4 Methods for Online Reputation Management for Dentists in 2020

Choosing a dentist is a lot like selecting a surgeon -- picking the wrong one could leave you scarred for life. No one wants to end up with a botched job, especially when it comes to your pearly whites.

This is why it's critical to have a solid reputation. People want to know they can trust your dental office before they set an appointment.

And the only way this can happen is with proper online reputation management for dentists.

Here's a look at some of marketing methods you can use to boost your reputation online.

Why is Online Reputation Management for Dentists Important?

Any professional in the medical industry relies on reputation to drive more business to their office. Word of mouth continues to be great for growing and expanding dental offices.

The way people spread the word about your business is a lot different than several decades ago. Rather than recommending your practice in private among family and friends, folks are making recommendations to the masses via the web.

So recommendations are now coming from complete strangers.

Why does this shift matter?

Because one bad experience with a patient could lead to a negative review posted on Google, where millions of others can view it. Then take into account that 72% of patients use online reviews to find their next dentist, and you can see how this can hurt your practice, according to Software Advice.

People today trust peer reviews. So what your customers say about you will determine how easy (or difficult) it'll be to convert prospective clients.

What Are the Benefits of Online Reputation Management for Dentists?

It doesn't matter whether you're trying to grow or start up a dental office. You're going to need to monitor what people are saying about you online.

With a proper strategy for online reputation management for dentists, you can stay ahead of negative reviews before they create a dent in your reputation.

Here's a look at how you can benefit from conducting online reputation management.

Soften the Blow of Bad Reviews

When you leave your reputation to chance, you're at the mercy of negative reviewers. With an online reputation management for dentists strategy, you can counter them.

This includes responding to disgruntled patients swiftly before the situation blows out of proportion. By replying to negative reviews, you're able to show prospective patients that you're considerate.

Just be sure to respond with your business demeanor, not your personal feelings.

Build Trust with Prospective Clients

When people see your online reviews, good or bad, it will help your reputation. Don't expect to receive only good reviews -- believe it or not, your ranking (and your trust factor) improve when you have a mix of good and bad reviews.

How to Implement Online Reputation Management for Businesses

Now, there are several methods you can use to monitor your reputation online. Here are some of the best to start with.

Monitor Social Feeds for Brand Mentions

Google isn't the only place where consumers are leaving reviews. They're also talking about your business on social media. This is one reason you should monitor the feeds for brand (and name) mentions.

One way to do this is to use social media tools that will notify you when your brand or name is mentioned. However, you can do it yourself by searching for your brand name and social tag (@yourprofilename).

Develop a Content Marketing Strategy

Your online reputation isn't at the mercy of your patients. There are things you can proactively do to help shine a positive light on your dental office.

For example, you can begin publishing blog posts on your website. Your content should be relevant, helpful, and informative. The goal is to educate your patients about their common issues and even offer tips for correcting them. 

Don't worry about providing at-home treatment tips -- it won't hurt your business. People will always prefer to go to a professional to get work done because it's convenient and guarantees quality.

Use a Tool to Manage Online Reviews

Another handy tool you need in your online reputation management for dentists strategy is a review manager. For instance, get reviews allows you to monitor and reply to reviews posted about your business across all major directories.

This includes Yelp, Google My Business, and Yahoo Local.

Having a way to see everywhere at once makes it seamless to keep track of your online reputation.

Ask Patients for a Review

It's never a good idea to incentivize positive reviews. Instead, you should ask patients to leave an honest review on your business listing and social media page.

A lot of local businesses fail at boosting positive reviews because they don't ask for reviews. You'll find that many will take the time to do it, especially if you make it easy for them to do so.

In GoSite's platform, you're able to send a review request to your patients' emails at the click of a button.

Start Using these Reputation Management Methods for Dentists

Being great at what you do is only one part of being a successful dentist. You need to prove to the world (or at least your town) that you're the dental office worth going to.

You can show you're trusted by building a positive presence on the web. As you've learned, you can do this with the help of your patients and a content marketing strategy.

And don't forget the tools you can use to make online review management easier. You can sign up for GoSite Reviews for free -- check it out today!