By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    How Not to Become a Victim of Medical Scams
    December 22, 2021
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    11 Ways You Can Care for Your Elder Family Members Health
    April 6, 2022
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    How Can Brain Injury Lead To Dangerous Long-Term Effects?
    August 30, 2022
    Latest News
    The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
    June 11, 2025
    The Best Home Remedies for Migraines
    June 5, 2025
    The Hidden Impact Of Stress On Your Body’s Alignment And Balance
    May 22, 2025
    Chewing Matters More Than You Think: Why Proper Chewing Supports Better Health
    May 22, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Penalizing Readmissions May Not Improve Quality or Cut Costs
    February 5, 2013
    E-cigarettes: The California Cooler of the 21st Century
    April 24, 2015
    HIMSS 13 HHS Presentation
    HIMSS 13: HHS Final Ruling Changes the Rules & Roles for HIPAA Hosting
    March 9, 2013
    Latest News
    Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
    June 13, 2025
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: 6 Tips on Maintaining a Great Online Reputation for Physicians
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > eHealth > Social Media > 6 Tips on Maintaining a Great Online Reputation for Physicians
eHealthSocial Media

6 Tips on Maintaining a Great Online Reputation for Physicians

Michael Fertik
Last updated: June 30, 2012 5:33 am
Michael Fertik
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Technophile or technophobe, your online presence is becoming increasingly important. Four out of five Internet users now look online when they need health care information, and searches for specific providers make up a sizable portion of their requests, according to recent data from the Pew Research Center. You’ve likely heard a fair amount about the threats this can pose, yet what’s important to keep in mind is that it’s also a powerful opportunity. Below are six key ideas you can use on your own.

Prevention is more effective than treatment: From both a financial and time-saving perspective, preventive reputation building is much more efficient than reacting after a problem appears. Doximity’s public profiles can be a good start–you control what information you share, from practice address to published works. You can also set up an About.me page or a www.YourNameMD.com site, listing any professional information you want to emphasize. In addition, update your practice information on physician review sites. Search engines prioritize websites that have been up for a long time, so there’s no time like the present to get started.

More Read

Use Of Mobiles, Video And Social Networking By Physicians: Infographic
méridienne
Beyond the Buzz: A Healthcare Guide to Maintaining Professionalism on Facebook
The Outreach Mindset: How Doing Crisis Care Improves Medical Practice
Using Business Intelligence and Analytics for Orthopedic Billing

Own your presence: If you fail to publish some of your own information, your online reputation will consist entirely of what other people have written about you. Patients often search by condition or procedure, so even if you don’t have any negative reviews, you might, for example, find yourself with a lot of content that–while positive–doesn’t represent the full scope of your practice or interests.

Diversity is your friend: Once you start putting information online, try to hit as many bases as possible. Search engines penalize duplicate content, and they give priority to different types of results: websites, blogs, new articles, journal publications, photos, videos, social media and so on. Make sure you have a presence on several types of sites.

Rebuttals usually backfire: If someone attacks you online, avoid the temptation to post a rebuke in the comments. Your feedback tells search engines that this is an important website that people will want to see–the opposite of the message you want to send. For this reason, your best approach is almost always to keep your cool and just move on.

Remember there are positives to patient reviews: For many consumers these days, reviews are almost as trusted as word-of-mouth endorsements. And there are plenty of positives to this. Don’t be shy, for example, about encouraging satisfied patients to leave their opinions on review sites. Also, consider linking to positive reviews on your website; they’re an added reminder to potential patients of just what you’re capable of. Lastly, be sure to establish a patient wrap-up protocol with your staff that encourages unhappy patients to vent in your office instead of online [Editor’s note. For more on this, see Howard Luks’s recent post: Online Physician Reviews: 6 Essential Actions].

With social media, it’s okay to stick to your comfort zone: You need a basic presence in social media to prevent “brandjacking” (antagonistic impersonations of yourself), so go ahead and set up a Facebook page and Twitter handle for your practice. If you enjoy social media, use those accounts, taking care to respect HIPAA regulations and other ethical considerations. However, if you don’t or feel you have too much on your plate, that’s fine. Social media is a good way to build your online reputation, but there are plenty of other paths you can take.

The bottom line: The more types of material you publish, the more you yourself can own your online presence.

TAGGED:online reputation
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy
How TMS Therapy Helps with Treatment-Resistant Mental Illness
Mental Health Therapies
June 13, 2025
Strengthening Healthcare Systems Through Clinical and Administrative Career Development
Global Healthcare Policy & Law
June 11, 2025
magnesium supplements
The Wide-Ranging Benefits of Magnesium Supplements
Health
June 11, 2025
preparing for next pendamic
Preparing for the Next Pandemic: How Technology is Changing the Game
Technology
June 6, 2025

You Might also Like

leader
eHealthPolicy & LawPublic Health

From Patient Partner to Patient Leader

March 20, 2014

Utilization Review vs. Utilization Management

October 24, 2014

Social Media for Veterans

February 15, 2012
ONC, Meaningful Use, Stage 2
BusinesseHealthMedical RecordsPolicy & LawPublic HealthTechnology

Challenges of Stage 2 Meaningful Use Require More Allies

October 22, 2014
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?