Unlock provider profiles to manage your online reputation

Your practice information is out there — even if you didn’t put it there. It’s lurking on different websites, waiting to collect misinformation supplied by robots and strangers. Countless provider profile databases are all over the internet and aim to help patients find new healthcare providers. But if you don’t claim your listings, they could share outdated or incorrect information about your practice. It’s up to you to protect your online reputation.

Dive into your provider listings — the yellow pages of the internet — and discover how to optimize them to amplify your practice’s online presence.

Think of provider profiles as supercharged business listing in the yellow pages. They share your name, business information, specialty, and certifications with potential patients who can also read reviews placed right next to your information. These profiles live on different websites, such as:

The list doesn’t end there. Between review sites and social media sites, patients searching for healthcare providers have a variety of options to choose from.

Try doing a web search for your name and degree right now (e.g., Sarah Singh, MD). You might be surprised how far and wide your online reputation has spread. Many websites will include some of your practice’s information — whether it’s correct or not. Some reviews might already be up on sites like Yelp or Healthgrades. 

Claim your profiles to ensure that your information is correct and complete with all the essential details that make your practice stand out.

Here are some other reasons why you should claim your provider profiles as part of your online reputation management strategy:

Now that you know how important provider profiles are to your practice, what should you do? Here are 5 ways to find, claim, and optimize your profiles:

The easiest way to find your provider listings across sites is to conduct a Google search, just like many prospective patients would. Search for your and your practice’s names to see where they appear online. 

The initial search might be overwhelming, depending on how long you’ve had your practice. Your best bet is to start at the top. The top 3 listings on the first page of Google are the ones patients will most likely click.

Google Business Profile, previously Google My Business, is by far the most prominent listing for your practice. Google Business Profile is a set of tools designed to help showcase your business, and it allows Google to serve people more effectively.

When you search your practice, if there’s a Google listing, you’ll see a card to the right of the search results with some information already filled in (whether correct or incorrect). Simply click “Own this business?” and Google will take you through the claiming process.

If you don’t see a listing, search for “Google Business Profile” to find the sign-up form. Note that you’ll have to create a Google account if you don’t already have one. When you create your profile, it's also worth the time to optimize your practice's Google Business Profile images.

Go through all directories and review sites to claim your listings. Each will have different processes, and some sites may require that you provide some proof of identification. 

Fill out your basic information to ensure everything is correct, including practice name, hours, contact details, website URL, and types of accepted insurance. When you’re just starting to tackle your online reputation and presence, it’s best to ensure everything is accurate across top sites and then return to optimize your listings.

What do we mean when we say “optimize”? Optimizing your profiles means including all necessary information to make it easy for potential patients to find you and reach out for an appointment.

Here’s what your profiles should include:

Ensuring your online provider listings are fully optimized is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. Regularly review and update your profiles as part of your online reputation management strategy to ensure they continue to provide the most accurate and engaging information to potential patients.

You can’t sleep on provider listings, but it can be overwhelming. Working with a partner like Tebra can streamline and simplify reputation management, giving you and your team more time to focus on patient care.