XLDent Dental Software - Page 2 of 34 - Smart Technology. Efficient Solutions.

Harnessing the Power of SEO: Driving Success for Your Dental Practice

Posted February 14, 2024 by Jennifer G

Having a strong online presence is crucial for any business, including dental practices. With many people turning to search engines like Google to find reputable dentists and clinics in their area, it is imperative to understand and harness the power of search engine optimization (SEO). In this blog post, we will explore the impact of SEO on your dental practice, uncovering the benefits and explaining how you can drive success by optimizing your online presence.

Increased Visibility and Reach

With effective SEO strategies in place, your dental practice can improve its organic search rankings, leading to higher visibility when potential patients search for dental services in your area. By optimizing your website content with relevant keywords and implementing technical SEO enhancements, you can ensure that your practice appears on the top search engine results pages (SERPs) when users look for dental solutions.

Targeted Traffic Generation

By targeting specific dental keywords, you can attract high-quality traffic to your website. SEO enables you to reach potential patients who are actively seeking dental information, treatments, or providers. By aligning your website content with their needs, you can attract qualified leads who are more likely to convert into patients. This direct traffic generation can result in a higher return on investment (ROI) compared to traditional advertising methods.

Enhanced User Experience (UX) and Website Usability

SEO is not only about optimizing search engines; it also focuses on improving user experience. A well-optimized website provides a positive UX by ensuring fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and mobile responsiveness. These factors not only create a pleasant experience for website visitors but also contribute to higher search rankings. Search engines prioritize websites that prioritize user satisfaction, resulting in increased organic visibility.

Building Credibility and Trust

Ranking at the top of SERPs is not only proof of the effectiveness of your SEO strategies but also builds credibility and trust in the eyes of potential patients. When your dental practice consistently appears at the top, users are more likely to perceive it as a reputable and trustworthy source. This perceived authority can influence their decision-making process, leading to increased conversions and a larger patient base.

Cost-Effective Marketing

Compared to traditional marketing channels, SEO offers a cost-effective way to promote your dental practice. Instead of investing in expensive print ads, radio commercials, or television spots, SEO allows you to reach a wider audience at a fraction of the cost. By focusing on organic search results, you can reduce your dependence on paid advertising while reaping long-term benefits.

Competitive Advantage

Staying ahead of the game is crucial. Implementing SEO strategies gives your practice a competitive edge by enabling you to outrank your competitors on search engine results pages. By understanding your target audience’s search behavior, optimizing your website for relevant keywords, and monitoring your competitors’ SEO efforts, you can position your practice as a leader in the field.

Tracking and Analyzing Performance

One of the key advantages of SEO is the ability to track and analyze your website’s performance. Through tools like Google Analytics, you can gain insights into crucial metrics such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, and user behavior. By regularly reviewing and analyzing this data, you can identify areas for improvement, adjust your SEO strategies, and make data-driven decisions to optimize your website and increase conversions.

With more potential patients turning to search engines for solutions, SEO plays a huge role in the success of your dental practice. By implementing effective SEO strategies, you can increase your online visibility, attract targeted traffic, enhance user experience, build credibility, and gain a competitive advantage. Moreover, SEO provides a cost-effective marketing solution with measurable results. Embrace the power of SEO and watch as your dental practice booms in the ever-growing digital landscape.

Remember, at XLDent, we are committed to helping you optimize your dental practice’s online presence. With our broad suite of dental marketing solutions, you can seamlessly integrate SEO strategies into your daily workflow, streamline patient experiences, and achieve exceptional outcomes. Partner with XLDent and embark on a journey towards digital success today.

Posted in: Dental Practice Management Software, Marketing Services, Social Media Marketing, Leave a comment/ No Comments »

Tagged : Marketing,Patient Experience,Social Media Marketing

Why Passwords Matter

Posted August 10, 2022 by Jennifer G

Protecting yourself and your business online involves several areas, one of which is passwords. As the number of online accounts that we deal with grows, so do the number of passwords we need to have and remember. Follow these best practices to safeguard this information.

It is vitally important to never re-use passwords. I think we are all guilty of re-using passwords from time to time and for some of us, the same one all the time! But the reality is that sites and services are constantly being attacked and breeches are not uncommon. Which means it is vitally important to never re-use passwords – especially for e-mail accounts.

What’s the harm in re-using a password? Let’s say I signed up for a photo sharing site with my personal e-mail (myself@gmail.com) and I used the same password that I use to access my Gmail. A few months later, the photo site experiences a cyber-attack, and my username and password are exposed. The first thing a bad actor will do with my username and password is try logging into my email. Since I used the same username and password, they now have easy access to my email and can see that I use this email for my bank, my credit card, Netflix, Dropbox, etc. If I also used the same credentials for those accounts, I have a real problem on my hands!

When businesses are attacked user information is often taken. Names, e-mails, passwords, addresses, phone numbers, etc. may be posted or sold on the ‘dark web’ for scammers to use. An e-mail disguised as a company you regularly do business with, may mention you by name, may even contain past e-mail content… “Hey, I’ve shared a document with you, you just need to log into Microsoft or Google to view it!” or “Hey click the attachment to see our latest newsletter!”. When email servers are hit, bad emails can come from a legitimate domain and not even need spoofing!

Another common reason for compromised accounts is users being tricked into GIVING their credentials to bad actors. If you’ve used your e-mail address for anything, fact is, it is out there in the world and bad actors are going to send you deceitful e-mails to either plant malware on your computer that can steal your credentials or trick you into handing it over to them directly. Depending on where your email is listed, bad actors may be able to figure out your employer, your co-workers, even industry partners or associates and you can be target phished. This is even more convincing than an e-mail imitating a legit entity like UPS, Microsoft, PayPal, Google, etc., as they can try to disguise the e-mail as coming from your dental practice, dental systems, co-workers, or even a partner business. Some of these fraudulent emails can be very clever so it is important to always have your guard up.

Always be on guard. Look for bad grammar, misspelled words, or other signs. An example is an e-mail that looks like it’s from Microsoft but the actual address it’s coming from is odd – ie. microsoftwebservices.com. HTML file attachments, an unexpected file share or file attachment, even from someone you know, can clue you to suspicious activity. Hover over hidden hyperlinks and if the website does not match the sender or if a link brings you to a login page not the URL in your browser, chances are it is a phishing e-mail.

Password Best Practice Tips

Strong. Make passwords no less than 20 characters AND do not use common words (hackers have sophisticated tools that can break passwords that use common words or word combinations).
Unique. Make every password unique so that if one account gets hacked you are not handing over the keys to your other accounts.
Management. Consider using a password management tool like LastPass, Bitwarden, 1Password, to name a few.

If you suspect an account has been compromised, it’s best to change the password immediately, monitor all accounts for any irregular activities, and stay alert to legitimate and counterfeit emails.

Posted in: Dental Technology, Leave a comment/ No Comments »

Tagged : Dental Technology,XLDent

Credit Card Payment Processing: What You Need To Know

Posted July 20, 2022 by Jennifer G

The act of paying for something with a credit card is seamless. First, swipe or insert a card into a machine. Then, wait for the authorization to happen. Lastly, sign off on the purchase, if needed. All of this happens in a few seconds.

However, a lot goes on behind the scenes while you’re waiting for that quick authorization! We’ll discuss what happens when you enter your card, in addition to the security measures that are in place to protect your data long after you make a purchase.

Who takes part in the credit card payment process?

The players involved in the payment process include:

Cardholder: This is the customer that presents their card for payment of goods or services.

Issuer: The issuer (or “issuing bank”) provides the cardholder with their credit and a physical card. They are responsible for approving and declining transactions, customer billing, and collections.

Merchant: This is the business that sells goods or services.

Merchant Account: This is a type of bank account that allows businesses to accept credit, debit, and mobile payments. 

Acquirer: An acquirer (or “acquiring bank”) solicits, underwrites, and owns the accounts merchants need to accept credit cards. They can provide the technology permitting businesses to process transactions, take on chargeback risk, and deposit funds into a merchant’s bank account.

Payment Processor: Payment processors are organizations that partner with acquirers to open merchant accounts, handle support, manage payment processing, and build technology on behalf of acquirers.

Facilitating the payment process

Credit Card Machines

First, a credit card reader or terminal is needed. Today, there are various credit card machines available that can cater to any processing environment. 

Popular devices include point-of-sale (POS) terminals, which support credit cards with magnetic stripes and chips. Some are magnetic stripe (“magstripe”) only, in addition to devices specially made for an unattended or kiosk type of environment.

Near-field communication (NFC) readers are payment terminals that allow tap-to-pay capabilities for contactless credit cards and mobile wallets. 

Payment Methods

The payment transaction starts when the cardholder presents one of the following:

EMV chip card: A payment card containing a computer chip that can validate personal identification numbers (PINs), authorize purchases, verify account balances, and store personal records. Chip cards facilitate EMV® payment processing throughout Europe and the US.

Contactless card: A credit or debit card that does not require physical contact between the card and the credit card machine.

Digital wallet: Digital wallets store a cardholder’s payment information on a mobile app or smartphone device, enabling payment to happen without a physical credit card. Examples include Samsung Pay®, Apple Pay®, Google Pay^TM, and Fitbit Pay^TM.  

How does credit card processing work?

Once the card is entered into or “tapped” on the credit card machine, the authorization begins. Authorization is the process where the issuer approves or declines a transaction. Merchants use it to ensure customers have sufficient funds available when they purchase something.  

The credit card information enters a payment gateway, which serves as a connector between the merchant and a payment processor (like Global Payments). 
The payment processor will take this information and send it to the card brand (such as Visa or Mastercard). 
The card brand sends this information to the issuer.

When the issuer receives the cardholder’s information, authentication begins.

The issuer will verify that the cardholder has sufficient funds in the credit line to approve the transaction. 
They may also check the card verification value (CVV) and ensure the billing address matches what is on file to prevent fraud.
If the transaction is approved, the merchant receives authorization, and the issuer places a hold for the amount of the purchase on the customer’s account. The card reader or POS terminal should see a message that says, “Approved.”
The merchant gives the cardholder a receipt at the end of the sale.

At this point, the payment verification process is complete.

How long does a credit card payment take to process?

Payment verification only takes a few seconds at the point of sale. Then, the payment process continues behind the scenes with the settlement process.

Merchants send all approved transactions to the acquirer at the end of the day. This group of transactions is called a batch.
The payment processor routes the batch to the card branch for settlement.
The card brand forwards the transactions to the issuer.
The issuer transfers the funds to the acquirer, and in the process, takes an interchange. Card brands set the interchange fee, and the acquirer is responsible for paying this fee to the issuer.
The acquirer credits the merchant’s account with the approved transactions.
The issuer posts the transaction on the cardholder’s account. The cardholder will be responsible for settling their debt at the end of their billing cycle.

Payment processing times vary, but on average, it takes one to three days. Additionally, batches sent during the weekend or a bank holiday get processed on the next business day.

How does a refund on a credit card work?

Even if a transaction is approved, a cardholder can dispute it for a refund post-purchase. These disputes are called chargebacks. The main reasons for chargebacks include fraud, receiving faulty goods or services, and technical errors, such as double charges. A successful chargeback would mean the return of funds to the cardholder. 

Check out our chargebacks guide for more information.

How do online payment methods stay secure?

The card payment industry has standards in place to protect cardholder information should a security breach occur. The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS) lays out the minimum security features needed to limit the chances of compromised data.  

Encryption is one way to protect cardholder data. With laws becoming more stringent over time, in addition to increasing cybersecurity threats, encryption uses a numeric binary code to shield sensitive data such as the cardholder’s name, account number, expiration date, and service code. The more random the encryption code is, the more difficult it is for hackers to gain access.

Tokenization is another way of protecting cardholder data, particularly the cardholder’s account number. During an online transmission, a token replaces the account number with a unique string of characters. Tokenization differs from encryption in that each token is original and can apply only to a specific merchant and cardholder.  

Finding the best payment processor

Now that you understand how complex the payment process can be, it’s essential to choose a processor that will enhance your business.

A reliable payment processor will integrate with your software to provide a seamless checkout and bookkeeping experience for your clients. Additionally, they will enhance cardholder data protection by helping you and your customers stay PCI compliant, ensuring secure payments every time.

EMV® is a registered trademark or trademark of EMVCo LLC in the United States and other countries. www.emvco.com.

Apple Pay® is a trademark of Apple, Inc. All trademarks contained herein are the sole and exclusive property of their respective owners.

Google Pay^TM is a trademark of Google, Inc.  All trademarks contained herein are the sole and exclusive property of their respective owners. Any such use of those marks without the express written permission of their owner is prohibited.

Samsung Pay® is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

FitBit Pay^TM is a registered trademark of Fitbit, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries.

Originally published at https://www.globalpaymentsintegrated.com.

Posted in: Dental Practice Management Software, Dental Software, Dental Technology, Dental Web-based Solutions, Leave a comment/ No Comments »

Tagged : Credit card processing,Dental Practice Management Software,Dental Software,Dental Technology,Web-based Dental Solutions,XLCharge

Are you ready for Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 End of Life?

Posted June 23, 2022 by Nathan N.

Microsoft Windows 8.1 and Server 2012 Operating Systems

If you currently have computers running Windows 8.1 or if your server is running Windows Server 2012 it is time to start thinking about replacing or upgrading. Microsoft is ending extended support for Windows 8.1 in January 2023 and Windows Server 2012 in October 2023, bringing both to End-Of-Life status.

What does it mean when an operating system is End-of-Life?

End of Life status means Microsoft will no longer develop patches or fixes for any newly discovered bugs or security vulnerabilities within this version of the software nor will they provide technical support. When operating systems are no longer supported by Microsoft, other software developers, such as practice management developers, will stop building and testing in unsupported operating systems.

How does running an end-of-life operating system affect my business?

When an operating system is no longer receiving security updates, exploitable vulnerabilities will likely emerge and could create a security risk for your business. In addition, you may be unable to install newer versions of other software programs on computers running an unsupported operating system.

How long do business computers normally last?

Every single piece of hardware inside a PC will have its own average lifetime, but in general a PC will last anywhere from 5-7 years. As computers age, components will start to wear out and could leave you with unexpected down-time. Components can be replaced but keep in mind that as your computer ages, the more difficult it can become to find an available or compatible replacement part. We recommend practices begin planning for computer replacement when systems start to approach the 5-year mark. Some of our practices choose to stagger computer replacements to minimize the impact on their budget.

New computers are not in the budget this year, do I have any options?

Depending on your hardware compatibility, you may be able to upgrade Windows 8.1 to Windows 10. Keep in mind that some hardware is not compatible with Windows 10 and is unlikely to be compatible with Windows 11 (released October 2021). If your computer was manufactured in the last decade, it may be able to be upgraded to Windows 10. It is recommended, though, to check the manufacturers’ website(s) to verify the models of your system’s motherboard, CPU, and GPU are compatible with and supported on Windows 10.

I am interested in upgrading to Windows 11, is there anything I should know?

XLDent practice management software is compatible with Windows 11. However, there are some manufacturers, x-ray manufacturers in particular, that are still testing compatibility with Windows 11 and at the time of this post have not guaranteed full functionality of their devices with this operating system. We recommend purchasing computers based on Windows 11 specifications https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11-specifications and installing Windows 10 on computers running software or hardware that is not yet cleared for use with Windows 11. Computers running Windows 10 can be upgraded to Windows 11 once connected devices are compatible with Windows 11. There is currently no charge to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11.

All my computers are using Windows 10, is there anything I need to know?

Windows 10 End of Life is October 2025. Microsoft has provided a tool to let you know if your computer can run Windows 11 and if not, will provide information about incompatibility. It can be downloaded from the official Microsoft site here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/windows-11#pchealthcheck.

I would like to start planning for a future upgrade, what are my next steps?

XLDent’s hardware team has over 50 combined years of experience and is happy to help provide you with a free assessment of your systems and make recommendations for future changes. Contact us today to get started.

Posted in: Dental Software, Dental Technology, Electronic Dental Records, IT Services, Leave a comment/ No Comments »

Tagged : Dental Software,Dental Technology,Electronic Dental Records,XLDent

World Backup Day 2022: Why backing up your data is important

Posted March 30, 2022 by Jennifer G

Most of us have gone through losing some sort of data from a computer, mobile phone or tablet. Whether it’s personal, such as pictures, school assignments, or tax files, or business-related data like patient records, x-rays, or accounting files, losing important information unexpectedly can be a nightmare.

Data backup has your back!

The 31st of March is World Backup Day and serves as a reminder to take measures to prevent data loss. However, a data backup plan is not limited to one day of the year. It is vital to follow a backup strategy throughout the year as a continuous cyber hygiene process.

What is data backup?

Most everyone using a computer either in their practice or at home is likely aware of what a data backup is but it’s worthy of a quick review. A backup is a separate copy of all your important files. Data backup guides you to save a copy in another secure location rather than storing all your data in one device. In case anything happens to your device, your data will stay safe and can be restored easily.

Why should you backup your data?

Data loss is way more common than anyone would think. It usually happens in several forms, such as hard drive failures, cyber-attacks, human errors, or physical theft. The event of data loss urges the need to implement a data backup plan.

Facts and figures about data loss

30% of all computers are already infected with malware¹
29% of data loss cases are caused by accident²
It is expected that ransomware attacks a business every 11 seconds by the end of 2021³

How XLDent helps you protect your practice’s data

When backing up your data, consider the solution that best suits your data protection strategy. Not all solutions are equal! It’s important to consider the method (how and when the backup is done) and the service that accompanies it. XLBackup is a managed and fully automated, online, off-site service making it easy for your organization to restore lost files, images and critical data during a disaster recovery situation. Automated means it is scheduled to run at regular intervals (daily) so a current copy of data is available if needed. XLDent conducts routine audits of the backup with each client to ensure the service is best meeting their needs. The backup service is managed by XLDent’s team of experts who know your dental business. Whether you are using XLDent Practice Management Software or another practice or imaging software, this offsite backup solution is compatible with all.

Resources
¹Dataprot, Malware Stat. 2021
²Ponemon Institute, 2013
³https://cybersecurityventures.com/global-ransomware-damage-costs-predicted-to-reach-20-billion-usd-by-2021/

blog