Posted on March 30,2016 in Social Media Marketing

If you are like many business owners, you have probably tried various ways of building name recognition and engaging prospective customers. You may have paid for billboards or television ads, or spent time and energy designing printed marketing materials. Many of these “tried and true” advertising efforts often do not deliver the results you expect, especially as more and more consumers have not picked up a physical magazine or newspaper in months and are using digital technology to skip TV commercials. This is precisely why business owners and entrepreneurs are increasingly looking online—and particularly to social media outlets—for new ways to spread the message about their companies. There are many reasons that social media marketing can work for you, but the simplest are often the most important.

You Go to Your Audience

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 Posted on March 24,2016 in Online Videos

We have talked before about the growing popularity of social media sites overall, and, in particular, the connective power of Facebook and its one billion-plus users. Facebook is one of the three most-visited sites in the world and, depending upon the reporting outlet, typically holds the number three spot in website popularity rankings. Number one is hardly surprising, as Google and its search capabilities generate more traffic than any other site. The second most popular site also makes sense, but may not come immediately to mind if you were asked. The video-sharing site YouTube also boasts more than a billion unique monthly visitors, a clear reflection of a cultural shift toward online video as a communication tool.

A Social Phenomenon

Not all that long ago, individuals, companies, and marketers relied almost exclusively on text and pictures—think roadside billboards and email campaigns. Unless you were willing to invest in television advertising, video played a very small, if any, role in your company's outreach strategies. Today, that is clearly no longer the case.

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 Posted on March 17,2016 in Criminal Law

A few weeks ago, we talked about an announcement by Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan regarding the legality of online fantasy sports in the state. As sports fans who are proud to call Illinois home, the Attorney General’s determination that Illinois residents cannot participate in pay-to-play fantasy sports without breaking the law has directly impacted many of us at OVC, INC., along with millions of others around the state. Our first post on the subject mentioned that two major players in the online fantasy sports industry had filed suit against the Attorney General, claiming that her interpretation of the state’s gambling laws is incorrect and that the games should be officially declared legal. While similar battles are underway in other states, including New York and, most recently, Texas, the cases in Illinois are on the fast track to the courtroom, which at least one trial expected to begin in Cook County by mid-summer.

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 Posted on March 10,2016 in Illinois State Bar Association

In October, David B. Sosin announced his candidacy for the position of 2016 Third Vice President of the Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA). He has served the region in his private commercial practice for more than four decades, and currently serves as Treasurer of the ISBA, as well as on the ISBA Board of Governors.

David received a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Illinois, and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the Northwestern University School of Law in 1972. He is the founding partner at Sosin, Arnold & Schoenbeck, Ltd., a private commercial law firm that has been serving clients in the Chicago region for over 43 years. In addition to his private practice, David has served previously as the President of both the Illinois Bar Foundation and the Southwest Bar Association, and is a member of the Board of Directors of the ISBA Mutual Insurance Company. He is an ISBA Board of Governors Award Winner, and was named a Laureate in 2011, the highest honor available to practicing attorneys. David also earned the David Hilliard Award for Committee Service from the Chicago Bar Association.

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 Posted on February 25,2016 in Content Marketing

As you look to expand your online visibility, there are virtually unlimited resources and “how-to” guides suggesting techniques and strategies you should be implementing immediately. Whether you find them online, in print, or elsewhere, when taken altogether, it can be extremely difficult to separate the helpful information from the not-so-helpful. There are so many options and choices to be made when developing or adding to your marketing and search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, it can be tempting to try them all. However, there are a few mistakes you may be making right now that are costing you money while providing relatively little return on your investment.

Not Knowing What You Need

You may have a pretty basic understanding that you want for your company and your website: improved search rankings, increased web traffic, and, therefore, more visitors that can be converted into new clients. But what tools do you need to make that happen? If you are already spending time and money on software, programs, or services without knowing how they are equipped to help you meet your objectives, you risk wasting that investment. Using the right tools, including blogs, videos, and analytical programs is crucial to meeting your marketing goals.

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 Posted on February 24,2016 in OVC Lawyer Marketing

OVC, INC. Lawyer Marketing is pleased to announce the opening of its new office in Chicago's west suburbs. The online lawyer marketing company’s new office is located at 5235 Thatcher Rd., Downers Grove, IL 60515. The Downers Grove office is conveniently located just one block east of the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355).

"Our new location has given us the opportunity to not only expand and improve our office space, but to continue to grow our talented team as well. These positive strides we have taken over the past few months have greatly benefited our clients and team alike," says OVC, INC. President, Greg Wildman.

Since 1999, OVC, INC. has launched over 500 websites for attorneys nationwide. The company is dedicated to developing websites, which not only catch the eye, but also meet and succeed their client’s business objectives. The OVC team achieves this by focusing on the two most important elements of an effective website: the design and content.

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 Posted on February 18,2016 in Social Media

This past weekend, comic book fans were finally rewarded for their patience as one of Marvel Comics’ most popular antiheroes arrived in theaters across the country and around the world. Deadpool opened on February 12 and has already broken records, enjoying the largest opening for an R-rated movie ever, surging past $150 million in its first weekend—not bad for a movie with a production budget of less than $60 million. Industry experts contribute much of the film’s success to the actors, writers, fight choreography, and cinematography, of course. Many, though, believe the bulk of the credit belongs to unique, pervasive, and borderline offensive marketing strategies that placed Deadpool at the forefront of public consciousness—thanks in large part to social media—long before the movie was ever ready for release. 

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 Posted on February 11,2016 in Legal Directories

Building a strong professional image takes years, if not decades, of tireless work and meticulous attention to detail. While you cannot control every aspect of the industry in which you work or the customer base that you serve, you do have authority over how and where your name and identity may be used, especially as it relates to commercial gain. When another company benefits financially from your professional identity without your permission, there is certainly cause for concern.

Online Directory Misuse?

This is exactly what has led a Chicago attorney to file a class action lawsuit against Avvo, an Internet legal directory that allows would-be clients to search for lawyers by geographic and practice areas. According to reports, the lawsuit attacks the Seattle-based company on the grounds that it creates profit by using the professional information of attorneys and law firms without their consent as a method of enticing them to pay for higher visibility and rankings. The attorney in question has never been a paying customer of Avvo, but has been listed on the site for some time, as the site utilizes public records, including bar admissions and other court and regulatory documents to build listings for as many attorneys as possible in a given area.

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 Posted on February 04,2016 in Social Media Marketing

In 1967, an American social psychologist named Stanley Milgram conducted an experiment that tracked chains of acquaintances between people in the United States. Through a series of packages sent by mail, Milgram looked to test how closely connected we are with our fellow humans, even those living halfway across the country. The study became known as the “small world experiment,” and among Milgram’s test subjects, he found a median of five people between any two selected individuals, or as it has been referred to in pop culture and Hollywood trivia games, “six degrees of separation.”

Over the years, even while his conclusion has gained traction among average people, the scientific community has challenged its validity and the reliability of his experiment. Regardless of the conclusion’s veracity, the small world of Milgram’s theory has become even smaller with the introduction of the internet and social media. This is especially notable today, as the social media giant Facebook celebrates its 12th birthday.

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 Posted on January 29,2016 in Legal Marketing

Since 2008, OVC, INC. Lawyer Marketing has helped many attorneys and law firms grow their practices.  The progress we have witnessed can be measured in several ways including increased revenue, the quantity of attorneys on staff, and the number of office locations for these successful clients.

As an online marketing firm, our first line of business focuses on options such as websites, blogs and content, Search Engine Optimization, social media, and legal directory partnerships. However, successful lawyers also participate in activities and investments beyond what OVC offers. Included here are other suggestions we highly recommend based on what we have seen time and time again from successful attorney clients.  In fact, the most important takeaway from these tips includes what do not offer in our product line, but without exception, is the number one factor required to grow a prosperous law firm.  

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