Whether consumers are researching dishwashers or choosing a chiropractor, online reviews play an important role in the decision-making process. In fact, 92 percent of consumers read online reviews, and 40 percent form an opinion of the business after just reading one to three reviews, according to a BrightLocal survey.

If your online reviews are sparse or negative, prospective patients will keep surfing until they find a chiropractor with a large number of overwhelmingly positive online reviews. These four tips will help you increase positive reviews and attract new patients.

1. Provide an Excellent Patient Experience

Give your patients plenty to write about by making their visits outstanding experiences. Your patients are more likely to enjoy their visits if:

• They are warmly welcomed by you and your front-office staff.
• The waiting room is comfortable and modern and offers thoughtful touches, like coffee, tea, water and healthy snacks.
• You respect appointment times and don’t keep patients waiting.
• Exam rooms are clean and the practice uses modern chiropractic equipment.
• Patients get easy-to-understand information about their diagnoses and chiropractic treatment options.
• Patients feel that you truly care about and empathize with their problems.
• Checkout and billing/payment is a painless process.
• It’s easy to reach you if patients have questions or concerns after their visits.

2. Ask for Reviews

The simplest way to get positive online reviews is to ask patients to provide them. While asking may be simple, you may feel a little awkward making the request. Keep in mind that many of your patients will be glad to provide reviews, but may have never considered writing one before.

If you don’t feel comfortable asking patients to provide reviews at the end of their visits, consider sending them a follow-up email with your request. Add links to Yelp, Google Places, Angie’s List and other popular review sites in the email.

Remember: It’s unethical to ask your patients to say something positive. When you ask for reviews, you open yourself up to all types of feedback. But by ensuring patients are satisfied before they leave your office, and always focusing on patient comfort, you’re more likely to earn more of those glowing, five-star ratings.

3. Make It Easy

Your internet-savvy patients will have no trouble posting reviews, but other patients may not know where to start. Make it easy for them by providing them with step-by-step instructions for the most common review sites. Include the instructions in your follow-up emails, and offer printed versions in your office.

4. Respond to Reviews Promptly

Review your online reviews every day and respond to all of them, whether they’re positive or negative. Patients may be less likely to post new reviews if they notice that previous reviews have gone unnoticed.

Thank patients who post positive reviews and address issues in negative reviews diplomatically, offering a solution if you can. At some point, all businesses will have a few negative reviews. A constant influx of positive reviews will help offset those not-so-great ones.

Thanks to the power of the internet, marketing your chiropractic practice is easier than ever. Positive online reviews can give your business the boost it needs and serve as a never-ending source for new patients.

Want to boost patient satisfaction in your chiropractic practice? Contact us today to learn more about what Dynatronics equipment can do for you.