5 Benefits of Google My Business For Law Firms

Why Should You Set-Up A Google My Business Account For Lawyer SEO?

Google My Business (GMB) is an easy way to show up in local listings. The listing includes your law firm's name, contact information, links to your website, and client reviews. Not to mention, it's also free. If you're not convinced yet, here's a list of reasons why a GMB profile is great for Law Firm Marketing.

1. Appear On Local Search Results

While it's good to rank high in the global searches, Local SEO can be equally crucial for traffic, brand awareness, and conversions. Search engines use local long-tail keywords, so you show up whenever someone searches for lawyers in your locale.

2. Be Visible To Your Target Market

One of the main advantages of Lawyer SEO is it allows you to be found by people who are already looking for law-related content and services. Local SEO takes a step further by showing your searches to people who are already in your area.

Remember: As a law firm, most of your clients will come from the state where you got your license from. Local SEO allows you to target the market that's more likely to hire you for legal assistance.

3. Optimize For Voice Search

Speaking of Local SEO, optimizing for it also helps make your law firm discoverable to users on Voice Search.

Using virtual assistants, people can use keywords like "lawyers near me" and "attorneys in my area" and get local results of law firm listings in their local.

4. Get Reviews

Searchers are continuously looking for social proof. After all, just because a law firm has a website, that doesn't mean they exist. When your listing has reviews, it's proof that your law firm exists.

Aside from that, reviews are considered to be important ranking factors for Local SEO.

5. Boost Your Credibility

As with any online purchase and transaction, people want to make sure that a law firm is legitimate. Again, they want to make sure your law firm exists, actively operates, and knows what they're talking about.

Remember: If a client tries to look your office up on Google Maps and doesn't find anything, they might suspect your credibility.

So make sure they see you along with other firms. You can also add photos and allow them to set appointments directly from Google to maximize the advantages you can get from Google My Business listings.

How To Set Up A Google My Business Profile

Luckily, setting up your business on Google My Business is a short and painless process. With all the Lawyer SEO benefits you can gain from having a profile, it'll be worth taking a little bit of your time to get your listing up on GMB.

Here's a step-by-step process:

Step 1: Go To "Create Page"

Check the Google My Business 'create.' If your business isn't listed, you can either use the link to "add your business to Google" or click the pop-up that should now appear.

Remember: Sometimes, Google will already have listed your law firm and office address on GMB and Google Maps. If that's the case, you only need to claim the listing instead of creating a new one. (See the next section for the steps on how to claim listings)

Step 2: Enter Law Firm Name

Use your law firm's official name. This means no keywords and adages that might confuse both the algorithm and the users looking you up.

Step 3: Enter The Right Category

Now you must choose the main category that best describes your law firm. GMB will give you several options, but choose the one that best suits you.

If you're worried about missing a category, remember that you can always add more later.

Step 4: Add Location

Please enter your complete address. Add new lines if you need to, and be very specific about the building numbers, floor levels, etc.

Remember: You'll be catering to people who will set appointments or go to your physical office directly. So make sure your clients know where to go, and it's easy for them to find you. GMB also allows you to include a street view from Google Maps.

Step 5: Enter Your Contact Information

Next, add your website and contact numbers. Remember to keep all your contact information consistent throughout your online presence. Hence, your contact numbers on GMB have to be the same ones on your website and social media.

Step 6: Subscribe To Updates And Recommendations

You get Google alerts and recommendations, but this is all up to you.

Remember: While the decision's up to you, regularly getting updates to see how you're doing and suggestions on what else you can do can help you plan your next Lawyer SEO move.

Step 7: Verification

You have two options for validating your listing: an automated phone call or a postcard mailed to your address.

Remember: A postcard can take up to four days to arrive. So a phone call is more convenient for most people.

After verification, you now have access to your GMB dashboard. This is where you can complete it by adding opening hours, photos, a logo, a summary, and more.

Claiming A Law Firm In Google My Business Listing

If your law firm is already on Google Maps—but you don't have a Google My Business account—you can claim it. Here's how:

Step 1: Find Your Office Location On Google Maps

When you're on Google Maps, type in the name of your law firm.

Step 2: Claim The Listing

There's a button that reads "claim this business". After clicking on it, you'll be given the option to manage the listing.

LawyerLeadMachine Can Help You With Law Firm SEO

Lawyer SEO incorporates on-page and off-page strategies that help you get traffic and conversions. Google My Business, in particular, can target nearby searchers and boost your local visibility. When you're on Google Maps, type in the name of your law firm.

To get you started on Local SEO, review your options here.