Online reviews have become more and more important to dental practice growth as consumers have embraced web based technology. You as a local entrepreneur, need to embrace the reality that potential patients are looking online at your reviews and the reviews of your competition.
There was a time when “word-of-mouth” reigned supreme and businesses did not need to actively manage review sites. People took product and service recommendations from friends. Today, however, social media platforms and review sites allow people to publicly share their opinions about a brand across the web, which could impact the purchase decisions of hundreds, thousands, or millions of other people.
The collection and solicitation of reviews from your existing patients needs to be a priority in your dental practice growth plan. If you do not take these steps, expect your competition to grow at a faster rate and potentially even take some of your patients too.
What Benefits Your Practice Gets from Asking for Reviews
Having a steady stream of recent reviews is crucial. 73% of consumers say reviews written more than 3 months ago aren’t relevant anymore. Patients want to see reviews that relate to the practice as it is today.
Use happy patients to win new patients: Leverage the voice of brand champions to improve your online word-of-mouth. Invite existing patients to share their experiences online so new patients know you can be trusted.
Collect feedback to better your business: Ensure patients are getting what they want and expect. Invite them to share their experiences so you can put their valuable feedback to work.
Build a targeted presence across popular review sites: Make sure your reviews show up where patients’ spend the most time. Focus on collecting feedback on the review sites that impact your business.
Help your practice shine in local search: Maximize the SEO benefits of positive patient experiences. Gathering authentic reviews will help your dental practice show up in search so new patients can find your office.
Reach patients wherever they are: Request reviews on the medium that works best for your patients—either text message or email.
Best Practices for Collecting Reviews from your Patients
Online reviews are crucial to the success and revenue of a dental practice. In fact, 87% of consumers say they will only consider using a business if they have an average rating of 3-5 stars.1 If you search online for a dentist, and two in your neighborhood show up: one with 5 stars, and one with 2, which are you more likely to choose?
Make it easy to collect patient reviews after they’ve visited the office and when they’re most likely to leave a review. Reach your patients via email or text and collect reviews on the sites that are most important to your practice. Google Search data shows that leaders in the dental industry collect reviews on at least 4 different review sites. Consumers have their preferences and giving them a variety review sites to find you is highly beneficial.
Frequency
-
- Sends review requests daily, when the patient’s memory is fresh and their experience is vivid
Visibility
-
- Links to the most popular review sites for the dental industry means more impactful and visible reviews
Branding
-
- Customizes the copy of the SMS messages to come from a familiar person at the practice, asking for genuine feedback, and wishing to establish a connection of trust with the patient
Keep track of your review requests; see info like how many requests have been sent, click through rates, and request status, all in real-time. also collect reviews conveniently on your website via a review widget.
- SMS (Text Message)
- Website Widget
- Email Signature
- Mobile Kiosk
Top 10 Statistics You Need to Know About Online Reviews for you Dental Practice
- 92% of consumers now read online reviews
- 40% of consumers form an opinion by reading just 1-3 reviews
- Star rating is the number one factor used by consumers to judge a business
- 44% say a review must be written within one month to be relevant
- 68% say positive reviews make them tryst a local business more
- 43% of consumers search a business by reviews at least one time per month
- 60% of consumers have searched a business at least six times per year
- Only 9% of consumers never search for a business online
- 73% of consumers have read online reviews on a desktop
- 38% of consumers have read online reviews on mobile internet vs 24% on a mobile app