Promoting Your Practice Through Reviews
When it comes to choosing a healthcare provider, patients do an extensive amount of research finding a doctor they feel is trustworthy and experienced. So, how do you show new patients that you are credible and an expert in your field? By getting patients reviews!
The more reviews your business has, the higher it will appear on Google’s search engine. Yes, the reviews do really help rankings. Patients are more likely to see and choose a healthcare provider that has a large number of positives reviews. However, this does not mean you should find ways to acquire Google reviews faster. Creating fake Google reviews through a purchase, or by getting employees to leave 5-star reviews is actually against Google’s guidelines and can result in the reviews being removed. The FTC is also cracking down on fake business reviews.
How To Acquire Reviews and Testimonials
Patients can leave reviews through various platforms such as your practice’s Google My Business listing, Facebook, Healthgrades, WebMD, and more. It is important that the reviews being left for your practice are not only genuine but consistent. According to BrightLocal, 40% of consumers take reviews older than two weeks into consideration. Here are a few simple ways to ask patients to leave reviews:
Simply ask. Invite patients to share their experiences about the care received
Place a link on your website to your online profiles
Send an email to your patients after their appointment asking for feedback with a link to your Google My Business listing
Use social media to asks followers to leave a review or recommendation
Go old school - give your patients a call and ask.
Monitoring Reviews and Testimonials
Not only are patient reviews free advertising, but it is also a way for you to assess areas that your practice may need to improve. If a patient speaks about a negative experience, you can use this information to work with your staff to improve the patient experience and assure a better experience for future patients. It is important that you do not ignore negative reviews, but instead, respond in a HIPAA compliant and professional manner. A few things to keep in mind when responding to reviews, positive or negative.
First and most importantly, never disclose patient identifying information
Always say “Thank you”, even if the review is negative
Keep responses general
If the review is negative, acknowledge by thanking the individual for the feedback and then take the conversation offline.
How To Promote Reviews and Testimonials
Let the reviews speak for your practice! Highlight the ones that stand out by posting them on your website and social media pages. This is a good way to let patients know that you are aware of what people are saying about your practice and their feedback is appreciated. A good way to catch people’s attention when posting testimonials is to create a graphic to go along with the review. Since people are quickly scrolling through their social media feeds, an image is more likely to capture their attention than regular text.
Not sure where to start when it comes to using reviews and testimonials to promote your business? Let us help! From acquiring reviews to creating graphics promoting your patients’ thoughts, MOXY Company is here to help you take advantage of the ways reviews and testimonials can boost your medical practice.