Less than 10 years ago, approximately 60% of individuals used the internet to find and assess medical providers. By 2016, that percentage jumped to 84%. What you, as a medical provider, should take from this information is that the patient-doctor journey begins online, and that you should be doing everything in your power to ensure you make a positive first impression.
The #1 element affecting your online reputation
Online reviews are the most influential factor in the prospective patient’s decision-making process. According to a 2019 survey, 70% of individuals said that positive online reviews were either “very” or “extremely” important in selecting a health care provider. Another survey revealed that online reviews are the top thing that the majority (59%) of individuals consider during their search for a doctor.
Given that prospective patients are most influenced by online reviews, it is crucial that you know what patients have to say about your medical practice brand and manage what is said as best you can. Failure to do so can lead to a decrease in revenue. For instance, increasing your star rating on a site like Yelp can increase your revenue by 5% to 9%; likewise, a decrease in your ratings can diminish your revenue by a comparable percentage.
Improving your reviews
Unfortunately, you cannot delete negative customer reviews. You can, however, take steps to combat them and raise your rank.
Claim your profile and spend time developing it
Even if you do not use Yelp, your patients do, and they can use the platform to talk about your practice even if you are not a part of the conversation. Create and fully develop a Yelp profile to take control of what others have to say about your practice. Use the Free Tools to upload photos, add information about your business, converse with customers, and analyze engagement. Use Yelp for Business Owners, a free mobile app, to monitor your page on the go.
Encourage patients to leave reviews
As one Amazon seller once said, only about 5% of happy customers will leave reviews, while approximately 100% of dissatisfied customers will do the same. The good news is, if you want happy patients to speak kindly about your business, all you have to do is ask. According to Search Engine Land, 71% of consumers said they would leave a business review if asked of them.
Engage with patients online
Whether a patient leaves a positive or negative review, take the time to respond. Responding to positive reviews reinforces users’ opinions about your practice. Responding to negative reviews tells disgruntled patients that you value their opinions, take them seriously, and will take steps to mitigate the problem.
Hire a doctor reputation management firm
Undoing the damage caused by bad reviews is a difficult and time-consuming — yet absolutely necessary — process. At Doctor Genius, we use several proven tactics for managing clients’ reputations, including presenting positive Google reviews on their websites instead of less-than-stellar Yelp testimonials. We also help clients suppress unwanted material by drowning it out with positive, valuable content. Whether you need to fix your reputation or want to manage the one you currently have, Call us to learn more.
Doctor Genius, located at 16800 Aston Street, Suite 270, Irvine, CA 92606, provides a range of services for practice success. We seek to meet our clients’ needs by providing a variety of marketing, SEO, practice optimization tools, and coaching to transform the healthcare experience. Though we work to provide the most accurate information, the content found on this website is solely intended for entertainment purposes. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that the information provided is entirely correct. You may not use the information on this site to cure, prevent, or diagnose a perceived medical issue. If you have healthcare-related needs, please speak directly to a healthcare professional. Never self-perform medical treatments discussed on this website. All images displayed are also for entertainment purposes only, and personal experiences may differ. Please note that the business tactics mentioned on this site might not be applicable to your industry or practice.
