Did you know that you can help the next patient and your ear health provider at the same time just by posting a short, honest review on the Internet?
Lately, people rely on online reviews in choosing a healthcare doctor, because the act of sharing that experience can push the next potential patient to get the help they need. At the same time, you assist hearing care providers by allowing them to address real issues that involve their practice—in turn ensuring a positive experience for future patients.
So, how about trying to make a difference? Here are four practical reasons you should review your hearing care provider online.
1. It’s not that difficult
Just look for the hearing care provider’s website and find the page dedicated to reviews – that’s the best place to start. Simply navigate to the website, find the review link, and post a short review right on the website—all in less time than it takes to make a cup of coffee.
2. Help others help themselves
According to a 2015 BrightLocal survey, 92 percent of consumers will read online reviews, and about 80 percent of them trust those reviews as much as personal recommendations.
That means 8 out of 10 people will take your review as seriously as a personal recommendation. If you had a pleasant experience, posting a positive online review is by far the best way to get the message out, helping other people to get the same quality of care.
3. You are part of creating a fair picture of the practice
Studies show that people are much more likely to post reviews after a negative experience than after a positive one. This creates a negativity bias that can present the practice in a bad light.
No one is perfect—and no practice is either. Whether the negative reviews are warranted or not, they will get posted. And if the positive experiences go undocumented, this will create a distorted picture. If you believe the practice deserves a good reputation, you can help them out by posting a positive review.
4. Tell your hearing care provider how to improve the patient experience
We believe in honest, respectful reviews, without regard to whether those reviews are positive or negative. But we also believe that attempting to resolve issues privately is the best place to start.
If you’ve had a negative experience, it’s always best to first contact the practice privately. Often times, the issues can be resolved whereby both parties are satisfied. However, if the issues were not resolved to your satisfaction, you may feel that your negative experience must be shared.
In that case, in the name of honesty, you may want to post respectful suggestions that can help the provider improve the patient experience. This ultimately helps the practice and creates a better experience for future patients.