For example: Amy Smith, from Chicago, Illinois asks; “Why do I get dry skin in the winter and how can I get rid of it? Are there any miracle creams on the market that can help? What do you advice?”
Why would a doctor want to give out free advice to a visitor that might never want to come into their practice? In reality it’s about an equal balance of new business development and advertising for your practice. A doctor who answers questions without tagging on a consultation fee shows dedication and commitment to his trade.
When a patient asks a question, he or she is looking for advice. Depending on the nature of the question, it is unlikely that the patient will follow through with treatment based upon advice received through a forum. However, he or she seeks an outlet for expression.
If you are a doctor answering the question, you are establishing a relationship and building trust with the patient before he or she even starts looking for a doctor. The patient who asked the question and future patients who come to the site seeking answers for similar treatments will see that you are the doctor with the answers. It is your name the patient will remember and refer to when choosing a doctor for actual treatment.
Who sees the answers? Questions answered by you are visible not just on WhereismyDoctor.com but across the internet. Google picks up these answers and caches them into its search engine. Later, someone searching on Google for similar questions might find your answer in Google searches. Answering questions labels you an expert in your field, enhances your profile and boosts your online exposure. If you were choosing an expert for a job, would you choose one whose views you knew or one who was silent?
Patient reviews matter and patients review not only treatments but doctors’ advice too. Answering questions in a forum like the one on WhereismyDoctor.com is a way of generating patients and exposure for you practice.
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