If you run a dental clinic and have a website, you must have heard about the importance of a good title and how it can help your dental site appear in search results. But what is an SEO title, and do you write one that actually brings in local patients looking for a dentist?
A strong SEO title isn’t just about using keywords—it’s about making your website stand out in search results so patients choose you over other clinics. The right title can mean the difference between a potential patient clicking on your site or scrolling past it.
In this guide, you’ll learn everything about SEO titles to boost your rankings, increase clicks, and fill more seats in your clinic.
What Is An SEO Title?
An SEO title is a headline that appears in Google’s search results when a potential online visitor searches for a dental service. Think of enquiries like “best dentist in Sydney” or “emergency dental care near me.” It’s also known as a title tag—a small but powerful HTML element that helps search engines and patients understand what your page is about.
Your SEO title is one of the first things online users see when your website appears in search results. A well-written SEO title can make the difference between someone clicking on your site and choosing a competitor instead.
Where Does An SEO Title Appear?
Your SEO title appears in three main places:
- Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs): This is the blue, clickable text people see when they search for something on Google.
- Browser Tabs: When someone visits your website, the title tag appears at the top of their browser tab.
- Social Media Previews: If someone shares your page on Facebook or LinkedIn, the title tag appears in the link preview.
- HTML Code: The SEO title is set in the <title> section of your page’s HTML code, telling search engines what your page or post is about.
A good SEO title does more than just describe your page—it helps your practice stand out and make patients feel confident in choosing you over other dental websites. To have a good SEO title, it needs to be:
- Descriptive: Clearly tell searchers what your page is about.
- Compelling: Make it interesting enough to encourage clicks.
- SEO-Optimised: Include relevant keywords to help search engines rank your page.
How SEO Titles Can Grow Dental Practices
A well-crafted SEO title can do more than just help your website rank—it can bring in more local patients and help grow your reputation.
Think of your SEO title as your website’s first impression in Google search results. If it’s strong, more people will click. If it’s weak or unclear, potential patients might scroll past.
With an effective SEO title tag, you can:
- Improve Your Visibility In Google’s Search Results: A strong title tag helps your dental website appear higher in SERPs. This is especially the case when people search for services like “teeth whitening near me” or “best family dentist in Melbourne.”
- Increase Click-Through Rates (CTR): A compelling SEO title encourages more people to click on your website instead of a competitor’s. More clicks mean more potential new patients visiting your site.
- Set Clear Expectations For Visitors: Your page title tells patients exactly what to expect before they click on your site. This helps attract the right audience—people who actually need the dental services you offer.
- Strengthen Your Branding: Including your name in relevant titles makes you more recognisable. Over time, potential patients will start remembering your name, making them more likely to choose you when they need a dentist.
Can Google Rewrite Title Tags?
Yes, Google may rewrite your entire title tag if it’s not well-structured. If your title tag exceeds the recommended length or doesn’t match your web page’s content, Google might change it to something less effective.
To avoid this, make sure your page’s title tag is:
- Short And Precise: Google typically displays relatively short title tags in search results. If your title is too long, important words might be cut off.
- Relevant To Your Page’s Content: Your SEO title should accurately describe what your page is about. If it doesn’t, Google may rewrite it to better match search intent.
- Optimised With Keywords: Target keywords (like “veneers in Sydney”) help Google understand your page. This way, you can rank higher in search results.
A well-optimised title tag can bring in more website traffic, attract more patients, and ultimately help your dental practice grow.
How To Write SEO Titles For Your Dental Website
A strong SEO title helps your website stand out in Google search results and attracts more local patients to your clinic. But how do you write SEO titles that actually work? Here’s what you need to know.
Include Your Primary Keyword
Your SEO title should feature a target keyword that matches what potential patients search for. This helps Google understand what your page is about and improves your ranking in search results.
For example, if your page is about dental implants, a strong title tag might be:
“Dental Implants in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
This tells search engines (and patients) that your page is about dental implants and where you’re located.
Keep It Within The Right Length
Google typically displays 50–60 characters of a title tag before cutting it off. If your title is too long, important words may get cut off, making it less effective.
- Good Example: “24/7 Emergency Dentist in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
- Not-So-Good Example: “Emergency Dental Care for All Ages in Melbourne | 24/7 Dentist You Can Trust” (Too long—Google may cut off part of it.)
Make It Descriptive And Engaging
Your title tag should grab attention and encourage clicks. Instead of a generic page title, make it compelling.
- Not-So-Good Example: “Our Dental Services”
- Good Example: “Comprehensive Dental Care in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
Adding action words like “Expert,” “Gentle,” “Affordable,” or “Trusted” can also make your title tag stronger.
Avoid Duplicate Title Tags
Every web page on your dental website should have a unique title tag. Duplicate title tags can confuse search engines and hurt your rankings.
For example, if you have separate pages for dental implants and teeth whitening, make sure their SEO titles are different.
- “High-Quality Dental Implants in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
- “Professional Teeth Whitening in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
Match Search Intent
Think about what your potential patients are actually looking for. Are they searching for:
- Teeth whitening in Sydney?
- An emergency dentist near their suburb?
- Braces for their child?
Your title tag should match what they need. For example, if someone searches “braces for kids”, a good title tag would be:
“Expert Kids’ Braces in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”
By matching search intent, your SEO titles will bring in the right patients at the right time.
Common Title Tag Issues And How To Fix Them
Some common mistakes can affect your rankings and reduce the number of potential patients clicking on your site. Here’s what to watch out for and how to fix them.
Missing Title Tags
If a web page doesn’t have a title tag, Google may generate one automatically based on your page content. This can lead to less effective SEO title tags that may not accurately reflect what your page is about.
- Problem: Your page appears in search results with an auto-generated title that may not include your target keyword.
- Solution: Ensure every web page has an optimised title tag that includes relevant keywords and clearly describes the content.
Keyword Stuffing
Adding too many relevant keywords to your SEO title tag makes it look unnatural. This can make it less appealing to users and even hurt your rankings.
- Problem: A title like “Best Dentist Sydney | Sydney Dentist | Affordable Sydney Dental Care” feels forced and repetitive.
- Solution: Write excellent title tags that read naturally, including your primary keyword. Example: “Trusted Dentist in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”.
By avoiding these common title tag issues, you can improve your search engine rankings, attract more local patients, and help your dental website stand out in Google’s search results.
Using Google Search Console For Title Tags
Google Search Console (GSC) is a free tool that helps you track and improve your website’s performance in search results.
It can also provide insights into your title tags, helping you optimise them for better rankings and CTR.
Checking How Your Title Tags Appear In Search Results
You can use GSC to see how Google displays your title tags in search results. This will let you know if Google has rewritten your title tags or if they are irrelevant or missing important keywords.
To check:
- Log into Google Search Console.
- Click on Performance > Search Results.
- Scroll down to the Queries tab to see which keywords bring traffic to your site.
- Click the Pages tab to view your website’s ranking pages.
- Click on a specific page and analyse the search terms it ranks for.
- Compare the title tag of that page with the search queries.
- If they don’t align, consider adjusting the title tag to better match user intent.
This helps you determine if your SEO titles are attracting the right audience.
Identifying Title Tag Issues
Google Search Console can also detect problems with your title tags, such as:
- Missing title tags
- Duplicate title tags
- Overly long title tags
How to Check for Issues:
- Open Google Search Console.
- Click on Pages under the Indexing section.
- Look under Why pages aren’t indexed for:
- “Duplicate without user-selected canonical” (indicating duplicate title tags).
- “Crawled – currently not indexed” (indicating possible title tag or content issues).
- Click on affected pages to inspect their title tags.
If your page is not ranking well, your title tag may need improvement.
Optimising Title Tags With GSC
Once you’ve identified issues, you can update your SEO titles to improve performance.
Best Practices for Title Tag Optimisation:
- Include Your primary Keyword Naturally (e.g., “Teeth Whitening in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]”).
- Make it compelling and descriptive to encourage more clicks.
- Avoid keyword stuffing—this can lead to Google rewriting your title tag.
Tracking Results After Updating Title Tags
After optimising your title tags, check your GSC data to see if rankings and clicks improve.
How to Track Performance:
- Go to Google Search Console.
- Click on Performance > Search Results.
- Compare CTR, impressions, and average position before and after changes.
- If you notice an increase in clicks and rankings, your title tag optimisation is working!
By using Google Search Console, you can ensure your SEO title tags are effective and optimised. This will help more patients find your dental website.
Best Practices To Keep Title Tags In The Right Range
Google typically displays 50–60 characters of a title tag. But to be safe, keep your title tag at 58 characters or less to avoid truncation in search results.
Here’s how to do it:
- Prioritise Important Keywords: Start with the most relevant terms, like “Invisalign Braces in Sydney” instead of “Sydney’s Best Invisalign Braces for Straight Teeth.”
- Avoid Unnecessary Words: Remove filler words like “Welcome to” or “Learn About.”
- Use separators efficiently: A vertical bar (|) or dash (-) helps separate keywords without wasting space.
- Test Your Titles In GSC: Check if Google is rewriting or truncating your SEO title tags.
These steps ensure your full title is visible and compelling to users.
- Good Example: “Invisalign in Sydney | [Your Clinic’s Name]” (Perfect length)
- Not-So-Good Example: “Invisalign Clear Aligners for Straighter Teeth in Sydney” (Too long)
Keeping your SEO titles concise, descriptive, and keyword-rich improves visibility, CTR, and rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all web pages need an SEO title?
Yes! Every page on your dental website needs an SEO title. It helps search engines understand your content and improves your chances of ranking higher in search results.
How do I write an SEO title for a blog post on my dental website?
A blog post should have a title tag that includes relevant keywords and is engaging, like: “How Do Dental Veneers Work? Process, Benefits, And Care”
What’s the difference between an SEO title and a meta description?
An SEO title is a clickable headline that appears in search results. A meta description is the short text below the title that gives a preview of the page. Both should be well-written to attract more visitors to your site.
Should my SEO title match my H1 heading?
Not always! Your H1 heading should be clear and helpful for readers, while your SEO title should be optimised for search engines. They can be similar, but they don’t have to be the same.
What are secondary keywords, and should I include them in my title tag?
Secondary keywords are extra words related to your main keyword. If they fit naturally, they can help improve your page’s relevance. But don’t overuse them—your title should still read smoothly.
What happens if I don’t optimise my title tags?
Without good title tags, your dental website may not rank as well in search results. That means fewer potential patients will find your practice online.
Should I write my SEO title before or after my page content?
It’s best to write your page content first. Then, create an SEO title that accurately describes the page and includes your target keyword.
Is it okay to use numbers in SEO titles?
Yes! Numbers make SEO titles more eye-catching (e.g., “5 Must-Know Dental Treatments for a Brighter Smile”). People like numbered lists because they feel organised and easy to read.
Should my SEO title match my URL?
Your SEO title and URL should be similar but don’t need to be identical. Keep your URL short and clear while making your title tag compelling for search engines and users.
Conclusion
Your SEO title tag is a key part of your dental website’s on-page SEO. A strong, well-written title tag helps your site show up higher in search results and makes new patients find your clinic online.
To get the best results, make sure each page title is clear, relevant, and engaging. Avoid common mistakes and always match your SEO title to what your patients are searching for.
With the right approach, SEO titles can help grow your practice and attract more loyal patients to your website.
Your SEO title tags can make a big difference in how many people find and click on your website. But getting them right takes strategy and expertise.
Our Sydney-based team helps dentists like you stand out in search results and bring in more local patients. But here’s the thing—we only work with a limited number of clinics per suburb to keep our clients ahead of the competition.
Don’t let another clinic take your spot! Book a strategy call with Mediboost at 1300 163 058, and let’s optimise your website for more clicks, more patients, and more growth.
Sources:
CoSchedule. (n.d.). What is a Meta Description? Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://coschedule.com/marketing-terms-definitions/meta-description
GeeksforGeeks. (2023, December 1). What is a Search Algorithm in SEO: Understanding Its Role. GeeksforGeeks. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.geeksforgeeks.org/what-is-a-search-algorithm-in-seo-understanding-its-role/
HTML <title> Tag. (n.d.). W3Schools.com. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.w3schools.com/tags/tag_title.asp
Influencing Title Links in Google Search. (n.d.). Google for Developers. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://developers.google.com/search/docs/appearance/title-link
Oberstein, M. (2023, May 23). Why Google Rewrites So Many Title Tags. Wix. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://www.wix.com/seo/learn/resource/google-title-tag-rewrites
What is Keyword Stuffing? (n.d.). Rank Math. Retrieved February 14, 2025, from https://rankmath.com/seo-glossary/keyword-stuffing/
