The problem
Buyers choosing a conveyancer read reviews, and a firm with a handful of old reviews looks riskier than one with recent ones, even if its service is better. If a firm completes 35 transactions a month and a stronger review profile brought an assumed 1 extra instruction a month at a $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256 fee, that's $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256 of work a month.
What the AI does
Trustpilot lets businesses invite customers to leave a public review. Its free plan includes 50 automated review invitations a month and one user. After completion the firm invites every client, not only the happy ones, and a named person replies to reviews politely and without client details. The rating can be shown on the firm's website. Nothing in a reply discusses the client's matter.
A worked example
A conveyancing firm in Milton Keynes completes about 35 sales and purchases a month. On completion day each client is added to Trustpilot's invitations, within the free plan's 50 a month, and the practice manager replies to every review each week.
Before
35 completions a month, but clients asked for a review only now and then
After
All of about 35 clients a month invited, with an assumed 1 extra instruction a month at $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256
What it's worth
About $479£360€428A$691C$677 a month in profit, at an assumed 30% margin on $1,596£1,200€1,428A$2,304C$2,256 of extra work from 1 more instruction a month. The free plan covers up to 50 invitations a month, so 35 completions cost nothing; Starter at $158£119€142A$228C$224 a month, paid yearly, is only needed above that. The extra instruction is an assumption; ask new clients where they heard of you.
How to set it up
- Open a free Trustpilot business account and check how invitations are sent on the free plan.
- Add a line to your client care letter saying you will ask for a review after completion, and cover it in your privacy notice.
- Invite every client after completion, whatever happened on the matter. Don't pick only the clients you expect to be pleased.
- Have one named person reply to reviews weekly, politely and without any detail of the client's matter.
- Show your rating on your website alongside your SRA digital badge.
What goes wrong
- Choosing which clients to invite, or offering anything for a review, can break Trustpilot's guidelines and UK consumer protection law on fake and misleading reviews.
- Confidentiality still applies in public. A reply that confirms a client's address, price or problem breaches your duty to them.
- The free plan stops at 50 invitations a month. A busier month means waiting or moving to Starter at $158£119€142A$228C$224 a month on a 12-month contract.
- Bad reviews will come. Reply calmly, take the conversation offline and deal with any complaint through your complaints procedure.