It is so easy for potential patients to find out about your practice before they even step foot in your office. With just a little research, online reviews, comments and ratings are at their fingertips. Because of this, it is essential for medical practices to have a healthy and strong online reputation. Follow these simple steps for improving your online reputation and keeping it positive.
Monitor regularly.
Perform an online search for your practice and its physicians. Ensure the information provided is accurate and everything they need to know about your practice is available. It is important to continually monitor how you are being portrayed online, but also to make sure current and potential patients are getting correct information.
Create a strong social media presence.
If you don’t have a Facebook, Instagram, Linked In or Twitter account, create them as soon as possible. Post engaging and relatable content for your patients, post regularly and use quality photos.
Encourage your patients to post testimonials.
It’s important to be proactive about getting online reviews. However, it is essential to be smart when doing so. Add links to Yelp or your other social media pages in emails, start a Facebook campaign, or keep it simple with comments cards. Whatever method you chose, keep it consistent (without being overbearing) and be sure to follow up with any responses.
Engage with your patients.
Now that your patients have reviewed your practice, it is time to engage with them. Don’t ignore the community that have went out of their way to comment or rate your business. Taking the time to respond tells the patient reviewing you that you care. It also tells future patients that you are a practitioner who is committed to your patients on a personal level.
Don’t ignore bad reviews.
You cannot make everyone happy so bad reviews are bound to happen. When coming across a negative review, contact the patient and express to them that you’d like to discuss their concerns. Responding to them personally increases the chances of the negative review being removed. If you choose to respond online, don’t get into specifics and always keep it professional.
Patients comment on everything from office tidiness to a doctor’s bedside manner so be prepared for the good and the bad. Discovering what patients are saying about your practice online provides an opportunity to improve. In today’s tech savvy world, patient experience is more important than ever. Use the feedback, whether it be positive or negative, to your advantage.
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