When researching services or products online, it is common practice in our online world to perform a quick Google search for company or business reviews, including attorneys and law firms. Which leads us to ask: What does your online presence say about your practice?
A recent survey reported that 58% of the participants viewed Yelp, a popular social media tool that combines local reviews and networking functionality, as the number one and most trusted website for seeking for legal advice or representation. Surprisingly, this tops other sites such as Avvo, Martindale-Hubbell and SuperLaywers as the go-to reference for lawyer reviews.
What kind of information are your potential clients looking for on these review sites? Keep reading…
- 33% of study participants reported that an attorney’s quality of service in terms of how well their legal options were explained to them mattered the most.
- 27% were interested in the firm’s win/loss record.
- 70% of clients will consider going to another part of town if the law firm had better reviews.
Make Sure that Your Firm’s Reviews Can be Searched Online
In order to ensure that your law firm has positive reviews on these online review sites, consider asking current clients to write reviews on Yelp, Google Places, and/or Facebook. Seize on this opportunity after you settle a case in their favor, or after your firm has had a positive face to face consultation with them. It is also necessary to keep your law firm profile information accurate, complete, and updated regularly since social media profiles rank higher on typical Google searches.
Online Reviews — Decision Deal Maker
Online reviews continue to be the deal-maker in deciding who to trust — and ultimately sign up with. Feedback about how your firm is viewed by existing or past clientele immediately influences decisions, as studies continue to highlight. Now more than ever, consistently monitoring your law firm’s presence on social tools such as Yelp, Google and Facebook should be a key part of your social marketing. Just make sure you have established a set plan to manage your company’s feedbacks and ratings, including negative reviews.
For more information on how to ethically and effectively manage your law firm’s online reputation, contact the PR professionals at WebPresence, Esq. today.
