Competitor Analysis: How to Outrank Other Dentists

If your competitors are always ranking ahead of you — even when you’ve got a better website or reviews — it’s not luck. It’s strategy.

The truth? SEO isn’t just about what you’re doing. It’s about understanding what they’re doing better — and then doing it smarter.

That’s where competitor analysis comes in.

This is your X-ray into their marketing system — their keywords, backlinks, and content strategy. Once you see what’s working for them, you can reverse-engineer success and win the top spots in Google.

Let’s break down how to analyze your competitors and use that data to dominate local search.

Key Takeaways

• Competitor SEO analysis shows what’s helping other dentists rank higher.
• Focus on three areas: keywords, content, and backlinks.
• Use tools like Ubersuggest, Ahrefs, and Google Search Console for insights.
• Always aim to outperform, not just copy.
• Turn their weaknesses into your SEO advantage.

Why Competitor Analysis Matters in Dental SEO

Think of it like studying another dentist’s treatment plan before crafting your own.

You’re not guessing what might work — you’re using real data from practices already ranking for “dentist near me” or “Invisalign Gilbert.”

Competitor analysis helps you:
– Identify which keywords drive the most traffic.
– See what content formats are winning.
– Discover backlink sources to target.
– Spot technical advantages (like page speed or schema).

Step 1. Identify Your True SEO Competitors

Your competitors aren’t always the dentists across the street — they’re the ones outranking you online.

Here’s how to find them:

1. Search your main keywords (e.g., “pediatric dentist Gilbert” or “dental implants near me”).
2. Note the top 5 results that are not directories (skip Yelp or Zocdoc).
3. These are your SEO competitors.

Use tools like Ubersuggest or Ahrefs to confirm — they’ll show sites competing for the same keywords.

Step 2. Analyze Their Keywords

This is the foundation of SEO competition.

In Ubersuggest or Ahrefs, plug in your competitor’s URL. You’ll see their top pages and the keywords driving traffic.

Pay attention to:
– Which dental services they target most.
– The search volume of those keywords.
– Gaps — keywords they missed that you can claim.

Example:
If “smiledentalaz.com” ranks for “veneers Gilbert” and “cosmetic dentist AZ” but not “porcelain veneers Gilbert,” that’s your opportunity.

BFF Pro Tip: Use Ubersuggest’s Content Ideas feature to find blog topics that get engagement and backlinks — this tells you what content types Google already rewards in your market.

To choose which keywords to target from competitor insights, use How to Do Keyword Research for Dental Services.

Step 3. Study Their Top Pages

Open each competitor’s top-performing page and ask:

• How long is it?
• How many visuals or patient examples do they include?
• Are there FAQs or schema markup?
• What’s their CTA structure (buttons, form placement, phone number)?

You’ll start seeing patterns — top-ranking sites often share traits:

• 1,000–1,800+ words per page
• Optimized H1/H2 headers
• Patient-focused language
• City + service keywords in copy

If their content structure is stronger than yours, follow On-Page SEO Basics for Dental Practices.

Step 4. Compare Content Depth and E-E-A-T

E-E-A-T = Experience, Expertise, Authority, Trustworthiness. Google uses these signals to rank medical and dental websites.

Check if your competitors:
– Include author bios or dentist credentials.
– Reference reputable sources (ADA, CDC, etc.).
– Feature testimonials or case studies.
– Publish consistently.

If your site lacks these, Google sees you as less trustworthy — even if your content is great.

Step 5. Audit Their Backlinks

Backlinks are still the single strongest SEO factor after content quality.

Use Ahrefs or Ubersuggest → Backlinks to see:

• Who’s linking to their site.
• What types of sites (blogs, directories, media, local news).
• Anchor text used.

Look for:

• Local news mentions (“Best Gilbert Dentists”)
• Chamber of Commerce listings
• Vendor or supplier features
• Dental industry blogs

Then, reach out to those same sources with your own content, press releases, or partnerships.

If competitors are earning powerful backlinks, replicate that success using Off-Page SEO for Dentists.

Step 6. Evaluate Site Performance

Your competitors might be ranking higher simply because their site loads faster or performs better on mobile.

Run their site through PageSpeed Insights or GTmetrix.

Compare metrics like:

• Load time
• Core Web Vitals
• Image compression
• Mobile usability

If their site loads in 1.5 seconds and yours takes 5, that alone can cost you top positions.

Step 7. Review Local SEO Strength

Open Google Maps and search your target keywords.

Your Map Pack competitors often differ from your organic competitors — but they’re just as important.

Compare:
– Number of Google reviews
– Review quality and recency
– Business category and keywords
– Photos and posts activity

This reveals whether they’re beating you with review velocity, keyword-rich business descriptions, or consistent posting.

Step 8. Analyze Their Internal Linking Structure

High-ranking sites interlink pages strategically — connecting service, blog, and location pages.

Use Screaming Frog or Ubersuggest’s Site Audit feature to see how they structure their URLs and links.

Look for:

• Internal anchor text patterns (“Invisalign treatments,” “family dentist in Gilbert”)
• Breadcrumbs for navigation
• Consistent URL hierarchy (e.g., /services/implants/, /services/veneers/)

Then replicate a similar structure for clarity and crawlability.

Step 9. Fill Content Gaps They Missed

This is where you win. Once you know what they’re ranking for, look for missing opportunities.

For instance, if your top competitor hasn’t written about:

• “Back-to-school dental checkups”
• “Same-day crowns”
• “Sedation dentistry for kids”

Write optimized, educational posts around those — then interlink them to your service pages.

Step 10. Track Progress Over Time

Competitor analysis isn’t a one-time project — it’s an ongoing system.

Revisit every quarter and track:
– Ranking position changes
– Backlink growth
– Review count and keyword shifts

Document findings in a simple spreadsheet or dashboard for visibility.

Common Mistakes Dentists Make with Competitor Analysis

❌ Copying competitors instead of outdoing them.
❌ Ignoring local nuances (different suburbs or patient demographics).
❌ Not re-checking competitors quarterly.
❌ Overlooking backlinks in favor of keywords.
❌ Forgetting to monitor conversion rates, not just rankings.

Remember — the goal isn’t imitation. It’s domination.

FAQs

Conclusion: Turn Patient Questions into Powerful SEO Wins

Competitor analysis gives you a clear blueprint — showing exactly what’s helping other dental practices dominate Google and where your biggest growth opportunities lie.

By studying their keywords, backlinks, and local SEO activity, you can outthink (not just outspend) your competition — creating content and authority that wins long-term.

Remember: the goal isn’t to copy what others do. It’s to improve on it — with better structure, stronger local signals, and more helpful, trustworthy content.

Ready to see exactly why your competitors are outranking you — and how to take their spot? Book a Free Dental SEO Strategy Call →