In today’s hyper-competitive legal landscape, Google reviews have evolved from being a “nice to have” to an absolute necessity for law firms. Potential clients often turn to Google before making any decision about who to call. This is true even when they’ve been referred by a friend. According to a 2023 survey by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, with legal services ranking among the industries most influenced by these reviews.
For law firms, the benefits of a strong review profile are substantial. Five-star Google reviews help establish credibility, reinforce trust in your brand, and significantly increase the likelihood that someone searching for legal help will choose your firm over the competition. Beyond credibility, more positive reviews improve your firm’s visibility in Google search results, AI results, and on Google Maps and local search, making it easier for clients to find and contact you.
The Risks of Ignoring Your Google Reviews
Failing to actively gather five-star reviews for your Google Business Profile can have serious consequences. If your firm only has a few reviews and you receive a single one-star review, your overall rating could drop dramatically, damaging your online reputation and search results overnight.
This drop doesn’t just affect how strangers perceive your firm. Even referred clients, who typically check your online presence before making contact, may hesitate to call after seeing a low average rating or negative feedback. Poor ratings also reduce your firm’s visibility in local search results, pushing your listing lower on Google Maps — making it harder for new clients to discover you.
Additionally, fewer high-quality reviews can negatively impact your website’s SEO performance, which can result in fewer website visits and fewer inquiries. In short, ignoring your Google reviews can undercut years of hard work building your firm’s reputation.
What to Do If You Get a Negative Review
Negative reviews happen, even to the best firms. The key is knowing how and when to respond. Responding promptly and professionally can demonstrate to potential clients that your firm takes feedback seriously and handles criticism with maturity.
However, there are times when it’s better not to engage publicly, such as when the review contains false, inflammatory, or defamatory statements. In those situations, it’s important to focus on getting the review removed through the proper channels rather than risking further conflict by responding. This advice may seem contrary to Google’s standard, “always respond” guidance but based on years of experience, we suggest you use some discernment when deciding how or if to respond.
At the end of the day, it’s crucial to have a clear review response strategy so you’re ready to act quickly and appropriately when the need arises.
How Strategic Alliance Marketing Can Help
We can help your law firm proactively build a strong base of positive Google reviews, providing you with a critical asset for reputation management and online growth. If your firm does receive a poor review, we can also help you navigate the process to attempt to have that negative review removed when appropriate.
Don’t leave your firm’s reputation to chance. Contact Strategic Alliance Marketing today at (346)267-7619 to protect and grow your practice by leveraging the power of Google reviews.