Want better search engine results? Join your local chamber of commerce

You know the basics for making sure search engines find your practice: make sure your dental practice name, address and phone number are consistently listed on major online directories. But another a major factor to your site’s visibility in local SEO searches involves showing Google that your products and services are relevant to your specific community and location.

Joining your local chamber of commerce is a great way to connect to the local community. It’s also valuable when Google ranks practices for the key terms [city + dentist]. Most chamber of commerce sites provide a visible online directory that lists all active members. Membership often involves an annual fee of $200 to $500, but it is well worth it. Their online database of members provides an effective alternative to low-quality link directories that your competitors might be using.

Chambers of commerce are also great sources of advertising. The main audience most chambers of commerce reach include:

• entrepreneurs
• small and medium sized businesses
• large business brands
• government
• labour organizations
• academic organizations
• policy makers

Joining your local chamber of commerce also gives you access to networking opportunities with other local businesses. Dental practices can take advantage of these networks by providing member-to-member discounts (where appropriate), and that could lead to other respected sites linking to yours. Most chambers of commerce encourage proposals for new suppliers and vendors to offer discounted goods and services to networks – and sometimes those networks can include thousands of businesses.

Finally, if you’re involved with local events and volunteer activities, the chamber of commerce could provide another promotional platform to let community members know about it.