It takes more than just getting a lot of publicity to run a successful dental practice. You’ll also need to earn your audience’s confidence. There are a variety of methods for doing so, but few are as successful as online reviews.
Visitors are more likely to trust the opinions of other clients, so displaying feedback on your dental practice’s website and other platforms helps to create a reputation. Furthermore, taking action and making adjustments in response to customer feedback demonstrates how much you appreciate their input.
We’ll talk about why online reviews are so relevant in this post.
What Is ‘Social Proof?’
Anyone who has purchased a product online has come across consumer reviews. Before making a purchase, the majority of people read through them. Why, then, do strangers’ views matter so much to us?
The psychological phenomenon of people copying the behaviors of their peers because they assume those actions are the “right” behavior is referred to as “social proof.” In other words, if people see someone doing something, they are more likely to do it themselves.
Since humans have evolved to instinctively trust the views of those around us, social proof works remarkably well. In fact, 70% of people trust a recommendation from a complete stranger, while 92 percent trust a recommendation from a peer. Compared to the typical reception of brand ads, only 36% of shoppers claim they trust large corporations to always tell the facts.
This is because most people are aware that dental offices exist almost exclusively to sell their products. As a result, many people are unable to believe what marketers say about their own goods. Customer reviews are helpful in this situation.
The importance of online customer reviews
Displaying user feedback is a great way to solve the issues listed above. Your buyers can hear from people they can trust. Your conversion rates will improve as a result, as long as most of the feedback is positive.
Using genuine user reviews on your website will also aid in the development of brand loyalty. This is because it will make customers feel as if they are respected by your company. A trustworthy partnership is particularly critical for dental practice owners. It is one of the most effective ways to differentiate yourself in a competitive local market.
To capture the interest of your target audience, you’ll need something exclusive, and authentic brands attract more high-value customers. Authenticity is often cited as one of the top attributes that draw online customers to a brand. Honest, real-life feedback will consistently outperform polished brand claims about a product you’re selling.
What if I get a negative review?
Although it can be tempting not to, it is essential to keep positive and negative reviews up. After all, criticism is an essential type of feedback that should be respected. No one knows the product better than the people who purchase it, so listening to their feedback will positively change.
Of course, you don’t want your platforms to have hundreds and pages of one-star ratings. A few here and there, on the other hand, will potentially help to increase your reputation. A slightly less than perfect score seems more honest, and it tells the audience that the feedback is trustworthy.
In reality, consumers consider brands with only 5/5 reviews to be less trustworthy. Although a few less-than-perfect reviews lower a product’s average ranking, it’s likely to have a positive effect on how your dental practice develops in the long run. Of course, by offering outstanding service, you’ll want to encourage as many positive reviews as possible.
It’s critical to react quickly and respectfully if you receive negative feedback. If a customer has had a problem, avoiding it (and them) would likely make them feel even more irritated. Furthermore, other consumers would be offended if their input goes unanswered. You should work out a mutually beneficial solution to almost every complaint by taking the time to calmly analyze the issue.
Final thoughts
Trust is critical to the long-term success of your dental practice. People would not commit to an appointment if you didn’t have it. Fortunately, you will begin to build a more loyal relationship with your audience by showing product reviews on your dental practice website.
Customer reviews will also provide more information on how well you perform your dental service. Reviews are an excellent source of feedback, and paying careful attention to them will reveal places where you can improve.