How to Convince Families to Post a Senior Care Review for your Community
Reviews are an important part of the consumer decision journey. In past blog posts, we’ve talked about just how important they are and made a few recommendations on places to encourage families to post a senior care review: Google +, Caring.com and Angie’s List. Since those posts we’ve had lots of great feedback from clients and senior care providers. We’ve also had more than a few of the Great idea but…how do we convince families to post a review? emails. We know people rush to their keyboards when they aren’t so happy with a product or service. Admit it… you’ve done that too. Complain about the bag boy at the Piggly Wiggly for packing your bread under your eggs? Or the Outback Steakhouse that seated your group then forgot about you? Negative reviews are easy to come by. Having great reviews that are easily accessible to families also helps if/when a crisis occurs. Several of the country’s largest providers are currently experiencing major media for some tragic resident events. Finding glowing words from families online sure would help during times like those.
So how can you encourage families to post positive reviews?
Let’s kick one idea people often turn to out the window first. Paying for reviews is NEVER a good idea. We have all seen what happens when people try to do that with Yelp reviews. You end up with a Chris Hansen-Dateline News style television crew in your place of business.
We have tossed a few ideas around and put together what we hope will be some helpful tips to get you started:
- Make it easy for families. Give them a pre-printed postcard with the URL of each of the three sites. We’ve pulled them together in a thoughtful little box here.
Include the postcards in newsletters, billing statements for families, and keep a stack in common areas. Don’t be afraid to let families know you need their help! - Make it even easier for families. Set up a review station in one of your common areas for a week – a computer or laptop that residents’ families can use to post their reviews when they visit. Let families know ahead of time you will be doing this. Have some coffee and cookies on hand to entice them… I know I would fill out a few reviews in exhange for a handful of Thin Mints cookies. How about you?
- Add an extra incentive. No…we are NOT advocating cash for reviews. But consider having a weekly or monthly drawing for something fun for anyone who completes a review. It can be movie tickets or a restaurant gift card.
- Our friends at Angie’s List are offering an extra incentive for families who are members this month. Let your residents and clients’ families know they have a shot at winning $1,000 for posting senior care reviews on Angie’s List in March.
Do you have any secrets to building out reviews? Please share them by commenting below.
Are you spring cleaning your senior care content? We’d love to help. Shoot me an email at shelley@TheSeniorCareSpecialists.com or fill out our Contact form and we will be in touch!