People hire people they know, like and trust. But, suppose you don’t know anyone who can resolve your problem? Today’s answer is client reviews─relying on what others with the same problem think about their problem-solver. If an unknown lawyer has a number of current, positive, 4 or 5 star reviews, the online prospect accepts that client consensus as a stand-in for “know, like and trust.”

According to BrightLocal’s 2020 survey of consumer attitudes toward online reviews,

• 97% read both reviews and the accompanying lawyer responses.

• Positive reviews influence 94% to select that attorney.

• 87% of consumers searching for legal advice check online reviews during their vetting process.

• 73% pay attention only to reviews written in the past month.