When it comes to marketing your dental practice online, reviews aren’t just a “nice to have” — they’re essential.
Hi, I’m Justin Morgan, the Dental Marketing Guy, and in a recent episode of The Dental Marketing Guy Show, I had the pleasure of speaking with Maui Bob from the popular Five Stars Review System. We explored how online reviews directly influence your dental SEO and your ability to attract new patients.
Here’s a breakdown of the key insights we discussed — and how they apply to your practice’s growth:
It’s not just how many reviews you have — it’s how fast you get them.
Search engines like Google look at the velocity of new reviews as a trust signal. A steady flow of recent feedback shows that your practice is active, credible, and engaging with patients regularly.
Takeaway: Don’t wait for reviews to trickle in. Make reviews part of your ongoing patient engagement strategy.
Yes, star ratings are a big deal.
A 4.8-star average is far more attractive — and SEO-friendly — than a 3.9-star rating. Your overall rating influences not only your Google ranking but also the likelihood that someone clicks on your listing over a competitor’s.
Pro tip: Focus on delivering a consistently great experience so your patients want to leave 5-star reviews.
Star ratings don’t just look good — they get clicks.
Your click-through rate (CTR) on Google can dramatically improve with a higher average rating. Google sees this behavior and rewards listings that attract more clicks.
Result: More visibility → more website traffic → more new patient opportunities.
Having 5 great reviews is nice.
Having 105? That’s powerful.
Quantity builds credibility and shows search engines that your practice is well-established and actively serving patients.
Action step: Encourage every happy patient to share their experience. Don’t let great visits go unmentioned online.
In today’s digital-first world, online reviews are the new word of mouth.
Even if patients hear about your practice from a friend, they’re still going to Google you before calling. What they see — and how much they trust it — often determines whether they ever walk through your door.
Remember: Reputation isn’t just what you say — it’s what others say about you.
Word of mouth hasn’t disappeared — it’s just gone digital.
What we learned in this episode with Maui Bob is clear: if you’re delivering excellent dental care, your happy patients are often more than willing to help you market your practice. They just need a little reminder and the right tools.
So let your best patients become your best marketers — one review at a time.
