The Power Online Reviews Have on Your Employer Brand

Online reviews can easily be considered the new word-of-mouth style of marketing we've always known and used throughout history. When it comes to the world of online reviews, there's no doubt that if somebody has an opinion about your business, they're probably going to vocalize it. Since society is heavily focused on social media impact and using the internet to find your doctors and specialists, online reviews can be detrimental to success. Therefore, making sure that your customers are excited about your services enough to hop online and give your business a glowing 5-Star review is more vital - and scarier - than ever before.

Your Employer Brand

Online reviews aren't just for customers, either. Job seekers read reviews just like everybody else, so it's safe to say that when someone is applying for a position to your practice or organization, they're also most likely paying attention to what your customers and other employees are saying online.

Stay Calm and Carry On

According to a recent Harvard study, a single-star increase in a business' Yelp review can result in a 5-9% increase in revenue. An astonishing figure that, in theory, could conversely work to a business' disadvantage. Here are some tips for handling online reviews:

1. Ask Your Customers

Don't be afraid to ask your customers outright for a review! If you have a happy customer that walks out of your practice and is not running the computer to review your practice, then you need to fix this. Make it simple for them to find the review forum and prompt them to do so when a service has been performed. Always have a review link on your website where you can direct your customers. You can also send a follow up email with the link to review your services.

2. Respond to Your Reviews - Good and Bad

If you do receive a negative review, don't panic. Do not let the review sit there and manifest, especially if you have an active online customer base. Potential customers will more often than not expect a response, and from there be able to make up their decision if the review was even rational to begin with. Respond back with authority, truth, and above all, be humble. That being said, if you have a wonderful review, respond back with thanks or a personal note regarding their experience.

3. Leverage Your Reviews

Now that you have a healthy number of reviews, what are you going to do with them to show off your awesome practice? One idea is to have a 'what customers say' page and show off the reviews that represent your practice the best. People love reading reviews and want to know what to expect before they walk in the door, so be sure to highlight your practice's reviews for the good of future customers.

Which Review System is Best?

There are many review websites available on the internet, but our advice is to go with one associated with a search engine over a paid review service. Some large review websites seem to portray an imbalance of opinions, which can oftentimes negatively impact your practice. Search engine reviews are favorable mainly because they're easy to access for all customers, both irate and pleased with your service.

At the end of the day, if you practice honorably and serve your customers humbly, you won't need to worry about negative reviews. Either way, customers love word-of-mouth, and in this age of the internet, it's time you start listening to what people are saying about your practice online.