By now, our guess is that you have heard of Google Screened, or at the very least have seen it in action when performing search results for attorneys.
What is Google Screened?
Google Screened is a verification program offered through Google that allows service providers to prove their identity and qualifications to potential customers. This program verifies the business information, licensing, insurance, and background of different kinds of service providers. Once a service provider has been screened and approved, they are able to display a “Google Screened” badge on their Google My Business listing and other marketing materials, which can help increase trust and credibility with potential customers. The program is currently aimed at service-based businesses, such as home contractors, landscapers, and of course attorneys.
How does Google Screened benefit attorneys?
Google Screened can benefit attorneys in several ways:
- Increased trust and credibility: The Google Screened badge provides a visible indication of a lawyer’s qualifications and can help build trust with potential clients. With the amount of scams permeating the internet, it is essential that your law firm builds trust online.
- Improved search visibility: Verified service providers are more likely to appear in search results, and the Google Screened badge can help them stand out from competitors.
- Access to new clients: By appearing in Google search results and on Google Maps, lawyers can reach new potential clients who are actively searching for legal services in their area.
- Validation of professional qualifications: The verification process required to become Google Screened requires lawyers to provide proof of their professional qualifications, such as their bar license, insurance, and business information. This process can help validate a lawyer’s expertise and professionalism.
How much does Google Screened cost?
At the time of this writing, in order to receive your verification badge for your law firm, it is a cost of $50 per month ($600 annually).
Google Screened is not a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising program. Instead, it is a verification program that allows including lawyers, to prove their identity, qualifications, and expertise to potential clients.
Google Screened does not involve bidding on keywords or paying for clicks, but rather, it involves paying a one-time or recurring fee for the verification process and the display of the Google Screened badge on the business’s Google My Business listing and other marketing materials.
It’s important to note that while Google Screened is not a PPC program, lawyers can still use pay-per-click advertising, such as Google Ads, to reach potential clients and drive traffic to their website. However, the cost of pay-per-click advertising will depend on a variety of factors, such as the keywords being targeted, the competition for those keywords, and the budget allocated for advertising.
Google Screened can be considered a cost-per-acquisition (CPA) program, rather than a pay-per-click (PPC) program. In a CPA model, the business pays a fee only when a desired action, such as a sale or a new client acquisition, is achieved.
With Google Screened, the business pays a fee to participate in the verification program and display the Google Screened badge on their marketing materials. The goal of this fee is to help the business attract new clients and ultimately increase their revenue.
It’s important to note that while the fee for Google Screened can be considered a CPA, the actual cost will depend on the specific terms and conditions of the program, as well as the success of the business in attracting new clients. To determine the specific cost-per-acquisition for a law firm using Google Screened, it would be necessary to track the revenue generated from new clients acquired through the program and divide it by the cost of the verification fee.
Overall, being Google Screened can help lawyers build trust with potential clients and reach new audiences through increased visibility on Google. However, it is important to note that being Google Screened is only one part of a comprehensive marketing strategy, and lawyers may also want to consider other methods of advertising their firm, such as content marketing, networking, and referral marketing.
