The 5 Reasons You Need to Stop Ignoring Online Reviews
The generations are shifting! Millennials can be difficult to understand. They’ve grown up in a very different world than older generations — a society dominated by computers and the internet.
In fact, if you think about it, you’ve likely seen Millennials do all sorts of things that you would deem as ‘quirky’ — their entire lives are charged by their electronic devices and their connectivity to the world around them. Digital is their preferred method to do everything from socializing to entertainment and they are prolific users of the tech that serves as a vehicle for these desires.
Regardless of whether you understand their behaviors or not, Millennials are rapidly becoming the generation that will drive your dental practice forward. A large cross-section of Millennials are just beginning to settle down and start their families — plus, over the next several decades, it’s estimated that they will inherit $30 trillion dollars from Baby Boomers.
As such, they are unavoidably becoming an important part of the population, and it won’t be long before your practice depends on these digitally charged people. Their mobile phones influence everything that they do — how they communicate and how they make purchases. In a tech savvy world, the majority of Millennials (and much more slowly, most consumers for that matter) are turning to online reviews before they venture out to meet a new dentist.
What Are Online Reviews, Exactly?
Online reviews are the comments and ratings that customers and patients post about a dental practice/business on social sites like Google Plus, Yelp, & Facebook. The standard format of these reviews include a rating — generally from 1–5 stars, and a field to add thoughts and comments to the rating. Regardless of whether it is positive or negative, it is then attached to the specific business listing for potential clients to see publicly.
Here’s Why You Should Care:
1. 93% of the Millennial Generation Rely Solely on Consumer Reviews Before Making a Purchase
If Millennials are going to eventually become the most important clients you have for your dental practice, what can you do to rise above the competition? One of the best ways to establish your online footprint is to get quality online reviews from existing patients.
Not only are reviews growing in importance, but consumers aren’t trusting traditional methods of advertising like they used to. 84% of Millennials don’t trust it at all. Social media, blogs, online reviews, and engagement with your target patient base have replaced traditional advertising channels. Young people are now relying on their social networks to decide which dental service provider to go to.
2. 88% of Consumers Trust Online Reviews As Much as Personal Referrals
Word-of-mouth is the best type of marketing, that has never changed — you’re much more likely to make a purchase if someone that you know and trust recommends it. But word-of-mouth is traditionally the most expensive form of advertising with the lowest return on investment. But now there’s something just as effective, but much easier (and cheaper) to generate. Enter online reviews — 88% of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations
3. 72% of Consumers Say a Positive Review Helps Build Trust With Them
Online reviews first entered the scene during the dotcom boom of the late 90’s. Usually saved for big name brands at that point, they eventually entered the local business arena. Now, with sites like Healthgrades, consumers can see reviews exclusively for the medical offices and dental practices that they want to research. Local reviews have become vital for the growth of practices in every arm of healthcare.
4. Millennials are Split 50/50 on How They Select a Dentist
Reviews aren’t just for ebay. Consumers are increasingly using reviews to make their purchasing decisions and to maneuver through the overwhelming amount of healthcare and dental provider listings. Half of Millennials and Gen-Xers are using online reviews to select their care providers — this is compared to 40% of Boomers and 28% of seniors. Are you ready for the increasing importance that online reviews have for your business?
5. 43% of Customers Search Business Reviews at Least Once a Month
Take out your phone and do a Google search for ‘dentist.’ What’s the first thing that comes up? It’s likely a list of the local Dental Practices near you. The instant you typed that term into Google, their algorithms pinpointed your location and drove you to the highest ranking dental practices that are close to you. 10% of these rankings are decided by existing online reviews.
Once prospective patients see you on the top, you want to dazzle them with your shine — make a goal to get more than 10 reviews averaging 4–5 stars.
Want to learn more about how to bring your dental practice up to speed in the digital age? Subscribe to our blog. If you’d like to learn more about how you can jump on top of your digital reviews and squash your competition, schedule a hassle-free demo with a Curogram Onboarding Specialist.
