Chances are if you’re reading this right now you’re a.) a lawyer and b.) wanting a better way to improve Google ratings for your practice.
If you haven’t guessed it already, our legal market research company has answers for you.
While law is a specialized field, gaining positive feedback for your practice is no different than any other business.
Recent research found that 60% of consumers will look at reviews on Google My Business.
More specifically, 75% of the individuals who were looking for an attorney to help them with their legal issues have used online resources to find or contact a lawyer at some point while they were searching for representation.
That’s a hefty statistic.
Meaning, your firm’s review page could be getting plenty of views, but without a strategy in place, you may be losing potential clients.
Harnessing the good experiences of clients, and giving them the means to review your services, is a fantastic way to drive up Google reviews for business pages.
Take a look at our brief ORM explainer video:
Tip #1: Invest in a Solid ORM Strategy
Online reputation management (ORM) is key to organizing and boosting your ratings.
As a little refresher, here’s what more positive Google reviews and ratings can do for your firm:
- Boost SEO rankings
- Provide free marketing content
- Give your firm better credibility
When you work with a third-party company that specializes in online reputation management, that makes this process even easier. This team will go in and do the hard stuff for you–leaving you with insightful data and a plan going forward.
You may wonder, why not work with a PR team to improve Google ratings? PR agencies often don’t have the experience when it comes to back-end ORM operations, as well as survey knowledge.
Just like peanut butter and jelly (or peas and carrots), ORM pairs wonderfully with customer satisfaction surveys to improve google ratings.
One of the main factors of ORM, these surveys are sent out to clients and will ask a series of questions about their experience with your firm.
If positive, they’ll be sent to your firm’s page on Google to leave a glowing review. If negative, their feedback won’t be discounted, but the clients will not be directed to a review page. You’ll then be given this feedback privately, to do with it as you will.
The beauty of this process is that these are authentic reviews from pleased clients–there’s nothing forced or fake about reviews generated with ORM.
As you get more positive reviews, these will naturally bury the negative reviews your firm may have.
💡 The Key Takeaway: If you seem to be stuck with Google ratings and reviews, make ORM a priority. Spend some time researching third party teams that specialize in this service. ORM will not only generate more positive reviews to boost your ratings, but it will also bury the negative reviews you may have.
Tip #2: Make the Most of Happy Clients
We all love a happy client–why not ask yours to share their experience?
Up to 92% of customers will read client testimonials or reviews when considering a service or product. This simply goes to show that one can never have too much positive feedback from satisfied clients.
Client testimonials – no matter the type of business – can do wonders because they showcase your firm in action. Similar to a positive Google review, this sort of personalized feedback promotes your services and can draw in future clients.
Often showcased on websites or social media pages, client testimonials do not have to belong.
They’re simply a few sentences (in most cases) about how your services or products had a positive impact. This can be particularly useful for services like healthcare, finance, or, in this case, law.
So, you’ve got a happy client you recently worked with. What’s next?
Reach out to them and ask if they would like to submit a quick testimonial for your firm–it’s as easy as that.
Once you have your quote, you can place it on the main page of your firm’s website. You can also create a specific page to showcase multiple testimonials, once they start rolling in.
If you want to take it up a notch, consider doing short video testimonials of clients (with their consent, of course). Potential clients will appreciate the personalization of video, as they’re able to actually view the client.
No matter where you put them or how you display them, make sure testimonials are visible!
💡 The Key Takeaway: Consider implementing client testimonials on your website and social media. This move can potentially draw in more clients–and thus, potentially improve Google ratings. Anytime potential clients can see how happy others are with your work can only help your mission.
Tip #3: Use Social Media to Your Advantage
Using social media is good for business, we all know that by now.
But is it good for a law office, specifically? The answer is yes.
Two words come to mind when organizations use social media to their advantage: visibility and personality.
If you have a law office and are struggling to improve Google ratings, take a deeper look at your social media presence.
Being active on social media draws people in, which equates to potential clients. The more people you attract, the higher the chance you’ll be attracting a future client.
Get creative–showcase your services on social media posts. Think about your firm’s image and the type of work you do, and go from there. Additionally, consider the platform/s you want to use.
Here are a few popular social media platforms:
- YouTube
The way you post on each of these sites will be different, but the objective remains the same: getting out there.
Going back to our last section, you can use social media to share client testimonials. For example, many businesses will have saved testimonial stories on their Instagram profile. This is a great way to have your reviews right out in the open.
💡 The Key Takeaway: There’s never not a good time to use social media as a business. The more outlets you advertise on, the more visibility. The more visibility, the more your potential clients will see you. And with more potential clients, there’s potential for more Google ratings and reviews! See what we did there?
Tip #4: Respond Thoughtfully to Negative Reviews
Last–but definitely not least–is taking the time to respond to your bad reviews. Nicely.
This is another key point in ORM, as it has a number of benefits and plays into your Google ranking factors.
While no one likes to see a poor review of your service pop up, retorting back isn’t going to do you any favors. What would potential clients think if they saw a defensive post you responded with? Not only would it make your firm look bad, but it could deter future business.
If a negative review comes through, take a deep breath, and really plan out what you’re going to say.
Make sure you’re empathetic, as this will put out the fire instead of throwing more gas on it. Disgruntled reviewers are also more likely to soften towards your business if you show them your human side.
Just as importantly, make sure you take in what a poor review is saying. What was the person dissatisfied with? How can you help? Are there changes you can implement to avoid this from happening again?
Sit with these things for a bit to see what you can do to better your client experience.
💡 The Key Takeaway: Moral of the story -- be nice! In the world of Google reviews, it’ll certainly get you a whole lot farther than responding to a nasty review in kind. Try and put yourself in the place of the reviewer to see where they’re coming from.
Recommended Reading: 6 Easy Ways to Increase Google Reviews (+1 Secret Hack)
Contact Our Online Reputation Management Company
If you were wondering how to get Google reviews–good ones–now you know!
Drive Research is a market research company based in New York. Our team of skilled research pros can design the perfect ORM project for your law firm, helping you boost those Google ratings.
Want to know more about our market research services? We want to tell you! Get in touch with us through any of the ways listed below.
- Message us on our website
- Email us at [email protected]
- Call us at 888-725-DATA
- Text us at 315-303-2040
Lark Allen
As a Content Marketing Specialist, Lark has a strong background and passion for creative, professional, and journalistic writing. She is also a self-proclaimed music freak and 90s enthusiast.
Learn more about Lark, here.
