In our current society, which unfortunately tends to be litigious, even the most dedicated physicians may find it challenging to satisfy every patient. The rise of online platforms has provided dissatisfied patients with a means to express their unhappiness more publicly. What’s even more troubling is that sometimes doctors find themselves entangled in lawsuits and receive negative press coverage, despite their innocence.
This can lead to a loss of business and a damaged reputation. But does it have to be an inevitable consequence of practicing medicine in the twenty-first century? Not necessarily.
Forward-thinking PR firms now offer physician online reputation management as a strategic approach to public relations and marketing. One such firm is Pearl Lemon PR.
Rather than giving a comprehensive explanation of why your internet reputation is important as a physician, we thought we’d let the numbers speak for themselves from recent research studies:
85 percent of Internet users between the ages of 18 and 65 believe practically anonymous online reviews and evaluations are as reliable as personal recommendations from friends and family.
33 percent of Millennials (those born between 1982 and 2000) regularly seek health information online and on message boards, and they are more likely to trust medical professionals’ advice.
Instead of using their health insurer’s provider portals, 72 percent of adult patients start their search for a new doctor online with a Google search.
Before visiting a doctor’s office, 84 percent of people say they investigate new primary care physicians and other health experts online.
Because they value quality of care over cost, 48 percent of patients are persuaded to seek healthcare outside of their insurance network by positive internet evaluations.
The majority of doctors who seek help with online reputation management do so because something unpleasant is affecting their personal or professional reputation, as well as the reputation of their practice. It’s a justifiable reason to do so, and it can be surprisingly effective in the hands of skilled practitioners like the Pearl Lemon PR team.
But there is more to good physician online reputation management than just damage control. Physician online reputation management, when done right, will also enhance a doctor’s reputation – and that of their practice – and position them as an expert thought leader who the media seek out, rather than the other way around.
It’s not easy to fix a damaged online reputation. Unfavorable reviews and negative press coverage do not go away when it comes to physician internet reputation management. Once a review has been published on sites like Yelp!, Healthgrades, Google My Business, and others, deleting it, even if it is unfair, can be nearly impossible. Some doctors go so far as to file costly lawsuits to get them removed, only to fail.
What is the most effective method for removing negative content? By replacing it with a simple formula for success: use Google’s search algorithm to your advantage by creating quality content that moves unfavorable content associated with a physician’s name past the first page.
This isn’t something that can be accomplished in a single day. It’s also easier to say it can be done than to actually accomplish it. Regardless of your business, there are certain white hat PR and marketing methods that may be employed to repair your internet image. As leading providers of physician internet reputation management, the Pearl Lemon PR team is considered a proven authority in these tactics (and we have the client testimonies to prove it).
As you are well aware, prevention is always preferable to the cure. So why wait until unfavorable online content threatens your reputation before taking steps to manage your physician online reputation? Building a positive internet reputation through smart PR and marketing methods has numerous benefits.
Not only will you contribute to the creation of a positive search profile for potential patients to find during their online search, but many of the physician online reputation management strategies we employ at Pearl Lemon PR will also improve your SEO, allowing those patients to discover you first, ahead of your competitors.
The following are just a few of the strategies we employ as part of a proactive and positive internet reputation management campaign for physicians.
There are more people reading reviews than ever before, and there are also more individuals writing them. According to the Pew Research Center, 72 percent of Americans had left a local business review in 2020, up from 46 percent in 2019.
As a result, keeping up with new reviews about you or your practice is crucial. However, because this takes a lot of time, many physicians and healthcare practices never do it. When you work with Pearl Lemon PR, you’ll have a dedicated team watching all the relevant review sites at all times, allowing you to thank those who submit favorable reviews and quickly handle any negative ones. When you respond calmly to a negative review, you can often turn it around into a favorable one!
We’ll also show you how to encourage more of your patients to submit reviews, which can improve both your SEO and your online reputation.
Consumers look to the Internet for more than simply reviews when it comes to healthcare services and doctors. They, like everyone else, are increasingly turning to Google and the Internet to learn more about medical conditions, treatments, and other health-related issues.
People are much more inclined to book a consultation with you and your clinic if you and your clinic offer the factual, helpful content they want. Furthermore, they will have formed the idea that you are a trustworthy, informed source of useful information.
Written content is a wonderful place to start, but videos, podcasts, and even appearances on television and radio may all help you position yourself as a thought leader in your field. The person to whom the media, in all of its forms, turns for reliable information. Thought leadership in marketing and public relations is what we call it, and in the right hands, it can be a tremendous force for doctors’ online reputation management and brand development success.
To position our clients as thought leaders, we deploy tried-and-true techniques at Pearl Lemon PR. We help you uncover and capitalize on earned media opportunities, as well as create the most effective owned media. If you have no prior experience in front of a camera or behind a microphone, we can also provide media training.
When it comes to online physician reputation management, Pearl Lemon PR’s seasoned team goes above and above for every client. We can also help you promote your clinic as the go-to site for healthcare advice and treatment, even for individuals who (think) they don’t like physicians, with a full-service public relations campaign.
Contact us to learn more about how we might help you.
Online platforms have provided dissatisfied patients with a more public and accessible avenue to express their unhappiness. They can share their negative experiences, opinions, and criticisms online, potentially reaching a wide audience and impacting a physician’s reputation.
Negative press coverage and lawsuits, even if unjustified, can have detrimental effects on a doctor’s professional life. They may experience a loss of business as potential patients may be swayed by negative perceptions. Additionally, their reputation, which they have worked hard to build, can be tarnished.
Yes, there is a solution. Forward-thinking PR firms now offer physician online reputation management services. These services aim to strategically manage a physician’s online presence, address negative feedback, and implement proactive measures to safeguard their reputation in the face of potential challenges.
Physician online reputation management is a specialized service provided by PR firms. It involves monitoring and managing a physician’s online presence, addressing negative reviews and comments, promoting positive aspects of their practice, and implementing strategies to enhance their online reputation.
Physician online reputation management offers several benefits. It can help doctors maintain a positive online image, counteract negative reviews and press coverage, attract and retain patients, rebuild trust, and protect their professional reputation from unwarranted damage.
Pearl Lemon PR is a forward-thinking PR firm that specializes in physician online reputation management. They employ strategic public relations and marketing approaches to help doctors proactively manage their online reputation, ensuring that their positive attributes shine through and any negative impacts are minimized.
In the digital age, a physician’s online reputation can significantly impact their success. Physician online reputation management helps doctors maintain a positive online presence, gain trust from potential patients, differentiate themselves from competitors, and overcome the challenges of negative press and online criticism. It allows physicians to navigate the twenty-first-century landscape while protecting their professional reputation.
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Pearl Lemon PR
Pearl Lemon Ltd.
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