Why Google Reviews = New Patients
If your phone isn’t ringing off the hook and new patient numbers are flat, you may be making on of the most common mistakes in dental marketing: you’re building a house on a shaky foundation.
In a recent Bite-Sized Dental Marketing podcast with Dr. Leonard Tau, “the reviews doctor” himself, we learned some insights that are too important not to pass along. His core message? Your online reputation isn’t just part of your marketing; it’s the baseline for everything else.
If your reputation is weak, every single dollar you spend on other marketing is at risk.
Why Your Marketing Efforts Fail Without Reviews
The unfortunate truth is that where marketing is concerned, dentists often focus on the wrong things. They get stuck on the nitty-gritty while ignoring the 3.9-star rating on Google. As Dr. Tau says, you must have “visibility and credibility.” While a polished website and paid ads help give you visibility, your reviews are what showcase your credibility. You simply cannot succeed without both.
For example, if you think referrals are a sure thing, think again. Even a patient referred by their best friend will first Google your practice. And, when they do, if they see a low star rating or very few reviews, they will hesitate. They’ll think, “Maybe I’ll check out that other practice down the street first.”
Data shows that 50% of patients won’t even consider a dentist with less than a 4-star rating. If you’re lingering at 3.9, you’ve already lost half of your potential market, no matter how great your referral was or how polished your website is.
Getting The Reviews You Want (And Need)
So, you’re ready to take in more reviews. You print out some QR codes, put a tablet at the front desk, and tell your team to ask. You should be set, right? Wrong.
How you ask for reviews matters just as much as if you ask.
Google is smart, way smarter than we’d like it to be. When it sees multiple reviews coming from the same physical location (your office’s Wi-Fi) or in rapid succession (because you’re hovering and pushing for patients to leave a review), you risk having them filtered. Meaning that your hard-earned reviews may never even show up.
Our advice? Automate Your “Ask”
The best time to ask is after the patient has left the building. This way, there’s no pressure, and the review is authentic. We’ve found that the best way to do this is with a simple, automated system that sends a text or email after their appointment. This not only safeguards against Google, but also helps you encourage a consistent flow of new reviews.
Ask for “Feedback” not a “Review”
You’d be surprised by how a simple change in wording can make a huge difference. “Will you leave us a review?” can sound like begging. Instead, having your team say, “We’re always trying to improve. You’ll be getting a text from us in a bit, and we’d love to get your feedback on your experience today.”
It’s professional, customer-service-oriented, and far more effective.
Reviews Are Non-Negotiable
Keeping your online reputation strong with consistent, quality reviews is the foundation for all your other marketing efforts: your website, your ads, and your social media. And, knowing how to leverage that reputation into a predictable flow of new patients is the next.
If you’re ready to stop wasting your marketing budget and start building your practice on a solid foundation, let’s talk. We would love to have a no-obligation chat about your practice’s future.