As a law firm, you know the importance of online reviews. They are one of the most critical factors that potential clients look at when deciding whether to hire you or not. And unfortunately, many law firms have a low number of online reviews. This is even more urgent as 63% of consumers check Google reviews before purchasing something.
In this blog post, we will teach you how to get more Google reviews for your law firm. We will also provide some best practices to follow so that you can make the most of your review campaign.
Why are Google reviews important for law firms?
Google reviews are important for law firms because it provides social proof that can convert more leads into paying clients. When potential clients see that other people have had a positive experience with your firm, they are more likely to trust you and hire you. Google reviews also help improve your search engine ranking, which makes it easier for people to find you when they are searching for a lawyer online.
Do Google reviews help SEO?
Yes, Google reviews can help improve your law firm’s SEO in two ways. First, when potential clients search for your firm online, they will see your Google reviews, and this may convince them to contact you. Second, Google uses reviews as a ranking factor in its algorithm. This means that the more reviews you have, the higher you will appear in search results.
How to get more Google reviews for your law firm
These are strategies for getting more reviews on your Google listing as a legal practice.
Ask clients after you’ve helped them with their case
Asking clients for a review after you have helped them with their case is one of the best times to get a positive review. The client is already happy with your work, so they are more likely to leave a positive review. Make sure to ask for the review in person or over the phone so that the client knows that you are genuinely interested in their feedback. You can also send an email follow-up after the case is closed.
Add a review button to your website
Adding a review button to your website makes it easy for clients to leave a review, which will increase the number of reviews that you get. The button should link directly to your Google listing so that potential clients can leave a review without having to search for your listing. For example, you can install this Google Reviews plugin to both display reviews and generate them.
Ask followers on social media
If you have a strong social media following, you can ask your followers to leave a review on your Google listing. This is especially effective if you have a large number of followers on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and other platforms. Make sure to do this sparingly, as social media marketing needs to focus on giving value.
Send out an email newsletter
Email newsletters are a great way to keep in touch with your past and current clients. You can use your newsletter to ask clients for a review on your Google listing. This is a great way to stay top of mind with your clients and increase the number of reviews that you get. Another strategy to consider is having a call to action in every newsletter you send. You can include it at the end to put the most valuable content first.
Read our article on the best email marketing tools for law firms if you need software to help you with this.
Include a QR code on business cards and print materials
If you include a QR code on your business cards and other print materials, potential clients can scan the code and be taken directly to your Google listing. This makes it easy for them to leave a review, which will increase the number of reviews that you get. You can create business cards with a QR code using Vistaprint. I’ve used them for years, and I highly recommend their services.
How to handle negative reviews
Whether they are legitimate or not, your law firm may receive negative reviews. How you handle these will impact your branding and perception by clients.
When you receive a review, regardless of whether it is positive or negative, you should always respond. A simple “thank you” or “I’m sorry to hear that” can go a long way. This shows that you are interested in feedback and willing to engage with clients.
Unfortunately, there are people who will leave fake reviews in an attempt to damage your reputation. If you believe that a review is fake, you can flag it for review by Google. You can also take legal action if the reviewer has defamed your business.
Final thoughts on getting Google reviews as a law firm
Google reviews are critical for law firms as they help to convert leads into clients. The more reviews you have, the higher you will appear in search results.
Asking clients for a review after you have helped them with their case is one of the best times to get a positive review. You can also add a review button to your website, ask followers on social media, or send out an email newsletter.
If you receive a negative review, make sure to respond in a professional manner. You can also flag it for review by Google if you believe it to be fake.
Legal professionals that want to take their marketing skills to the next level should learn more about our law firm marketing courses.
