The Best Doctor Review Sites to Build Online Reputation

Before making an appointment with a doctor, people always ‘google’ him or her first and read reviews. This is natural; they want to be sure that their money will not be spent in vain, and the doctor will help them solve the problem. Positive reviews build confidence in the specialist and attract new patients. When it comes to health, trust plays a key role.

It turns out that doctor review websites directly affect the reputation of clinics and medical professionals. If a patient sees complaints and negative reviews, they will seek medical services elsewhere.

Negative mentions and dissatisfaction with a doctor also put the clinic they work for in jeopardy. They scare away prospective patients, and the clinic loses revenue. Therefore, it is important for doctors to actively manage their online reputation and for clinics to improve their service and quality of communication with patients.

Today we're going to discover:

• What bonuses do clinics get from posting on online doctor review platforms?
• What optimisation moves can consistently increase conversions at review sites?
• The best sites for medical doctor reviews to consider.

Benefits for Medical Practices of Being on Review Sites

Placing a doctor and clinic on review sites where patients leave reviews can be highly beneficial for five reasons.

The first one is increased online visibility.

Potential customers who google doctors and clinics are more likely to click on the first links in a search result. These are usually the top doctor review sites. Such sites receive a huge amount of traffic and visits, so listing on them can improve the clinic's ranking on search engines like Google, making it easier for patients to find the clinic.

The second reason to publish on review sites is to build trust and credibility.

Online reviews and patient ratings are social proof of your professionalism and popularity. Clinics that are not afraid to receive reviews and do not influence their moderation show transparency and a willingness to receive patient feedback, which can further enhance the reputation of the clinic.

84% of patients trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.

The third reason is to increase patient engagement.

On doctor rating sites, your clients can not only read reviews from other patients, but they can also interact with you. Review sites allow doctors and clinics to respond to reviews, engage with patients, address concerns, thank them for positive feedback, and deal with negative opinions.

In addition, patient criticism highlights your areas for growth and service improvement.

Another argument in favour of review sites is data collection.

You can gather more information about patient demographics, preferences, and pain points. Knowing your customer profile, you can set up targeted marketing campaigns, create promotions, and conduct research.

Once you've collected patient data, you can move on to your competitors. The reverse order works too. Feedback from your competitors is a powerful tool to improve your offers and develop a unique selling proposition.

How to Optimise Your Profile on Doctor Review Sites

You can leverage the above benefits of website placement if you optimise your strategy. Increase the conversion rate of your clinic's website by using the following steps.

Provide accurate profile information

The more information you provide about yourself and your services, the more likely you are to weed out patients you can't serve and attract those whose problems you can solve.

To do this, make sure your profile is completely filled out, including:

• specializations
• qualifications
• experience
• services offered
• and clinic hours.

Provide detailed descriptions of services and treatments, explaining what patients can expect.

Use high-quality materials

High-quality photos of specialists and videos about the clinic allow not only to present the clinic to patients but also creates an environment.

Include introductory videos where doctors can introduce themselves, explain their services, and talk about their approach to patient care.

Manage patient reviews

First of all, you need to encourage people and understand how to get patients to leave reviews. You can offer them discounts for leaving reviews, draw prizes among patients.

Remind patients about reviews through follow-up emails or during checkout. Respond promptly to all reviews, thanking patients for positive feedback and addressing any concerns raised in negative reviews.

It is important to follow the rules of professional communication on websites and social media, demonstrate engagement with the patient's concerns, and maintain the tone of voice of the personal brand or clinic.

78% of patients feel that a provider's response to reviews indicates that the clinic cares about their patients.

Leverage SEO and keywords

Use relevant keywords throughout the profile, including in the bio, services, and treatment descriptions. This helps improve search rankings within the review site and on search engines.

Professionals recommend incorporating location-specific keywords to attract local patients searching for nearby physicians. If you are doing telemedicine consultations, you need to combine local and broad keywords to reach more people.

Enhance patient engagement

Even if your reviews have a 4+ star rating and a patient has chosen your services, he can easily switch to a competitor if it's difficult to book an appointment.

So your task is to ensure that the online booking system is easy to use and clearly visible on the profile. You should also keep the appointment calendar updated with available slots to encourage immediate bookings.

Educational materials and FAQs posted on your clinic profile help keep patients on your page and increase interest in your services.

Promote the review site profile

Take advantage of cross promotion: publish links to the review site profile on the clinic's website and social media pages. You can also add a link to the review site profile in email signatures for all staff members.

Many sites, such as ZocDoc, offer paid options to promote their resources. Target ads to local demographics who are likely to need the services offered.

Clinic promotion strategies are best used on the most popular sites with a lot of traffic. We will look at seven sites where you can start:

1. Google Business Profile
2. Yelp
3. Healthgrades
4. ZocDoc
5. Doctify
6. RateMDs
7. TopDoctors

1. Google Business Profile (ex. Google My Business)

Google Business Profile is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Search and Maps. Appearing on Google Maps helps patients locate the clinic and get directions.

How Does Google Business Profile Work?

To get started in GBP, you simply need to register on the platform using your Google account.

Google will send a postcard with a verification code to the clinic's address to confirm the office location. This process ensures the legitimacy of the business. Keep the clinic's information up-to-date to ensure patients have the correct details.

You will be able to modify and edit your profile from Search or Maps. Communication and informing patients take place via posts, direct messages, offers, etc.

When you reply to a Google review, your response appears below the customer’s review on Google Search and Maps under the label “Response from the Owner”.

Features:

• Access data on how patients find the clinic, where they are coming from, and what actions they take (e.g., visiting the website or calling the clinic).
• Integrate appointment booking through supported scheduling partners.
• Patients can ask questions directly on the GBP profile, and the clinic can respond publicly.

There are no costs associated with creating or maintaining a profile. However, clinics may choose to invest in Google Ads to enhance their visibility in search results, which would incur additional costs.

2. Yelp

Yelp is a widely-used online platform where users can read and write reviews about local businesses, including restaurants, shops, clinics, and doctors.

How Does Yelp Work?

Yelp provides two options for promoting healthcare services on its platform: Business Page and Yelp Ads.

The first option is free, and its functionality includes:

1. adding and managing information about your business
2. responding to reviews and messages
3. adding photos and videos of your services, as well as additional information: your website, phone number, social media, etc.

With Business Page you select categories, services, and service areas to make it easier for people to find you. You also get free analytics on page visits, leads, and information about your potential customer's profile.

It takes an average of 24 hours to verify your page on Yelp.

Yelp Ads is a paid feature of the platform. With its help, your profile will be shown on search and competitors‘ pages (’Sponsored Result"), and you will be able to make targeted advertising of services by location and keywords.

The payment system is pay-per-click. The average advertising price is $5 per day.

Features:

• Patients can leave detailed reviews on Yelp and star ratings (1 to 5 stars) based on their experiences with the clinic. These reviews can include written comments, photos, and sometimes videos.
• Yelp’s algorithm prioritises businesses with higher ratings and more reviews, enhancing visibility for well-reviewed clinics.

3. ZocDoc

ZocDoc is a widely used healthcare platform designed to simplify the process of finding and booking medical appointments. It connects patients with primary care doctors, dentists, dermatologists, and specialists.

How Does ZocDoc Work?

The ZocDoc Marketplace is where patients search for and book appointments with a new doctor. To get started with the platform, you need to fill out a simple application form and specify the name of the practice, number of doctors, and speciality. You can request a demo to understand the intricacies of the platform.

Once approved by the moderators, the following options will be available to you:

1. Fill out the insurance plans you're in network with.
2. Detailed profile information, including hours of operation, so patients can see your availability and book an appointment.
3. Ability to request insurance cards and IDs from patients before appointments.
4. Access to automatic appointment reminders.
5. The platform reminds patients after an appointment to leave feedback and schedule the next visit.

Features:

• Patients can search for doctors based on various criteria, such as specialty, location, insurance acceptance, and availability.
• Patients can view the real-time availability of doctors and book appointments instantly.
• Only patients who have booked and attended an appointment through the service can leave reviews on ZocDoc.

ZocDoc cost for providers is free for bookings made by your existing patients through the Marketplace. You’re only charged when a new patient books their first appointment. The cost depends on the location and specialty. For example, a psychotherapist in California incurs a fee of $70 per new client booking.

4. Healthgrades

Healthgrades is an online resource for comprehensive information about healthcare providers and hospitals in the United States. Patients search for doctors, hospitals, and healthcare services on this platform.

How Does Healthgrades Work?

The platform specialises in healthcare reviews and ratings and provides a ranking of professionals on various qualities:

1. punctuality
2. bedside manner
3. and office environment.

According to Insight Marketing Group, the platform has about 100 million users and provides information on more than three million healthcare providers.

Each provider has a detailed profile that includes professional background, board certifications, hospital affiliations, education, and training. To publish your profile on the platform, you must be verified by your DEA or State license number.

Features:

• Providers are given an overall star rating based on reviews on Healthgrades, which helps potential patients quickly gauge the quality of care.
• The Healthgrades review platform provides quality reports on hospitals, including information on patient safety, clinical outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
• Hospitals and providers can receive awards, such as the Healthgrades America’s Best Hospitals Award, which can further enhance their reputation.

The Healthgrades cost for provider for basic profiles is free. These profiles include essential information such as the provider’s name, specialty, contact information, and patient reviews.

Healthgrades also offers enhanced profile options. These profiles include additional features such as:

• more detailed information about services, treatments, and conditions treated
• photos of the clinic and video introductions
• integration with scheduling systems

The cost of enhanced profiles can vary. Contact Healthgrades directly to get specific pricing based on your needs and location.

5. Doctify

Doctify is an online platform that allows patients to find, review, and book appointments with doctors based on their needs and preferences.

How Does Doctify Work?

To get started on the platform, you need to fill out a short form on the website. Within 24 hours, a Doctify specialist will contact you and give you an online demonstration of all the platform's features.

It doesn't take much time to create a profile. Profiles include photographs, clinic addresses, contact details, and consultation fees.

The platform is careful to ensure that only patients can leave reviews on Doctify; the opportunity to share impressions appears only after an appointment with a doctor. Reviews cover various aspects of care, such as the doctor's expertise, bedside manner, waiting time, and overall patient experience.

Features:

• Doctify offers an integrated booking system. Patients can view available time slots and choose the most convenient time for their visit.
• Analytic Suite gives you the ability to track your real-time review performance: filter reviews, gain insight into clinic performance, and monitor the impact of changes you've made to your practice based on reviews.
• Treatment tags help you differentiate between patients based on services provided, procedures performed, and their condition.
• You can survey patients and gather the information that you and your governing body need using the survey tool. All data is displayed on the Doctify dashboard.

Doctify cost for providers can vary based on the country and type of provider. For example, general practitioners in some regions have access to special rates as low as $20 AUD per month for initial signups.

6. RateMDs

RateMDs is a prominent doctor rating site with over 40 million visits every year since 2004. It focuses on providing patients with a space to review and rate medical professionals, as well as search for doctors and healthcare facilities.

How Does RateMDs work?

Patients can search for doctors by name, specialty, or location. The search results display a list of doctors along with their ratings and reviews on RateMDs. Each doctor’s profile contains reviews left by patients, along with ratings based on specific criteria like staff, punctuality, helpfulness, and knowledge.

Patients leave reviews by creating a free account on RateMDs. Reviews are structured with a rating system (1–5 stars) and a section for written comments.

Doctors can claim their profile by verifying their identity and credentials. Once your account is confirmed, you can create a profile, add photos and videos, manage the information displayed, and respond to reviews.

You cannot remove negative reviews, but you can flag reviews that violate the site’s guidelines for review. The RateMDs team will take them down if necessary.

Features:

• RateMDs compiles lists of top-rated doctors in various specialties and regions. If you try to receive consistently high ratings, you may enhance your reputation.
• RateMDs is accessible on mobile devices, allowing patients to search for doctors and leave reviews on the go.

Basic listings on RateMDs are free. This includes a profile with basic information like name, specialty, location, and patient reviews. RateMDs cost for providers for Promoted Plan starts at $179 per month.

7. TopDoctors

TopDoctors is, as they call themselves, the world's strictest medical assessment screening system. The team states that only 20 percent of doctors who send in their claims get listed on the platform. The rest were not selected due to unsuitable qualifications and experience.

How Does TopDoctors Work?

You can register on the platform by submitting credentials, specialisations, and professional background. Then the team verifies each profile to ensure that only top-rated doctors with significant experience and a good reputation are listed. They claim that 90% of doctors on TopDoctors have 10-year experience in their field.

Patients can book appointments directly through the platform, choosing from available time slots. Your profile can offer options for in-person consultations as well as virtual consultations via video calls.

After consultations, patients are encouraged to leave reviews on TopDoctors and rate their experience. They can do it only after the appointment. This is the way the platform certifies patients and ensures that the reviews are trustworthy.

Features:

• The platform offers an online booking system, making it easy for patients to schedule appointments without the need for phone calls or additional steps.
• TopDoctors supports telemedicine, which is especially useful for those who cannot visit the clinic in person.
• TopDoctors Awards help doctors get recognised and build personal brand loyalty.
• Patients can choose doctors who accept their health plans thanks to the information about insurance compatibility.
• Many doctors contribute articles, videos, and other educational content on medical conditions, treatments, and health tips.

TopDoctors cost for providers equals zero. You can be listed free of charge if you meet the criteria. There is an additional cost for tailored digital marketing packs, but it’s not obligatory.

If you're interested in picking the best healthcare digital solutions, welcome to our blog.

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