Moving beyond great dentist to procedure-specific authority
The quantity of your five-star reviews matters less than the substance within them. Google’s AI-driven search and Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) now scan your reviews for specific entities and keywords to determine if you are the right fit for a patient's query.
If a patient searches for "All-on-4 dental implants," and your top 50 reviews only say "The staff is nice," you are missing a massive opportunity to rank. To dominate your local market, you need keyword-rich social proof. Here's how to ethically and effectively guide your patients to write reviews that actually grow your practice.
1. The peak satisfaction prompt
The biggest mistake dentists make is waiting too long to ask for a review. To get detailed, keyword-rich feedback, you must ask at the moment of peak emotional impact.
The strategy: For high-value cases (veneers, implants, clear aligners), the reveal ppointment is the gold mine. When the patient looks in the mirror and sees their new smile, their gratitude is at its highest.
The clinical nudge: Instead of a generic "leave us a review," use a specific nudge: "we are so happy with how your Invisalign turned out! Would you mind sharing your experience with the clear aligners on Google? It really helps other patients looking for cosmetic dentistry."
2. Implement prompted SMS automation
Automation is the backbone of social proof in, but it needs to be smart. Your reputation management software should be synced with your Practice Management Software (PMS) or CRM.
The strategy: Set up triggers based on ADA procedure codes. If a patient completes a
D6010(Surgical Placement of Implant Body), the automated text they receive should include a leading question.The template: "Hi [Name], it was great seeing you for your dental implant today! Could you take 30 seconds to tell us how the implant surgery went? Many people are nervous about the process and your story could help them!"
3. Respond with intentionality
You have 100% control over your responses, and Google indexes your replies too. This is your chance to backfill keywords if the patient left a generic review.
The strategy: If a patient leaves a short "Best dentist ever!" review, don't just say "Thanks!"
The keyword-rich response: "Thank you, [Name]! We loved helping you with your emergency tooth extraction and getting you out of pain. It was a pleasure having you at our [City Name] dental office!"
4. Bridge the gap with video testimonials
While written reviews are for SEO, video social proof is for conversion.
The strategy: When a patient gives you a verbal compliment chairside, ask: "That is so kind! Would you mind if I filmed a 30-second clip of you saying that so we can show others how easy sedation dentistry can be?"
The SEO benefit: Transcribe these videos and post them as patient stories on your procedure-specific pages. This creates a loop of keyword-rich content that AI crawlers love to verify.
How Marketing 360® Can Help
Managing procedure-specific review requests manually is a recipe for burnout. Marketing 360 offers a comprehensive reputation management suite built specifically for modern dental practices. Our platform allows you to automate review requests, monitor sentiment and respond to feedback from a single dashboard. Most importantly, our all-in-one platform allows you to manage and grow your practice all from one place. Contact us today!