdentist.com for a chance to be featured on the next episode!

Listen to Episode 4 now for the full insights and more practical tips to empower your dental practice’s online presence.

• (00:35) - A fake review could cost you $50,000
• (02:18) - Real-world examples of fake review fines
• (02:43) - Six SEO practices you need to stop right now
• (02:57) - Expired domains - the pros and cons
• (04:12) - Buying paid links
• (05:05) - Adding the meta index follow
• (05:31) - Scraping Google search features
• (06:03) - Questionable keyword use
• (06:47) - Copying your competitors
• (08:21) - Case Study Limitations in SEO
• (11:04) - Engaging Dental Website Tips
• (12:15) - Maintain your Google Business Profile
• (13:41) - How to handle positive reviews properly
• (14:12) - How to handle a negative review properly
• (15:05) - Leveraging community involvement
• (16:30) - Dental website URL best practices
• (17:16) - The importance of site health
• (19:14) - Ideal content length for SEO
• (20:43) - Over-reliance on SEO tool metrics
• (23:04) - How to be found in Search GPT

📰 Major Google Core Update—What It Means for You

The Google August 2024 core update is officially done! This shakeup caused serious ranking movement, but—good news—if your content’s human-friendly, unique, and updated regularly, you’re in a strong place. Experiencing volatility? Don’t panic! Major drops may resolve only after the next core update. In the meantime, focus on creating content that genuinely educates, informs, and cares for your patients.

🕰️ Internet Archive—Your Website’s Past Is Getting Easier to Access

Google’s now linking up with the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine in search results. Anyone can check what your dental site used to look like, for better or for worse. Got outdated or sensitive content you’d rather not have in the public eye? You can request removal from archive.org, but there are no guarantees.

🗣️ Forum Content Is Rising—Don’t Miss Out!

Google is testing a feature that highlights top comments and content from forums such as Reddit. What does that mean for your practice? Patients—and potential patients—may see forum discussions about you right in their search results. Participate professionally, offer valuable advice (even to people in other locations), and you might gain both authority and new patients!

🚗 Local Rankings Hack—A Word of Warning

There’s a buzz about local SEO companies artificially boosting local rankings by simulating driving directions to dental clinics. While some see quick gains, this is a risky, “black hat” tactic. Our advice: stick to above-board methods for lasting results.

📸 Keep Your Photos Fresh!

Google Maps is now more often highlighting business photos above reviews. Old or irrelevant photos could hurt your reputation—keep those images current and inviting! If you’re a First Dentist client and we’re nudging you for new photos, this is why.

🔢 Don’t Obsess Over the Numbers

Noticed big percentage swings in your traffic or rankings? Google’s John Mueller says tiny traffic numbers can make graphs look wild. Focus on long-term trends and real results, not daily ups and downs.

📝 Heading Tags & Link “Rules”: Relax!

Strictly following “2–5 internal links per post” or worrying about H1/H2 order won’t move the SEO needle on established sites. Use headings logically for humans and accessibility, and add links where they make sense—write for your patients, not the algorithms.

🤖 AI Overviews: Top Spots Matter

Almost half of the links in Google’s AI Overviews come from the top organic search results. In short: if you’re ranking well, you’re also likely to be featured in these new AI results. Keep optimizing for quality!

⚖️ Yelp vs. Google: Antitrust Drama

Yelp is suing Google for “dominating” local search, but honestly, neither platform has a stellar rep for support. Still, any legal shakeup could have ripple effects for dentists—stay tuned!

Quick Tips to Take Action:

• Review your website for dated info and request removals from archive.org if needed.
• Respond to or join dental discussions in forums like Reddit.
• Update your Google business photos—today!
• Settle in for the long SEO game. Don’t chase quick fixes.

• (00:32) - Aug 2024 Google Core Update
• (03:21) - Google Adds Wayback Machine Links
• (04:26) - How to Remove Your Site from the Wayback Machine
• (05:40) - Reddit for Dentist Recommendations
• (08:24) - Influence Local Rankings with Directions
• (09:53) - Google's Local Spam Oversight
• (11:32) - Business Photos Next to Reviews
• (12:52) - Long-Term Focus Beats Daily Metrics
• (15:03) - Non-Sequential Heading Tag Question
• (16:29) - Yelp is Suing Google
• (18:03) - AI Overview Research Results
• (19:41) - Link Quantity vs. Quality Debate
• (20:57) - Guidelines vs. Customized Expert Solutions

🚀 Google’s Big Move: A $23 Billion Bet on Cybersecurity Google’s parent company Alphabet is in advanced talks to acquire Wiz, a rising cybersecurity startup, for a staggering $23 billion. While this buyout is focused on cloud services, the ripple effect could soon touch areas like organic search security and digital marketing. Stay tuned—improved security could mean better search filtering and safer web experiences for everyone.

✨ Tracking Success: Ad-buyer Trends & What Matters Big brands are finally focusing less on how often their ads are seen and more on the business they actually generate. For dental practices, this mirrors the importance of tracking results: it’s not just about clicks, it’s about getting new patients in the chair! Ross and Scott urge practices to invest in meaningful call tracking and analytics—but remind us it’s tough to be perfect, especially with growing privacy restrictions.

🦷 Google’s Core Update: Hope for Those Hit by Helpful Content Changes New Google core updates are coming, with an emphasis on giving proper credit (and rankings!) to creators who are genuinely helping their audiences. If your site struggled after past updates, help may be on the way. Practices that provide authentic, useful information could see a lift.

🌐 The Truth About Domain Names for Dental Practices Does it matter if you have a .com, .ca, or .net? According to fresh research, not really—as long as your domain matches your location and the site quality is high. Scott and Ross recommend checking for domain history and spammy backlinks before buying an “amazing” domain. Sometimes, a cheap or available name is hiding a messy past!

👀 Google Testing: New Local Search & 3D Images Google is experimenting with new AI-powered local search layouts, including horizontal scrolling results and smarter “packs.” Plus, 3D and AR images could soon make listings pop, especially for practices that showcase tech or products. Imagine letting patients virtually tour your office or dental tech right in search results!

💡 Key Takeaway:
SEO and digital marketing are always evolving. Whether it’s AI-organized search results, privacy challenges for tracking, or Google’s changing expectations for content—staying informed is your best weapon for ongoing growth.

• (01:06) - Google Eyes Major Acquisition of Wiz
• (03:12) - Changing Focus to Conversions
• (07:57) - Another Google Core Update
• (10:17) - Updates to Page Experience Tracking
• (13:13) - Google Tests Back to AI Button
• (15:38) - How Domains Affect US Rankings
• (19:56) - Data Informs SEO
• (21:50) - To Do Before Buying a Domain
• (25:06) - 3D and Augmented Reality in Search
• (26:54) - How Google Could Use 3D for Dental Practices
• (28:11) - AI Local Search Results