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  BEST OF ODs ON FACEBOOK

HI, AND CARE FOR SOME LEMONADE?

AN INTRODUCTION TO THIS NEW OM COLUMN. . . AND A POST ABOUT TURNING LEMONS INTO LEMONADE

WELCOME TO the first official “ODs on Facebook” column, where I’ll be focusing on the “best of the best” content, defined as the most commented on and/or the most liked threads from “ODs on Facebook,” an optometric forum I founded in 2011. Imagine how thrilled I was when the publication I have been an editorial board member of for many years asked to feature the most popular threads in a monthly column?!

A BRIEF HISTORY

When I founded “ODs on Facebook” and invited 40 of my closest online colleague-connections to join, my vision was a social media platform where optometrists could engage in conversations about topics in the profession in a friendly environment without the fear of being attacked.

This concept has resonated with many optometrists. Each month, thousands of you share your insights, whether clinical, practice management or you’re just plain “having fun.” I think the reason the forum has been so successful is that it is shaped by a set of guidelines that require members to engage in respectful, apolitical dialogue.

Tons of threads on individual topics are posted each month with tens of thousands of comments, so it’s easy to miss the “good stuff.” As “ODs on Facebook” is a private group, we respect member’s private comments, so I won’t be sharing names, but be sure to visit the group to see the conversation in its entirety.

Here’s a look at a post that got 224 likes.

ONE-STAR GOOGLE REVIEW

A doctor posted that a patient complained via one star on Google about a fill-in doctor.

Specifically, the patient said she would never bring her family back to this practice. Rather than responding to the comment online, the owner of the practice personally called the patient to apologize and said if the patient gave the practice a second chance, the practice owner would make sure to see the patient’s family personally. Without any prompting, the patient changed her Google review to five stars and referenced the call, saying she was impressed with the practice’s level of customer service.

As I always say, a one-star review is a chance to turn “lemons into lemonade,” and this doctor certainly accomplished that.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

I look forward to keeping you in the loop, helping you sort through the mountains of comments and information posted daily. I also look forward to sharing with you in the group.

To access “ODs on Facebook,” when you are logged in to Facebook, go to the search tool in the blue bar at the top of your feed, and type “ODs on Facebook” and request an invite. Share or just lurk, we look forward to engaging with you. OM

ALAN GLAZIER, O.D., is founder of Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care, a 5-doctor medical-model practice in the Rockville, Md. suburbs of Washington DC. He is an author, inventor, industry consultant and frequent lecturer on ocular disease and internet marketing. He can be reached at aglazier@youreyesite.com. Be sure to follow him on Twitter @EyeInfo or PM him on Facebook