Google Reviews Attract New Patients: Lighthouse 360
If you run a dental practice, you’ve probably heard this statement before: “Google reviews are an important tool for attracting new dental patients.” But in 2019, this statement should be revised from “important” to “vitally necessary.”
Data from a recent study by Software Advice, an online service that helps businesses select software, indicates why every dental practice should reassess their Google reviews strategy ahead of the New Year.
In this study, Software Advice surveyed more than 500 U.S. patients and asked them about their use of online review sites.
Here are 3 interesting data points from the findings:
- Last year, 82% of respondents consulted review websites with some frequency to view or post comments and ratings for health care providers. In 2019, the number jumped to 94%. This is a drastic increase from 2013, when only 25% of patients used online reviews to evaluate doctors.
- Nearly three-quarters, 72% of patients use online reviews as the very first step to finding a new doctor.
- Google reviews rank first among review sites, with 37% of respondents saying they use it the most.
Another interesting stat is that almost half of respondents, 48%, said they’d be willing to go out of their insurance network to see a provider if their reviews were better than those of an in-network provider. That’s nearly double the number of patients who said they were willing to go out-of-network in 2013.
Moreover, of the patients who said they leave online reviews, a combined 72% said they leave “very” or “somewhat positive” feedback when reviewing health care providers.
This reinforces the importance of getting the most out of Google reviews, and also suggests that bad reviews don’t happen as frequently as some might think. This is why dentists would benefit from letting go of their hesitation and proactively asking patients to leave reviews.
“Fortunately, there are marketing tools specifically designed for health care providers that make acquiring reviews easier,” writes Lisa Hedges for Software Advice. “Some of these systems are set up with event-based communication features that will automatically send out emails asking patients to leave reviews on popular reviews sites after they come in for an appointment. These automated invitations help increase the number of reviews you’ll receive, making your page more visible on search engine results pages.”
Where to Start
Dentists who are committed to improving their Google reviews strategy should check out patient communication software that can help automate outreach efforts. One such platform is Lighthouse 360, which received one of the highest current-user evaluation scores in Dental Product Shopper history and was designated a “Best Product.” Two key reasons help to explain why: excellent customer service and easy-to-use features.
Every year, Lighthouse 360 recommends each client call for an account review, in which a customer support agent reviews all the software’s features and updates and makes sure your practice settings are configured to enable them.
Ultimately, Lighthouse 360 wants to make sure each practice takes advantage of the platform’s powerful features, like requesting Google reviews, to help build the practice's online reputation.
Here are a few examples of these Lighthouse 360 features:
→ Automatically request Google reviews via text message or email
→ Specifically target patients who use Gmail (since they are the most likely to post on the native platform, Google)
→ View and respond to Google reviews directly from the Lighthouse portal
→ Customize feedback campaigns to focus on Google (or split between the major reviews sites of your choice)
According to Lighthouse 360, features like these are why clients say that, on average, the platform helps them gather 48% more reviews.
Prospective clients are invited to take a free demo of the Lighthouse 360 suite, which is designed to not only boost a practice’s online reputation, but save hours every week while keeping your schedule full. If you’re already a Lighthouse 360 client, be sure to call support to make sure you’re using the full range of features available. Visit www.lh360.com to learn more.