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Blue Ocean Law Group ➲ Independently Ranked as 1 of the Best Law Firms in Sydney [2020-2022] by FirmChecker R.I.P.
This article attempts to salvage Blue Ocean Law Group's hard-earned reputation as being Independently Ranked as 1 of the Best Law Firms in Sydney after the recent collapse of the respected and independent Online Review Platform FirmChecker (together with their website). Consequently, we now need to redirect + explain to our existing + prospective clients why they have not arrived at the Firmchecker website.
Salvaging Blue Ocean Law Group's Online Reputation ➲ FirmChecker R.I.P.
After investing considerable time + money over a number of years to enhance our online reputation and standing via FirmChecker we are left with a blank space where there was once a widget on our website, in addition to invalid links to articles that are no longer searchable via SEO.
Fortunately, in the case of FirmChecker we were provided with enough advance warning they were planning to shut down their website affording us the opportunity to take additional steps to salvage what we could behind the scenes (where the Internet Archive Wayback Machine does not have access).
Over the last few years Blue Ocean Law Group had amassed 26 independently verified positive client reviews and been repeatedly ranked by FirmChecker in their blog article "Best Law Firms in Sydney based on Client Experience [2020-2022] dated March 3, 2022.
Our 26 positive online reviews are no longer accessible, and the all important independent ranking article has been taken down as it was a webpage within the FirmChecker website.
As can be expected with such stressful situations, when an online startup you are using fails, you may end up being the last to find out.
Independent Ranking as one of the Best Law Firms in Sydney ➲ Salvaged!
Below is part of the introduction and the listing for Blue Ocean Law Group which has been extracted from the FirmChecker article using the Internet Archive Wayback Machine:
FirmChecker ➲ Best Law Firms in Sydney Article Introduction
FirmChecker ➲ Listed as 1 of the Best Law Firms in Sydney!
Blue Ocean Law Group's FirmChecker Profile ➲ Salvaged!
Our now defunct Firmchecker Profile
The Gap in the Online Review Market was filled (now wide open again...)
FirmChecker set about to (and in our view achieved) an improved level of the quality of online reviews as well as the verification process to both provide more comprehensive information and to stop dodgy operators from faking positive reviews on their platform. This is an extremely important and valuable service for both prospective clients and professional service firms. FirmChecker also provided professional service firms with an opportunity to use verified positive client feedback as support in their nominations for the prestigious professional services annual Client Choice Awards.
Sample Fake Google Review Supplier Spam Message
Example: Fake Google Review Supplier - Notice no mention of FirmChecker!
Our 26 Lost Google Reviews
Reviews that could have been on Google!
Our 26 FirmChecker reviews might have alternatively been submitted to Google (to FirmChecker's credit, in a later round of improvements it introduced an innovative feature that allowed the review to be posted to both FirmChecker and Google), are now lost unless we are able to reapproach our clients and ask them to repost their review via Google.
Obtaining reviews from clients can be a task in itself, but requesting they provide a review more than once could be a real stretch on the relationship!
One of our 26 FirmChecker reviews that never made it to Google
This is Not the 1st Time and it won't be the Last Online Platform Startup to Sink
This is not the first time this has happened.
The Internet Archive Wayback Machine
By some kind of magic, I am able to piece together the below narrative "after the fact" due to the existence of the Internet Archive Wayback Machine which boasts:
"Explore more than 733 billion web pages saved over time".
Time Invested. Independent Online Reputation Built, then Lost...
I eagerly participated and assisted on both the below online legal platforms (as well as others not mentioned in the interest of keeping this article's length under control).
Throughout the process we gained valuable clients whist improving our law firm's online reputation.
When these platforms sank I was not in a position to salvage anything from our hard work.
Such results are far from ideal.
It cannot be predicted which online legal +/or review platforms will thrive however we cannot afford to miss the opportuntity they afford to connect with new potential clients, provide an independent source of work and repository of positive reviews.
It is the nature of startups that not all will make it. Usually news of the startup sinking comes out of nowhere and is a shock.
What all businesses need to start doing is in the nature of risk mitigation.
We strongly recommend you take proactive measures routinely capturing and archiving any unique performance/awards/articles/profiles/reviews which are displayed on all independent platforms to which your business contributes.
If the platform prospers these images can remain in archive, but if the platform falters at least you have the means to salvage something from your efforts to build your online reputation.
This blog article aims to do exactly that!
Brief It ➲ Last seen 26 April, 2015
I have fond memories of Brief It - an innovative legal platform based in Melbourne, Vic. and dealing with its founder Jeremy Tompkins who had a bold vision of helping clients find the right lawyers and developed a beautiful website made with care [from memory, at the beginning the website stated that it was made with love] to assist clients to connect with the right lawyer to assist with their legal needs. The idea was sound and appears to have reached its peak in early 2015.
With hindsight, the successful implementation of the concept was perhaps a little before its time.
At the time Brief It billed itself as:
"Australia's #1 comparison site for legal services".
Brief It Home Page ➲ There is no more access to client generated feedback and ratings as it was only made available after clients logged in!
LawCorner ➲ Last seen October 3, 2017
Another now defunct lawyer Q&A + lawyer connect website platform that had great promise was LawCorner developed by Kim McFayden, based in Newcastle, NSW.
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