Cosmetic and General Dentist | Business Owner at Smile Essentials Cosmetic Dentistry
Answered 3 months ago
Google My Business has proved to be the best review platform for my dental practice. It is the main source of our new patient traffic since it shows on local search results and on Google Maps. Patients believe what they read there and it provides them with easy access to our contact details, photos and office hours. We can also reply to reviews which also builds trust and demonstrates that we are interested in feedback. It is the best, most consistent and efficient way to grow our practice and stay in touch with our local community compared to other platforms.
Zocdoc brings the most results among all review platforms we've used. People go there when they're ready to book. They want a provider who takes their insurance and has open slots. That kind of access matters. It simplifies decisions. Once a profile is active and the schedule stays updated, bookings tend to follow. It works because it removes steps between interest and action. Yelp also brings value. Some patients look beyond ratings. They read full stories about what the visit was like, how the team responded, and how issues were handled. These reviews influence people who compare before choosing. When a page shows honest, detailed feedback, it builds trust before any call or visit. Other platforms help with background presence but rarely bring direct results. A polished profile does little if no one takes action. Time is limited. Focus stays on platforms where people decide, not browse. Zocdoc reaches those ready to schedule. Yelp shapes early impressions and builds confidence. Use both with purpose. Reviews don't need to be perfect. They need to be real.
For our practice, Google My Business has been the most helpful tool. Most of our patients leave reviews there. It's often where new patients first find us when searching online. The convenience of seeing ratings, reading reviews, checking hours, and getting directions all in one place makes it a popular choice for both existing and potential patients. Although we're listed on a few other platforms, we've found that most of our engagement and feedback come through Google. It's a key part of how new patients evaluate and choose a dental practice in today's online world.
We found at this current moment in time that Google My Business is the review site that has helped us the most as it pops up after a quick search in our Business profile. It's where we actively try to get satisfied patients to post. However with more people turning to ChatGPT and Google AI mode for search, we're starting to find that the results showing there is pulling from various sources like Healthgrades for ratings, so there could be a shift approaching. If you want any further thoughts, please don't hesitate to reach out.
In my experience, Google My Business (now Google Business Profile) has always been the review site of the highest impact. Its connection with local search means patients can discover you right when they are looking for a dentist in their vicinity. Trustworthy reviews on Google are significant for winning trust and are also critical for local SEO rankings, so your practice is listed in prominent positions within search results. In addition, it allows you to respond to reviews, which enables communication with both prospective and existing patients. No other platform can provide the visibility and credibility that Google provides. Although Yelp and Facebook are helpful to an extent, Google My Business remains the number one platform for return on investment in terms of web traffic, calls, and appointment requests.
I'm not a dentist, but I've worked closely with a lot of dental practices over the past three years, and Google My Business is by far the platform that makes the biggest impact. If you think about how people actually search for a dentist, they almost always start with Google. That's where they look for reviews, compare options, and decide who to trust. Patients put a lot of weight on what they see in those Google reviews, and those ratings show up right at the top of the search results. If you're going to focus on just one review site, Google My Business is the clear winner. It gets you the most visibility, the most trust, and brings in the most new patients. Don't sleep on it.
Google My Business has been the most impactful review site. The integration with Google Maps makes it easy for potential patients to find us quickly, and it directly influences local search rankings. I've noticed a significant increase in calls and appointments ever since we fully optimized our profile. The ability for patients to leave reviews, ask questions, and even view our hours and location in real time has made it a one-stop shop for finding and connecting with our practice. The real-time insights Google provides also help me understand which reviews resonate most with new patients, allowing me to fine-tune our services. While other platforms like Yelp and Healthgrades are valuable, the sheer volume of visibility and the ease of use with Google My Business has made it our top performer.