{"id":7929,"date":"2023-01-30T13:16:26","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T18:16:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.netreputation.com\/?p=7929"},"modified":"2024-02-13T14:49:04","modified_gmt":"2024-02-13T19:49:04","slug":"how-reputation-management-for-physicians-improves-patient-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.netreputation.com\/how-reputation-management-for-physicians-improves-patient-engagement\/","title":{"rendered":"How Reputation Management for Physicians Improves Patient Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not convinced that\u00a0reputation management for physicians<\/span>\u00a0is all that important? Let us ask you this. When patients Google your practice or your name, what are the first results that pop up?<\/p>\n

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Often, after ads, what pops up first on the Google results page are review sites like Vitals, Healthgrades, and RateMDs.<\/p>\n

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And while it\u2019s no surprise that patients are searching for doctors online, did you know that\u00a083% of those potential patients<\/u>\u00a0are reviewing your online reputation?<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s not a surprising statistic when you consider that people like to know who they\u2019ll be seeing in the examination room.<\/p>\n

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Just like any other business, you\u2019re going to lose potential business if you have two stars on Google or all your Healthgrades reviews say you \u201clack bedside manner.”<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, many doctors are still of the mindset that they don\u2019t need to prioritize their online reputation.<\/p>\n

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Hey, we understand that you\u2019re busy being a doctor. And healing people and saving lives is certainly quantifiably more important than digital marketing.<\/p>\n

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But when you let your reputation go, it doesn\u2019t just sit there. If you don\u2019t craft the message, the message will be crafted for you. Often in a much more negative light than if you had been proactive about reputation management.<\/p>\n

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As a result of this attitude, a shocking\u00a078% of provider listings<\/u>\u00a0on the aforementioned review sites are incomplete or inaccurate.<\/p>\n

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Phone numbers, hours of operation, medical specialties\u2026 This is vital information that is helping people decide whether or not to become a new patient!<\/p>\n

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How does inaccurate info hurt your practice?<\/h3>\n

When your information is inaccurate and your reviews<\/a> (negative or positive) go unanswered, it gives people the impression that you\u2019re not keeping up.<\/p>\n

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Or worse… that you don\u2019t care at all.<\/p>\n

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Your digital presence is the new waiting room experience for your patients. It\u2019s the first experience they have with your practice.<\/p>\n

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And since it\u2019s their first experience, you want to make sure it\u2019s a pleasant one that encourages them to come back again.<\/p>\n

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Remember, when you invest in specialty\u00a0reputation management for physicians<\/span><\/a>, you\u2019re investing in patient engagement and patient retention.<\/p>\n

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So with that in mind, let\u2019s check out how online reputation management can help you transform and grow your practice!<\/p>\n

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Why Does Your Online Reputation Matter?<\/h2>\n

The long and short of it is this: The vast majority of your patients are online. Whether or not you are prepared, that\u2019s how more than 90% of patients find you.<\/p>\n

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And it\u2019s also how over 80% of them make a decision about whether or not to make that first appointment.<\/p>\n

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When your information is incorrect, skewed negatively, or misrepresentative online, it can hurt your practice.<\/p>\n

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You wouldn\u2019t allow your practice name, phone number, or address to appear incorrectly in a brochure or on a billboard. So why would you allow it in a far more visible arena?<\/p>\n

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Imagine that you need a new landscaper. You Google \u201clandscapers near me.” Are you going to choose the 2-star business with four negative reviews and one five-star review with no words?<\/p>\n

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Or are you going to choose the 4.5-star business with 800 reviews and replies to comments on every single entry?<\/p>\n

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It\u2019s just human nature. First impressions matter. And nowadays, your online reputation is your first introduction to potential patients.<\/a><\/p>\n

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If You Don\u2019t Control the Message, Someone Else Will<\/h2>\n

Even if you don\u2019t have a website or actively monitor your online reputation, you\u2019re not really \u201coffline.\u201d If you have patients, we can guarantee that there is patient-generated content floating around on the internet.<\/p>\n

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Reviews on Healthgrades or comments on your Google My Business page, inaccurate check-ins on Facebook\u2026<\/p>\n

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You have to take control of your practice\u2019s messaging, or the story that\u2019s told will be one of incompetence and neglect. And we know you\u2019re better than that.<\/p>\n

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In today’s highly-connected digital environment, people turn to the web to learn about businesses in their area. Medical practices, dental clinics, and healthcare facilities are some of the many businesses that are evaluated based on the quality and quantity of reviews.<\/p>\n

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It’s no secret that your patients are leaving reviews on Google or third-party review sites. If those reviews are positive, that’s great. But what if the reviews are negative — or even worse, false? Your practice’s reputation is at risk.<\/p>\n

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So What Does\u00a0Reputation Management for Physicians<\/span>\u00a0Look Like?<\/h2>\n

Once you decide to take control of your digital presence, there are several steps you can take to start sending the right message.<\/p>\n

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First, claim your pages and listings online. Then address any current comments, reviews, or questions from patients online.<\/p>\n

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Once you have a handle on your listings, reviews, website, and social, it\u2019s time to start the proactive work.<\/p>\n

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Create informational, useful content that your patients want to read. Respond to negative reviews politely and without being defensive. Reach out to happy patients and ask them to review you on other platforms as well.<\/p>\n

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And while you\u2019re at it, ask if they have any referrals for you!<\/p>\n

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Managing social posts, blog posts, directory listings, website management, SEO, and review responses is a full-time job!<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re already overwhelmed or you prefer to stick to the medicine side of the practice, consider hiring a company that specializes in\u00a0reputation management for physicians<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Best Strategies for Online\u00a0Reputation Management for Physicians<\/span><\/h3>\n

The first page of Google results for your practice is your new business card. So many of these strategies focus on ensuring that the information you present is accurate, positive, and helpful.<\/p>\n

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1. Don\u2019t Try to Delete or Fight Negative Content – Bury It Instead<\/h4>\n

Have you ever seen a politician or a celebrity<\/a> deal with negative press? Name one who admitted their mistake and apologized immediately. Now name one who fought the allegations tooth and nail and went down in a blazing flame of non-glory.<\/p>\n

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Which example was harder to come up with? The first one, right? That\u2019s not because it doesn\u2019t happen as often. It\u2019s harder to remember because apologizing and moving on is not memorable like a defensive, knock-down, drag-out fight is.<\/p>\n

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This is a very human phenomenon. When we\u2019re upset and full of righteous indignation, often what we want is to feel heard and seen.<\/p>\n

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But when you apologize to a nasty comment politely and humbly, it takes the wind out of their sails. There\u2019s nowhere else to go without looking foolish.<\/p>\n

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Respond to negative comments quickly and offer to take them offline to solve the problem. Often, once the angry patient has been soothed and heard out, they\u2019ll take down the negative comment if you ask them to.<\/p>\n

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But even if you don\u2019t, the important thing is that others see how you responded to the situation.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re dealing with a lot of negative comments or press surrounding the same central mistake, or you took over the practice and inherited its negative reputation<\/a>, don\u2019t fight and deny. That just brings attention to the situation.<\/p>\n

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Instead, bury the negative content with positive content.<\/p>\n

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If the complaints are old respond with \u201cwe\u2019re under new management now, we hope you\u2019ll reconsider us in the future.\u201d If you\u2019re dealing with bad press, fight it with SEO-rich blogs, press releases, and social blasts.<\/p>\n

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In other words, drown out the bad with the good that you\u2019re doing.<\/p>\n

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2. Claim Your Directory Listings<\/h4>\n

Directory sites are everywhere on the internet. In addition to Google My Business, Healthgrades, and other well-known sites, there are hundreds of smaller pages that list local business information. Keeping up with the major listings can be done in a few hours a week.<\/p>\n

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But to reach all those less well-known sites, you\u2019ll need software<\/a> or help from a company that specializes in reputation management<\/a> for physicians<\/span>.<\/p>\n

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Claiming your pages is relatively easy for minor listings, usually you just have to click a button. But on larger sites like Facebook, Google My Business you\u2019ll have to go through an identification process.<\/p>\n

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After you\u2019ve claimed or created your main page, merge any duplicates and clean up any attached listings.<\/p>\n

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Make sure your information is\u00a0exactly<\/em>\u00a0the same on every site. If you use different spelling variations or different phone numbers, Google may flag your listings as inaccurate and lower your rankings.<\/p>\n

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Here are some of the more popular social media platforms and directories for doctors we didn\u2019t mention above:<\/p>\n

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