The Importance of Google Reviews

“We interrupt this broadcast for the following breaking news.” That is how I feel about interrupting my series of posts on dental practice transitions in order to comment on Google’s recent policy change regarding patient reviews. In my opinion, this was done because Google wants to grow their review base, while at the same time guaranteeing consistency and compliance with how their search engine optimization programs work with rankings.

In a format change to the local Google Business Map display, patient reviews from companies like Demand Force and others have been moved to a much less prominent position below the name of the office. They have been replaced – to the right of the practice name – by the word “reviews” and “Place page.” When you click those words, a screen opens where you are prompted to write a Google review. As you add Google reviews, all other reviews from Demand Force or Bing or Yahoo are pushed lower and lower down on the page.

I am still a big advocate of the Demand Force review protocol. Their reviews should still continue to be collected because they remain extremely important. And even with this new arrangement, Demand Force’s special relationship with Google means that Demand Force is a relevant and an important player. But accumulating Google reviews now becomes  an absolute priority.

I am suggesting that someone at your practice – while the patient is still at the office – helps the satisfied patient to write a review from the office computer. Asking a patient to do this from home is an exercise in futility. It is too complicated except for the most computer literate.

I have developed a flow chart for how to do this easily. I suggest that you immediately make the process of obtaining reviews in the fashion I describe a number one action item in order for your dental practice to maintain high visibility and positioning on the local Google business map. As always, I welcome your comments and feedback.