When a new patient searches for a doctor, your Google reviews are often the first thing they read. The good news: most happy patients are glad to leave one. They just need to be asked at the right moment, in the right way.
Ask every patient, the same way
Google's rules are clear: you can ask patients for reviews, but you can't ask only the happy ones, and you can't offer anything in return. The simplest way to stay inside the rules is to ask everyone with the same short message after their visit.
- Send the request the same day, while the visit is fresh.
- Include a direct link to your review page so it takes one tap.
- Keep it short: thank them, ask for honest feedback, add the link.
Never do these
- Don't offer discounts, gifts or entries into a draw for reviews.
- Don't write reviews for yourself or ask staff to post them.
- Don't confirm someone is a patient when you reply. A reply like "Thanks for your feedback, please call our office so we can help" protects their privacy.
Reply to every review
A calm, short reply to every review, good or bad, shows future patients that someone is listening. For negative reviews, take the conversation offline and never share details about care.
Make it a weekly habit
Reviews grow when asking becomes routine, not a once-a-year campaign. Our marketing team sends review requests after visits and tracks new reviews alongside your new-patient inquiries, so you can see what is working.
The best review strategy is boring: ask everyone, every week, and reply to everything.