New clients are used to looking for information online before purchasing a product or service, and reviews have become the new word of mouth. The legal practice is no exception, which is why having a public profile on social networks, as well as good online reviews, is essential for any legal professional.

Positive reviews increase your chances for professional growth, while negative reviews drive potential clients away from your law firm.

According to data published by Navin, 33% of a firm’s new clients start with an online search rather than a recommendation from family or friends. The number is much higher if we consider people seeking legal advice: 96% of them do so online. Not only that, but 86% of them read reviews carefully before making a decision.

Reviews are crucial for your legal practice. How do you think those potential clients will react if you show up in search results with negative reviews? Read more about “how negative reviews affect businesses.”

No one wants a negative review. But sometimes, on rare occasions, they are an opportunity to identify problems in your practice and improve your brand image.

Although you should remove negative reviews, don’t ignore them. Read them carefully and consider the criticism to continue growing. If possible, avoid responding to them and hire professional help to remove them.

Increase your online visibility

Removing negative or fake feedback will improve your general review rating, which will increase your potential clients’ trust. This will translate into a higher click-through rate and higher website traffic, giving you the opportunity to promote your services and experience and convert leads into clients. At the same time, websites with a higher click-through rate and better reviews are favored by search engines such as Google, leading to better rankings and higher visibility. Obtaining better rankings will also allow you to reach a broader market and showcase your positive reviews.

Your competitors take reviews seriously

The average firm spends about 60% of its marketing budget on digital marketing. This means your competitors are constantly looking for new ways to improve their online image, reach more people through social media, and avoid negative reviews in the process.

If you don’t keep an eye on reviews, the negative comments may pile up and potential customers will start looking at your competitors for legal advice. They know that a bad review removal service is invaluable.

What can you do to avoid these problems?

If you use numerous online platforms, such as Google My Business, Yelp, AVVO, Justia, or Facebook, keeping track of everything users say can be complicated. As we mentioned, this is an advantage for your rivals.

Concentrate your efforts on a few networks and claim any public profiles created when someone writes a review to start managing comments. Attorneys need to pay special attention not only to Google My Business, but to specialized directories such as AVVO, Justia and Lawyers.com.

It is impossible to hide something on the internet. A negative review will not go unnoticed and can come back to you when you least expect it. Contact us before it’s too late and your review rating on websites (or worse, your reputation) is compromised. We are specialists in removing comments from different platforms, including Google, Justia, AVVO and Lawyers.com, and we can help you achieve the results you need to reach more customers.