Physical Therapy Reputation Management – Yelp Just Made It Much Easier

So this is Yelp:

[blockquote align=”left” variation=”orange” cite=”yelp.com” citeLink=”https://yelp.com”]”best way to find great local businesses”

“People use Yelp to search for everything from the city’s tastiest burger to the most renowned cardiologist. What will you uncover in your neighborhood?”
[/blockquote]

I have received a number of reports from my clients that Yelp drives some business to their practices.  While no one has ever told me that Yelp’s paid advertising generated ROI or new patients in the door, there’s no doubt that businesses receive traffic from Yelp.

 

Why?  It’s because geographic searches for physical therapy practices  (e.g. physical therapy Los Angeles) often result in multiple links on page 1 of the Google SERP (search engine results page). See below for an example.

People click on the Yelp link which may take them directly to the PT practice website or a list of practices in that geographic area. Viewers then click on the practice’s business listing link and end up on the PT practice website. Therefore, it stands to reason that having a presence on the Yelp can pay off.

How can You Take Advantage of This?

First, you need to claim your Yelp business page.  Click here for instructions on how to do that.

Second, you need to get reviews from your patients.

Yelp Now Allows Business Reviews on Mobile Devices

Yelp now allows people to review businesses right on their smartphones (long overdue in my opinion).

Now, when your patients are on heat or ice or a modality, encourage them to review you on Yelp.

The fact is that about 18% of consumers consider reviews when making provider choices.

As a physical therapist, we do our best to provide great care but unfortunately, we are not the best at sharing our good deeds.

My advice is to work on your physical therapy reputation management. Take advantage of Yelp, get a bunch of reviews, inoculate yourself against bad reviews (which are likely to happen at some time or another) and you will build your brand online.

[note_box]Action Items:
1. Claim your Yelp business page.

2. Put a link to your Yelp business page on your mobile website.

3. Then make a point of trying to get 1-2 Yelp reviews per week!

4. While you don’t want to buy reviews (it’s against Yelp’s Terms & Conditions), at least let patients know the option exists. [/note_box]