Google Search Statistics for Dentists: What You Should Know
It’s no secret that Google is the lifeblood of online visibility, and that’s especially true for dentists who want to attract new patients. It’s not just a hunch; data proves that online search is a critical component for success in growing your dental practice.
Because we love dental practice-related data at My Social Practice, we’ve put together another collection of the best statistics that prove why every dentist needs a robust online presence.
Ready for our round-up of Google search statistics for dentists?
General Statistics
Almost 92% of the total global search volume comes from Google
As of December 2023, Google dominates the search engine market with a staggering 91.6% share of all global searches. In comparison, Bing holds only 3.8% of the global search volume. It’s crucial to prioritize optimizing for Google search in your online dental marketing strategy, regardless of your specialty.
The top Google search result receives almost 28% of all clicks online
SEO is critical in a successful dental marketing strategy. According to a recent study by Backlinko, almost 28% of all online clicks are received by the top-ranking search result on Google. This means that more than a quarter of people searching on Google could potentially visit your website. In comparison, the second and third-ranked results receive 15.8% and 11% of clicks, respectively. On the other hand, ranking 10th on Google might only get you 2.4% of clicks, and being on the second page of results gives you less than a 1% (0.63%) chance of being clicked at all.
The average time for a user’s first click is 14.6 seconds
On average, it takes a Google searcher about 14.6 seconds to click on a search result. This means that you have approximately 14 seconds to make your website stand out among others on the search results page. People usually click on the highest-ranking results, but their behavior can also change depending on the layout of the search engine results page (SERP) for different search queries. For example, searches for local businesses will usually display Google Business Profiles on a map, so it’s important to focus on your local SEO as well.
65% of users click on organic Google results
The landscape of Google search results is always evolving with new features such as snippets, video carousels, and image packs. Despite these changes, research shows that the majority of users still favor the traditional blue-linked organic search results. According to Backlinko, 65% of users click on organic results more than any other feature, and 10% even click on multiple organic links.
The majority of Google search queries are 3 to 4 words long
Data from Semrush shows that 38.2% of Google queries consist of three to four words, while 31.6% consist of one to two words. Only 3.5% of search terms are over 11 words. These statistics suggest that most users formulate their search queries using question words or location-specific terms, such as “dentist near me” or “best dentist in [location]”. It’s important to keep these Google search stats in mind when planning your keyword strategy.
More than 61% of searches with a specific intent are conducted on Google
Billions of searches are made on search engines every day. Not all of them have a specific intent; many are contextually driven (for example, searching for something related to something else, like looking up an actor after searching for a film) or just casual browsing.
However, out of all the online searches with specific intent, whether to visit a particular website or to find directions to a specific location, 61% are done on Google. This means that compared to other search engines, Google has more users who are much more likely to become high-quality leads.
Traffic Statistics
Users are 37.7% more likely to click on the top organic search result than the top paid search result
Paying to rank first on Google can give you a lot of visibility, but it may not lead to many clicks. Recent research shows that, on average, the top-ranking organic search result gets about 37.7% more clicks than the top paid search result. This trend holds true for all other ranking positions as well: organic search results consistently get more clicks than paid ads.
In general, people trust real, authentic, and valuable content more than advertisements. This is why investing in dental SEO strategies can be so beneficial for your brand presence. Even without using any paid tactics, with the right strategies, you have a good chance of earning visibility, traffic, and users’ trust.
Organic traffic accounts for 53% of all trackable website traffic.
Organic search remains the most significant digital channel and the primary source of web traffic, constituting 53% of all trackable website traffic across all industries. Therefore, prioritizing the creation of organic content in your content strategy will likely result in higher traffic for your website.
Almost 97% of websites receive no organic traffic from Google
A study of nearly 14 billion web pages found that 96.6% of them receive no organic traffic from Google searches. Additionally, just under 2% of web pages get between one and 10 monthly visits, and only 0.07% receive over 1,000 regular visits. These high-traffic pages are typically associated with globally recognized websites like Amazon or Netflix. With such intense competition, it’s crucial to develop a strong dental SEO marketing plan to ensure your site ranks above the rest.
A site may struggle to rank on Google due to factors such as not receiving backlinks from high-authority sites, targeting keywords with low search traffic potential, failing to align with user search intent, lacking location-based references in content, or not being indexed and crawlable by Google.
Moving up in rank on Google can increase your click-through rate (CTR) by up to 32.3%
The relative click-through rate (CTR) increases by an average of 32.3% for every position a site moves up in Google search results. Meanwhile, absolute CTR increases by an average of 2.8%. However, these CTR rankings also vary depending on where your site is ranked on the results. For example, moving from #2 to #1 can increase CTR by 74.5%, while moving from #10 to #9 will result in an 11% increase. In short, higher rankings mean more clicks.
63% of all Google search traffic comes from mobile devices
In 2013, only 27% of Google traffic came from mobile devices. That rate has steadily risen as more and more people own smartphones. In fact, in the fourth quarter of 2021, 63% of all organic Google search traffic came from mobile devices.
These Google search stats show that mobile devices dominate search. Therefore, optimizing your pages for mobile ranking and usability is crucial to your business’s success.
Local SEO Statistics
46% of Google searches are local
Google’s vast information database covers the entire world, but an unexpected fact is that 46% of all searches on Google are for something local. This means that nearly half of all Google searches have local intent, whether it’s to find local businesses (e.g., “dental implants near me”) or to read reviews about a dentist’s office before visiting them.
For dentists, it’s crucial to prioritize local SEO when building an SEO strategy. Appearing on the results page of a “near me” search can make a significant difference in attracting a steady flow of patients rather than being overshadowed by local competition.
The top organic Google Business Profiles receive 13% more clicks than the top paid profiles
Similar to regular Google search results, businesses have the option to advertise on Google’s map pack, which displays all local businesses in a specific area. For dentists, this can help improve the visibility of your Google Business Profile (GBP). However, just like with regular search results, users generally prefer organic (non-paid) results over ads. According to Google Business Profile statistics, GBP listings that rank organically receive an average of 13% higher click-through rates than promoted listings.
87% of consumers use Google when they research local businesses
Did you know that almost half of all Google searches are for local information, and nearly 90% of those are used to look up local businesses? According to a survey by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers in 2022 reported using Google to research and assess businesses in their local area, which marks a 24% increase since 2020. As the world starts to open up after the pandemic, businesses are seeing more in-person visitors, but customers prefer to be well-informed before visiting. They often search for local business offerings, locations, and reviews before visiting in person.
The main takeaway from these Google search statistics for dentists is the importance of maintaining an updated and accurate local online presence for your business. This includes listing on local directories, responding to reviews and comments, and keeping your GBP (Google Business Profile) active. It’s also crucial to explore other ways to enhance your dental local SEO citations to improve your ranking.
Consumers trust Google reviews 54% more than reviews on any other platform
It is widely known that almost all consumers—98%, to be exact—read reviews about local businesses online. Among all review platforms, Google remains the most trusted across all industries. According to Google review statistics, 54% of consumers said they were more likely to trust Google reviews over any other platform.
These Google review statistics demonstrate that when it comes to authority and credibility, there’s no beating Google—consumers simply trust it more than others.
88% of local Google searches result in a visit to a physical location
It’s important to not only attract online traffic to your website, but also to convert that traffic into physical visits to your dental office. Ranking on Google can significantly increase your chances of getting physical visitors. Research shows that 88% of local Google searches result in a visit to a physical location. This means that simply having a local online presence can make a big difference in driving foot traffic to your practice.
Google Search Statistics for Dentists
The stats we’ve covered show just how much Google dominates the search game, and how important it is to rank well in both local and organic searches. Whether it’s optimizing for mobile or keeping your Google Business Profile updated, focusing on SEO can make a big difference in attracting new patients.
By taking these Google search stats to heart, you can fine-tune your dental marketing strategy and connect with more people right where they’re searching—on Google.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is SEO for dentists?
SEO for dentists involves optimizing a dental practice’s online presence to improve visibility in search engine results. This is crucial because it helps attract more patients by ensuring that the practice appears prominently when potential patients search for dental services. A strong SEO strategy can enhance the practice’s credibility and authority in the eyes of both search engines and patients.
What role do links play in SEO for dentists?
Links play a crucial role in SEO for dentists by acting as votes of confidence for the website. Internal links within the site help highlight important pages, while inbound links from other reputable websites enhance the site’s authority. Both types of links are essential for improving search engine rankings and establishing the practice as a trusted source of information.
Do dentists need an SEO-optimized website?
Yes! It’s vital to have a well-functioning, beautiful dental website to build your authority with your potential patient base. You’ll attract new patients, retain old ones, improve your SEO, and create trust in patients with an effective website.
About the Author: Megan Nielsen is an SEO strategist and the Grand Overlord of copywriting at My Social Practice. My Social Practice is a dental marketing company that offers a full suite of dental marketing services to thousands of dental practices throughout the United States and Canada.
