Statistics show that about 82 percent of patients use search engines like Google to look for new providers. Google is the most visited, most credible search engine, and people trust the reviews on the platform. By having quality Google reviews, you can improve your rankings and SEO. In turn, this will increase your online visibility and help potential patients find you more easily online.
Keep reading to learn more about Google reviews and how they can optimize your SEO and search ranking.
Google reviews refer to feedback left by patients on the Google platform. When a prospect searches for a healthcare provider on Google, reviews and a star rating are among the first things they come across. The star rating of your practice is the average of the reviewers’ ratings.
About 90 percent of consumers read reviews before visiting a business. With Google being the most used search engine worldwide, a majority of healthcare consumers pay attention to feedback on the platform when choosing a doctor.
Positive Google reviews are important because they give your practice credibility. These reviews increase brand trust and help you stand out from the competition. With glowing reviews on Google, your practice will come across as transparent, trustworthy, and reliable, encouraging new patients to book appointments.
On the other hand, negative feedback on Google can stain your reputation and turn prospects away. That’s why it’s critical to stay on top of Google reviews. Patient feedback can help you identify areas for improvement to ensure patient satisfaction and more great reviews.
Google reviews can enhance SEO in the following ways:
Google reviews are an integral part of SEO for healthcare providers. They’re a way to build credibility in your practice. Once you earn the trust of prospects, they’re more likely to become your patients.
Your target audience will get thousands of search results in return. And with so many options available, you only have a few seconds to gain the attention of potential patients and encourage a click-through. Positive Google reviews give you a leg up over the competition.
Indeed, 72 percent of consumers will only take action after reading a positive review. That alone emphasizes one thing: Google reviews are powerful.
Google basically reads patient reviews to understand what services you provide, enabling the search engine to drive traffic to your website. In that way, a practice with many positive reviews on Google tends to receive more clicks and traffic to its site.
Since Google reviews also boost brand trust, prospects will likely spend more time on your website, long enough to make appointments with you.
Reviews affect your position on Google’s search engine result pages (SERPs). Ultimately, Google wants to match users with the right services or products based on their queries.
Positive reviews help Google distinguish practices with stellar feedback from those that are poorly reviewed. This ensures consumers find the best healthcare provider for their needs.
Simply put, high-quality reviews from happy, satisfied patients can determine whether Google ranks your website on page 1 of search results or page 5.
Consider this: 75 percent of users never go past the first page of a Google search. That’s why you need to appear on the top page. Your target audience just won’t find you if you’re on the third, fifth, or tenth page of Google.
Now more than ever, it’s crucial to encourage your patients to leave reviews on Google. Rave Google reviews will help you rank higher on SERPs.
Google reviews can help your practice build credibility and attract new patients. For this reason, it’s vital to keep tabs on your Google reviews.MDidentity can help you manage your Google reviews, which will set your practice apart, increase your visibility in search results, and influence prospect decisions.
Want to get the most out of your Google reviews? Request a demo today to find out how MDidentity can help.
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