Navigating the world of online reviews as a healthcare professional, especially in a field as sensitive as therapy, requires not only strategy, but a high degree of ethical awareness. Confidentiality and privacy are paramount, so it’s crucial to identify ways to collect these valuable review snippets without jeopardizing the trust and therapeutic alliance established between practitioner and client.
Asking for reviews may create an appearance of bias. This can be seen as prioritizing self-promotion over client welfare, potentially undermining the
trust that is so essential in the relationship. When the focus shifts from helping clients to boosting one’s online reputation, it can harm both the client and the professional standing of the therapist.
Depending on your governing professional organization (ex. American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, National Association of Social Workers, etc.), the guidelines for asking for reviews can vary and be nuanced.
In 2024, most consumers (59%) expect a business to have a minimum of 20-99 reviews before they would consider using it. Beyond influencing potential clients, these customer-generated reviews significantly affect search engine optimization (SEO), influencing a practice’s visibility and credibility online.
Therefore, it becomes vital for practitioners to develop effective methods of acquiring such testimonials in a manner that respects and upholds clients’ rights to privacy and confidentiality. This blog post will explore eight creative yet ethically conscious strategies designed to increase online reviews for healthcare practitioners.
Follow Up with an Email After an Event
If you hold a public event, webinar, educational course, etc., use that opportunity to send a follow up email afterwards to thank them for attending
and include a link to review your event. This is a great way to build client relationships while getting reviews without violating your governing professional organization’s ethical guidelines.
Anonymous Feedback Form
Negative feedback isn’t always bad! It gives you an opportunity to show potential clients that you are listening and continuously improving. But if you’re wary of negative feedback, you can create an anonymous feedback form where the user will only be given the link to leave a review if they rate you a 7 or higher (out of a scale of 10). If they rate you below a 7, they’ll just be directed to a text box where they can leave you feedback privately and you can take that feedback to improve your practice. Win-win!
Display Signs or Flyers
If you have a physical location, having a sticker on your door or receptionist area is another touchpoint where you can include a QR code and
the suggestion “If you would like to publicly review the service we provided, please go to [link]”.
Ask Follow Colleagues
Asking people you work with for reviews is another great way to stay HIPAA compliant while getting more online reviews. They can attest to your
personality, qualifications, empathic care, work ethic, and more.
Ask Friends and Family
If you need a quick boost in ratings, ask friends and family to rate your business. They could talk about your character or just leave a 5-star
rating. I suggest having a mix of ratings among your written reviews.
Include a Graphic Linked to Your Review Website in Your Email Signature
Asking for an online review in your email signature can be as simple as an image of the Google logo with the words “Rate us on Google” and
a link to your Google Business Profile. You’re not asking directly for a review but you’re staying top of mind.
A Link on Your Website
Add a link to your Google Business Profile on your website either in the footer or contact page. I’m going to be honest, not a lot of people will click
on it but it will be an additional reminder to rate you. People need between 3-8 touchpoints (or reminders) before they take action.
Display Existing Reviews as an Image Post on Social Media
If you constantly provide valuable information through your social media platforms, you can try to get reviews from subscribers/followers. Use one of your social media posts to ask them to write a review about the information they’ve learned through your channels and include a link to your review platform.
These 8 ideas designed to stimulate clients into leaving valuable online reviews. Keep in mind, building a reputable online presence isn’t about short-term gains. Patience, consistency, and an ongoing effort in fostering and managing reviews will resultantly elevate business visibility, enhance search engine optimization, and substantially bolster profitability.
But getting reviews is just one part of the equation. Responding to online reviews boosts potential client confidence that you are present and listening to their concerns. 57% of consumers say they would be ‘not very’ or ‘not at all’ likely to use a business that doesn’t respond to reviews at all. However, abiding by HIPAA can tricky. Acknowledging a client can violate their confidentiality and get you into some hot water.
I’ve put together a guide that talks about the do’s and don’ts of responding to reviews, along with templates you can use for common responses and a worksheet for you to write your own. Get your Ultimate Guide to Amplify SEO with Online Reviews here.
