Online reviews continue to be a substantial facet of any digital marketing campaign for both e-commerce and the service industry. Utilizing a Google Business Profile is essential in managing online reviews and enhancing your digital marketing efforts, as it allows businesses to claim, manage, and optimize their profile for better online visibility. Not only is the social validation a go to for the average consumer, but search engines such as Google and Google Maps cannot avoid making legitimate reviews a mainstay of facets of its algorithm. Lawyers are among the most scrutinized for their reviews across social platforms due to the weight of legal situations and potential legal fees, with consumers often turning to Google search to find reputable lawyers, highlighting the importance of maintaining positive online reviews.
Though we’ve strongly encouraged having a plan in place for requesting reviews via email and SMS (both still strong options, especially on the SMS side), we can’t always get in front of people only using two methods. We don’t market our businesses only using two methods of advertising, so review generation efforts should be no different.
With methods like calling to ask for reviews, offering a percentage off legal fees (only admissible in some states), QR code postcards, community events, and requesting reviews placed on non-Google platforms to be featured on Google, your law firm can continue to compete in the highly competitive legal landscape.
How to Bring in More Reviews to Your Google Business Profile
While email and SMS automations should be the cornerstone of any review outreach and generation campaign, incorporating a Google review link into your communications can significantly simplify the process for clients to leave reviews. By adding this link to email signatures, creating shortcut links on your website, and using it in targeted emails, you make it easier for customers to leave Google reviews, enhancing the customer experience and increasing the likelihood of receiving feedback. Here are five more strategies to capture a wider client base and hopefully expedite your results. The ultimate goal is to acquire more Google reviews, which is crucial for improving your law firm’s online reputation and visibility, attracting more clients, and generating more revenue by ranking higher on Google.
Calling to Ask for the Review
While automated text and email follow-ups are an ideal way to encourage clients to leave positive Google reviews, sometimes picking up the phone and asking for a review directly is the best way to get through to them. Highlighting the significance of positive feedback not only broadens the awareness of your business’s Google presence but also impacts your ability to acquire new customers and improves your local ranking algorithm. Doing this shows your dedication and gives you an opportunity to explain how to leave a review and provide them with a direct link to make the process even easier for your clients. You may even get some more interesting, helpful feedback from your client experience through having a quick follow-up chat with a former client.
Providing a Percentage Off Legal Fees for Positive Reviews
In states like California and New York, law firms can offer clients a discount on their legal fees. This may encourage them to leave a positive review on your Google listing. Asking customers to leave a review at the right time is an essential part of the process, so providing this percentage off leaves your clients in a good place to give your firm five stars. Implementing such strategies is crucial for accumulating more Google business reviews, which significantly enhances a firm’s credibility and online visibility.
Consult with your State Bar Association (and, more specifically, the advertising and ethics department) to inquire about eligibility for your firm.
Mailing QR Code Postcards with Google Review Link
QR codes have become a popular way to access websites, taking customers and clients directly to a review link. By integrating QR codes that direct clients to the review submission page, businesses can simplify the process of leaving a five-star review. This method is particularly effective if traditional approaches like emailing, texting, and calling have yet to yield results. Tools like Zappy Cards leverage this technology by allowing clients to leave a review with a quick tap on their smartphones, streamlining the feedback process. Most people are now familiar and comfortable with using QR codes to navigate directly to specific web pages, including review submission forms, which is fascinating considering QR codes’ slow initial adoption despite being invented 30 years ago.
Garnering Reviews from Community Events
Hosting events allows you to connect with your community and generate positive reviews. Types of events you can hold to garner reviews include the following:
- In-person focus groups
- Charity events
- Sponsorships
- Local seminars
While reaching out virtually via email, text, and phone can be a great way to ask your clients to leave reviews, meeting them in person by hosting community events can develop a stronger connection. They also create an opportunity for securing reviews through QR codes and conversation. For a local business, leveraging Google reviews is crucial in building trust within the community and enhancing visibility and reputation in the local market.
Requesting to Have Reviews Replicated from Other Platforms
Customers can leave reviews in several places, including Facebook, Avvo, BBB, and more. These reviews, along with your existing Google reviews, would be even more valuable to your law firm if they were replicated on Google reviews. You can request those who left these reviews to use their existing Gmail account or set up a new one to provide their review on the most important platform, complementing the existing positive feedback on Google and showcasing your commitment to customer feedback.
Improve Your Law Firm’s Online Presence and Reputation With Market My Market
With more and more people using Google reviews to make their decisions about businesses, having and generating five-star Google reviews is crucial to maintaining a good reputation and building trust with potential clients. Google business reviews play a pivotal role in maintaining a law firm’s reputation, signaling value and trustworthiness to local users. At Market My Market, we optimize your online presence by helping you generate more positive reviews, reach out to past clients, and develop effective marketing strategies. Our in-house SEO team understands the importance of these reviews and uses them to increase your digital visibility and local SEO rankings. Addressing every piece of feedback, including every negative review, is essential for service improvement and building trust, as it shows how much a business values its customers and takes their feedback seriously.
Are you ready to take your law firm’s digital marketing to the next level? We can help you turn your work with past clients into five-star Google reviews, giving you more potential leads that will choose you as their trusted partner. To get started, call us at (866) 270-2250 or fill out our contact form.
