How To Get More Dental Practice Reviews (And What To Do With Them)

As a dental practice owner, you know that reviews are important. They help potential patients understand what it’s like to work with you, and they can make or break your business. But getting more reviews can be tough – especially if you don’t know where to start. In this post, we’ll share some tips on how to get more dental practice reviews, and we’ll explain what you can do with them once you have them.

Why dental practice reviews are important

Before we get into how to get more reviews, let’s quickly discuss why they’re important. Reviews are one of the most powerful forms of social proof, and they can help you boost your business in a number of ways

They improve your SEO – Google loves fresh content, and reviews count as fresh content. They also help you rank for keywords related to your practice

They build trust – potential patients are more likely to trust a dental practice that has positive reviews. In fact, 88% of website users trust reviews as much as personal recommendations.

They improve conversion rates – not only do reviews help you attract new patients, but they can also help you convert them into paying patients. In fact, one study found that businesses with 50+ reviews see a 4.6% increase in conversion rates.

They give you insights – reading your reviews can help you understand what patients like about your practice, and what they don’t like. This feedback can be incredibly valuable as you look for ways to improve.

How to get more dental practice reviews

Now that we’ve discussed why reviews are important, let’s look in more detail at how to get them. Here are a few ideas:

1. Ask for them

One of the best ways to get more reviews is to simply ask your patients for them. This can take place immediately after the appointment, or in an automated follow-up email. Remember to frame this as a request for feedback rather than a request for a review, as this will come across as more genuine.

2.Use third-party platforms

If you’re finding it difficult to get patients to leave reviews on your own website, you can always use third-party platforms like Google My Business (now known as Google Business Profile) or Review.io. These platforms make it easy for patients to leave reviews and then add them to your site. There is also an added layer of spam security to help prevent nuisance reviews from damaging your reputation.

3. Give patients an incentive

In some cases, you may need to offer patients a little incentive to leave a review. This could be something as simple as a discount on a popular treatment, or a freebie like a toothbrush or travel mug. Just be sure that you’re not offering anything of significant value, as the cost could quickly add up.

4. Use QR codes

If you want to make it even easier for patients to leave reviews, consider using QR codes. You can add these codes to your appointment cards and on posters in the waiting room. When patients scan the code, they’ll be taken directly to the review platform of your choice.

5. Create video testimonials

Investing in quality videography for your website will do wonders for your reputation. A video testimonial is much more personal than a written review, and it can be a powerful way to build trust with potential patients.

What to do with your dental practice reviews

Once you have your reviews, it’s important to make the most of them. Here are a few ideas:

1. Use them on your website

One of the best ways to use your reviews is to showcase them on your website. This could be in the form of a testimonial slider, or simply a list of snippets from recent reviews. Be sure to include a link to the full review so that website visitors can read them for themselves. Using an API to import the most recent reviews to your website will appear more trustworthy to website visitors than if you added the content directly to your website.

2. Share them on social media

Social media is a great way to share your reviews and attract new patients. When you post a positive review on social media, be sure to tag the patient in the post. This will help to build relationships with your patients and show that you value their feedback.

3. Use them in adverts

If you’re running online ads, consider using your reviews as part of your ad campaigns. This could be in the form of a video testimonial, or simply a list of snippets from recent reviews. Including reviews in your ads will help to build trust with potential patients and increase conversion rates.

4. Use them in your email marketing

Email marketing is a great way to keep in touch with your patients and promote your practice. When you include reviews in your emails, be sure to link to the full review so that recipients can read them for themselves. This is a great way to build trust and show potential patients what your current patients think of your practice.

5. Use them in printed materials and around your practice

If you produce any printed materials, such as brochures or flyers, consider including your reviews. This could be in the form of a testimonial or simply a list of snippets from recent reviews. Including reviews in your printed materials will help to build trust with potential patients and show that you value their input. If you have screens in your dental practice waiting room, you can display your latest reviews to encourage patients to share their own thoughts.

What to do with negative reviews

It’s inevitable that you will receive the odd negative review, but it’s important to remember that this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In fact, research has shown that consumers trust businesses more when they see negative reviews alongside positive ones.

The key is to respond to negative reviews in a constructive way so that it's obvious to visitors that you take constructive feedback on board. Of course, if you think the negative review is spam, you should take steps to have this removed, but if the review is genuine you should try the following:

1. Respond to the review in a timely manner. This will mean that you need to keep a close eye on your reviews.

2. Request more information and ask to take the conversation to a private channel such as email.

3. Take the feedback on board. If the criticism is valid, use it to improve your business.

4. Use negative reviews as an opportunity to build relationships with your patients. Show that you care about their experience and are willing to work to improve it.

Closing thoughts

Dental practice reviews are a valuable way to build trust with potential patients and show that you value their input. By using reviews on your website, social media, and in your marketing materials, you can attract new patients and grow your business.

And if you receive any negative reviews, remember to respond in a constructive way so that you can use the feedback to develop your business. If you need help generating more reviews for your dental practice, get in touch with Elevate Dental today.