Here at RealSelf, we spend a lot of time talking about doctor reviews but traditional reviews actually play a very small role in our user community. Truth is, when most users write about the aesthetic procedures they’ve had, they’re not passing judgment on their providers, they’re sharing stories about their experiences. It’s a subtle but [...]
Archive | August, 2012
Tweeting Doctors Should Focus on Real Patients, not Fake Followers
If you’re among the socially savvy aesthetic professionals who recognize that amassing thousands of fans or followers is of little value, congratulations on avoiding one of the most common mistakes other doctors make. If not, you might want to read this recent article in “The New York Times,” which shows how people are buying followers [...]
Microsoft Touch Windows 8 Email from Relevant Doctor (relevantdoctor.com)
RealSelf has received questions about the unauthorized use of RealSelf.com’s name in a mass marketing email campaign from a company called Relevant Doctor. See sample below. Be aware that RealSelf is NOT affiliated with this company nor do we endorse or promote their products. This is an unauthorized use of the RealSelf name and we [...]
Doctor Websites Get More Traffic By Adding Patient Reviews [Reputation Management Tip]
Google a doctor, as in “Dr. Steven Teitelbaum”, and watch Google’s suggestion feature: Try this on your name, and you’ll likely see a similar format: Dr. [your name] Dr. [your name] reviews Google suggested terms represent the majority of queries on the web because it’s fast and reflects what other people like to click on [...]
When It Comes to your Practice Website, the Eyes Have It
No, that’s not a typo. According to a recent eye-tracking study conducted at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, visitors to a website take just two-tenths of a second to form a first impression. And, as the saying suggests, you seldom get a second chance if that impression isn’t very good. As more people use the [...]
7 Reasons Why RealSelf is One of the Fastest Growing US Companies (Inc 500)
Inc. magazine has announced its annual list of America’s fastest growing companies, and RealSelf made it into the top 500. Rather than generating an auto-response list of thank you’s and talking about how humbling it is to win the award, I’m using this as an opportunity to reflect on what is driving our growth. From this, [...]
Convert Visitors to Your Practice Website into Clients through Video
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what sort of value do you suppose a video has? To get an idea, take a look at the example below. Created by Bang On Target Videos, a maker of animated videos for businesses, the 3:33-minute cartoon should be required viewing for doctors curious about the role [...]
RealSelf Buzz Index: Interest in Male Tummy Tucks Is on the Rise
Tummy tucks — they’re not just for women anymore. They never were, of course, but according to the RealSelf Buzz Index, they’re becoming an increasingly hot topic among men, as well. Whether it’s the result of extreme weight loss or frequent close-ups of Olympic athletes like Ryan Lochte and David Boudia, doctors shouldn’t be surprised [...]
Patients Are Searching for Answers, Inspiration and Doctors Who Educate
As the interplay between search and social continues to evolve, so too do the parameters and perceived value of search engine optimization. But instead of debating whether or not search is alive, dead or merely adapting to changing times, it’s worth looking at why people turn to the process in the first place. A study [...]
Smart Doctors Don’t Buy into the “Last Click Wins” Myth
To hear some news reports tell it, you could be forgiven for thinking that Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas won the team gold all by herself, Carmelita Jeter had no teammates for the 400-meter relay and soccer goalie Hope Solo lived up to her last name and won the final match singlehandedly. Needless to say, others’ [...]
Doctors and Patient Trust: Build It and They Will Come, Part II
When it comes to building a relationship with prospective patients, the Internet can be a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it allows doctors to reach far more potential patients than they ever could through individual consults and office visits. On the other, that same lack of personal interaction makes it that much harder to [...]
Doctors and Patient Trust: Build It and They Will Come, Part I
“Trust me, I’m a doctor.” If you’ve ever seen the phrase on a t-shirt or bumper sticker, you know it’s often offered up with tongue planted firmly in cheek. But for real doctors hoping to engage with real patients, the reality is no laughing matter. Trust is everything and doctors hoping to generate new business [...]
Doctors and Mobile Shoppers: Is Your Practice Website Open for Business?
Have you ever looked at your practice website on a mobile phone? If you haven’t, you probably should because it’s a safe bet that that’s exactly how consumers are going to be viewing it in the years to come. Consider the following infographic from Tealeaf Technology, a customer experience management company that was bought by [...]
For Doctors, Social Advertising May Be the Cure for Banner Ad Blindness
If you’ve been noticing fewer clicks on your box and banner ads, it may have nothing to do with your keywords, your ad copy or your budget. It may be because today’s aesthetic consumers aren’t seeing your ads at all. That’s because consumers are relying less on search to find the information they need and [...]
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Patients Take Purchase Decision “Journeys”
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Facebook for Doctors: Being Liked Doesn’t Always Add Up
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For Doctors, Social Advertising May Be the Cure for Banner Ad Blindness
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42 Percent Turn to Social Media for Plastic Surgery Research
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5 Biggest Mistakes Doctors Make in Social Media (and What to Do Instead)