How Can Lawyers Improve Google Ratings?

 Posted on October 21,2025 in Reputation Management

For most law firms today, a client’s first impression happens online. Before a potential client calls your office, they have likely searched your name or firm on Google and seen your star rating. Even one negative review can discourage new business, while strong ratings can provide clients with instant trust. Improving Google ratings is not about manipulation, but rather about building a reliable client-based reputation that reflects your real value.

OVC Lawyer Marketing helps attorneys across the country attract new clients with carefully crafted reputation management services. Call us today to find out how we can help you with your ratings. 

Why Do Google Ratings Matter So Much for Lawyers?

Google reviews influence more than client perception. Strong reviews affect search results. When people look for a "divorce lawyer in Chicago" or "criminal defense attorney near me," Google ranks firms not only by location and website quality, but also by their overall star rating and review activity.

Higher-rated law firms appear more trustworthy and are more likely to receive calls and inquiries. Reviews also provide valuable insight into client satisfaction, showing where your firm excels and where improvements could be made.

What Can Lawyers Do to Improve Google Ratings?

The process begins with excellent client service, but presentation and follow-up matter just as much. Attorneys can take several practical steps to encourage positive engagement:

• Ask for reviews at the right time. Request feedback from satisfied clients soon after resolving their cases, when gratitude is highest and details are fresh. 

• Make it easy. Send clients a direct Google review link by email or text rather than asking them to search manually. At OVC, we help clients put together great marketing materials that make it easy for people to leave reviews using a scannable QR code. 

• Respond professionally. Acknowledge both positive and negative feedback. A thoughtful, measured reply shows professionalism to future readers.

• Stay consistent. Make reputation management part of your regular marketing routine, not a one-time project.

Small, consistent efforts build credibility over time and show genuine client care.

What Should Lawyers Do About Negative Reviews?

Negative feedback is inevitable, even for successful firms. What matters is how you respond. If a client leaves an unfair or false review, don’t panic. Definitely do not get involved in public arguments, no matter how outrageous or false the review may be. Instead, contact a professional marketing team experienced in handling these situations.

At OVC Lawyer Marketing, we help firms with review disputes, takedowns, and moderation. Our specialists can identify whether a review violates Google’s content policy. For example, if it contains confidential information, offensive language, or comes from someone who was never an actual client, we then follow the proper channels to flag or appeal that content.

How Can a Professional Marketing Firm Help with Bad Google Reviews?

While lawyers know the courtroom, digital marketing experts know how search engines and online audiences work. A full-service legal marketing firm can integrate review management into a broader strategy. 

At OVC, we first get involved in monitoring and responding to client feedback. Once we have a better sense of a client’s online state of affairs, we begin managing reputation across multiple platforms (Yelp, Yahoo, Insider Pages, etc). We can advise clients on ethical review requests that comply with state bar guidelines. We build customized SEO campaigns that highlight your firm’s strengths and positive testimonials and optimize your Google Business Profile.

With coordinated support, your Google rating becomes not just a number but part of a cohesive online identity that attracts and retains clients.

Call OVC Lawyer Marketing for a Site Review

Improving your Google ratings begins with understanding how your online presence is performing today. Call 630-635-8000 to schedule a professional site review with OVC Lawyer Marketing. Our team will assess your website, local listings, and reviews to create a customized plan for strengthening your reputation and attracting more clients.