How to Get Online Reviews for Your Podiatry Clinic

Good news. After putting online reviews on pause, Google is now publishing new patient reviews to your clinic’s Google My Business listing.

Google has not commented on when the “backlog” of reviews submitted from March-June will start showing up. So when there’s an update, I’ll let you know.

If you haven’t already done so, I strongly encourage you to implement a system to gather patient reviews. Relying on chance or a random submission won’t help your clinic stand out online.  

If you provide patients an opportunity and platform to share their positive encounters, a good number will be happy to do so.

They are an essential component of a successful podiatry marketing strategy.

Why are online reviews valuable:

• Reviews are an online form of “word of mouth.” You and your website can speak to your training and expertise, but when a patient shares a positive experience publicly, it feels more authentic and compelling.
• The more reviews, in particular, written reviews you have, the more it shows potential patients that you are the trusted specialist.
• You’ll receive priceless feedback from patients. It’s good to know what’s working and what’s not so you can improve the patient journey.
• It’s an opportunity to interact with your patients when they’re outside your clinic. These touchpoints let them know that you are listening and that you care.

Now you know the value, but how can this be done in a practical, time-effective way? To get started, I recommend two options:

Google My Business

If you have a Google My Business (GMB) account, there’s a simple way to start collecting reviews. If not, you claim your free account at: https://google.com/business. 

Within the GMB dashboard, there is a section called “Get more reviews”. Click on “Share review form” and you’ll be given a link that you can share with those you’d like to review your clinic.

You can add this link to your website, email newsletters, email signatures, etc.

Online Review Software

If you’re looking for something a bit more robust, consider online review software, like GatherUp.

Along with creating a review link, these platforms can send review request emails and text messages directly to patients. 

They also provide a central dashboard, notify of new reviews, and go beyond Google to ask for reviews on HealthGrades, Vitals, and other review websites.

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