Keyword Research Checklist for Dentists

Keyword research is the cornerstone of successful Google Ads for dentists, especially for targeting local patients in a city like Chennai.

It’s about understanding what your potential patients are searching for, their intent, and how to capture that demand.

🧠 Understand the Intent Behind Searches

• Identify High-Intent Keywords
  (e.g., “book dental appointment”, “emergency dentist near me”)
• Separate Informational vs Transactional keywords
  • Informational: “how to whiten teeth at home”
  • Transactional: “teeth whitening clinic in [City]”
• Include Local Intent Keywords
  (e.g., “best dentist in [City]”, “family dental clinic near me”)

🔍 Use Keyword Research Tools

• Google Keyword Planner
• Ubersuggest
• SEMrush / Ahrefs / Moz
• Google Search Autocomplete
• “People Also Ask” & “Related Searches” on Google SERPs

📂 Categorize Keywords by Service

• General Dentistry: “dentist near me”, “dental clinic in [City]”
• Cosmetic Dentistry: “teeth whitening”, “Invisalign cost”
• Emergency Dental: “emergency tooth pain relief”, “24/7 dentist”
• Pediatric Dentistry: “kids dentist”, “child dental specialist”
• Specialty Services: “root canal specialist”, “gum disease treatment”

📈 Analyze Keyword Metrics

• Check Search Volume (monthly avg.)
• Review Competition Level (low/medium/high)
• Assess Cost-Per-Click (CPC)
• Prioritize Long-Tail Keywords with high intent but lower competition
  (e.g., “affordable braces for adults in [City]”)

🧹Build a Negative Keyword List

• Add irrelevant keywords:
  (e.g., “dental jobs”, “free dental school”, “DIY kits”)
• Exclude informational-only searches from paid campaigns
• Continuously update from the Search Terms Report post-launch

🌍 Include Location-Specific Variations

• “[Service] in [City]”
• “[City] [Service] near me”
• “Top-rated [Service] [Neighborhood]”

🧪 Competitor Keyword Research

• Analyze competitor websites and ads using tools like:
  • SEMrush (Domain Overview)
  • SpyFu
  • Google Ads Transparency Center
• Identify gaps or opportunities in your region

🔁 Review & Refine Regularly

• Monitor Google Ads Search Terms Report
• Use Google Trends to identify seasonal dental searches
• Re-evaluate keyword performance every 2–4 weeks

📌 Bonus Tip:

Use keyword modifiers like:

• “Best” / “Top” / “Affordable” / “Same-day”
• “Near me” / “[City]” / “[Zip code]”

Let me know if you want this turned into a PDF checklist, training slide, or editable Google Sheet template for your dental team or clients.

Google Ads Audit Checklist, PPC Campaign Launch Checklist.