It’s no secret that Google is a vital part of the modern internet. Most people use Google’s search engine daily to find everything from new recipes to old friends. As a result, Google’s information is key to how our world operates.
This is especially true for businesses such as law firms. Your presence on Google is extremely important, especially if you want your business to grow. It is no longer enough to have good out-of-home advertising or word-of-mouth referrals. Now, you must be sure that your online presence is optimized for search engine queries and Google results. This is how most new customers find businesses.
Unfortunately, simply having a website is not enough. Google’s My Business feature is essential, and having the right information there is key. Customers will likely pass you by if you have old or outdated information, preferring to seek out law firms that put time and effort into their My Business profile.
If your Google information is old, outdated, or simply missing, it’s time to update. Doing so can seem complicated, so our team at RizeUp is here to help.
Claim Ownership
The first thing you need to do as a law firm is to claim ownership over your business profile. This means making sure that you have the login for your My Business profile and complete control over it. In some cases, Google creates a profile for you, and it doesn’t have complete information. Claiming your profile lets you make changes quickly and efficiently as they arise, rather than contacting Google support every time something changes.
Assign Managers
It’s wise to have two or three access points to your account, should any single person ever be locked out, quit, or forget their password. In addition, we recommend having two trusted leaders handle the Google business profile. Your marketing team should be one, while the position of the other is your choice.
Assigning managers allows you to share responsibility as well. For example, if something changes with your address, operating hours, phone number, etc., one of you can quickly update your Google business profile.
Start With the Basics
The first information you need to verify is your company’s phone number, website address, and physical address. This information is key for clients who want to contact you, so it must be right. Unfortunately, this information also changes with relative regularity; your business process remains stagnant, while it’s common to move offices, get a new phone system, or update your URL.
Once you update your basic information, users will be able to call your phone line or visit your website straight from your Google business profile. For many users, this ease is critical. If they have to go digging for your phone number or have trouble determining which website is yours, they move on rather than wasting time investigating.
Removing False Information
Occasionally, there is a scenario in which false information about your company is published online. This could be a wrong phone number, an incorrect business description, or myriad other things. If this is the case and you do not have a claim over your profile yet, you can contact Google support for help. They can work with you to eliminate the false information and put the power back in your hands.
Add More Information
Once the basics are posted, and all false information is removed, it’s time to add information to your profile. This includes photos, your logo, other points of contact (i.e., social media, fax, P.O. boxes, etc.). The more information you can provide, the more legitimate your profile will look. On the other hand, if you don’t have complete information on your profile, many users will assume that you are either out of business, a scam, or not adequately established in your community.
Reviews
One of the best ways to strengthen your Google business profile is to build reviews. Reviews provide much-needed credibility to your Google listing and make users more inclined to explore what you have to offer. In addition, because other users have patronized your law firm, many other users will feel more comfortable doing the same.
One of the best ways to get reviews is to ask current and past clients to post one for you. Many are happy to do so when you ask. If friends and family have been involved in your work or are willing to vouch for you, ask them to do the same. The idea is to pad your profile with lots of reviews and ratings so users can see that your Google business account is legitimate.
Social Media
After you take the above actions for your Google business account, you should review your business’s social media profiles as well. Some businesses end up with multiple accounts, while others have accounts without any content. Yet others have neglected to update basic information on these pages, leading to misunderstandings and missed opportunities.
Be sure your contact information, links, and profiles are all updated, and your team has control over all of them. If a password is missing or an old employee still has access, contact the site’s support center to regain control.
Why Is This Important?
The internet is the foremost way that firms bring in business. Through searches, embedded links, and Google business profiles, many firms gain recognition and client contracts. If your contact information is incorrect, it is difficult for potential clients to contact you. Remember, though you are providing them a service, other firms in town can offer the same. Therefore, you have to make it easy to contact you, or clients will go elsewhere.
Ultimately, incorrect information looks sloppy and unprofessional. The internet is no longer a new, elusive place. Businesses and firms have no excuse for allowing outdated information to remain online. After all, you would update your business card if your phone number changed. Think of Google MyBusiness as your virtual business card.
Contact RizeUp Media
Though the internet is nothing new, we understand that the process of managing your Google MyBusiness account can be time-consuming. Getting everything right takes time and effort, and both of those are often in short supply for busy law firms. This is why we specialize in helping law firms master their social media presence. Whether you need a Google update or a complete social media overhaul, we can help you maximize the digital tools at your disposal.
For more information about what we do or to schedule a consultation, contact us online today.
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