Almost every potential patient is influenced by online dental reviews, and if your practice has a positive reputation, they'll be much more likely to call you. Bad dental experiences can have serious consequences.
A good dentist will always do their best to minimize the negative feedback. Ultimately, the best strategy is to respond quickly and professionally. If a patient leaves a review, a quick thank-you will be a great way to save the situation. It will also show that you care and are willing to listen.
A single negative review should not ruin your reputation. Dentists should encourage patients to leave a review on any platform where they are listed.
This is one of many important things a dentist can do online to make sure he or she has strong online reviews and a strong presence. It is estimated that 94% of patients use online reviews to evaluate their healthcare providers and 72% of patients will turn to a dentist's online ratings before deciding on which doctor or dentist to visit.
It may be difficult for small- or medium-sized dentists to manage an online reputation campaign. For this reason, it's a good idea to partner with a professional who can help you monitor your online reputation and collect and showcase positive reviews.
A defamation attorney should be hired if you are targeted by fake dentist reviews. Fake reviews can harm your reputation and lead to a loss of business.
First, determine if the review is authentic or fake. Analyzing the review's language and identifying its author is the first step. If the review is clearly not from your practice, or if it contains inaccurate information or inflammatory language, then it may be a false review.
Next, make sure to check if the review is against the platform's terms. This will help you identify fraudulent reviews and should be flagged.
Once you've ruled out fake reviews, you can now take steps to remove or demask the writer. For the case against the site which published the review, you can file a John Doe law suit or hire an internet defamation attorney.
Another option is for the reviewer to contact you and ask them to amend their post. This will give you an opportunity to make the review more accurate and to fix any issues that may have been missed in the original.
Posting a sign in your waiting area or sharing posters and other social media content with positive reviews from patients is a good idea. This will help to build brand equity and add value to your website while showing your current patients that you care about their opinions.
Remember, however, that only reviews you leave on platforms where your patients are actively asking for them should be posted. If you do not, you could be exposing your practice to negative reviews from disgruntled patients who are determined to exact their revenge.