Short Hills Design, LLC

05/26/2026

Before spending more on ads, make sure the basics are actually working.

Most dental practices that aren't getting enough new patients from search aren't losing because of ad budget. They're losing on the fundamentals.

Here's where to start —
- Keep your Google Business Profile current: hours, photos, services
- Ask for reviews consistently and reply to everyone
- Make sure your site loads fast on mobile
- Add FAQ content based on questions patients actually ask
- Publish content that answers what people are searching for

None of this costs money. It just takes attention.

If your site isn't generating inquiries, start here before you spend another dollar on ads: https://www.shorthillsdesign.com/inbound-marketing/i-need-more-new-patients/

05/21/2026

Your website is not a “set it and forget it” tool. Most dental practices treat it that way.

Every month, someone should check a few things.

Test the contact form.
Run a full backup and make sure it restores.
Check mobile loading speed.
Update your Google Business hours.

It takes 20 minutes if nothing is wrong.

When was the last time you tested your contact form?

05/18/2026

Your website data should help you answer a few basic questions.

1. Are people finding you?
2. Are they staying on the site?
3. Are they taking the next step?

Three metrics tell you most of what you need to know — where your traffic is coming from, how long people are staying before they leave, and whether they're actually calling or filling out a form.

You do not need to watch every number. You just need enough clarity to know what's working and what isn't.

That's usually where better website decisions start.
https://www.shorthillsdesign.com/inbound-marketing/i-need-more-new-patients/

05/15/2026

If your site gets hacked and you don’t have a backup from yesterday, you’re probably looking at a full rebuild.

Or paying someone to try to clean it.

And even then, you’re not sure it’s clean.

A backup takes 20 minutes. Monthly plugin updates take 10. A read-through of your pages to check that forms work and hours are right takes 15.

That’s the whole list. None of it is complicated.

Which one isn’t getting done?

05/13/2026

Most dental websites are not broken. They still load. The homepage still looks fine. Someone can still click around.

The problems are smaller than that, which is why they get missed.

A contact form works on the page, but the office never gets the message. The hours on the website say one thing and Google says another. The site loads, but slowly enough that people leave before they call.

We see this all the time.

You do not always need a redesign when this happens. Sometimes you just need someone to check the basics before they start costing you patients.

When was the last time you tested your own website?

04/22/2026

We've had a ton of questions about ADA compliance lately and here's the story:

Basically, the government wants state and local government websites to have a certain level of accessibility on websites (like the ADA with outside ramps and accessible bathrooms). As far as we can tell (and we're not lawyers) -- this change does not (yet) apply to private business websites.

Generally speaking, it's impossible and cost-prohibitive to be 100% ADA compliant. Our client websites have an accessibility plugin and an accessibility statement. Nothing can prevent ADA lawsuits, but the idea is to make your site a smaller target for lawyers (i.e., you are clearly making an effort).

02/24/2026

The ADA is now recommending that dentists post the update HIPAA NPPs to their websites:

"To comply with the new requirement by the Feb. 16 deadline, dental practices should update the Notice of Privacy Practices by including the new language related to substance use disorder information disclosure language. They should provide the revised Notice of Privacy Practices to new patients at intake, have it available at the dental office for individuals to request, and post the information in a prominent location in the dental office, as well as on the dental office website if it has one, as required by HIPAA."

https://adanews.ada.org/ada-news/2026/january/new-hipaa-rules-address-substance-use-disorder-records/

Book a call with me if you need assistance with the update:
https://zcal.co/shorthillsd/web-npp-update-call

This brief call with Dr. David W**k will help you update your website’s Notice of Privacy Practices (NPP) to reflect the February 2026 HIPAA requirements. On the call, we can: • Confirm whether your website currently has an NPP posted • Provide a standard HHS-based template customized with you...

01/16/2026

Know Your Audience 👥

1️⃣ Define who your ideal patients are.
2️⃣ Understand their pain points and goals.
3️⃣ Tailor your marketing message to speak directly to them.

Marketing works best when it’s all about the right people. How well do you know yours? 🤔

01/15/2026

Want content that truly connects with your patients?

1️⃣ Speak their language—clear, relatable, and jargon-free.
2️⃣ Focus on their needs, not just your services.
3️⃣ Use visuals & stories to build trust.

Small changes = big patient trust.

Ready to get your content working harder? Contact Us today!

01/07/2026

You need inbound links --> which are very hard to get.
So start with the low-hanging fruit
1) Links FROM any professional organizations (ADA, AGD)
2) Local organizations (chamber of commerce).