In today’s business world, reviews are about much more than the products or services a business offers. With our interconnected digital landscape, reviews have also become a way that a business can improve search engine rankings – and brand awareness.
Google reviews can significantly alter search engine ranking, especially if they’re subpar. But they can also deter someone from choosing to do business with a particular company, and prompt them to take their business elsewhere. However, when it comes to the mental health space, getting clients to leave a review can be tricky.
Are Client Reviews Ethical?
In the world of mental health practices, it’s looked upon as unethical to directly ask for a current client to leave a review or testimonial. And this is because the practice of asking for reviews violates ethical codes according to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and the following organizations:
- The National Association of Social Workers
- The American Psychological Association
These rules are in place to protect patients from feeling coerced or pressured into leaving a good review because they may feel that if they don’t, they may not get adequate care.
Ethical Ways to get Client Reviews
While soliciting client reviews is unethical, there are a few ways you can make it easy for a client to leave a review if they wish to do so. And this can be accomplished in the following ways:
- Create a testimonial page where a client can leave a review, including easy-to-understand instructions
- Create a page for links to leave reviews on external sites such as Yelp or HealthGrades
- Share a link to Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business)
Keep in mind that while directly asking for reviews is prohibited, providing links and instructions to leave a review is completely acceptable by HIPAA standards.
Beacon Media + Marketing offers professional advice and marketing services for many mental health businesses. With a professional team of creatives, Beacon Media + Marketing stands ready to help your mental health practice enhance your website, get the reviews you’re looking for, and allow you to grow your business.
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