5 Questions to Get the Best Reviews

So I started watching Season 4 of Stranger Things (I know, I know, I am WAY late to the party...)

And I have to be honest, I made sure to watch the recap before the season started, and for a solid 5 minutes, I doubted that I had watched season 3 of the show...I cannot believe how much I had forgotten!
 

If you're like me (aka a normal human being), last week we went over WHO to ask for a review and WHEN to do it.  Click here for Part 1
 

So today for the second part of our deep dive into reviews: we are going into HOW to ask and WHAT to do with it.

How to ask for reviews

1. Make it EASY (as EASY as possible)!

Send them the DIRECT review link for google - check out this video for what I mean.

Basically, at the end of this, you get a code, ours is LegalEase Marketing Google My Business

Click that link above and watch what happens - you go RIGHT to the review spot.

You don't have to click on my GMB, click the review tab, find the leave a review button...no you are right there.

I don't think there is a way to make this easier (because then you run afoul of google's rules)

2. TEXT it to them

One of the best things about smartphones is that you can write and send a review within moments... Kidding. But it's still a nifty feature that we sometimes take for granted.  Every year more and more searches take place on phones, people spend more time on their phones, etc

So ask for reviews through their phone (and bonus points, this is SUPER easy to automate)
 

3. F/u 

No, don't say that to those who don't leave reviews... (bad joke I know).

But so, follow up.  People truly have the best of intentions and then stuff happens and they forget, so finds a few times to follow up, maybe not every day for a year.  But maybe today, next week, the following month, and in 3 months...something easy, you don't know if you don't ask (a few times).

4. QR code

This is a more recent popular method, no one had a better COVID reclamation than the QR Code.  And literally this week, I got into a very funny argument on a foodfie group on Facebook about boomers hating the QR code or not, but regardless...restaurants have taught us (or retaught us to use this).

Heck, we even had the super bowl commercial with the QR code. And we've even seen some sports teams move to QR codes on their own jerseys (I think it's dumb even as a UCF Knights Fan)

Read it here.  But a QR code is an easy, quick, and unique way to get a review. 

5. Custom URL

Customizing a URL to give your client a shortcut to that review page is another way to ask for a review. Remove the navigating and the camera with the QR code. Just send them that customized URL that you can ALSO track.

For example, I own ratejordan.com, which will ALSO go to our direct google link.

How to get better reviews

Let's be honest, I would rather have them JUST leave 5 stars than not do anything...BUT I would rather hear a REALLY nice rundown of what to expect than just the 5 stars.

And (especially for criminal defense lawyers...your clients probably don't WANT to share a ton about it)

You probably shouldn't be expecting anything like, "I murdered my neighbor because he looked at my alligator funny, and then Florida Man Firm was able to get me straight probation!  And I ain't showing up for that shit anyway... Best lawyer I have had through ALL of my (many) cases!!!!

So how do you help get clients to write BETTER reviews:

Think about these 5 Questions from Donald Miller and reflect on the actual impact your work is making on clients. Give them these sample questions:

1. What was your biggest challenge before hiring LegalEase Marketing?

2. How did that challenge make you feel?

3. What changed after hiring us?

4. What specific results can you share?

5. What would you say to somebody on the fence about working with us?

Boom!

What to do with reviews
 

HIGHLIGHT THEM!!!

Don't just let them sit in Google.

1. Put them on your website. 

People want to see the awesome reviews on your website. They want to know they're in good hands before scheduling a consultation.  (BEST PRACTICE is probably to do a video testimonial that they can watch...but if we don't have that, some reviews will suffice) (pro-tip - not ALL of your reviews - you know who you are)

2. Share them on social media. 

Brag on social media (ideally a humble brag...but still). Create a graphic, or at the very least, just take a simple screenshot.  Some state bars have some specific rules on this, so make sure you follow them.  

I am 99% sure this isn't violating attorney-client privilege because you're sharing that which they ALREADY shared publically (but I am leaving open the fact that your bar might be stupid).

3. Put them into your f/u drips

Remember how we started this last week?  It was about restaurants and their reviews.  So when you have to choose dinner, you can find a place with a lot of good reviews.

Well, when clients are considering hiring you, pull your 2-3 BEST reviews, and work those into your email drip to convince them to hire you.

Example:

Still on the fence about which firm is the best fit for you?  Hear what some recent clients had to say about us!

Joyce: Put Joyce's review here

Mike: Put Mike's review here

Eleven: Put Eleven's review here

If you want the same amazing experience that Joyce, Mike, and Eleven had, hire us today!

Voila!
 

Best, best, BEST practice would be to segment your reviews, so they make the MOST sense in the follow-ups.  Basically, if you do personal injury and family law, when you follow up with PI clients, use the PI-related reviews versus the family law ones.
 

And if you can get EVEN more specific (maybe it's car accident reviews v. slip and fall reviews v. theme park accidents), then you can REALLY nail this.
 

4. Put them into other marketing materials

Put that great review onto a billboard.  Get it printed on your mailers, etc.

Anywhere else?  Where else have you highlighted reviews that's been effective?

Until next week my friends!  May you not have to worry about the local basketball team trying to beat you up while ALSO stopping another demon from destroying the world.

And, look, if you want to learn how it feels to leave a review for a worthwhile company - and I've helped you with the info I share...click one of the links above and let us be your guinea pig.  ;)

Until Next Friday,

Jordan Ostroff

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