Google has always strived to target relevance for its users, primarily for those who search for and use local businesses. Consequently, the search engine populates and directs searchers to businesses in their own locale whenever someone does an internet search. As a lawyer, your best clients are those you have direct exposure to which is why Google My Business can have such a huge impact on driving future clients to your virtual doorway.
Take the first step towards amplifying your online presence—contact BSPE Legal Marketing today to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help you make the most of Google My Business for your legal services. Your future clients are searching for you; let’s make sure they find you.
The Local Nature of Your Law Firm
Fact: Google reports that 46 percent of all web searches have local intent. And yet, businesses fail to take advantage of the Google My Business platform that targets their local presence and gives them added exposure to the very people who will be using their services. As a law firm, your most important clients are the ones you have local access to, and having an active Google My Business listing is one of the best ways to help your clients find you geographically. In fact, it may be one of the most crucial marketing tools in your digital marketing toolkit.
What is Google My Business?
If you have done a recent Google search, you may have noticed a few businesses that are highlighted on the page. These are Google My Business listings that populate on the page based on your location and the location of the businesses. For a law firm that wants to attract local clientele, this listing is critical and can give important information about your business and location, including:
A well-conceived and optimized Google My Business listing will be your “first impression” for some clients doing a web search, and you want to make this impression an effective one. This requires that all your information is correct and consistent with any other information across the internet about your firm and making sure that it is optimized regularly.
- The location of your firm, including any other satellite offices that you have
- Your business hours
- A link to your website
- Photos of you, your office, and your staff
- A description of your areas of practice
- Reviews of former clients
- Frequently asked questions
- Your contact information
Keeping Your Firm Relevant and In Front of Your Clients
Like any other information about your firm on the internet, Google wants correct, consistently updated, and relevant information for its users. Once your firm’s listing is created and verified, you should continually add information, updates, special details about your firm, and photos to keep your listing well-optimized and ahead of the competition.
Because Google now allows you to publish content to your listing, this is a perfect space to keep updated with upcoming firm events, community involvement, speaking engagements, professional organization leadership positions, and other information about your services. The question and answer section allows you more direct interaction with potential clients and can impart more important information about your firm. The review section enables you to highlight your reputation as well as respond to client reviews directly.
How Important are Google Reviews for Law Firms?
Google reviews are not just important for law firms; they are essential for maintaining a strong online reputation and attracting potential clients. In the legal industry, where trust and credibility are crucial, Google reviews act as a digital vouch for a firm’s experience, client care, and successful outcomes. They are the modern word-of-mouth, offering personal testimonials and social proof that can heavily influence a prospective client’s decision to choose one firm over another.
Moreover, these reviews also play a significant role in a firm’s search engine optimization (SEO) efforts. Positive and well-regarded testimonials can enhance a law firm’s presence in search engine results such as Google, thereby increasing the probability that prospective clients will discover the firm while seeking legal services. This enhanced visibility is crucial in today’s digital-first world, where many clients start their search for legal services online.
By actively encouraging satisfied clients to leave positive reviews, law firms can create a virtuous cycle: the more positive reviews they have, the more likely they are to attract new clients who, in turn, may leave their own positive feedback. Conversely, professionally addressing negative reviews can demonstrate a firm’s commitment to client satisfaction and continuous service improvement, reinforcing trust among potential clients.
Keeping Ahead of the Competition
At BSPE Legal Marketing, creating and updating your Google My Business listing is just one of the critical ways we keep you in front of your potential clients and ahead of the competition. Especially in very competitive markets, the small firm that is diligent about its online presence can effectively compete even with the large firms. Our talented law firm marketing professionals use proven, time-honored approaches as well as creative strategies to help you stand out from the crowd. Contact us today to see how we can help.
| Importance of Google My Business for Lawyers | Details |
|---|---|
| Keeping Your Firm Relevant | Google My Business requires correct, consistently updated, and relevant information to keep your firm’s listing optimized. Add updates, special details, and photos regularly. |
| Content Publication | Google My Business allows publishing content like firm events, community involvement, speaking engagements, and service information. Interact with potential clients through Q&A and highlight reputation through reviews. |
| Staying Ahead of the Competition | In competitive markets, maintaining an updated Google My Business listing helps smaller firms effectively compete with larger ones in online visibility and client engagement. |
