When is the last time you checked your Google review link? If you are sending a Google review link to patients to write reviews, you need to be aware that the old link no longer works. What happened and how do you fix it?
What Happened to My Google Review Link
Google changes happened. As Google travels down the road to separate your Google My Business local listing from Google+, you’re seeing a lot of changes. You notice many of these changes when you are logged into your Google account. Others aren’t visible unless you log out. Thus, test both ways before sending patients a review link because sometimes it won’t work.
Regardless of the Google+ link you use on your website, it now defaults to your posts. You see your reviews when you log in. You can answer your reviews. But, your patients don’t see them. They no longer have access to write reviews via a Google+ link to your posts.
Fix My Google Review Link
You don’t have to leave it up to your patients to search for how to leave a Google review. It’s still possible to send them a link. It’s a long link, so we suggest hyperlinking words in an eBlast, email or social media page. Here’s how:
- Search for your name in Google
- Click on your Google Review link in the Knowledge Graph
- Copy the URL
- Hyperlink URL to text in Emails, Social Media, etc.
This gives you the best of both worlds. The icon for writing a review is right there for clicking. Readers can scroll through your reviews. If you are linking your Google+ posts on you website, there is no change there.
Remember, Google is a constantly changing environment. They are in charge, and we have to follow to continue to appear in search results! You should check your Google Review Link and other Google links at least monthly to ensure that they are taking patients where you want them to go.
PUMC recommends that you log out of Google and check all your Google links to determine if they are working. If you are unsure of how to fix a broken link or don’t know how to correct your Google Review Link, contact us. We’re always happy to help our clients figure out what works for them.