Pharmacy digital marketing does not need to be costly or complicated: by taking some simple steps to boost your Google reviews, you can organically grow your online visibility and build a trusted reputation among your customer base. Here are some tips to help your online pharmacy business generate reviews that genuinely reflect the quality of your service.
Why you shouldn’t dismiss Google reviews
Many companies will steer clear of online reviews for fear that they will have a negative impact, but if you have faith in the quality of your pharmacy services, the opposite is true: they will boost your reputation and online rankings. Here’s how:
They improve local SEO: The vast majority of online searches are carried out via Google, and reviews are a key ranking factor in search engine results pages. Therefore positive reviews will increase your chances of ranking above rival pharmacies, even larger ones with bigger marketing budgets.
They build trust and provide feedback: Positive reviews reassure new customers in the quality of your services, providing social proof that is often valued above self-generated marketing messages. Even honest negative reviews can be useful, providing insight into customer experience and how you can improve.
They boost click-through rates: Customers are more likely to click onto your website after reading a review. They validate you as a genuine business who cares about your customers.
How to get more Google reviews
A common complaint is that the majority of customers won’t take the time to leave a review. This is understandable: when did you last make the effort to review a company, even if you had a great experience?
However, sometimes all it takes is a polite prompt, such as telling customers who visit your physical premises that you would really appreciate a quick Google review to help your business. Make it easy for them to find you online, such as leaving a QR code on the counter, or sending a review link in follow up emails.
Train your team in the art of asking for reviews in a confident but friendly and no-pressure manner, so that customers don’t feel as though a demand is being made of them. However, do not offer incentives or rewards, as this violates Google’s policies and goes against NHS guidelines.
Engage with online reviews
Google’s human operators do pay attention to the content of reviews, and this will affect your search engine rankings. Never be tempted to fake reviews, because this can be detected and will have damaging consequences.
Reviews that are responded to individually by the business rank more favourably, so write a natural sounding but polite response to each comment. Do not be dismayed by a negative review: if you respond to it professionally and promptly, this will demonstrate that you genuinely care about your customer experience and take their views seriously.
Share positive reviews on your website and social media
A positive review makes a great pull out quote for a webpage or social media post, so use authentic reviews to enhance your reputation. However, get permission from the reviewer if you want to publish their name or location.