Google’s Local Services Ads, which are both effective and economical for generating leads for specific types of law practices, can now be accessed directly within Clio Grow. This follows an integration by law practice management company, Clio, with Google’s Local Services Ads. In contrast to typical pay-per-click ads, local services ads appear at the top of Google’s results for relevant searches and firms are only billed if the potential client either makes a call or communicates through the ad. Read more here.
The integration permits a law firm to not only sign up for a Local Services Ads account but also manage the account, initiate and operate ad campaigns and assess campaign performance, all from within Clio Grow. This move, according to Clio, makes it the only law practice management software with an in-built digital advertising feature.
Due to Google’s specific prerequisite for the service, this offering is currently available only for law firms in the U.S. specialized in areas such as bankruptcy, business, contracts, criminal, disability and several others. Before signing up for Local Services Ads, a firm must have a Google Business Profile and at least one review relevant to its area of practice, while personal injury firms must have at least five reviews.
The features of Local Services Ads include a charge-per-lead model, ad spending limits, top visibility in Google’s search results that match the law firm’s profile, automatic conversion of leads into potential clients in Clio Grow, and the ability to manage ad campaigns directly in a Clio Grow dashboard. Firms can also apply for the Google Screened Badge to inspire customer confidence in their legitimacy. The estimated cost for these features can be found here.
Clio’s founder and CEO, Jack Newton, believes in the growing relevance of a firm’s digital presence, stating that more than half of all clients discover a lawyer through online avenues. “Working with Google to embed the management of Local Services Ads into Clio is a significant help to lawyers, allowing them to navigate a competitive advertising strategy that’s simple, affordable, and effective,” says Newton.