An Honest Talk About Online Reviews

Before the internet gave everyone a resounding voice, we had to trust that people in commercials and infomercials really were consumers and not actors; of course their praises were genuine and not paid for! In the digital age, however, everyone has access to real reviews by real people who have made a purchase and have something to say about it. In the digital age, online reviews are the new commercials, and rankings are the praise. In fact, the majority of modern consumers rely on online reviews before choosing a new product or service. Given their importance, garnering reviews and utilizing them to their fullest potential is one of the most important things you can do to grow your presence online, and in the real world.

Reviews, Rankings, and Conversion Rates

When people are happy with a product or service, they naturally want to share their great find with others (like posting an especially tasty meal on Instagram or Facebook), or telling their family and friends how the new dentist they found is the best one ever, and how their chronic toothache is finally gone!

Good reviews and rankings equate to higher conversion rates. When a potential customer, client, or patient finds you online and sees the high-level of satisfaction in your reviews, they want to know more. When they find your website/blog/social media pages/etc. and see the professionalism your online presence exhibits, they’ll want to contact you.

But How Do I Garner Positive Reviews?

The catch-22 with the internet is that literally everyone has a voice, even those who wish to share their wealth of negativity. Negative reviews can impact your overall rankings and conversion rate. But there are several tried-and-true methods of dealing with them that shows your professionalism and upstanding character (like hiring an experienced company to help you navigate the volatile waters of reputation management).

More importantly, there are several things you can do to garner honest, positive reviews from loyal patients, clients, and customers, which have a more significant impact on your rankings than occasional hecklers. Some of the advice we give our dental health clients includes:

  • Interact with the public: Trust is a two-way street, and people respond more to a personal request from their dentist to leave a review than an emailed request. The double-benefit of garnering reviews personally is that you can seek them from patients you also trust, and who you know will accurately convey the excellent treatment they’ve received at your office.
  • Walk them through it: Sometimes, the idea of leaving a review can seem overwhelmimg, and people will forego doing it because they believe it will be complicated, or that their information will be compromised. You can increase your number of reviews by simply showing patients that the process is as easy as logging into a social media account that they already have, and finding the practice on that site. There’s no signing up for anything, and it can be done in a matter of seconds!
  • Thank them for their effort: At MDPM Consulting, we’re big believers in the Have a Cup of Coffee On Us Campaign, where patients receive a $5 Starbucks gift card for liking your practice on Facebook or leaving a review on Google+. A genuine thank you goes a long way in showing patients how much you appreciate them sharing their experience, which makes them more eager to do so.

Do you want it make it easier for your patients, customers, or clients to share their positive experiences with the world? Are you wondering how to use your online reviews to your advantage, but aren’t sure where to start? At MDPM Consulting, our experts are dedicated to helping clients build, grow, and maintain their online presence through strategic marketing, social media, and SEO strategies. To take your marketing to the next level, give Jill a call at (972) 781-8861, or send us an email at Jill@mdpmconsulting.com.