As any business owner will attest, a negative review or the rumor of a bad reputation can spell disaster for your company. People have looked to one another for recommendations concerning products and services because there are plenty of options to choose from. They simply want to make sure they are getting the best deal from the right business.
In the past, recommendations were done through word-of-mouth, and people generally just asked those in whom they trusted. Friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors could easily make or break the decision to contact one company over another. In the 21st century digital age, this has changed. Acumen Legal Marketing can help increase the trust between your business and potential clients using reputation management strategies.
It is true that people continue to rely on one another to make solid recommendations for products or services they need, but it is no longer restricted to the people around them. Potential clients have the entire Internet to help them make a choice for pretty much anything they could need: the best pair of running shoes, the roofing company that will do the job correctly, a good vegetarian restaurant, and even a bankruptcy lawyer. Now, people are obviously not combing through the Internet trying to contact everyone in the world. What they are able to do is ask for recommendations on social media and read reviews left by former customers on sites like Google, Facebook, Yelp, and a host of others.
So what does this mean for your bankruptcy law firm? Contact us today to find out!
Reviews are critical for a couple of reasons: influencing potential clients’ decision to hire you and demonstrating to search engines that your business is active and beneficial for your local area. As discussed, people will turn to online reviews to see if your law firm is the right fit for their bankruptcy needs. Too many negative reviews or not enough reviews at all may make a potential client look elsewhere.
When you receive a positive review, do not simply read it, smile, and then forget about it. That client took time out of their busy schedule to leave you a positive message that could potentially influence others to hire you. Show them you appreciate the review as well as their confidence in your legal abilities by thanking them and letting them know that you are always available to answer any questions or address concerns they may have concerning their bankruptcy issue. That client will feel appreciated and is more likely to recommend you to any friends or family who may be in need of a great bankruptcy law firm. It’s a win-win situation for everyone.
If you are presented with a negative review, it is essential that you address the problem. Respond to the review asking the writer to contact you so that you can make the situation right. Be sure to keep a calm tone throughout your response and offer ways to remedy the problem. This shows the writer of the review (who is the only one who can delete the negative review) that you are willing to work with them to find a solution, and it demonstrates to any future clients that you want to make sure all of your clients are satisfied with the legal reputation you have provided.
In their algorithms, search engines like Google take the amount of reviews, the number of negative reviews, the frequency of reviews being posted, and your responses into account when figuring out your ranking on the search engine results page (SERPs). It’s a complicated system, but our SEO experts understand the elements that search engines look for, and reviews are definitely one of them.
Because Google and other search engines care about your reviews from your former clients, it is critical that you are able to generate more reviews frequently. It is especially helpful if you are able to get reviews on your Google listing because that will be a boost for your local SEO.
When you have an increase in reviews, that shows Google that you are a viable law firm and should get a higher ranking than your competition. It may also help you get a position in the coveted “three-pack” which are listed above the organic SERPs listings. The more visible you are to a local audience, the more likely it is that you will be getting contacted by clients who otherwise may not have found your site. Generating reviews and responding to both negative and positive reviews is a surefire way to increase your chances of great local visibility on the results listing.
It may seem a bit awkward, but the best way to generate more reviews for your bankruptcy law firm is to simply ask for them. When you know that a client is satisfied with the outcome of their case, that is a great time to ask if they would be willing to leave you a review. You can do this in person or online, depending on which option is more convenient.
If you request it in person, it is still highly recommended that you send a follow up email and include the request for review once again. Make it even easier for them to leave one by including a link which takes them directly to your review page. Most people will say that they forgot or don’t have time to look for the right place to leave the review. Remind them in the email and make it as simple as possible. That way, they have no excuse not to leave a review.
As a successful bankruptcy law firm, you are likely quite busy with clients and their cases so you may not have time to manage your online reputation or stay updated on your reviews. That’s ok! At Acumen Legal Marketing, we are here to focus on and manage your online reviews and reputation. We have the experience and knowledge to make sure you continue to have a great reputation and search engines are able to see that. Contact us today to learn more about our reputation management strategies as well as all of our SEO services. All of our marketing plans can be customized to meet your firm’s needs and ensure that you are able to achieve your online goals and have a positive return on investment. We offer a free strategy session, so call us to schedule an appointment!
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