Key Takeaways:
-
Online reviews are usually a starting point of a patient in the selection of doctors or hospitals.
-
If we talk about Google vs Bing reviews for healthcare, then Google reviews are well-reputed as they obtain much visibility and are frequently updated.
-
Bing reviews are curated reviews based on ratings found on websites such as Yelp and others.
-
Active participation by healthcare providers in review websites will instill further trust by patients.
These days, almost all of your future patients will search online for some reviews before visiting your hospital or clinic. When doing this brief research through reviews, they will basically trust the review they see on Google and Bing, being the most popular search engines in existence.
When looking for a general physician or searching for a provider for a specific issue, individuals often start researching through these search engines. Reading reviews of that specific healthcare facility helps them make up their mind.
As digital media continue to influence patient behavior, knowing the differences between Google vs Bing reviews for healthcare is important. In this blog, we will compare Google reviews to Bing reviews and evaluate which reviews are most trustworthy for patients and why.
The Role of Online Reviews in Healthcare
Patients searching for a reliable hospital or doctor often find it helpful to read reviews and find healthcare on Google or Bing, or other online review platforms. Reading reviews helps them make up their mind and prepare for the upcoming hospital experience.
In a field like healthcare, which completely depends on trust, reviews and stories create the initial trust factors. Negative or Positive reviews can affect decisions and patient trust, especially when the patient has no previous working relationship with the provider.
Now that you understand how online reviews impact patients' decisions, let's discuss how Google is unique in gaining trust. See why people prefer to read Google reviews for analyzing a healthcare facility.
Google Reviews and Their Popularity
Google leads the digital world and prioritizes Google Reviews with greater user visibility. When searching Google Maps for healthcare, the audience can sort through available clinics and services by comparing their ratings and reviews.
Patients often perceive Google’s layout as a simple and direct pathway to access information. Because Google’s information is continuously refreshed, users also appreciate it more because they see recent updates. This convenience makes it easier to trust Google reviews.
While Google is visible and easy to use, Bing has quietly built its own value. Let's dig deeper into the way Bing reviews differently and what those reviews mean for patients searching for healthcare services.
Bing Reviews and Their Unique Features
Bing may not be everyone's top choice, but Bing has value with its diversity. However, this platform does not have its own review facility. Instead, it shows you reviews from popular platforms like Yelp or Healthgrades.
Bing taps into the Microsoft ecosystem, which builds loyal users. In some cases, patients also enjoy Bing's consistent, structured presentation, balance, clean, and curated reviews compared to other platforms.
So, we've examined the approach of the various platforms separately. Now it is time to test the platforms to see which patients trust more in their local and personal healthcare decisions online.
Google vs Bing: Which Do Patients Trust More?
Both Google and Bing reviews give useful information about healthcare, but when it's time to trust, patients think about specific things. Let's take a deeper look at what really increases patient trust in Google vs Bing reviews for healthcare decisions.
-
Accessibility and Exposure
Patients often trust things that appear first, and here Google wins. Google is used so broadly and has more exposure than Bing, so it gives a dominant advantage to Google when a person is going online to make local healthcare decisions.
-
Information Breadth
Bing Places for healthcare pulls reviews from other places, such as Yelp and Healthgrades. Some patients appreciate this as it gives them an in-depth understanding. However, Google reviews provide them with versatility and a variety of points of view, which is also useful.
-
Ease of Use
Google provides a smoother and easier search experience for patients. The layout of their review presentation is simple, which readily helps you identify where to find reviews quickly. This is especially important for the patient who requires immediate healthcare options in any area.
-
Timeliness and Recency
Google healthcare reviews are typically more recent and frequent. A patient is likely to believe that if a review is more recent, it would more accurately reflect service quality in the present-day scenario.
-
Provider Agency
Providers are much more engaged on Google, with tools such as Google Business Profile for healthcare. This engagement provides a sense of trust for patients as it nicely indicates that the provider hears them and will quickly address their queries.
Conclusion
Trust is important when evaluating Google vs Bing on healthcare reviews. Google is the leader in visibility, usability, and fresh content. In contrast, Bing focuses on collecting and publishing curated reviews from other sources.
With more visibility, a wider audience, and a first-hand reviewer base, Google stands out as the first and most preferred platform for patients. Also, with direct scope for SEO, healthcare providers tend to be more active on Google review responses than on Bing.
If you're a provider looking to build trust quickly, a good option is to purchase Google reviews through BuyReviewz. We offer 100% real reviews, geo-targeting, fast delivery, and customer service 24/7, along with custom reviews, all for building your clinic’s trust.