While it’s more important than ever to have an online presence in 2015, it can be difficult to navigate the world of online reviews. Patients have a number of different platforms where they can voice their opinions about your practice, like Yelp, Facebook, Healthgrades and more. While this can often be a good thing, one person’s bad experience can leave you with a bad review that everyone can see. If you’re unsure about what to do when faced with negative reviews, keep reading for some helpful tips.
Tips for Handling Negative Online Reviews
- Contact the review website. While most review sites will not take down a negative review, you can reach out to them if you feel the review is slanderous or makes personal attacks against anyone involved with your practice. Certain review websites, like Yelp, have policies in place that prevent business owners from writing reviews of their competitors, so it’s worth contacting the review page if you feel that the review is not legitimate.
- Respond to the review. One of the best things you can do in the event of a bad review is to respond to it, showing that you care about the patient’s experience while also explaining your side of the story. Responding publicly lets you apologize for their negative experience, while also allowing potential patients to see that you care about what they think. If you feel that the conversation isn’t going anywhere publicly, it can be beneficial to reach out to the reviewer privately to find out how you can improve or what you can do to help them out.
- Encourage your happy patients to leave reviews. While reviews often don’t go away, you can help push them down the page by encouraging your happy patients to leave reviews following their visit. It’s as simple as hanging a sign in your waiting room, and can be a great way to boost your practice’s online reputation.
- Use it as a learning experience. While you may be initially shocked or upset upon receiving a negative review, it can be used as a learning experience to help guide the future of your business. Use the review to find any ways you may be able to improve, so you can avoid these situations in the future.
Need Help Managing Your Online Presence? MyAdvice Can Help.
MyAdvice’s professional team of online marketers can develop a strategy that is safe, ethical and effective for your medical practice. For more information, contact an MyAdvice Representative, or give us a call at 435.575.7470. We look forward to speaking with you.
