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There’s real value in online reviews—not just to consumers, but also to businesses.

Consider your law firm. Google reviews from satisfied clients can go a long way toward establishing trust—proving to potential clients that you have the knowledge and the integrity to assist with whatever their legal needs. Attorney-client relationships hinge on trust, and as such, online reviews can be incredibly meaningful.

And there are other ways in which reviews can help—such as with SEO visibility.

Google Reviews and SEO

A recent study finds that businesses ranking on the first page of a Google search have an average review ranking of 4.42 stars out of five—making it clear that positive customer endorsements can really help with your search engine visibility.

 

The same study finds that only 20 percent of businesses in the top three Google positions have no Google reviews at all—meaning that if your law firm isn’t getting reviewed, you probably shouldn’t count on sky-high rankings.

The upshot of all of this is pretty obvious: When it comes to marketing your law firm, one of the best things you can do is to actively court Google reviews from satisfied clients. The question is how.

How to Get More Reviews

There are a few strategies to consider here.

First and foremost, you can always just ask for reviews. This may sound simplistic, but you’d be surprised what an effective approach it really is. Here’s what we propose: Go over your client list and identify some of your best, most loyal, most satisfied clients—the ones most likely to give you a five-star review.

Then, send each of them a brief email, candidly asking them for their feedback and telling them how much it means to you. Make sure you include a link to your Google profile; you want to make things as easy on them as possible!

More broadly, get into the habit of always asking clients for a review after you work with them on a case. You can do this in a number of ways—by setting up follow-up emails, or by including a link to your review profile on invoices and email confirmations.

It’s also a good idea to have that review link prominently displayed on your firm’s website—maybe on a dedicated Testimonials page. And, you can include it in email signatures as well, along with a brief encouragement for people to supply their feedback.

As your firm starts to see reviews come in, make sure you take the time to respond to them. When you receive positive feedback, a quick thank-you is appropriate. And when you receive negative comments, take the time to let the reviewer know that you hear them, and that you want to do whatever you can to make things right.

The bottom line: You want more reviews, and you especially want positive ones. It’s helpful for knowing how you can improve your legal services, but it’s also a boon to your SEO—making your firm more easily discovered on the Web.

Embrace a Law Firm-Friendly SEO Campaign

Reviews can play an important role in your law firm SEO—but there are other components to consider, as well, including:

• Website design
• On-page optimization
• Social media
• Citations and backlinks
• User experience
• Local media mentions

For help developing and implementing a robust law firm SEO plan, reach out to our experts. Driven2020 has ample experience helping attorneys improve their search engine visibility, and we would love to talk with you about your SEO needs. Reach out to Driven2020 today!