The internet is a powerful tool and provides almost anything consumers could want at their fingertips. That’s no exaggeration. Almost every website you could imagine is out there, and probably has several competing websites claiming to provide more information than the others. So, there is no doubt that your online reputation holds a lot of power to transform your business even as a small local clinic. With the majority of businesses still stuck in the pre-digital era where the main focus of marketing was offline, it’s clear that today’s market leaders have understood the importance online reputation plays in getting customers. If you’re not taking advantage of this phenomenon yet, or aren’t sure what steps to take to develop an effective online reputation management strategy for your practice and business, read on!
The Importance of Online Reputation
Chiropractors, like most other professionals, have to work hard to build a positive reputation. But in today’s world, where anyone can voice their opinions on the internet and there are millions of search engines, it’s more important than ever to have a strong online presence and reputation. It’s a fact that people will Google you before they come to see you, and the more positive things they read about you, the more likely they are to book an appointment.
Reputation is everything. It’s a cornerstone of every business and is vital to the success of any business owner. Your reputation will determine whether or not people trust you and your services. The same goes for chiropractors who own practices. You need to build your reputation as a trustworthy, reliable, and competent chiropractor—one who offers excellent care that gets results. If people can’t find your practice online, they won’t come to see you in person. That’s why it’s crucial for every chiropractor to have an active social media presence and website that showcases their best work.
How to Create a Good Online Reputation
What should you do? It’s actually quite simple. Your online reputation is just as important as your offline one, so just put your offline self on the internet! I know it might sound way too simplistic, but hear me out. Do you have specializations or certifications? Show them on your website. You went to a seminar to get more knowledge about what you do? Post about it! Did you see a huge and very visible improvement in a patient thanks to your treatment? Show a side-by-side comparison! Have you heard a recurring question from your patients lately? Record a video answering frequent questions!
You get the idea. The more you can show, the better! If you are a professional, then try to be one online. This means you should keep your website up-to-date and make sure it’s well-designed. If you are a professional, then try to be one online. This means you should keep your website up-to-date and make sure it’s well-designed. If you have a blog, post regularly! If not, consider starting one. You don’t need to post every day or even every week—just let your audience know that they can expect new content from time to time.
Equally important, enhance your credibility by selecting large, respected third-party sites on which to build a deeper presence. There’s Yelp, Google My Business, WebMD, Healthgrades, etc. You read more about this in our article about the 5 best doctor search pages to be in.
How to Track Your Online Reputation
You need to check EVERY WEEK the mentions your business had. I know time can get tight, but it’s important to see if there’s any issue you need to resolve. One of the best ways to keep track of your online reputation is through a tool that lets you manage your reputation from one software.
If you want to keep it simple (and not too pricey) you can use the free Google Alerts, which lets you know when your business is mentioned on the internet. This way, if there’s anything negative being said about you, you’ll know right away and can respond accordingly!
Another free tool you can use is Mention, which will show you all of the articles and posts on the internet that mention your business. If there’s anything negative being said about you, then it’ll let you know so that you can respond accordingly.
Or Moz Local Listing Score, a free tool that will show you if your business is being found in local searches and how well it’s ranking.
Also don’t forget to check your Google My Business and your social media to track if there are comments, reviews, or anything else you need to keep an eye on.
Building up a reputation on the internet can be challenging and stressful. However, it isn’t impossible. As you build your reputation, commenting on other websites will help you get followers who are more likely to trust your content and this will ultimately help you gain a better online presence.
And if you need more new patients each month to scale your practice, GSP has the perfect solution! Our team handles advertising, contacting leads (through calls, emails, and texts), booking, and follow-up on these new patients for you until they reach your doors. That means you can sit back and relax while we handle the whole first-contact process. See how GSP helps doctors every month.