Unique Insights from UK Dental Groups on Online Reviews

UK dental groups' google review graph

In today’s digital age, online reviews have become a cornerstone of consumer decision-making. For dental practices, maintaining a positive online presence is crucial – a whopping 77% of patients use online reviews as their first step in finding a new doctor. Understanding where your practice stands compared to the national average can provide valuable insights for sustainable growth. 

Key Insights from Our National Google Reviews Report 

Each quarter, we analyse Google ratings and review volumes for over 2,000 UK dental practices owned by groups. We assess the data independently as well as in comparison to the previous report to see what changes have occurred.
Our research involving 2,025 dental practices paints a clear picture: for a significant majority (89%), Google’s impact is either negative or neutral. This is often due to low visibility in search results or a lack of positive reviews. In fact, only 11% of the practices boast high visibility and trust, typically those with over 150 reviews averaging 4.5 to 5 stars. 

Here’s the good news: this presents a significant opportunity for dental practices that haven’t yet capitalised on Google reviews. Building a strong review profile isn’t just about quantity – it’s about quality too. Continuously acquiring positive reviews not only increases trust with potential patients but also boosts your visibility compared to practices with fewer reviews. 

This highlights the power of a strategic approach to Google reviews. By focusing on both quantity and quality, you can turn this online platform into a powerful tool for attracting new patients. 

Earlier this month, we, together with Philips, were the Headline Partners at the annual Dental Forum in Alicante; a 2-day conference filled with industry experts and thought leaders. We came away with so many invaluable insights, one of them being: “You can only grow by having the right KPIs and datasets.” This is particularly relevant in the context of online reviews. Key performance indicators related to review quantity, quality, and recency are vital for understanding and improving your online presence to stay ahead of the curve. 

Turning Reviews into a Growth Engine

The data suggests a growing challenge: complacency with online reviews can be detrimental. Maintaining high visibility requires ongoing effort and a strategic approach.
Here’s how to leverage reviews effectively: 

  1. Encourage patients to leave reviews: regularly remind patients to share their experiences online.
  2. Respond to all reviews: engage with every reviewer, both positive and negative. This demonstrates that you value patient feedback and are committed to improving their experience. 
  3. Track your performance with KPIs: Use key performance indicators (KPIs) related to review quantity, quality, and recency to track your progress and identify areas for improvement. 
  4. Invest in reputation management tools: These can help you efficiently manage and optimise your online presence. 

FollowApp: Your partner in online success

  • Automated feedback loop: Our innovative, smart platform is designed to customise the care journey by tailoring communications to meet individual patient needs. This is done through seamless integration with your existing PMS and fully automated feedback loops, customised to your practice needs.
  • Engagement: Our intuitive technology facilitates ease of engagement with reviewers, prompt responses; showcasing your proactive commitment to patient satisfaction and patient aftercare without adding to your workload. 
  • In-depth data analytics: Our platform transforms feedback into actionable insights, empowering your practice with data-driven decisions to boost care quality and efficiency, as well as competitive improvements.
  • Customised KPIs: With our expertise, we can help you establish and track KPIs that matter most to your practice’s growth and online reputation. From patient care enhancements to better resource allocation; positively affecting practice efficiency, staff engagement, and service offerings.

By leveraging these best practices and our automated platform, you can ensure your practice is not just visible but also trusted and chosen by potential patients. 
Read our case studies here to find out more about the impact FollowApp can make on your practice.

Stay ahead of the curve

The data highlights the dynamic nature of online visibility for dental practices. By understanding and leveraging these insights, practices can not only maintain but also enhance their online reputation, ultimately attracting more patients. 

Discover where your practice stands and learn how FollowApp can help you improve your online presence. Let’s get started! 

Maria Franklin
Author: Maria Franklin