Understanding online reviews and how they can affect your dental practice has never been more significant than ever. Studies show that 92% of consumers read online reviews, and four out of five people use search engines to find information about local businesses. That also means that when people look for the best dentist in town, they will start looking online.
Google is the most popular search engine in the world. Hence, it is no surprise that Google reviews are one of the key players in online reviews. Google, and other search engines, understand the significance of providing their users with quality websites. That means if your website has many positive online reviews, Google will notice your positive online reputation resulting in your website ranking higher on their search pages.
Furthermore, dental practices are significantly impacted by the amount and type of Google reviews they receive. When your dental practice is not rating well or pales compared to your local competitor, you could miss out on the 90% of people who check reviews before visiting a business. Let’s examine why boosting your Google reviews is paramount to your dental practice.
1. People read Google reviews.
When you’re planning to visit a restaurant or purchase a product, don’t you typically go online and read some reviews about the business first? Chances are, you do, and just like you, people will look at your practice’s reviews when looking for a dentist. If your practice has fewer than ten reviews, your potential clients aren’t likely to give your dental practice much credit. But then, even when ten people say things like “Great service!”, “Friendly staff!” and “Clean facility!” might be helpful to some degree, but they’re not enough to generate hype from the people in such a critical decision as their oral healthcare.
But imagine if there were 100 reviews, or maybe 400. And mixed into those reviews will also have more specific and in-depth comments. People leaving those reviews often include information about how the procedures went, what they liked, why others should visit, give suggestions, and so on. These detailed reviews would serve as testimonials that will populate your Google page.
The more positive reviews with details your dental practice gets, the more likely it gets in front of your potential clients and gets noticed by Google in terms of SEO or search engine optimization.
2. People don’t scroll far.
When you Google something, do you ever visit the third page? What about even the second page? Here’s the thing, people barely make it through the first page. If your dental practice is not visible in the upper half of Google’s first page, the likelihood of someone visiting it drops by 91.5%. The same is true in terms of mobile web development. Studies indicate that typically, people won’t scroll more than five times to search for the information they came looking for.
Good Google reviews can help boost your dental practice’s online reputation and help get it on the first page of Google, so people won’t have to scroll far to get to it. Most people click the first up to the third website after searching for something on Google. Now, the million-dollar question: does your dental practice rank that high?
3. Google reviews create opportunities for future marketing
Gaining positive reviews don’t only benefit you on Google; they continue to give various advantages to your dental practice. Here are a few:
· Shaping your brand’s statement based on client feedback.
· Targeting a specific audience in relevance to patient feedback.
· Establishing branding material that highlights positive experiences.
· Building your practice’s credibility by letting your patients talk for you.
You can utilize Google reviews for many reasons, for they don’t merely sit on Google and direct people toward your website. They are also a resource that you can continually harvest. However, you have to make sure that they continue to grow. If you’re ready to bring more traffic to your website, resulting in more patients in your clinic, then it’s about time to consider the value of Google reviews.
The importance of Google reviews to every dental practice
When prospective patients seek a new dentist in town, they will likely want recommendations from their community – and will likely want them instantly. Before, they might have asked family members or friends for suggestions. Others may still do that, but the difference today is that internet searches now play a significant role.
Now when more than 75% of people in the US own a smartphone, people seeking a dentist in their local area will likely read through online reviews in search of a highly-recommended provider. What would they find if they scrolled through and saw your website today? Do you have enough reviews to convince them to give your practice a shot?
Are you ready to take your dental practice’s website to the next level?
Growth99, with its proven digital marketing strategies, has dental marketing experience that has gotten hundreds of Google reviews for individual dental practices. Contact us today if you’re thinking of elevating your dental website to the next level. We’ll set you up with a free consultation that can help strategize a plan for the future to ensure your dental practice keeps expanding. Partner with a dynamic team today!
