What happens to dental marketing when ads don’t just sit next to search results, but start appearing inside the answers themselves?

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian goes deeper into what’s actually been announced and tested around ads in AI-powered search. No speculation. No hype. Just what Google and OpenAI have publicly confirmed — and what it means for dental practices.

You’ll learn how Google’s AI Overviews are changing where ads appear, what OpenAI has said about ads inside ChatGPT, and why visibility in the AI era is no longer just about ranking number one in search results.

This episode builds on last week’s conversation about evolving online advertising in dentistry and explains why fundamentals like local SEO, reviews, content clarity, and brand signals matter more than ever as AI systems shape patient decisions.

If you want to understand how your practice shows up in AI-driven search — and what you should focus on next — this episode is a must-listen.

Check out the show notes and video episode over here: https://www.dentalscapes.com/ads-in-the-answers-what-google-ai-overview-chatgpt-ads-mean-for-dentists/ — and request a free AI visibility audit from DentalScapes to see how your practice stacks up in AI search: https://dentalscapes.com/start

Are you spending money on dental ads without really knowing what’s working?

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes co-founder Brian Craig to break down how dentists should think about online advertising in 2026 — and how to avoid lighting your marketing budget on fire.

They walk through the three primary advertising channels dental practices use today: Google Local Services Ads (LSAs), traditional Google pay-per-click (PPC), and social media advertising. Dan and Brian explain when each channel makes sense, how much practices should realistically budget, and why choosing the wrong strategy at the wrong time can quickly destroy ROI.

The conversation also dives into real-world cost-per-lead benchmarks, why front desk call handling is just as important as ad performance, and how AI-driven ads — including advertising inside tools like ChatGPT — are poised to change dental marketing in the near future.

If you’re new to advertising, frustrated with current results, or trying to decide where to allocate your marketing dollars in 2026, this episode offers a clear, practical framework to help you make smarter decisions.

Key topics covered:

• Where dentists should start with online advertising
• Google Local Services Ads vs traditional Google PPC
• How social media ads fit into a dental growth strategy
• Budget expectations and cost-per-lead benchmarks
• The hidden role of front desk conversion in ROI
• What AI advertising means for dental practices

For full show notes and resources, visit the episode page: https://www.dentalscapes.com/stop-lighting-your-money-on-fire-choosing-the-right-online-ads-for-your-dental-practice/

To get help building a smarter, more efficient dental advertising strategy, schedule a free strategy call at https://DentalScapes.com/start.

Online reviews are no longer optional for dental practices—they’re a critical driver of growth, visibility, and trust in 2026.

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian is joined by DentalScapes Content Manager Skylar Massengill to break down why Google reviews matter more than ever and, just as importantly, how dental practices can generate more 5-star reviews without feeling awkward or salesy.

The episode dives into how reviews influence patient decision-making, local SEO rankings in Google’s map pack, and even visibility in AI-powered search tools like ChatGPT and Gemini. Dan and Skylar also share practical, real-world strategies dentists can actually implement, even if marketing isn’t their comfort zone.

You’ll learn:

• Why reviews are a core ranking factor for local search and AI visibility
• How to ask for reviews in a way that feels natural and authentic
• Why QR codes and automation dramatically increase review volume
• How hygienists and team-wide incentives can drive better results
• Why responding to both positive and negative reviews builds trust
• How to start small and build review momentum consistently over time

If you’re an independent dental practice owner competing against larger DSOs—or simply want more patients finding and choosing your practice—this episode provides a clear, actionable roadmap.

Don't miss the full show notes and complete video episode: https://www.dentalscapes.com/more-reviews-less-effort-how-to-get-more-google-reviews-for-your-dental-practice/

And if you want help implementing a review strategy that actually works, schedule a free strategy call at dentalscapes.com/start.

Dental marketing is heading into 2026 with major changes already underway. In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian breaks down three clear predictions that will reshape how dental practices get discovered, how they pay for visibility, and how they turn interest into booked appointments.

The episode dives into how AI-driven search is changing local visibility, why traditional SEO alone is no longer enough, and how AIO (AI Optimization) is becoming critical for getting recommended by AI platforms. Dan explains what “confidence signals” really mean in this new landscape, including the growing role of reviews, authority, structured data, and trust signals that AI systems rely on when guiding patient decisions.

Dan also explores why AI search is likely to introduce advertising inside AI-generated answers and why this could be the biggest shift in local dental marketing since Google Ads. He explains how trust and credibility may directly impact ad performance and cost, and why practices that invest in authority now will be better positioned when AI-driven ads roll out at scale.

Finally, the episode tackles a reality many practices aren’t prepared for: fewer clicks. As AI answers more questions directly, website traffic is shrinking, which makes conversion optimization more important than ever. Dan walks through what high-converting dental marketing looks like in 2026, from faster websites and clearer messaging to better call handling, scheduling, and follow-up.

If you want to understand where dental marketing is headed in 2026—and what you should be doing now to stay ahead—this episode lays out a clear, practical roadmap.

For more information, don't miss the show notes at https://www.dentalscapes.com/3-predictions-for-dental-marketing-in-2026/

Blog posts aren’t dead—far from it. In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan Brian sits down with DentalScapes Content Marketing Manager, Skylar Massengill, to break down why blogging is still one of the most underrated growth channels for dental practices as we shift into 2026.

The conversation digs into how patients actually search today, how AI platforms surface dental content, why long-form answers drive trust, and how practices can repurpose a single blog post into weeks of social, email, and video content. Skylar shares her behind-the-scenes workflow for crafting personalized, patient-friendly posts—and how to use blog content as a silent sales tool for big-ticket cases like implants, aligners, and cosmetic dentistry.

If you’ve been overlooking your blog or treating it like a checkbox item, this episode will change the way you think about content forever.

For show notes and links, visit https://www.dentalscapes.com/not-dead-yet-why-blogs-still-matter-in-dental-marketing-in-2026/

To schedule a free strategy call, go to DentalScapes.com/start

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, host Dan Brian breaks down the biggest dental marketing takeaways of 2025—and why this year represents one of the most significant shifts we’ve ever seen in how patients find and choose a dentist. Drawing on industry-leading research, including the latest Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Report, Dan explains the new rules shaping visibility, trust, and patient acquisition in 2025.

You’ll learn why Google reviews are more influential in SEO and AIO than ever, how Local Services Ads (LSAs) have emerged as the most reliable paid acquisition channel for dental practices, and why PPC is still essential—especially for cosmetic, specialty, and high-value patient demand.

Dan also explores the rising influence of AI search platforms (Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity, and more) and how your website content now acts as training data for AI systems. Plus, he uncovers one of the most overlooked growth levers in dentistry today: lead handling. With practices losing 30–50% of potential new patients at the front desk, Dan explains how optimizing follow-up, phone performance, and chat-to-text can transform your ROI without spending a dollar more on ads.

Whether you’re a GP, pediatric dentist, or orthodontist, this is a must-listen episode if you want to future-proof your practice, improve your visibility, and convert more new patients.

🔗 Show Notes:
https://www.dentalscapes.com/stop-chasing-hacks-the-biggest-dental-marketing-takeaways-from-2025/ 

📞 Book a Free Strategy Call:
https://DentalScapes.com/start

Tune in, take notes, and get ahead of the curve.

🚀 The 2025 Whitespark Local Search Ranking Factors Report is here — and Dan & Brian break down exactly what it means for dental practices.

In this episode of The Dental Marketing Mix, Dan and Brian unpack the newest data shaping how dental practices show up in Google’s Map Pack, AI search platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity, and everywhere patients are searching online.

You’ll learn why reviews hit their highest influence ever, why the Google Business Profile (GBP) remains the foundation of visibility, how AI platforms interpret review content, and why traffic from LLMs may already be more high-intent than traditional Google users.

If you’re a dentist looking to grow new patient volume, rank higher locally, and stay ahead of massive shifts in AI-driven search, this episode gives you a clear roadmap.

🔍 What Dan & Brian discuss:
• The most important ranking factors in the 2025 Whitespark report
• Why reviews jumped to ~24% influence — the highest ever
• How Google, ChatGPT, Gemini, and other AI engines read review context
• The role of behavioral signals like calls, clicks, and direction requests
• Why high-intent AI traffic is already shaping dental growth
• What’s changed from last year — and what hasn’t
• The single biggest action every practice can take today

Check out the full show notes at: https://www.dentalscapes.com/the-key-local-search-factors-driving-dental-visibility-in-2025-2026/

📈 Want a complimentary AI + Google visibility audit?
Get a full breakdown of your practice’s rankings across Google search, Google Maps, and major AI platforms:
👉 https://DentalScapes.com/start

If you found this helpful, subscribe for weekly insights on dental marketing, online visibility, AI search, and practice growth!

#DentalMarketing #LocalSEO #Whitespark #AIO #GoogleBusinessProfile #DentalScapes #TheDentalMarketingMix #DanBrian #DentalSEO #AIOverviews #ChatGPTSearch #GeminiAI #DentistMarketing #GrowYourPractice

In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, host Dan Brian breaks down one of the most overlooked growth levers in modern dental marketing — your Google reviews. As Google’s AI Overviews and AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) continue to transform how patients discover and choose their dentist, reviews now play a pivotal role in shaping what AI says about your practice.

Dan explains how Google’s E-E-A-T framework — Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness — has evolved from an SEO guideline into a defining signal for AI-driven visibility. Learn why consistent, authentic, and descriptive reviews don’t just influence star ratings—they actually teach Google’s AI how to describe your brand, your team, and your patient experience.

You’ll also hear actionable strategies to:

• Automate and systematize review requests through patient communication platforms like Weave, Practice By Numbers, and DentalScapes’ DentOwl™
• Respond to every review to strengthen E-E-A-T and public trust
• Use structured data (schema markup) to connect review content with your website
• Maintain review velocity for ongoing visibility in AI-driven search
• Build a cross-platform reputation that reinforces credibility across Google, Healthgrades, Facebook, and Yelp

Dan shares real-world data from DentalScapes clients showing how a steady stream of quality reviews can dramatically improve organic visibility, click-through rates, and conversions.

If you’ve been investing in ads and social media but haven’t optimized your review strategy, this episode is your wake-up call. In the age of AIO, your reputation doesn’t just live on Google—it lives inside Google’s AI.

🎧 Tune in to discover how to turn reviews into real growth—and what steps to take this week to future-proof your dental marketing strategy.

Check out the full show notes: https://www.dentalscapes.com/e-e-a-t-meets-aio-how-reviews-are-rewriting-dental-search-visibility/

👉 Learn more and schedule a free AI visibility audit at DentalScapes.com/AIO

It’s almost Halloween—and Dan Brian and Brian Craig are talking about the real “Hocus Pocus” haunting dental marketing today: agencies promising magic results through fully automated, AI-driven SEO.

In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, the DentalScapes co-founders pull back the curtain on the truth behind so-called “AI-powered” marketing solutions that claim to optimize your website automatically. From hallucinated metadata to cheap automation gimmicks, they reveal what really happens when you hand your SEO over COMPLETELY to the machines.

💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why “hands-free” AI SEO is more smoke and mirrors than science
• How Google actually views AI-generated content in healthcare
• The red flags to watch for when hiring a marketing agency
• Why responsible, human-guided AI delivers far better ROI
• How to ask smart questions before signing your next SEO contract

Dan and Brian explain why AI is an amplifier—not a replacement—for smart strategy. When used correctly, AI supercharges results. When misused, it can sink your site and your patient trust.

Don’t fall for the magic act. Learn how to separate real innovation from marketing illusion—and why the best agencies combine AI efficiency with expert oversight.

🎧 Listen now to discover:

• The truth about “AI SEO automation” tools
• What real AI-powered marketing should look like
• How to make sure your practice’s marketing isn’t built on Hocus Pocus

Get the complete show notes: https://www.dentalscapes.com/how-magic-ai-powered-seo-promises-can-hurt-your-dental-practice/

👉 Ready to grow your dental practice with marketing that actually works?
Schedule your free strategy call at DentalScapes.com/start

The rules of online visibility are changing fast — and most dental practices aren’t ready. In this episode of The Dental Domination Podcast, DentalScapes co-founder Dan Brian breaks down AIO (Artificial Intelligence Optimization) — the next evolution of SEO — and what it means for your dental marketing strategy.

Patients are no longer just Googling; they’re asking AI systems like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Google’s AI Mode and AI Overviews for answers. The question is: will your practice be one of the answers they see?

Listen as Dan explains:

✅ What AIO is and how it differs from SEO for dentists
✅ How AI search is already changing how patients find dentists
✅ Why traditional keyword ranking isn’t enough anymore
✅ The 4-part AIO playbook for future-proofing your website
✅ How to see if your practice is showing up in AI search results

If you want to stay visible — and dominate your local market — this episode is your roadmap to getting cited, not sidelined.

🎧 Listen now to learn how to prepare your practice for the AI search revolution — and check out the full show notes to take this to the next level: https://www.dentalscapes.com/beyond-seo-how-aio-is-rewiring-dental-marketing/

📊 Ready to see how your practice shows up in AI search?
Get a free AI Visibility Analysis + strategy call with DentalScapes: https://dentalscapes.com/ai

#DentalMarketing #AIOptimization #AIO #DentalPracticeGrowth #DentalSEO #ArtificialIntelligence #DentalDominationPodcast #DentistMarketing #DentalScapes #DigitalMarketingForDentists