Why should online reviews matter to healthcare providers?

/in /by

Online reviews have redefined the way patients choose healthcare providers. Here’s a brief overview of this trend and how you can leverage it to get more patients for your healthcare practice.

Why do reviews matter to healthcare providers?

Because reviews matter to patients: 84% of patients regularly consult review sites to view or post comments and ratings of healthcare staff (BrightLocal). Sites like Google and Facebook, along with medical review sites like Healthgrades and ZocDoc, have made it easier than ever for patients to post and share experiences. Patients don’t want to take any chances when it comes to their health. With such an overwhelming amount of information available at the tap of a button, they want sources they know they can trust. That’s why reviews have quickly become one of the most valued online resources for patients seeking the best care.

Patient reviews and SEO

Today, the search for a doctor begins online, and reviews are often the first thing patients encounter.

Why?

Online reviews show up on page 1 of search results because they are full of fresh, unique content that search engines love. Practices with more reviews and higher ratings on a variety of sites have an incredible advantage when it comes to Google search.

To sum up: both customers and search engines value reviews for their authentic, unbiased information. In fact, patients place so much trust in reviews that to accelerate their search, they increasingly filter results to see only 4 and 5-star rated practices. If your practice doesn’t have enough positive reviews, it won’t even be considered as an option.

What does a good review management strategy look like?

  • Monitor and respond to reviews from all sites in real-time. This lets you address any issues before they escalate, minimizing the damage of negative reviews. Remember, your response is seen not only by the reviewer, but also by all prospective patients researching your practice. This is a great chance to demonstrate transparency and dedication to patient satisfaction.
  • Consistently generate new reviews. Collect reviews on sites that matter most to your practice and your patients. Use an automated software like MCD Reviews to make this process easy and effective.
  • Promote your best reviews. Share them everywhere you can, like your company website, social channels, and Google ads. MCD Reviews also creates a custom SEO-optimized review microsite for each physician displaying all their best reviews along with the option to book an appointment.

Bottom line: online reviews are the first impression patients get of your practice. It’s not only important to pay attention to what people are saying about your services online. In order to build the trust and credibility required to get new patients, you also need to regularly generate new reviews, interact with patient feedback, and leverage great testimonials for marketing purposes.

Want to know more? Check out our MCD Reviews.