SEO comes in a variety of forms, one of the most well-known is with keywords and ads, but your consultancy firm should also pay attention to online reviews too.

People will want to know that you are a consultancy firm that they can trust and that you have plenty of positive online reviews from happy clients. It really all comes down to social proof. If people are reviewing and recommending you then people researching you will feel more confident about you, your consulting firm and what you can do for them,

So what does this mean for you? Wherever possible you need to ask for online reviews for the work that you have done. I would encourage everyone on Google My Business to ask for reviews this way.

Why do clients care about your online reviews?

It seems that in the modern world, clients are becoming even harder to please, more and more people want to know that they will receive the best service before they will even contemplate using you. Being able to read the review before making a purchase decision will hopefully help instigate a decision.

A study completed in 2016 by BrightLocal showed that as many as 91% of possible clients looked at the review of services before they made a purchase, and then 84% of consumers made their choice based on the reviews that they have read.

This is because client reviews showcase your reputation, professionalism and above all else that you provide a great level of service. You can’t underestimate the importance of an online review for your business and how quickly it can sell your consulting services without you really having to do anything.

What impact do online reviews have on your SEO?

More than just showing that you can be trusted in what you offer, having plenty of reviews of your business online will give a good boost to your ranking factors. This is all thanks to the direct link that Google Business reviews have when creating those search rankings.

If you’re not sure what SEO is, take a look at my blog on how to rock your SEO.

When should you ask for an online review?

Consulting firms that do not take advantage of local reviews are very likely to fall behind others that do pay attention to their local SEO.

This means that a key part of your online marketing strategy should focus on asking your clients for reviews. I would suggest asking on the completion of a project, or once they have bought a service but only if it’s appropriate. You may want to think about sending an automated email out to your clients asking them for a review with a link to where they can review. Make their lives as easy as possible.

Don’t forget that once you have that online review you can add it to your consulting firm’s website, ask them to paste it as a recommendation on LinkedIn as well as create a social media post out of it. If you get a review make sure that you shout about it and get it in as many places as humanly possible!

Take a look at some of my marketing services that I can help your firm with

Outsourced Marketing Management

Marketing Reviews and Audits

Need help?

If you would like help with your marketing then bringing on a marketing consultant with a fresh pair of eyes can make all the difference. I work with B2B businesses and professional service firms in London, Kent, UK, and Europe as well as specialising as a Legal Marketing Consultant. Please get in touch or book a free 30-minute consultation.