That Competitor Ranking Above You? Here's What They're Doing Differently.

You know the feeling. You search for “dentist [your city]” and there they are—your competitors, sitting comfortably in the top 3 positions on Google Maps. Meanwhile, you're buried somewhere below, watching them capture patients that could be yours. The good news? Those rankings aren't permanent, and with the right strategy, you can outrank them.

Understanding the Competitive Landscape

Before you can beat competitors, you need to understand what they're doing right. Google ranks local businesses based on:

• Review quantity and quality: More reviews with higher ratings signal trust
• Profile completeness: Filled-out profiles rank higher
• Engagement signals: Clicks, calls, and direction requests
• Content freshness: Recent photos, posts, and review responses
• Website authority: Strong websites boost Maps rankings

Step 1: Analyze Your Top Competitors

Start by identifying who ranks in the top 3-5 positions for your target keywords. Then analyze each one:

Step 2: Find Their Weaknesses

Every competitor has gaps you can exploit. Look for:

• Unanswered negative reviews: If they ignore complaints, patients will notice
• Outdated photos: Old, low-quality images suggest they're not engaged
• Incomplete profiles: Missing services, descriptions, or attributes
• Slow review growth: If they're not actively building reviews, you can catch up
• Poor website: Outdated, slow, or non-mobile-friendly sites

Step 3: Build a Winning Strategy

Close the Review Gap

If competitors have significantly more reviews, this is your biggest priority. Calculate the gap and set a timeline to close it:

Out-Optimize Their Profile

Even if you can't immediately match their review count, you can have a more optimized profile:

• Write a better, more comprehensive business description
• Add more services with detailed descriptions
• Upload more and higher-quality photos
• Add all relevant attributes
• Post weekly updates

Be More Responsive

If competitors don't respond to reviews (or respond slowly), make this your advantage:

• Respond to every review within 24 hours
• Write thoughtful, personalized responses
• Address concerns professionally and offer solutions
• Thank positive reviewers and mention specific details

Win on Freshness

Google favors active, engaged businesses. If competitors have become complacent:

• Post weekly Google updates
• Add new photos every month
• Update your services seasonally
• Respond to questions promptly

Step 4: Focus on What They Can't Copy

Some advantages are difficult for competitors to replicate:

• Niche specialization: If you specialize (pediatric, cosmetic, implants), optimize for those terms
• Unique services: Offer something competitors don't (sedation dentistry, weekend hours, etc.)
• Exceptional patient experience: This leads to better reviews naturally
• Community involvement: Local sponsorships and events build citations and awareness

Step 5: Monitor and Adapt

Competitors aren't standing still. Track their changes and adjust your strategy:

• Check rankings weekly for your target keywords
• Monitor competitor review counts monthly
• Note any changes to their profiles
• Look for new competitors entering the market

Realistic Timeline for Outranking Competitors

Depending on your starting point and the competition, expect:

• Minor improvements (1-2 positions): 2-3 months
• Significant jump (3-5 positions): 4-6 months
• Breaking into top 3: 6-12 months in competitive markets

The key is consistency. Practices that maintain steady effort eventually outrank those coasting on past success.