image credit: And so it goes in Shreveport
Proximity and word-of-mouth have always been influential (if not the most influential) factors in choosing a hospital or doctor. I recall hearing my mom mention that she often used doctors that her sisters had visited. She also took my siblings and I to the same doctors that my cousins saw.
Location was always important as well. If one was short on recommendations, they could pick up a trusty old phone book and find a provider nearby.
This is still true today as it was in the past. But in a different way. “Word-of-mouth” recommendations now include comments from Online communities and social media contacts. And younger generations are more likely to check local listings Online with a Google search or local site like Yelp or YellowPages.com.
Both of these methods are related to local search, which is why it’s important providers pay attention. It should be a priority for doctors and hospitals to manage their local listings. You’ll want to make sure first and foremost that you have a listing and that it is accurate. Much of the data provided for local listings is pulled from data providers like Localeze and infoUSA, so make sure to check with them first. If they get an address or phone number wrong, it could be shared with dozens of other sites, including Google.
Somewhere along the line, you’ll also want to monitor any ratings or reviews associated with your listing. Clearly, negative reviews can have a large impact on whether prospective customers take the next step in contacting you. It’s a good idea to ask satisfied patients to leave a review for you.. Sometimes a nudge is all it takes. And if you do have negative reviews, use them to improve the way you do business. These can be valuable insights into how people view you from an outside perspective.
