Case Study: The Smile Studio achieves top‑3 Google Maps placement and 79 new five‑star reviews with Podium

How to Put a New Dental Practice on the Map With the Smile Studio

The Smile Studio, founded by Dr. Chad Ellis, faced the challenge of building an online reputation from scratch after splitting from a longtime joint practice. Recognizing that search visibility and online reviews drive patient acquisition, Ellis turned to Podium and its review-management/messaging tools to help prime the practice’s presence in search and review channels.

Using Podium’s review invites and workflow, staff trained quickly to send 20-second review requests at check-out, and The Smile Studio gained 79 new reviews with an average five-star rating—nearly double the reviews Ellis’ previous practice amassed in 12 years. Podium also delivered measurable SEO lift: the practice now often appears in the top three of the Google Map pack, helping drive the strong share of new patients coming from online search.

The Smile Studio

Chad Ellis

Owner and Dentist