Why Healthcare Marketing is Essential in 2025 (and Top Strategies to Thrive)

Posted on August 20, 2024November 7, 2025 by Chris Josten

At one time, people might have looked through a phone book to find a doctor or asked family for recommendations. Today, 80% of patients research healthcare providers online before making an appointment. With the internet, it’s easy to browse options and learn more without having to call anyone or even leave the couch. If your practice doesn’t have a strong online presence, you are missing out on these potential patients. So how do you get there? That’s where healthcare marketing comes in.

What is Healthcare Marketing?

Healthcare marketing is about more than just promoting services—it’s about connecting with patients and guiding them through their healthcare journey. It involves a blend of strategies and tactics to attract, engage, and retain patients, ensuring they choose your practice over others. Here are some key components:

Managing Your Online Reputation
Being Findable
Building a Brand People Can Trust
Establishing Yourself as an Expert
Making Information Easy to Navigate
Attracting Potential Patients

By focusing on these components, healthcare providers can create a robust marketing strategy that not only attracts new patients but also builds lasting relationships with them.

Why Healthcare Marketing Matters

Increasing Competition

The healthcare industry is more competitive than ever. With numerous providers offering similar services, standing out from the crowd has become essential. Healthcare marketing helps you highlight what makes your practice unique, whether it’s advanced technology, specialized treatments, or exceptional patient care. By showcasing your strengths, you can attract more patients and stay ahead of the competition.

Changing Patient Expectations

Patients today are savvy consumers of healthcare information. They no longer rely solely on referrals; instead, they research, compare, and read reviews before making decisions. This shift means that healthcare providers must meet patients where they are—online. Effective healthcare marketing ensures that your practice appears in search results, offers engaging content, and provides the information patients need to make informed choices.

Building Trust and Credibility

Trust is the cornerstone of any patient-provider relationship. A well-crafted marketing strategy can help build and maintain this trust. By sharing success stories, patient testimonials, and expert advice, you can create a positive brand image that resonates with patients. This credibility not only attracts new patients but also fosters loyalty among existing ones, encouraging them to return and refer others.

Driving Patient Acquisition and Retention

Effective healthcare marketing directly impacts patient acquisition and retention. Through targeted campaigns, you can reach potential patients who are actively seeking the services you offer. Additionally, by maintaining an informative and engaging online presence, you can keep existing patients engaged and satisfied. This dual approach ensures a steady stream of new patients while keeping current patients loyal to your practice.

Top Healthcare Marketing Strategies

Branding: The Foundation of Your Healthcare Image

You might not think of branding in healthcare, but it’s an essential piece of the puzzle. Branding encompasses everything from your logo to your messaging, acting as your practice’s signature that patients recognize and trust.

Website Design & Development: Your 24/7 Digital Office:

In today’s digital age, having a well-designed website is non-negotiable. Your website serves as your 24/7 digital office, providing patients with easy access to information and services anytime, anywhere. It’s often the first impression potential patients have of your practice, so make it count with a professional and welcoming online presence.

Paid Advertising: Reaching the Right Patients at the Right Time

Connecting with new potential patients is essential for any healthcare marketing strategy. Paid advertising ensures your message reaches the right people at the right time and place. By targeting locations, demographics, and interests through platforms like Google Ads and social media ads, you can quickly and effectively increase your visibility and attract new patients.

SEO (Search Engine Optimization): Increasing Organic Visibility

Instead of reaching for a phone book, most people start their search for a healthcare provider online. Showing up at the top of search results gives you a huge advantage. SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the practice of enhancing your website to rank higher in search engine results. This strategy boosts your online visibility, bringing in more organic traffic over the long term.

Reputation Management: Safeguarding Your Practice’s Good Name

With a plethora of review sites to browse, potential patients are likely to check online reviews before choosing a healthcare provider. If your reviews aren’t looking great, they might pass you up for someone else. Don’t let that happen—effective reputation management can safeguard your practice’s good name.

Boost Your Practice with Expert Healthcare Marketing Strategies

We know that building a strong healthcare marketing strategy can feel overwhelming. There’s a lot to understand and even more to do, and as busy doctors and practice managers, finding the time can be nearly impossible. That’s where we come in.

At Curiosity Marketing Group, we excel in healthcare marketing because of our extensive experience. With that experience comes a deep understanding of the unique challenges you face, from keeping online review responses HIPAA compliant to managing patient expectations. We’ve been there and done that.To help you get started, we also offer resources tailored for healthcare marketing, like our ebook, “How to Build a Content Strategy for Your Healthcare Practice.” If you’re ready to elevate your practice, reach out for a free consultation, and let us help you create a winning plan

Let’s Chat Healthcare Marketing

Dealing with a Bad Review? Don’t Hit Reply Just Yet.

Posted on July 17, 2024November 7, 2025 by Ashlen McWhorter

The Negative Review Survival Guide Part 1

Let’s be real—no matter how fantastic your business is, bad reviews are going to happen. It’s not an “if” but a “when.” While it might be tempting to ignore or dismiss these reviews, especially if you believe your service is top-notch, how you respond (and that you respond) can significantly impact your business’s reputation and customer trust.

At Curiosity Marketing Group, we’ve encountered a wide range of client attitudes toward negative reviews—from outright panic to complete indifference. Our mission is to provide you with practical, straightforward advice on navigating these tricky waters, ensuring your responses enhance your brand rather than detract from it.

Why It’s Crucial to Respond to Negative Reviews

Public perception can make or break a business. A single negative review might feel like a personal attack, but it’s important to remember that your response—or lack thereof—sends a message to potential customers. Ignoring a bad review is not just about losing one customer; it’s about losing many who are silently watching how you handle criticism.

Plenty of times, we’ve seen businesses fall into common traps. Some believe that if a customer left a negative review, they weren’t the right fit anyway. Others feel overwhelmed and decide that addressing reviews isn’t a priority. Some simply disagree with the review and see no need to engage.

One of the most critical pieces of advice we can give is this:
Responding to a review is much more about sending a signal to others who are considering your business and much less about that individual reviewer.

When you respond, you demonstrate that your business is proactive, customer-focused, and dedicated to continuous improvement. It’s about managing how others perceive your brand, showing that you value every piece of feedback, and reinforcing your commitment to exceptional service. So, making it a priority to respond to negative reviews is a pretty huge deal.

Can You Remove Bad Reviews?

One of the most common questions we get from clients is, “Can you remove bad reviews?” If it were that easy, we’d probably see a lot fewer negative reviews online. Platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp have strict guidelines to ensure they provide a holistic and accurate picture of your business.

When Can a Review Be Removed?

While it’s generally not possible to remove a review simply because it’s negative, you can report reviews that violate platform guidelines. This includes:

Hate speech or offensive language
Spam or fake content
Irrelevant information
Conflicts of interest (e.g., reviews from competitors)

If a review meets any of these criteria, you can report it for removal, but keep in mind that the platform ultimately decides whether to take down the review.

What to Do If You Get a Bad Review

Negative reviews can feel like a punch in the gut, especially when the feedback is harsh or even untrue. Sometimes, reviews lack context, leaving you with a nasty one-star rating and no explanation. We’ve seen plenty of bewildering reviews ourselves, and let us tell you, some are real head-scratchers.

When this happens, the first step is to stay calm. That’s easier said than done, of course, but acting impulsively can escalate the situation and cause more harm than the original bad review. Take a moment to vent privately if needed, then collect yourself. Investigate internally to understand the backstory or any truth to the feedback. This preparation helps you respond thoughtfully and shows your commitment to resolving issues and improving your service.

What if the Bad Review is Completely Unfair or Untruthful?

You may encounter a review that feels completely off-base. Maybe the customer misrepresents the situation or exaggerates the issue entirely. And there’s always the possibility of encountering a completed fabricated review.

Here’s the key takeaway: Even when a review feels unfair, the core principles of responding professionally still apply. Why? Because, again, your response isn’t just for the original reviewer. It’s for potential customers silently reading online, gauging your brand’s character.

Three Mistakes to Avoid When Responding:

Getting defensive: It’s tempting to argue, but negativity breeds negativity.
Matching their tone: Stay calm and courteous, even if the reviewer isn’t.
Ignoring the review: Ignoring it shows a lack of concern for customer feedback.

Ready to craft a stellar response that turns a negative situation into a positive one?

Head over to Part 2 where we’ll provide you with a step-by-step guide, a customizable response template, and real-life examples to empower you to respond like a pro.

See you in Part 2!

How to Respond to Negative Google Reviews (With Examples)

Posted on July 17, 2024November 7, 2025 by Ashlen McWhorter

The Negative Review Survival Guide Part 2

So you got a negative review. Now what? In Part 1 of our Negative Review Survival Guide, we explored the power of staying calm and professional. Now, in Part 2, we’ll unveil the secrets behind crafting a stellar response that showcases your brand’s character and wins over potential customers.

What to Include in Your Response to a Negative Review

After you’ve calmed down and gathered the necessary information, it’s time to craft your response. Thankfully, there are some simple guidelines you can follow to strike the perfect balance with customers.

1. Thank the Customer for Their Feedback

It might seem odd to thank someone who left you a negative review, but expressing gratitude shows that you value all feedback—good, bad, and ugly. Thanking the reviewer demonstrates that you care about your customers’ opinions and are committed to improvement.

Examples:
“Hello, Paul, thank you for taking a moment to tell us about your experience at our location.”
“Thank you for bringing this issue to our attention, Nikky.”

2. Acknowledge the Customer’s Concerns and Apologize

The most obvious part of any good bad review response is addressing the customer’s concerns, but there is an art to doing so effectively. Start by using the customer’s name to make them feel personally heard and valued. Most importantly, remember that regardless of your feelings about the review or its accuracy, it’s essential to avoid arguing, as it can seem antagonistic and may escalate the issue further. Public disputes rarely end well.

While an apology is a key component of your response, it’s important not to overdo it. Over-apologizing can appear insincere and unprofessional. A straightforward, heartfelt apology often works best.

Examples:
“Helen, we sincerely apologize for the frustration and inconvenience you experienced during your recent visit.”
“We are sorry to hear that you had a negative experience with one of our staff, Mason.”

3. Take Responsibility

Taking responsibility in your response, even in a general sense, demonstrates your commitment to high standards and customer satisfaction. It’s less about confessing fault and more about reaffirming your business values and showing what your business stands for.

Examples:
“We strive to provide excellent customer service and regret that we missed the mark this time.”
“While our staff takes pride in our service, we realize that we may occasionally fall short.”

4. Offer to Rectify the Situation or Discuss It Further Privately

This is typically the final part of your response. It’s not enough to apologize; prospective customers want to know what actions you’ll take to make things right. This doesn’t need to be a grand gesture; often, it can be as simple as inviting the reviewer to contact you directly to discuss the matter. This also helps take the discussion offline and out of the public eye.

Examples:
“Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our management team at [phone number] to see how we can resolve this for you. Thank you.”
“We would like to personally address your concerns and find a resolution. Please contact our office at [phone number] so we can discuss your experience in more detail.”

Putting It All Together

Combining these four elements gives you a thoughtful and effective response to negative reviews that is also pretty simple.

Here’s an example you can use as a template. Feel free to tweak it so it fits your business’s unique voice and personality.

Template for a General Negative Review Response:

Hi [Customer Name], Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Your feedback is valuable to us and we appreciate you bringing this to our attention.

We’re sorry to hear about your recent experience and apologize for any inconvenience caused. Our goal is to provide excellent service, and it seems we fell short in this instance.

Please reach out to us at [phone number] so we can make things right. Your feedback is important, and we hope to have the opportunity to serve you better in the future.”

Examples of Good and Bad Responses to Negative Reviews

Understanding what makes a good response is helpful, but seeing real examples can help put it in perspective. Here are some effective and not-so-effective responses to show you what works and what doesn’t.

Good Response Examples

A Good Response to a Bad Haircut

A Good Response to an Uncomfortable Stay

A Good Response to a Plumbing Emergency

What they all got right: They genuinely acknowledged the customer’s negative experience, offered a heartfelt apology, and committed to addressing the issue.

Bad Response Examples

A Bad Response to a Scheduling Issue

What they got wrong: They bashed a competitor, which is unprofessional, and went into excessive detail, making them appear argumentative. This response undermines trust by focusing more on defending themselves than addressing the customer’s concerns.

A Bad Response to a Rude Staff Complaint

What they got wrong: The business owner might be right, but they hurt their case by being bossy and not empathetic. An apology and a polite clarification would have been more effective.

How to Turn a Negative Review Into a Positive Opportunity

Getting a bad review can feel like a huge setback, and it’s nothing to take lightly. However, it can also be an opportunity to improve and showcase your commitment to customer satisfaction. When handled correctly, negative reviews can help you attract new customers and enhance your reputation. They allow you to demonstrate your responsiveness, dedication to resolving concerns, and ability to adapt and grow from feedback.

Navigating this delicate process can be challenging, but that’s exactly why Curiosity Marketing Group is here to help. We provide tailored advice and comprehensive reputation management services to ensure that every response is crafted with care. Our expertise helps you transform potential setbacks into powerful affirmations of your business’s values and customer commitment.

Reach out to find out how we can help get your online reputation on track.

How to Get Google Reviews and Why It Matters For Your Business

Posted on July 18, 2023November 7, 2025 by Ashlen McWhorter

In our ever-growing digital age, customer reviews are the driving force behind any successful business. Among these, Google reviews hold significant weightage, impacting your online visibility, customer trust, and business growth. Navigating through the path of garnering Google reviews is an art, a strategy that, when mastered, bolsters your business reputation, propelling it towards unprecedented success. Let’s delve into the undeniable value of 5-star Google reviews and reveal the techniques to attract them effectively.

Understanding the Power of Google Reviews

The Dual Impact of a 5-Star Google Review and SEO

When customers perform a Google reviews search, they’re instinctively drawn to businesses flaunting high ratings. A 5-star Google review not only boosts your business’s credibility but also establishes it as a trusted choice among potential customers.
Google reviews also wield considerable influence over SEO. The algorithm views positive and consistent reviews as a signal of your business’s reliability, potentially improving your search engine ranking and making you more visible to a wider audience. The more your clients are happy and let you know it, the higher you’ll go above your competitors.

Strategically Gathering Google Reviews

Understanding the significance of Google reviews is a breakthrough moment in your digital marketing journey – hooray! However, this knowledge alone won’t drive the desired results. It’s akin to knowing the importance of a destination but lacking the route to reach it. The next crucial phase of this journey is to equip yourself with effective and efficient strategies for garnering Google reviews. This involves designing approaches that not only encourage your customers to share their experiences but also make the review process seamless for them.

Seamless Review Submission with Google Reviews Link and QR Codes

Make the review process hassle-free for your customers by creating a direct Google reviews link to your review page. Share this link via email, social media, or embed it on your website to encourage more responses. In the era of swift digital interactions, consider generating a Google review QR code. Customers can scan this code and be directed instantly to your review page – an embodiment of fast easy reviews.

The Power of Review Cards and Prompt Requests

Another effective tool to getting those sought-after Google reviews are review cards, physical or digital reminders containing a link to your review page. These could be a QR code on your business card, or specific review card reminders that are passed along to customers at the end of service. These are particularly beneficial for businesses with a physical presence where customers can scan the card while still on your premises.
And, of course, there’s power in simply asking. Make it a habit to request your customers to review you on Google. The more feedback you receive, the more data you have to improve your business and gauge customer sentiment.

Authenticity over Paid Google Reviews

While it’s important to gather as many reviews as possible, beware of the temptation to buy Google reviews. These paid Google reviews not only harm your reputation but violate Google’s policies, potentially leading to penalties. Violating this can not only result in the removal of those reviews entirely, but Google will also likely add a strike to your account. When you have too many strikes against your listing for violating policies, your listing will be permanently removed from Google, removing your ability to rank on that local level at all. Strive for authenticity and genuine customer feedback to maintain trust and build a loyal customer base.

Looking for ways to improve your Google Business Profile’s visibility? Check out our Simple Google My Business Optimization Checklist

Monitor and Leverage Your Google Reviews

Keeping a close eye on your Google reviews is crucial for effectively managing your online reputation. To access these reviews, a simple search of your business name on Google will lead you to your business profile, where they reside.
Responding to reviews, both positive and negative, should be a non-negotiable aspect of your review management strategy. When faced with unfavorable reviews, it’s essential to navigate these waters with grace and professionalism. It’s easy to become defensive, especially when it appears the reviewer may not have considered your perspective, but remember: your responses are public and are read by potential customers.
In responding to negative feedback, demonstrate your commitment to service excellence by offering amends and expressing apologies to those who felt wronged. Try to steer clear of protracted disagreements in the review section; the goal should be to emerge as the more understanding and respectful party. Potential customers will appreciate your efforts to rectify the situation, which often speaks louder than the negative review itself! This showcases your business’s dedication to customer satisfaction, which can significantly influence their decision to choose your services.

Seizing the Google Review Advantage

Google reviews are more than just customer opinions – they’re tools that can drastically boost your business’s online reputation and growth. By making strategic efforts to gather these reviews and responding proactively, you can position your business at the forefront of customer trust.
So, don’t wait – dive in, explore the world of Google reviews, and give your business the push it needs. If you find yourself needing further guidance on harnessing this power of Google reviews, give us a shout! We are your team of experts for your reputation management. We’ve got the skills and know-how to make your listing soar high.

How Consumers Govern Brands Through Online Reputation

Posted on December 7, 2022November 7, 2025 by Chris Josten

Consumers now have a greater ability to influence the reputation of a brand than ever before. Yuck right?! This power is often referred to as “consumer governance” and refers to how customers can use their collective opinion and voice to drive the success or failure of a business.

The main source of this consumer governance is online reputation. Customers can write reviews and post comments on social media or to a company’s website, which are then seen by potential customers who may decide whether to purchase the product based on what they see. But wait, there’s more! This power of consumer opinion has become so influential that companies must now pay attention to their online reputations to remain competitive in the digital world. Add that to your daily to do list!

What is online reputation management and how does it work?

Have you ever wondered what people are saying about your business behind your back? Well, if you have an online presence, then chances are there are plenty of people talking about your services or products online, and take it from us, what they’re saying could be good or bad. That’s why it’s important to manage your online reputation. For times when you can’t be a fly on the wall, turn to reputation management!

So, what is online reputation management? Put simply, it’s the process of controlling what people see when they Google your company name. Seems pretty powerful, huh!? It’s about making sure that the search results for your company reflect what you want people to know about your business.

There are a few different ways to do this. One way is to create lots of content – blog posts, articles, and social media updates with keywords that you want to be associated with. This will help push down any negative content that might be appearing in the search results. We like to call this the great cover up!

Another way to manage your online reputation is to monitor what’s being said about you online and respond accordingly. Just to be clear, that doesn’t mean jumping to Twitter to justify your side of things. If there’s negative content out there, (SINCERELY) reach out to the person who wrote it and try to resolve the issue. If there are positive things being said about you, make sure to thank the person who left the positive feedback.

Get a better perspective of the reputation management process

Why do brands need to worry about their online reputation?

In today’s digital world, your online reputation is more important than ever. More and more people are using the internet to research brands before making a purchase, and if your online reputation is damaged, it can have a major impact on your bottom line. There are several reasons why online reputation management is important for brands. First, negative reviews and articles can deter potential customers from doing business with you. Yikes! Second, they can lead to a loss of trust among current and future customers. Third, they can damage your relationships with other businesses.

In short, online reputation management is essential for any brand that wants to stay competitive in today’s market. By monitoring your online presence and taking steps to address negative content, you can protect your brand’s reputation and ensure that you continue to attract new customers.

The different ways that consumers can interact with brands online

In today’s digital world, there are a myriad of ways for consumers to interact with brands online. Through social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, consumers can follow their favorite brands, receive updates on new products and share their opinions with others. Additionally, many brands now offer online chat features, which allow consumers to ask questions and receive help in real time. We love a good chat bot! And of course, there are also plenty of opportunities for consumer feedback through online reviews and survey sites. Ultimately, the wealth of online resources available to consumers makes it easier than ever before to connect with brands and voice their opinion.

Dive deep into managing your online reputation

How to manage your brand’s online reputation

Your brand’s online reputation is so important, we felt the need to say it again. It’s how people perceive you when they see you in their social media feeds, when they Google you, and when they read reviews about you. Here are a few things you can do to protect your reputation online:

Be proactive: Don’t wait for something bad to happen to your brand before you start managing your reputation. Think of it like a new obsession. Be proactive and monitor what people are saying about you online. Set up Google Alerts for your brand name, and check review sites regularly.
Be responsive: If something negative does come up about your brand, don’t ignore it. Respond quickly and professionally. Yes, even if the customer is wrong! Address the issue head-on and try to resolve it to the best of your ability.
Be transparent: People appreciate honesty, so if there is something negative going on with your brand, be upfront about it. Don’t try to hide it or spin it in a positive light – that will only make things worse. Think hiding clutter under the bed – never a good idea. Instead, own up to it and tell people what you’re doing to fix the problem.

Managing your brand’s online reputation takes effort, but it’s worth it. By following these tips, you can help ensure that your brand is perceived in a positive light by the people who matter most – your customers.

Check out our professional reputation management services

Partnering with a reputation management company

If you’re looking to take your online reputation to the next level, then partnering with a reputation management company is your best move. Not to toot our own horn, but at Curiosity, our reputation management team can help you build and maintain a positive image online, which is essential for attracting new customers and keeping existing ones happy. Plus, with the help of our reputation management gurus, you can proactively manage your online reputation so that negative reviews don’t have a chance to do damage in the first place.

Contact us today for your free Reputation Management consultation!

Loyalty Programs: More Critical Now Than Ever

Posted on September 17, 2020November 7, 2025 by admin

Loyalty programs encourage customers to return where they frequently make purchases. Some of the incentives could include advanced access to new products, additional discounts, and free shipping perks. Customers register their personal information with the retailer and are provided a membership account. Some programs are free, while others with more quality bonuses have an annual fee.

Customer Relationship Management

Retailers use these programs as a form of CRM, Customer Relationship Management systems. These systems help maintain a record of their sales process and market goods or services efficiently. The signup process of loyalty programs allows for insight on each customer. They provide information that helps the retailer make specific and strategic marketing plans for optimal results. According to a study presented by LoyaltyOne, loyalty program members contribute to 43% of companies’ annual sales. In addition to the increased sales, 95% of companies within their study reported that members spend more annually, with 60% reporting that members spend two to three times more.

Walmart’s Take on Loyalty Programs

Walmart recently released their newest loyalty program, Walmart+. According to the Walmart press release, “Along with the power of its online presence, Walmart+ has the reach of more than 4,700 stores, including 2,700 stores that offer delivery as fast as the same day.” Walmart+ members will receive unlimited free delivery from stores and fuel discounts. In-store shoppers will have access to a “Scan & Go” feature that allows them to scan items from their phones and pay for them using Walmart Pay, allowing them to avoid the checkout line. It will cost $98 a year or $12.95 a month and includes a 15-day free trial period.

Walmart has now put themselves at a higher advantage point than most retailers and created competition with other loyalty programs such as Amazon Prime. By releasing this new membership program, Walmart anticipates continuing its increasingly fast growth in e-commerce, where it’s already become the second-biggest online seller in the US. Amazon being the number one. The fuel discount will bring in more customers just for the simple fact that gas is expensive, and it will never go on sale.

Loyalty programs are more critical now than they ever have been. Due to the increasing demand for the perks of shopping online and in-store, retailers must keep up. Amazon and Walmart being just two of many, there is significant headway coming for customers and retailers with a simple loyalty program.

Curiosity Marketing Group has the knowledge and expertise to keep you above and beyond your competitors. As more and more brands roll out loyalty plans, will you be able to keep up? Have you thought of starting your own Loyalty program with an integrated CRM. Curiosity has helped launch combinations of Loyalty programs as well as CRM integrations for better client service and happy customers. Contact us to help you give them a run for their money!

Reputation Matters

Posted on February 10, 2020November 7, 2025 by Chris Josten

The saying has always been, “A happy customer will tell ten people about their experience. An angry customer will tell 100.” With the availability of the internet and increasing ease of leaving reviews, it is vital that you have a handle on your reputation, especially online. Some years ago, Google introduced the notion of what they called the “Zero Moment of Truth.” This refers to when prospective clients, instead of going to stores and talking to an expert, started turning online for recommendations. Now, if there is any question on a product, YouTube is your specialist. Locally, Google business listings are your expert, and in some cases, there are sites specifically created to handle reviews. For example, doctors should be paying close attention to Health Grades, Construction and Maintenance – Angie’s List. But what is the actual effect on your business if negative reviews exist? Short answer, there is a lot to lose.

According to recent studies, 67% of consumers make their purchasing decisions based on reviews. Of the people using reviews as a basis, 94% of consumers will avoid a business with bad reviews. Businesses with one 1.5 star rating report 33% less revenue than businesses with a 4-5 star rating. This does not mean that the company with the 4-5 star rating is that much better. They may have better customer service or a better product, but maybe not. It could just be that they are paying close attention to their online reputation. Don’t let reviews online spoil the excellent service and reputation you have built away from the internet for so many years.

The other vital part of watching your reputation online is the effect it has on your search rankings, most importantly with local search results. As Google and other search networks evolve, they continue to modify their results that are displayed. They do this to make sure that the viewer coming to their site for information, gets the most accurate and helpful info that they can. Google does not care about your business. They care about their user getting this accurate information. Negative reviews have a very strong effect on your rankings. You can have the best-looking, easy to navigate website with a ton of helpful information, but if your business has poor reviews, Google will push you down the list.

So what can you do to protect yourself from negative reviews? Below are a few things to do to plan and work to protect your reputation:

First and foremost, invest in an online reputation monitoring system, either internally or find a partner. We operate with numerous clients to help them keep reviews in check but also to help generate positive reviews. These systems include responding to negative reviews as well as integrating into CRM and ERP solutions to help facilitate positive reviews.
Avoid negative reviews where possible, but know they will happen. When you do receive a negative review, it does not go away. The best thing to do here is to provide a timely response to the review, offering more information on a subject, or offering to fix the problem. Apologies go a long way. 47% of users that see a quick response to a negative review will not skip a business due to a bad review if they are offering a solution.
Encourage happy customers to give positive reviews. As we mentioned early on, positive reviews are hard to come by. If the service is good, the happiness is not shared as quickly as the bad experience. With integration into your check-out process, review requests can be easily facilitated. This should be a priority in your strategy listed above.

Curious about what else you can do to gather 5-star reviews? Check out our guide on getting more Google reviews!

In the day of the internet, your online reputation will either drive customers to you or drive them to your competitors. Reviews will continue to convey the way customers have been treated at your business and what their experiences were. It is essential that businesses monitor their online reviews so that their brand and business are represented in the most positive way possible. Make sure you ensure your ideal customers see you in a positive way.

Is Your Business S.M.A.R.T?

Posted on November 21, 2019September 6, 2022 by admin

UPDATE

Just like your business, we are constantly growing, learning and adapting to new ways of doing things. Although creating S.M.A.R.T. goals has been an awesome business tactic in the past, we’ve discovered a process that works even better for reaching and exceeding your goals.

An Evolved Process

Our new and improved process starts with discovery. We’re curious to know more about the ins and outs of your business and what makes it unique. We’ll ask questions to get a better feel for your company and where you would like to see it grow.

The next step in our creative process is to develop a strategy that can help you be successful in meeting your business goals. We will help you discover the things that are important to you and pave the way to meeting those aspirations.

A plan is only as effective as the team that is implementing the strategy. As the saying goes, actions do speak louder than words. In the execution stage, it is critical to have a group of individuals that utilize the latest and greatest tools and industry knowledge to help you meet your campaign goals.

Once our team has executed strategies to help maximize your campaign, we start the analysis phase. This is easily the most important, yet often overlooked, step of our goal identification and attainment process. Our team compiles all campaign data and analyzes it to identify the things that worked well as well as the things that could possibly be altered or eliminated going forward. A proper analysis can help your business get the most out of your marketing efforts.

Think. Do. Rinse. Repeat. At the end of our process, we’ve identified the goals important to you and your business, developed strategies to help you meet those goals, professionally executed each and every step along the way and analyzed data to provide an overview of your campaign success. The last step in our process is simply to start anew back at the discovery stage. Repetition is key in refining and optimizing your marketing efforts, so don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.

Sources

https://curiositymg.com/process/

How do local listings affect my business?

Posted on October 29, 2019September 6, 2022 by admin

Before we can answer how a local listing affects your business, we first need to look at what exactly a local listing is, what it includes and what types there are.

A local listing is exactly that: a listing of businesses, normally within a directory, that points to a business by a few different variables, whether it be the business name, the business address, the type of business and/or social media presence within a certain area or city. This is taken a step further when it comes to Google. Google will gather the information from several different business directories to compile their own listing of your business, unless you have claimed your business with them.

It is highly recommended that you do this quickly, if you have not done so already. Having incorrect and/or outdated information can be devastating to your business. Imagine someone is looking for your business and finds out that you are already closed, when in actuality this is untrue or they go to the address shown, to only end up at an incorrect address.

What a local listing includes?

There are a few key areas that you want to make sure are 100% accurate. This includes the following: Your Business Title, Links and Citations, Categories, Reviews and Ratings, Photos and Videos, Social Factors and Other Attributes.

Your Business Title – This is one of the most critical factors for ranking well in local search engines. Having a title that is consistent with an accurate business name is extremely important.

Links and Citations – Search engines find out about your business in two primary ways. The first being crawling links that are inbound to your website and tracking sites where those links appeared. The second is tracking citations of your business and where those citations came from.

What is a citation? Let’s take a quick pause to define what a citation is, so that there is no confusion. A citation is a ‘mention’ of your business name on websites other than your own. These ‘mentions’ should include the same information that a regular business listing does, i.e. the business address, the type of business and a phone number.

Categories – Many local directories allow you to choose between two to five categories that identify what your business is about. Search engines like Google will then use these categories to help decide which businesses to show for searches. Search engines will NOT show a business that is uncategorized – or even worse, incorrectly categorized – for sets of keywords. This is especially true for high demand keywords or phrases that already have several businesses associated within a category. This is exactly why having consistent and correct information about your business throughout is essential.

Reviews and Ratings – Reviews and ratings are powerful persuasion tools for customers that are on the fence about purchasing a product or service from your business. While a negative review can encourage a potential customer to hit the ‘back’ button, a great review can encourage a customer to pick up the phone and call you!

Photos and Videos – Having photos and videos help entice a potential customer into clicking on your business listing. This means taking the time to pick out the proper photos and videos you plan on showing to your potential customers; do not just put something up for the sake of putting something up. These photos and videos can be anything but putting up projects that your company has worked on, products you offer, your team and/or your office itself will lead to more clicks and more recognition.

Social Factors – The social component of local SEO is growing stronger with each passing year, and learning to participate in the social platforms your customers prefer is a fantastic way to further build your relationships. You can also interact with reviewers in a similar manner to Twitter and Facebook. Reviews are a key component to a business’s survival. Certain forms of social media activity appear to influence overall search engine rankings. Their direct influence is unknown, but it is safe to say having a social media presence is important.

SIDENOTE. Not all reviews are created equal but having reviews is better than having none. There is an art to answering negative reviews to spin them into a positive outcome. There is more to it but that would take another article.

Other Attributes – It is vital to list your complete contact information on your website in a format that search engines can read. This is a simple step that most businesses seem to overlook. Providing your contact information in a format such as an image, a flash player or any other non-text format that search engines cannot crawl will affect your search rankings.

Lastly, keeping up with changes to policies, the latest opportunities for promotion and what your competition is doing on major search engines and local listings are all good ways to ensure that your business is doing everything it can to be current and visible in the local search.

How does your local business listing stack up? If you would like to learn more on how we can help with your local listings please feel free to request a local directory analysis below. We look forward to working with you.