But what if I told you there’s a strategy that costs pennies on the dollar compared to ads and has the highest Return on Investment (ROI) for your dental practice?
The answer: customer reviews.
Why Reviews Work Better (and Cheaper) Than Ads or SEO
Let’s break it down. When a potential patient is looking for a dentist, what’s the first thing they do? They Google something like “best dentist near me” or “dentist for kids in [city].” What pops up? A list of local dental practices, usually with Google reviews front and center.
People naturally trust reviews. In fact, studies show that 84% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. That’s huge!
Now, let’s compare:
- Digital Ads: You pay for every click—whether or not it turns into a patient. Google Ads for dentists often cost $10 to $50 per click. That’s a lot of money just to get someone to visit your site, let alone book an appointment.
- SEO: Optimizing your website for search engines can help you rank higher on Google, but SEO takes time and money to work. You’re looking at months of effort and thousands of dollars before you see results.
- Customer Reviews: They’re free. All it takes is a little effort to ask happy patients to leave you a review, and those reviews live online forever, continuously attracting new patients without any ongoing cost.
In other words, customer reviews have the potential to deliver the same (or better) results as ads or SEO—without draining your marketing budget.
How Reviews Directly Grow Your Practice
Here’s how growing your customer reviews can have an immediate and lasting impact on your business:
- Boosts Your Google Ranking
Google prioritizes businesses with more reviews and higher ratings in local search results. If your practice has dozens of glowing reviews, you’re more likely to show up when someone searches for a dentist in your area. That means more visibility for your business. - Builds Trust Instantly
When potential patients see a five-star rating and read positive reviews about your practice, they’re more likely to trust you. Reviews act as social proof—they show that other people love your services, which encourages new patients to book appointments with confidence. - Sets You Apart from Competitors
Think about it: if one dentist has 10 reviews with an average rating of 3.8 stars and another dentist has 100 reviews with a 4.9-star rating, who do you think potential patients will choose? Your reviews are a direct reflection of the quality of your service. - Costs Next to Nothing
The only cost associated with reviews is the time it takes to ask for them. Compare that to spending hundreds (or thousands) of dollars on ads each month, and the ROI on reviews is unbeatable.
How to Get More Reviews for Your Dental Practice
Here’s the good news: growing your reviews doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Here’s a simple game plan to start:
- Ask Happy Patients Right Away
Timing is everything. Right after a successful appointment, ask your patient if they’d be willing to leave a review. Most people are happy to help—you just need to ask! - Make It Easy for Them
Send them a follow-up text or email with a direct link to your Google review page. The fewer steps they have to take, the more likely they are to follow through. - Train Your Team
Empower your front desk team to ask for reviews. For example, they can say, “If you were happy with your visit today, we’d love it if you could leave us a quick review! It really helps small businesses like ours grow.” - Show Gratitude
When someone leaves you a review, take a moment to respond. A simple “Thank you for your kind words! We’re so glad you had a great experience” shows that you value their feedback. - Set a Goal
Challenge yourself and your team to collect a certain number of reviews each month. For example, aim for five new reviews in January, 10 in February, and so on. Small, consistent efforts add up over time.
Think Long-Term: Reviews Are an Investment
Unlike ads, which stop working the second you stop paying for them, reviews are a long-term investment. Once a patient leaves a review, it’s there forever, helping you attract new patients for years to come.
Imagine this:
- You ask 50 patients for reviews over the next few months, and 20 of them follow through.
- Those 20 reviews bring in just five new patients, each of whom spends an average of $500 on their first visit.
- That’s $2,500 in revenue—generated by free reviews.
Stop Overpaying for Ads—Start Growing Reviews
As a dentist, your expertise is in taking care of smiles—not navigating expensive marketing strategies. But if you want to grow your practice without breaking the bank, focusing on customer reviews is the smartest move you can make.
Instead of paying $50 per click on Google Ads, why not invest that time and energy into building up your reviews? It’s simple, affordable, and has the highest ROI of any marketing strategy out there.
So, the next time a patient leaves your office with a bright smile, don’t forget to ask for a quick review. It could be the easiest—and most cost-effective—way to grow your business.
💡 Your turn: How are you leveraging customer reviews in your dental practice? Have you noticed a boost in patient inquiries after growing your online reputation? Let’s share ideas and tips in the comments below!
Let’s grow smarter, not harder. 🌟