As a practice, attracting new patients can seem like a daunting task when trying to stand out from the ocean of competitors. Despite utilizing every marketing tactic, you can think of to get their attention, there is but one method that undoubtedly stands out from the crowd - practice reviews.
We all do it, scrolling endlessly on Google looking for a place to eat or visit, reading countless reviews. We’ve felt the conviction of a bad review that’s so strong it turns us away. On the other hand, we’ve felt the trust of a good review that provides confidence; so much so that we pick that business over the majority of others around.
Reviews carry a heavy weight and as a business, nurturing your online reputation should be a top priority. Reviews come in all shapes and sizes, some offer little detail or clarity, and others seemingly read our minds. With this much power does come that much responsibility, thank you Uncle Ben.
If a bad review hits your business, the first thing we shouldn’t do is panic. What you need to do is thoroughly analyze the review. What does it say, who wrote that review, and can you verify the claims? The best thing you can do with negative (and positive) reviews is respond to them!
A negative review should be seen as an opportunity to do better. When your patients see that you hear them, understand them, and are actively working to fix things, that will instill confidence in your patients.
While you're building an online presence, remember that location is key. Google, Yelp, and Facebook make up 82% of patients looking at reviews. Google accounts for 69% of these patients. With that much traffic, you should be placing more emphasis on these platforms to get your practice at the top. When you’re top of the page, you’re top of mind.
In healthcare, 82% of patients consider online reviews to be ‘important’ or ‘very important’ in their decision making when finding a new provider.
Learn how you can master online reputation utilizing ReputationMax™! Get the tools you need to be efficient in online reputation.