Do you find it slightly awkward to verbally ask your patients to leave you reviews online? We know it may feel inorganic to request them, but online reviews can be vital to marketing your practice. An increasing percentage of patients are looking for doctors online instead of checking more traditional forms of media such as newspapers or physical directories.
One of the easiest ways to increase your online reviews is to request them through links in automated emails or text messages. Keep reading to find out how you can seamlessly incorporate review requests into your patient recall messages or newsletters.
Improve Your Online Reviews Through Better Communication
First, let's clarify what we mean by automated emails. Automated emails can be sent for a wide variety of reasons including:
- Appointment detail reminders
- Purchase order status
- Appointment prompts
- Discounts or sales
- Special practice hours
You can use a range of email service providers to send these messages in case they're not already embedded in your practice management solution. Most importantly, patients want to be in the loop and feel less obligated to call your practice for clarification during business hours. While constant communication leads to happier patients, this isn't the only reason it can lead to better online reviews.
In the bottom footer of every automated email, you can try including a link to your practice's website, Yelp, Google reviews, Zocdoc, or any other review website of your choosing. You should have a simple message that prompts the patient to leave a review such as, "Want to help spread the word about our practice? Leave us a review."
By proactively providing links, you're making reviewing an easier process for the patient. If you have the ability, you can offer a small incentive for reviews such as being entered into a raffle, receiving a discount on their next purchase, or points in your loyalty program.
Overall, automated emails and text messages do more than just close the communication gap between you and your patient. When these messages are already embedded in your existing software, your staff can spend less time scheduling messages and more time providing face-to-face customer service that could prompt a positive review from patients.
If you're looking for a practice management and EHR solution that can help manage your automated messages, request a demo of Uprise.
