Do You Have the Most Google Reviews in Your Area?
People read online reviews 92% of the time before making purchases. Many of your prospective patients are researching your practice online before contacting you. Their initial image of your practice is based on Google ratings mainly. You must ensure that the first impression you make is favorable.
Why are Google Reviews so Important?
Google Reviews are important for two primary reasons:
- Great reviews convert viewers into leads. Between 90% and 95% of people read reviews before making a decision, regardless of whether they purchase a product on Amazon or choose a dental provider.
- Google search engine likes reviews too. They are a key component in local SEO (search engine optimization), which helps your practice rank on Google Maps.
Do other review sites even matter?
The short answer here is not much. Google dominates the search market, which means it is the first place a person will go when looking for anything, including dental services. Their reviews are the first thing people will see.
If you were to ask the next most important, it would have to be Facebook reviews (coming in at a very, very distant second place). Most people use Facebook, which means those reviews will likely have more eyes on them than any other non-Google platform.
As a practice owner interested in Google, what goals should you set?
As mentioned above, SEO is one of the primary benefits of Google reviews. However, it is about more than just the star rating and the number of reviews. Google also analyzes the frequency and diversity of your reviews.
If you want to up your dental marketing game in 2023 and beyond, strive to achieve these two goals:
- Set a short-term (and ongoing) goal of getting at least ten monthly reviews.
- Set a long-term goal of having the most fantastic Google reviews of any dentist in your area.
What are some tips for dentists who have trouble getting Google reviews?
Studies show businesses with at least 200 reviews AND a minimum of 4.5 stars average rating, will fare much better than those with few or poor reviews. That might seem like a daunting goal, but it can be done!
Try these tips to make it happen:
- Set your goals – This is the first step. As with any marketing strategy, you are unlikely to succeed if you don’t know where you are going.
- Build in rewards – Plan an office celebration, staff bonus, or other incentives when your practice achieves its goals.
· Ask at the right time – When a patient is in your office, expressing how pleased they are with your work, they want to share their experience. Make the most of the moment. Ask for a review, and send the link immediately when they agree. Use a tool such as Grow My Reviews to make the process simple and efficient for your staff and the patient.
Google maps are discussed extensively in Ekwa’s strategy meetings. Can you explain more about Google Maps and what happens in a strategy meeting?
You might have Google’s map app on your smartphone, and you have indeed seen the mapped results that appear in some Google searches. Both of these are faces of Google Maps, which is where most people will find local businesses. Therefore, your ranking on maps is as important as your ranking on the SERP (search engine results page).
An Ekwa Strategy meeting is a 90-minute session covering six essential dental marketing components. We will evaluate and explain how your practice is performing in each of these areas and help you devise a plan to help you dominate your local market.
How can you arrange an Ekwa Marketing Strategy Meeting?
We offer this in-depth consultation, a $900.00 value, absolutely free! Consider it our gift to you. Just visit www.dentalbusinessjournal.org/msm/ to schedule at your convenience.
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