Google My Business & Your Law Firm

If you still haven’t looked at Google’s new business platform, Google My Business, now may be the time. In early June, the search engine/technological giant unveiled a new design and promised it would streamline the way businesses of all sizes approached online marketing. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or a global enterprise, Google My Business promises to connect you directly with prospects and clients, whether they’re looking for you on Search, Maps or Google+.

Manage Your Law Firm’s Online Presence

Google recognized coordinating all the dynamics of its many separate platforms – Google+, Google+ Local, YouTube, AdWords, etc. – required a rather large time commitment. To further complicate things, whenever a firm updated some aspect of one account, they were forced to update it separately across the board. The new interface addresses that redundancy, now streamlining all activity within a suite of tools that offers a single dashboard for law firms to manage their presence across all Google properties.

• Add your verified business information to Google Maps. Make it easy for your prospects to find you by including directions to your office, along with your contact information and even ratings and reviews of your business.
• Post content, images and videos on Google+. Videos and images are a great way to engage with your clients and prospects. If you’ve given a speech to a regional conference of elder law attorneys or have been named Lawyer of the Year, why not share the video with clients and would-be clients? Don’t forget the infographs, e-books, white papers and newsletters – these are all crucial for building brand awareness and confidence in clients. They look incredible in Google My Business’s glossy interface.
• View and respond to client reviews on Google+, as well as other review sites, such as Yelp. These reviews are now easily seen and managed in your Google My Business dashboard.
• Connect face to face with Google Hangouts. Hangout video chat lets you connect with your clients, whether it’s a one-on-one meeting with a home-bound client or a meeting of heirs who are located throughout the country.
• Track engagement and performance on Google+, Analytics, YouTube, and Adwords

If the increased ease of use isn’t enough to entice you to jump on the Google My Business bandwagon, the fact that it’s free just might. Existing Google Places and Google+ Pages users have already been automatically upgraded to Google My Business. If you don’t have an existing account, it’s easy to get started. Just visit Google My Business, click on “Get on Google” and the wizard will walk you through the process.

Is Google My Business the Cure-All?

According to Google, last year their search and advertising tools helped provide $111 billion of economic activity for more than 1.5 million businesses across the U.S. Those businesses invested the time and resources to learn and use Google tools in order to find new customers, connect with existing ones and grow their businesses.

Google My Business has certainly made it easier to manage your online presence across all of its platforms. The interface itself is inviting and easy to navigate. Potential issues are easy to find and address, such as a less than ideal review. Connecting to your clients and prospects has been made easier than ever. However, success usually comes down to the same thing: the commitment of the firm to manage its account.

Do you have a dedicated staff member in your firm who’s responsible for managing your online presence? Is your firm taking advantage of all of the free tools that Google has to offer?

Rita Chaires
SEO and Social Media Manager
American Academy of Estate Planning Attorneys, Inc.
9444 Balboa Avenue, Suite 300
San Diego, California 92123
Phone: (800) 846-1555
www.aaepa.com