Sales, Mergers & Acquisitions
Download our Start-up GuideHow to create a Google Business Profile for my Law Firm?
Start by logging in to your Google account. If you don’t have one yet, signing up is completely free of charge.
To create a Google Profile for your law firm, visit google.co.uk/business.
Click ‘Manage now’ on the front page to open up a form. This is where you need to enter your firm’s legal name.
Ensure the name is consistent across all Google profiles and directories and avoid using ALL CAPS unless that is a part of your official business name.
If your law firm has multiple locations/offices, keep the information simple. You can create individual profiles for all your addresses later.
After you have added your basic law firm information, i.e. the main address and business phone number, you will need to select a ‘business category’.
In order to do this, first, think of how you would describe your business. Depending on what you do, this could be a “Law Firm” or “Solicitors”.
Once you have come up with a category, start typing it in the description and see if it matches an existing category.
It is not a big deal if you can’t find the perfect one. If you can’t find an appropriate category, use a generic one like ‘Legal Services’. This will ensure that your service area will appear on the Google Map which will help your searchers locate your law firm office.
Repeat the process for all of your office addresses.
Verify your Law Firm’s Google Business Profile
After you have created your profile, it is vital that you verify it.
This usually requires you to ask Google to send a postcard with a verification code to your law firm’s address.
Once you have received your card, complete the verification process by entering the verification code into your Google Business account.
Listing verification is extremely important for your law firm because it improves the chances of your firm appearing in Google search results and maps.
Also, any changes you make to your listing will only go live, once your account has been verified.
Make sure to complete your Google listing with:
- High-quality photos of your law firm’s office and logos,
- Website URL
- Hours of operation (taking into account any holiday hours),
- Business category and description.
All of these will make your law firm look more credible online.
To help you with putting your listing together, look at your competitor’s listings. See what’s missing on yours and how you can improve to be able to compete.
Once the verification process is complete, you will be able to respond to client reviews and see ‘Insights’ reports that show you how people find your information on Google.
How does Google Business profile work for law firms?
For a second, imagine a scenario where you’re not a solicitor and you slipped on spilt water in a supermarket.
In the process, you badly hurt your wrist and, as the supermarket failed to erect a hazard warning sign, you believe that they are at fault for the incident.
To compensate you for the pain, suffering and loss of income, you decide to make a compensation claim.
You spend some time finding out about making claims on Google, and maybe even ask a few friends if they’ve ever been in a similar situation.
Once you have decided you have grounds to make claim, you search for a solicitor – most likely in your area.
You type ‘Personal injury solicitor near me’ into Google Search.
The first thing you see is a couple of ads, then Google Business results with a map showing a few law firms near you.
– This is where your law firm can show to prospects and help you convert them into paying clients.
Is it important to have a law firm business listing?
Yes, it is important that your law firm has a Google listing. This is proven by statistics directly from Google.
- As many as 80% of people who took part in Google’s survey said they use a search engine to find local business information.
- Furthermore, 50% of customers who do a local search on their smartphones visit a business within a day.
- People are also 38% more likely to visit a business if the online information is up-to-date and correct.
With stats like that, it is clear that having your law firm online with up-to-date information is important.
Use your Google Business listing to your advantage.
Will my Google Business listing help my SEO?
Creating a Google Business listing is a crucial aspect of your local SEO strategy.
Google Business allows you to promote your presence on Google Maps and appear in local search results for relevant keywords.
This can help drive more traffic to your law firm website and improve your visibility to potential customers in your area.
The information listed on your business profile, such as the name of your law firm, address, phone number, website, and photos, is used by Google to help searchers find relevant information about local businesses and make informed decisions about where to go or what to buy.
By verifying your Google Business listing and keeping it updated with accurate information, you can improve your local SEO efforts and increase your chances of appearing in relevant local search results.
How to make the most out of my Google Business listing?
To use your Google Business Listing to its maximum potential, and support your law firm’s marketing efforts, do the following:
- Respond to reviews: Respond to both positive and negative reviews promptly and professionally. Showing that you care about your customers will help build trust and increase your visibility on Google.
- Encourage customers to leave reviews: Encourage your satisfied customers to leave a review on your Google Business Listing.
- Keep your business information up to date: Regularly update your business information, such as business hours, products, or services, to keep your listing accurate and relevant.
- Use Google Posts: Utilise Google Posts to showcase new services, events, or other news about your law firm.
By following these tips, you can make sure your Google Business Listing is optimised for search engines and provides accurate information to potential customers.
