Google Reviews for Doctors: A Guide to Winning Patient Trust

The good news is that online reviews don’t only lead to website traffic. They also bring in foot traffic to your practice. Google itself has reported that 76% of people visit a business within just a day after searching for a ”near me” business. So, if someone searches for doctors near me and comes across your positive Google reviews, there’s a high chance that they’ll visit your practice.

The first step in getting Google reviews for doctors is to create a Google Business Profile. Every business that has a local presence needs to have this profile since this is what pops up when someone searches for your business by name.


Your Google Business Profile is where patients can find information about your medical practice or healthcare organization, such as opening hours, timing, address, pictures, and more.


What you need to focus on the most (after filling out your profile completely) is the review section. Your patients will leave reviews for you in this section. You can also respond to their reviews. To make full use of positive reviews, you can embed them on your website.

After you’ve created a profile, you need to populate it with reviews. For that, your existing patients should leave their feedback on your Google Business Profile.

You can encourage them to do this by asking them in person after their appointments. For example, train your staff to ask patients about their experience and request them to leave a review if they’re satisfied.


If you have an email marketing campaign, you can also send follow-up emails after patients come into your practice. In the email, politely ask them for a review and include a link to your Google Business Profile. This way, they don’t have to do the extra work of finding your profile themselves.


Reviews can also happen organically, but you shouldn’t just count on it. Make proactive efforts to collect reviews so that your Google Business Profile doesn’t look empty or neglected.

If you want to maximize the number of Google reviews you get, you need to make the review process as easy as possible. The simpler, the better.


One way to do this is by sharing links with them rather than simply telling them to give you a review. If they have a link, they can just click on it and leave a review. Similarly, you can create a QR code and place it in your practice for patients to scan. It can take them directly to your Google Business Profile.


You can also leave easy-to-follow instructions on in-office materials such as brochures and business cards. Patients can use them to find your profile and leave a review without any confusion.

There’s a time and place for everything, including asking for reviews. When patients come into your practice, they may be feeling anxious or rushed. Don’t ask for a review when they’re in this state. You don’t want to add to their medical stress.


Instead, choose a time when your patients are likely to be in a good mood. For example, after a successful appointment or procedure, they may be more inclined to leave a positive review. You can also ask for reviews after sending them helpful follow-up information or resources.

Responding to a positive review is usually the easiest thing. After all, it’s always nice to receive positive feedback from patients. Here’s an example of a positive review you can get:

I had a great experience at this clinic. The staff was friendly, and the doctor helped me fix the skin condition that I was struggling with for years. Highly recommend this place.

When you respond, the first section should be a thank you to the patient. Then, highlight the positive aspects of their experience, which is an accurate and helpful diagnosis in the example above. Doing this reiterates your efficiency in the area the patient has mentioned.

Next, encourage the patient to visit your clinic again. You can also invite them to recommend your services to others. If you have a referral program, you’d want the people who leave positive reviews to spread the word about your practice.

The problem arises when you’re facing a negative review. You’re responding to someone who is dissatisfied with their experience, and you need to show that you care. 


Whatever you do, do not ignore these reviews since that’s a red flag. It indicates that you don’t care about patients, and this is often enough for potential patients to turn away from your clinic. 


Start with an apology. Let patients know that you’re sorry for their bad experience. Then, address the specific issue they’ve mentioned. Avoid being defensive or dismissive, though. Instead, acknowledge their concerns and show that you’re willing to work towards a solution.

End on a positive note by offering them a solution.

However, there are times when you might see malicious reviews on your Google Business Profile. It could be an untrue statement or a competitor trying to bring down your rating.


The first thing you should do is report the review. Let Google handle it, especially if it goes against the search engine’s guidelines. The search engine will take a few days to decide if the review will be taken down.

However, sometimes, Google doesn’t take action on such reviews. If that’s the case, you’ll need an online reputation management agency like Maximatic Media to take care of the negative reviews. Our negative review removal services have helped businesses like yours keep their online presence in check.

Depending on the type of review, we will either work with Google or use legal maneuvering to remove the negative review. We only charge if we manage to remove the review, so you don’t have to worry about any upfront costs.

Some patients may leave neutral reviews on your Google profile. These reviews aren’t outright negative, but they can lower your ratings. These are the 3-star reviews that often come with constructive criticism.

Again, start by thanking the reviewer. Let them know that you appreciate their feedback and are always looking for ways to improve.


Don’t just say it, though. These reviews can provide guidance on what you can do to enhance patients’ experiences. Take note of the issues they have highlighted and work on removing them. Also, when you show accountability for where you’re lacking, potential patients will see you as a provider who’s not afraid to admit and fix their mistakes.

In an unfortunate situation where a negative review left with malicious intent harms your online reputation, Maximatic Media can assist in removing it. We have extensive experience helping doctors and medical practices, so you can trust our expertise. Contact us today to discuss your needs.