Posted on May 14,2014 in AdWords

For many in the legal industry, Google remains a constant in search engine marketing. You may rely on Adwords, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Google+ just to name a few methods, but is Google’s privacy policy in everyone’s best interest?

According the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP), technology gurus have familiarized themselves with Google's privacy policy revision, effective March 1, 2012. Perhaps we may ask, as a technological layman, what does it mean for legal marketing efforts?

Google consolidated over 70 individual privacy policies, covering separate services available to publishing on the Internet. It now blankets a one-size-fits-all privacy policy for Google users. It allows Google to “data mine” a user's Internet activity across the Google playing field instead of through specific service options. This policy has sparked controversy and has even been labeled as possibly illegal according to an article in The Huffington Post. So what exactly is the bone of contention for Google users?

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on May 08,2014 in Search Engine Marketing

As Bob Dylan once sang, "The times they are a changin’." Attorneys view their social media marketing and Public Relations (PR) campaigns differently as Google redefines its search engine optimization (SEO) algorithms.

According to Search Engine Land, with the release of Google's Hummingbird update, page ranking is no longer the preferred method of boosting website visibility. Hummingbird provides the end-user with quality not quantity of search results relying less on key words, internal links and content rankings.

So how should the legal community approach this new turn of events?

As we previously discussed in our article, "Social Media Marketing Now Gracing the Legal Industry's Welcome Mat," legal firms are now realizing the benefits of hiring an internal media specialist or for the smaller or solo attorney, a qualified online marketing firm to incorporate a PR viewpoint into social media campaigns. With Google’s game changing algorithm following suit would be advantageous for some of the reasons stated below:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 29,2014 in Search Engine Marketing

You have become a master of maintaining and monitoring your online marketing program. As a monthly practice you Google your firm to ensure that all elements of your well-oiled Search Engine Optimization (SEO) machine are functioning on all cylinders. For months this routine practice has been glitch free, but today Google Places for Business has made a slight detour, driving you to unfamiliar territory.

Surprisingly you detect an additional listing now representative of your firm containing an incorrect address and an unrecognizable telephone number. To make matters even worse, the phantom listing has now pulled rank over your original listing.

A bit stunned, you realize that this non-existent firm location is also being picked up directory listings, ultimately driving all clients and even worse, all prospective clients to an internet impostor. So how do you guide Google and your SEO program back on track? If possible, block off your schedule for the afternoon and map out the following:

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 18,2014 in OVC Lawyer Marketing

Social media marketing remains a hot topic. And as a result, attorneys are turning up the heat, especially in their own backyards, by cultivating prospective clients through the use of Local Search Optimization.

The leader in Internet magic, Google now provides businesses with the ability to customize Search Engine Optimization, the process of improving the volume of local website traffic by assigning keywords to achieve a higher ranking on the Internet marketplace and eliminating the need to key in specific geographical locations.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on April 08,2014 in Legal Marketing

Just when you thought you had it covered, your colleague brings up the benefits of utilizing TLDs, or Top Level Domains. As the water cooler conversation continues you point out that you update your status on Facebook on a daily basis, you ensure that your LinkedIn profile is at its utmost professional best and your fingers fly furiously through informative micro-blogging tweets.

Before heading back to your office to Google "TLD" you leave him impressed with the number of new clients who have graced your door since you began posting relevant blogs and uploading professionally produced videos. Judging by the look on his face, you wonder if you came off a bit rude as you sprint back to your office.

You fire up your tablet and begin the search via Google’s kingdom. And there it is, a top level domain or TLD, the reigning king of all domains supreme. You read on. A TLD is a labeling function of a qualified domain name. It allows for specifying the exact location of a three part domain name with .com rating as the premium option.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 31,2014 in Legal Marketing

Attorneys cannot afford to lose sight of the fundamental strategies that can often grow their practice. Even though your attorney marketing campaign may be purring like a kitten, revisiting a few suggestions of yesteryear may also prove healthy for your bottom line.

A recent article published by the American Bar Association urges attorneys to turn their best intentions into best practices. These suggestions may trigger a few new ideas for marketing your practice:

1. The 80/20 Rule: Referrals still remain an integral component of any law practice. Eighty percent of new clients are referred by the remaining 20 percent of your current clients. Take the time to personally meet with your clients either in-house or on their turf. By building strong client relationships you will surely increase your referral rate.

   Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 20,2014 in Legal Marketing

Time is of the essence. According to ABC News, Americans spend too much time burning the candle at both ends. We spend more time at the office in sharp contrast to our counterparts: the UK; France; Germany; Norway and quite surprisingly Japan. American workers top the list of least vacation days taken, longer hours, and a rocky road to the promise land of retirement. American attorneys are not exempt.

In a recent article by Paul H. Burton, posted to the American Bar Association, there are five simple steps that can not only increase productivity but add a few extra ticks to the mindful eye of the clock. Burton suggests that implementing these tips can improve time management, break unhealthy work habits and just may get you home by dinnertime.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 12,2014 in Social Media

According to a recent article published by the The Washington Post, legal firms are realizing the benefits of a well rounded social media marketing campaign. So much so that 20 percent of firms now house a full time media specialist. For smaller firms or solo practice attorneys contracting with a online marketing firm solely for attorneys can provide the same benefits as employing an in-house specialist.

This is truly a notable shift for the risk reluctant legal industry who made their arrival slightly behind the restaurant and retail industries. When the latter was fully participating in the expansive spectrum of the social media arena to promote discounts and product lines, the legal industry was reluctantly contemplating if social media was a profitable way to engage prospective clients before they signed off on the social media RSVP.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on March 01,2014 in Legal Marketing

As an tech savvy attorney you have sung the praises of your online marketing efforts. You have tackled social media and your online presence is producing substantial new client ratio results.

Without perhaps publicly admitting it, your favorite technological tool is Twitter. Both personally and professionally you appreciate being able to connect with clients and friends instantaneously. Twitter provides you with the capability of broadcasting pertinent business news all in 140 character or less. Brilliant, but is Twitter flying toward placement on technology's list of endangered species?

Unless you have excused yourself from the internet and refrained from checking your Twitter account, Twitter's stock recently found itself singing an off key? Falling by as much as 18 percent recently, Twitter boasted a meager 3.8 percent in user numbers since the fourth quarter of 2013 and less than enthusiastic engagement by existing users for the same quarter.

Continue Reading ››

 Posted on February 27,2014 in Legal Marketing

"It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that you will do things differently." - Warren Buffett

This prophetic quote coined by American business magnate, investor and philanthropist Warren Buffett should be incorporated into the mission statement of all businesses today. Especially true for the American attorney. With the increase of social media marketing by the legal community, it is quite easy for a disgruntled client to instantaneously tarnish an attorney’s good name in just a few keystrokes.

Protecting your reputation online takes time and effort. Realizing your time constraints, seeking the assistance of an experienced online marketing firm can be the first step to ensuring your reputation remains intact. Before researching your options, it may be beneficial to first fully understand the importance of monitoring your online credibility:

Continue Reading ››