Practice growth today is driven by visibility, credibility, and consistent patient experiences.
Imagine one afternoon, you notice several new patients mention the same reason for choosing your practice: an online review. It isn’t a paid ad or promotion, but instead, another patient’s description of feeling welcome and listened to. That single review did the hard work of building trust before your new patients had even scheduled their first appointment.
In that moment, it’s clear that growth isn’t driven by marketing campaigns alone. Consistent, positive patient experiences shared publicly make a major difference as well. Patients increasingly rely on online presence and peer experiences when choosing providers. Over time, these shared experiences can become one of your most powerful and credible drivers of acquiring new patients.
Make It Easier for Local Patients to Discover, Trust, and Contact Your Practice
As new patients search for medical providers, they often turn to Google Business Profiles to learn more about practices. Your Google Business Profile may be their first impression of your practice. Even before they head to your website, they will likely browse your hours, reviews, photos, and Q&A responses directly in search results.
An incomplete or outdated listing can quietly cost you new patients. Incorrect information can confuse patients and lead to a poor experience. To optimize your Google Business profile, start by making sure your profile is fully complete and includes:
- Accurate business hours (including holiday updates)
- Current address and phone number
- Link to practice website
- Accepted insurance information (if applicable)
- Services and specialties
- Accessibility features
- Appointment booking links
Compare information in your profile to your other platforms (social media, website) to ensure consistency and improve search visibility.
Include Professional Photos
Professional, well-lit photos of your waiting room, exam room, front desk, providers, and staff give potential patients a better idea of what to expect. They also help reduce anxiety and build familiarity before a patient even walks through the door.
Leverage Posts, Updates, and the Q&A Feature
Google allows you to share updates, announcements, and educational posts directly on your listing. This is a great way to engage with potential and current patients. You can include seasonal health tips, information about new services, and highlights related to community involvement. You’ll also want to spotlight office closures or extended hours. Frequent, relevant activity signals that your practice is engaged and active.
Don’t forget the Q&A section. Patients can ask questions publicly, but instead of waiting for these questions to come in, you can proactively add common questions yourself, such as:
- Do you offer same-day appointments?
- Do you accept new patients?
- What insurance plans are accepted?
Be sure to respond quickly to questions as they come in. This will build confidence and reduce barriers to booking.
Generate and Respond to Reviews
Nearly 75% of patients check online reviews as a first step when searching for a new physician. However, it’s no longer enough to just collect reviews from patients. You also need to have a strategy for managing them thoughtfully. To start, make it as easy as possible to leave feedback. Many of your satisfied patients simply need a gentle reminder to leave a review.
Here are some helpful ways to encourage feedback:
- Create direct links to leave reviews on priority platforms (e.g., Google My Business)
- Send review requests via email or text after appointments
- Include review links in follow-up communications
Keep the request simple and friendly with a message like, “Thank you for choosing our practice. We would love to receive your feedback about your experience in the form of a review. Doing so will help other patients find quality care.”
Respond to Every Review
Responding to reviews shows that you care, whether the feedback is positive or critical. To make this manageable, create templated responses that you can personalize.
Example for a positive review:
“Thank you for your kind words! We’re grateful you trusted us with your care and are glad you had a positive experience. We look forward to continuing to support your health.”
Example for constructive feedback:
“Thank you for sharing your experience. We take patient feedback seriously and are always looking for ways to improve. Please feel free to contact our office directly so we can learn more and address your concerns.”
Ultimately, timely, professional responses demonstrate accountability and strengthen trust with prospective patients.
Strengthen Patient Connections Through Social Media
Social media is an excellent channel for building familiarity and trust within your local community. Patients are more likely to recommend providers and practices they feel connected to. You can position your practice as a trusted resource by sharing:
- Health and wellness tips relevant to your specialty
- Preventive care reminders
- Short informational videos
- FAQs patients ask in the office
This educational content reinforces your expertise while delivering value to patients.
Humanize Your Practice and Engage with Your Audience
Keep in mind that healthcare is personal. Why not show the people behind your practice? Some easy starter ideas include:
- Staff spotlights
- Provider Q&A videos
- Behind-the-scenes glimpses of daily operations
- “Day in the life” takeovers
- Celebrating team milestones or community events
Social media is a two-way conversation. Make time to reply to comments and direct messages and ask followers questions. You can also run simple polls and encourage discussion around health topics. This type of engagement will strengthen visibility while showing that your practice is approachable.
Partner with Local Businesses
One of the most underutilized strategies in healthcare marketing is local collaboration. You can partner with local gyms, pharmacies, nutritionists, and community event organizers to cross-promote services or feature each other on social media. This will allow you to tap into each other’s networks while demonstrating your commitment to community well-being.
Practice growth today is driven by visibility, credibility, and consistent patient experiences. RXNT can help support your efforts to deliver high-quality, consistent patient care. Our integrated tools for scheduling, patient engagement, and practice management allow you to operate efficiently while building lasting patient relationships. Schedule a free, live demo to learn more.
