Client Testimonials and Reviews: How to Make Them Work for You

Once your law firm gets a steady stream of clients, it’s a good idea to start asking them to help you by writing online reviews, submitting testimonials, and serving as case studies. Reviews and law firm client testimonials are gold for law firms because consumers trust the honest opinions of their peers much more than what a salesperson, webpage, or billboard ad tells them.

How much do people trust online feedback? As consumers ourselves, it’s probably not shocking that a majority of people (95%) now check online reviews before making a purchase decision. It’s become commonplace to pull up Google, Facebook, Yelp, or some other platform to browse online feedback before choosing a restaurant, calling an electrician, and hiring a lawyer. 

So, how can you make online reviews work for your law firm? The worst thing you can do is have friends and family leave reviews or pay for them. Here’s why your firm needs honest testimonials and reviews and the way you can make the most out of them.

Law Firm Client Testimonials and Reviews — Why You Need Them

Adding testimonials to your website and having independent reviews on popular platforms can offer your law firm several benefits. Here are just a few reasons why you should give this strategy some attention:

1. Builds Credibility and Trust

Positive online feedback provides social proof that other clients have had a positive experience with your law firm. This helps build credibility and trust among potential clients.

2. Enhances Reputation

Good reviews will contribute to your law firm’s positive online reputation. Since many people often research law firms before making a decision, having positive testimonials and reviews can influence how they perceive your brand.

3. Differentiates from Competitors

The legal profession is highly saturated, meaning consumers have many options for legal representation. If potential clients see that others have had a positive experience with your firm, they are more likely to choose you over the competition.

4. Boosts Conversion Rates

Online reviews can drive traffic to your website, and testimonials posted on your site are additional persuasive elements that tell prospective clients they are making the right choice when hiring your firm.

5. Provides Client Insights

Testimonials and reviews can provide valuable scenarios and use cases in which your services were used. This can help potential clients understand how your firm can assist them in similar circumstances.

How to Make Law Firm Client Testimonials and Reviews More Effective

Leveraging testimonials and reviews can be an incredibly effective marketing strategy for law firms. However, there are right and wrong ways to approach client feedback. Here are some ways to make sure your strategy is as effective as possible:

1. Ask for Feedback

Most clients won’t magically offer positive written feedback. Unfortunately, people who are upset can voice their displeasure much quicker. You have to be proactive by expressing your gratitude for their business and letting them know how helpful a testimonial or online review would be for your firm. If they agree, make it easy. Provide a link or simple form for them to complete.

2. Feature Your Target Audience

Many potential customers will look for testimonials to demonstrate your law firm’s success. With this in mind, you should look to collect and post testimonials from clients who match your target audience. These past clients should be relatable and generally have legal issues that are commonly experienced among your firm’s clientele.

3. Respond to All Reviews

This mainly applies to reviews over testimonials — it’s essential that you respond to all online reviews quickly and appropriately. In addition to reading reviews of brands, many consumers also look to see how brands respond to reviews and interact with customers. If you thank past clients for their business and respond appropriately to negative reviews, this can earn you additional business.

4. Ensure They Are Trustworthy

One common problem with testimonials and reviews is that consumers aren’t sure whether or not to trust them. Too many of them are now fake. Whatever you do, don’t fall into the trap of using fake reviews. Always use real client testimonials that can be traced back to actual people if their authenticity ever comes into question.

5. Place Testimonials Everywhere

When you collect some positive testimonials from past clients, use them in as many different marketing channels as possible. Here are a few examples:

• Post them on your website
• Insert them into your blog posts
• Share them on social media
• Include them in written marketing materials
• Use them in paid online legal ads

6. Turn Them Into Videos

People love consuming video content. Another way you can leverage testimonials and reviews is to turn them into videos. Using personal interviews with past clients or written snippets, you can create a collection of short videos that illustrate how people found your law firm, what types of legal issues they needed help resolving, and how your firm’s services have made a difference in their lives.

7. Use Them as Case Studies

Finally, you can also use client testimonials as case studies. After obtaining your client’s permission, of course, you can write up scenarios that closely mirror their experience and positive case outcomes. You can use your client’s own positive words in the case study to talk about your law firm’s personalized service and skilled advocacy.

Get Help Making Testimonials and Reviews Work for Your Law Firm

Creating and maintaining a positive online reputation using testimonials and reviews can be a full-time job. It needs to be an integral part of your legal marketing strategy, but you probably don’t have the time and resources to give it the attention it deserves. We can help. 

At Too Darn Loud Legal Marketing, we understand the intricacies of legal branding and reputation management. Our results-driven digital marketing strategies are designed to help you get found and chosen by your target audience. We can help your law firm create a winning online presence using testimonials, reviews, and more.

Give us a call today at (800) 649-1764 or contact us online to schedule a free initial consultation.