THE Best Way to Boost Reviews & Testimonials
Would you like to increase your positive reviews on sites like Google or Yelp? If so, you are not alone. Many practices today are clamoring to build up their positive online PR—or in some cases they need to bury a negative review or two.
Some of you may be thinking that you provide good service and that should be enough to motivate reviews. Yet as, 
Gary Vaynerchuk, author of The Thank You Economy said, “Marketing is about to get really !@#$%&! hard”. Will simply good or adequate service be enough to motivate positive word of mouth and reviews?
There are several proven things you can do to help increase your positive reviews, including asking patients via word of mouth, tangible reminders, or digital tools (like surveys or emails that push to review sites). However the number one best way to skyrocket your positive reviews and testimonials will always be to surprise and delight your patients.
Asking for testimonials is one thing, however igniting raving reviews organically is entirely another. Rather than setting your focus on how you can get people to post reviews, how about setting your primary intentions on how you can delight patients? For some of you this may seem obvious. However I think many practices—even the most successful ones—can almost always find at least one new thing to enhance.
What are a few examples of surprising patients? If you live in a rainy city, have nice umbrellas you could offer patients when they leave during a storm. Fred Joyal, author of Everything is Marketing said, “Offer limo transportation to patients having certain treatments”. Think about things that wowed you at your last impressive restaurant visit or resort stay and brainstorm with your team. Once you’ve wowed your patients and given them something to rave about, it’s a lot easier for your team to ask for referrals and patients are much more motivated to talk you up.
Today, digital reputations mean everything. So certainly spend some time taking action to grow your positive reviews. However, spend the greatest effort and energy on what’s even more important—showering your patients with pleasant surprises, thank you’s, and genuine appreciation. Set your intentions everyday on delighting patients and saying thank you. The positive word of mouth, referrals and reviews will then easily follow.
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Yahooo Rita… thanks for posting this. It just makes me feel good. Thank you for the great suggestions and practical things that can be done to WOW our patients.
Dr Scott, Thank YOU for reading and sharing your feedback:)
I love this line of yours: “Rather than setting your focus on how you can get people to post reviews, how about setting your primary intentions on how you can delight patients?” This is so important. Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about this sales tip or that marketing approach that we FORGET what is most important: DELIGHTING OUR PATIENTS!
Hi – Thanks for reading and sharing your comments Ken!
Rita, Is it ok to ask patients to go online and post reviews? If so, what constitutes a good review? I like the sandwich approach; start with something good, suggest room for improvement, and finish with a strong recommendation. This makes the review feel authenticate and not just a pr piece. Many people simply are not familiar with writing reviews, and so we need to find ways to encourage more of it. Finally what local search networks do you recommend in addition to Yelp? Thanks again, great post.
Hi Chris – Thanks for taking time to read and comment! Yes, I think it’s okay to ask for reviews from patients. I find if you just ask people to share their thoughts in their own words, it comes across as genuine (typos and all:)). I’ve actually found if you do like Facebook does, allow people to simply “share what’s on your mind”, patients don’t feel forced and often are more original and sincere with their reviews/testimonials.
Good local review sites include: Google reviews, Yelp as you said, DrOogle, HealthGrades… Thanks Chris!