Using online health advice reviews can prove to be an effective way to increase your practice’s visibility in search results. Consumers don’t always believe what they read, but they certainly aren’t going to trust a provider that has a negative review. While reviews are not the only way to gain patients, they’re also a powerful proof of quality. Fortunately, there are ways to spot a fake review and prevent it from spreading.

One way to identify fake reviews is to read patient reviews. Many patients who leave reviews are not telling the whole truth. For instance, some doctors are extremely good, but they’re being rated poorly by some patients because they refuse to prescribe antibiotics to treat their cold or flu. These reviews are not necessarily true, and there is no way to know if a doctor’s reputation is based solely on a handful of patient reviews. The same goes for doctors who have a long waiting time.

The best way to respond to a negative review is to acknowledge that it’s unfortunate, but not to dismiss it outright. Responding to a negative review should be focused on the cause, not on the complaint itself. If you can’t figure out what went wrong, offer a solution. Don’t offer a discount or placation, as these actions could encourage other users to leave negative reviews. That is why you should avoid posting negative reviews on medical forums.

Another way to distinguish a good website from a bad one is by checking the site’s credentials. Check the website’s owner and sponsor, and find out if it’s affiliated with a legitimate professional or nonprofit organization. The last thing you want is to make a bad decision based on outdated information. Thankfully, there are plenty of sites that are reliable and reputable, and many apps have reputable studies to back their claims.