Connections Healthcare Strategies

Why Your Practice Needs Great Testimonials

TestimonialThere’s no denying it, word of mouth can be one of the greatest assets to your practice. In fact, 83% of people trust recommendations from friends and family. But you can’t guarantee that your patients will talk about you to their friends. What’s the next best thing? Testimonials.

Why are testimonials so effective? Because any practice can promote themselves as the best. It’s when a patient or client communicates it verbally or digitally that being the best becomes credible.

Consider the process of buying something online. Let’s say you’re looking for a new pair of pants, but you’re nervous about buying them online because you’re taller and some pants are too short on you. You visit an online store and you find a pair you like, but still you’re skeptical as to whether or not they’ll fit you. And then you scroll down the page and see the reviews. The first review sets all your fears aside because this person says they’re tall and they have trouble buying pants, but these ones fit perfect!

Testimonials are effective because they address patients’ uncertainties. They vary from specialty to specialty, but every patient has them. “What if the treatment doesn’t work?” “What if I don’t like the provider?” Testimonials address these concerns. And great testimonials can convince prospective patients to schedule an appointment with you.

So, how do you get a great testimonial? Well, you have to ask. But be more specific than simply asking, “Will you write a testimonial?” By asking that, there’s a good chance you’ll receive a fluffy blurb about how “amazing” your practice is. Although it may sound like a good thing, it’s not exactly what you’re looking for.

Great testimonials are specific. Ask open-ended questions like:

  • Why did you decide to visit our practice/clinic?
  • Can you tell us about your experience?
  • How are we different from other practices and clinics you’ve been to

These questions force patients to compose thoughtful responses that will be useful for marketing your practice. A well-written testimonial can be featured on your website, shared on social media, included in newsletters, and get patients to choose your practice over your competitor. But be sure to get the patient’s permission before using their testimonial!

If you need help collecting testimonials and putting them to work within your digital marketing strategy, Connections Healthcare Strategies is here to help. Schedule a strategy session with us today! We can show you the power of testimonials.