Monitor your online reputation with a Google Alert.
A Google Alert is an email alerting you of something recently published on the Internet about a subject of interest.
Google, for free, will monitor the Internet; webpages, blogs, articles, press releases, comments, etc, for any search terms and/or subject you desire. Anytime someone publishes content relevant to your search terms…you’ll get an email.
Google Alerts are great ways to;
- follow conversations about a company, such as your medical practice
- follow developments in a news story
- follow the competition
- follow yourself
Follow Yourself for Negative Reviews
Particularly useful and highly recommended is to set up a Google Alert on yourself, your colleagues and your practice.
With this simple tool, you can then monitor the Internet for any information published about you or members of your practice.
This is especially useful for keeping abreast of comments made about the practice; both good and bad.
Negative Comments
Negative comments posted on another website are a big concern. It is our opinion that all comments be dealt with in the following manner;
Answer all comments within 24-48 hours, but not immediately. Wait until the next day to calm down a little bit. Answering quickly, however, will actually demonstrate that you care and are concerned, not only to the negative reviewer, but also to future readers.
Always be positive, never defensive nor accusatory just as a concierge handled your recent complaints at a 5 start hotel or fancy restaurant.
We have some other tips about how to handle negative reviews in another post.
Positive Comments
Just as important are finding and responding to the positive comments. There are too many positive comments on too many review sites that remain idle….just begging for a response.
Take the time to find your comments and respond to each and every review remaining polite and thankful.
Responding to a positive comment can enhance your transparency, shows your practice is willing to engage and you are appreciative. In addition, your responses alone (just the mere action of responding) will illicit even more comments in the future.
Patients innately want to say “thank you” and will do especially if there efforts are appreciated and acknowledged versus falling on dead ears.
Setting Up Your Google Alert
Setting this up is easy. Make sure you (or someone in your practice) has a Google account.
- If you need a Google account, set one up via GMail.
- Here’s the address for setting up the alert: http://google.com/alerts
- Follow on screen directions (should take < 1 minute)
TIP: Placing “quotes” around the search phrase will only produce alerts using those exact words in the same order. For instance, “Randall Wong” will bring up only articles using that exact phrase. Whereas Randall Wong (no quotes) will find anything containing Randall or Wong.
The point? If you have a common name or phrase, you might consider using quotes to limit the search. You can always go back and change it!
To Your Growth And Success!
Randy
Randall V. Wong, M.D.
Medical Website Optimization
www.MedicalMarketingEnterprises.com