Summer has a way of making things slow down—except your overhead. You may notice more last-minute cancellations, lighter schedules, or a dip in new patient calls. And while your clinical work might slow, your bills and payroll never do. It’s frustrating when you’re running a great practice but still staring at empty chairs. That’s exactly why summer is the ideal time to double down on Google Business Profile optimization for dentists—so you can stay visible, relevant, and ready when patients are looking.
Most dentists assume fewer calls means less interest. But the truth is, people are still searching. It’s just a matter of who they find first. If your online presence—especially your Google Business Profile (GBP)—isn’t regularly updated, you’re losing out to practices that are doing more with theirs.
Why Summer Slows Down—And Why That’s a Marketing Opportunity
You know the seasonal trends better than anyone. Families are on vacation, school is out, and dental care doesn’t always feel urgent in July. But behind the scenes, the search volume for “dentist near me” doesn’t stop. In fact, mobile searches for dental services stay consistent year-round.
What does change is who gets the clicks. Patients often choose from the top three listings in the Google Map Pack—the small, high-visibility section that appears before organic results. If your practice isn’t ranking there, your chances of getting found are drastically reduced.
This is where your Google Business Profile becomes one of the most powerful tools you have. And most practices don’t even realize theirs is underperforming.
The Hidden Power of Google Business Profile Optimization for Dentists
Your Google Business Profile isn’t just a static listing—it’s a dynamic source of real-time visibility. Yet most practices leave it untouched after setup.
Here’s what gets missed:
- The services list is incomplete or outdated
- Reviews are left unacknowledged
- Photos are old or poorly optimized
- No new posts, blogs, or updates have been added in months
These things matter more than most dentists realize. 68% of users say they are more likely to choose a business that has recent Google updates and photos. And 91% of consumers read local business reviews before making a decision.
More importantly, Google itself prioritizes profiles that stay active. That means regular content updates, review interaction, accurate service descriptions, and fresh images all contribute to your placement in the Map Pack.
If your competitors are doing this and you’re not, you’re going to drop—regardless of how good your practice actually is.
What Dentists Can (and Should) Be Doing This Summer
Now’s the time to clean house—and stand out. Here’s how you can put your downtime to use and reposition your practice online:
1. Update Every Section of Your Google Business Profile
Make sure your hours, services, and business description are current. If you’ve added new technology or treatments this year, they should be reflected.
2. Post Weekly—Not Just to Social Media
Google lets you post updates directly to your GBP. Share a short blog, highlight a special, introduce a team member, or celebrate a patient win (HIPAA-compliant, of course). These updates signal to Google that your practice is active and relevant.
3. Optimize and Post New Photos
Geo-tagged, high-resolution images of your office, staff, and treatments help humanize your profile and boost ranking potential. Google prioritizes businesses with fresh visual content.
4. Feature and Respond to 5-Star Reviews
Reviews don’t just influence potential patients—they influence Google. Highlighting keywords like “dental implants” or “gentle cleaning” in your review responses boosts profile keyword relevance.
5. Track Your Progress Weekly
Too often, dentists “set and forget” their GBP. Tracking keywords, updating history, and rankings ensures you’re improving—not standing still.
Give Yourself a Gargle Boost This Summer!
We get it—doing all of this manually isn’t realistic when you’re running a practice. That’s why we created Gargle BOOST—a tool designed specifically for Google Business Profile optimization for dentists.
Here’s how it works:
- Professionally optimized profile content that reflects your services, specialties, and strengths.
- Fresh blogs and images posted directly to your Google Business Profile to keep it active and engaging.
- Refined service listings and descriptions so potential patients see exactly what you offer.
- Faster visibility for your best reviews, helping showcase your reputation where it matters most.
- Profile settings calibrated to outperform local competition based on high-performing benchmarks.
- Clear, actionable reporting with keyword tracking, before-and-after heatmaps, and real-time updates on profile activity
With 93% of Gargle BOOST users seeing their profiles rank in the top 3 for target keywords within six months, it’s not just about catching up—it’s about pulling ahead.
If summer is slow, make it strategic. This is your chance to invest in the kind of marketing that compounds over time—and pays off when things pick up again.
Book a Demo Today!
So, if your front desk is quiet this week, don’t wait. Give yourself a Gargle Boost—and turn summer’s lull into your practice’s launchpad.
