Neglecting to write and submit press releases about your law firm is a great way to miss out on a perfect opportunity. However, you don’t want to submit just any press release, just like you don’t want to put just any content on your website. This is especially true since relevant content is essential in helping a press release get noticed by the search engines, and the same information can only be valid so many times. Here are a few tips to help you get started:

• Services - When it comes to submitting press releases on the Internet, some services are free and others require payment. It’s worth the time to look into what you’re willing to pay for in relation to what will be provided and try out a few sites to see which press release service works best for you.


• Topics - When writing a press release, keep in mind that you are announcing something newsworthy relating to your law firm or individual accomplishments within the area of law that you practice, such as a groundbreaking verdict or settlement, or even a new website.


• Structure - It is also important to consider the organization and layout of your release. Does the title include keywords that are descriptive and pertinent to what your press release addresses? Is the most critical information included in the beginning of the release? Do you have a closing paragraph that provides additional information about your firm?


• Length - Don’t make your press release a novel. It’s important to keep it short and sweet to ensure that the main points get across without getting lost in tangents and elaborate descriptions. A press release should be focused on the recent news of your firm, which is a valuable achievement, so let the words speak for themselves.

In submitting a press release, you are not only providing informative material, you are also building links to your website, blog, and social networks, depending on what type of links you are allowed to include in the release. By gaining more exposure online, you will establish web saturation that will help your press release get attention from various sources. This is a cost-effective way to get more online traffic and provide valuable information about your firm to the public.

You may be asking what this has to do with law firms. Well, the Facebook and eventual Google films may not directly have much to do with the practice of law, but they do represent how mainstream social networking has become over the last few years. Who would have thought five years ago that Hollywood would be making a movie about a website started out for college students? Who would have thought that such a site would eventually eclipse over a million users, then ten million users, then well over one hundred million users? If anything, these films should represent how important social networking has become in our society. For law firms, social networks should represent a means of getting your expertise out to the masses, establishing yourself as an authority on a particular type of law, and indirectly influencing the users whom you interact with to spread your message to their friends, particularly those who may need legal advice.

A sound legal Internet marketing strategy includes not only an eye-popping website, but a website that is properly built as well. Exposure on social networks and blog forums is also necessary to help get your message across, as are proper use of keywords and search engine optimization. If your legal website isn't doing all it can to get its name out there, it might be best to rethink your legal Internet marketing plan. With social networking now a mainstream part of society, it's never been more important to make sure that you have an online presence where Internet users, followers, fans, friends, and connections want to be and can easily find you.

Hopefully, you answered yes to all of those questions. If you didn't though, an effective Internet marketing campaign can correct those issues.

Once you feel as though your site is interesting, you may want to consider adding a "Like Button" to it. What's that? You have no idea what a "Like Button" is? Don't worry; it's pretty easy to explain.

With the huge popularity of social networking sites, attorneys and law firms would be wise to establish a strong social networking presence (in case you're lost on how to do so, don't worry...your legal Internet marketing company should be able to help you out). If you only pick one site to establish yourself on, Facebook should be it. Not only does the site have 500 million users worldwide, but it has essentially cornered the market on social interaction on the Internet, and is often the first place people go when they begin surfing the web.

As of late, a popular part of the Facebook experience involves the site's Like Button. That is, when a Facebook user stumbles across something on the site that they find interesting, or like, that user can choose to "Like" it. The addition of this "Like" will post to the user's Facebook Wall and their Newsfeed, which means that it will also show up on the user's friends' newsfeeds. Ultimately, the Like Button should be viewed as exposure, a chance for users to market your business even if they don't realize that they're doing it.

So, if you have a website that you like, why not add a Like Button to it? It'll not only show up on Facebook, but it'll include a link back to your website, increasing web traffic and the chance that a potential client in need of legal advice will find your site. But remember, unless your site is well designed and worth navigating around in, don't add a Like button just for fun. You don't want Facebook users to click a link to your site, be disappointed, and then mention to their friends how lame your site is. Social networks are, after all, giant forums for recommending and discovering cool new places on the Internet. Unless your site is up to par, you may want to forego the Like Button at this point. Never fear though, because site redesign is just a point and click away from becoming a reality.

Recently, as TMCnet has pointed out, Facebook, as it has done numerous times in the past, purchased a smaller company that it felt did a good job of meeting Internet user needs. Hot Potato, the event sharing site where users could say what they were doing, and be directed to other users who were doing the same thing, is now a part of the Facebook family. As consequence, Facebook has positioned itself even deeper into the foothold of Internet user wants and needs.

For businesses like law firms, Facebook's many business deals should not be disregarded. Every day, the social networking giant is becoming more and more popular, and more and more pertinent in Internet marketing decisions made by law firms and other businesses. At this point and time, it is safe to say that even if you aren't on Facebook, you probably know someone who is. Heck, you probably live with someone who is, and you're related to someone who is. Regardless, it is vital for law firms to establish themselves on social networks, particularly since those networks seem to be where quite a lot of people (500 million to be exact) are currently spending their time while online.

Having a website is certainly step one, but an effective legal Internet marketing campaign is quite expansive, and requires a lot of work and effort to be successful. If you're not spending the time to create your foothold in the world of Facebook, you may find it difficult to compete with your competitors who are.

Similar to how an attorney will not take on just any case, at SLS Consulting, we do not work with everyone who contacts us for help with their website and Internet marketing. Would we like to? Of course. But we owe it to our clients to make sure that we can dedicate the time and energy that is promised, and then some.

If we decide not to help you with your website, it’s nothing personal. Yes, we have to say, “No,” to some prospective clients who call us or send emails. This isn’t because we are mean, and it’s not because we don’t like your law firm. The reason for choosing not to accept a potential client is simple – maintaining ourselves as a boutique legal marketing consulting group. We do all of our work in-house and are not interested in outsourcing the work that our clients send us to do.

Since day one, SLS Consulting has focused on capturing each unique characteristic of an attorney and law firm, and reflecting those genuine qualities through custom websites that produce high rankings on the search engines and high conversion rates. As a successful small business, we enjoy getting to know our clients, which is why we collaborate with a select amount of lawyers.

When we take on a new client, it is something that we give a lot of thought. We look forward to making new connections with attorneys who have something different to offer their clients and who really want to make a difference in people’s lives. If you’d like to learn more about how we can help your business grow, we welcome the opportunity to speak with you.

When developing ways to increase your website conversation rates, one of the first things to think about is how to make your website more appealing to search engines. Doing this will ultimately make your website and your services more appealing to potential clients: they’ll be able to easily find you because you’ll be on the first page. In addition, with a well constructed website, the search engines will include the links to your site that you want visitors to navigate to.

To get the links that you want and to rank for the terms that you want in the search engines, making sure that you have a well crafted sitemap, straightforward navigation and good backlinks on your website is a productive start. However, you can’t neglect the importance of website design and organization in terms of your site being easy to navigate for visitors – and for the search engines.

A legal website also must have informative and updated content with proper keyword use and placement. It’s understandable to think that stuffing as many keywords as possible on your website will make the big difference that you need to get desirable rankings and sitelinks. But this is not how it’s done. There is more to it than that. Keyword stuffing, or the overuse of one or more keyword or keyword phrases, within web page content or meta tags can be considered SPAM in some cases and even result in your website being penalized. And you definitely don’t want that.

Another thing to remember is that you can’t cheat your way to high rankings or sitelinks. Search engines can only be fooled by unethical practices such as “cloaking” and other “black hat” SEO tactics for so long, so keep that in mind when thinking of new ways to improve your legal website rankings.

Hi,

Let me know. Thanks.

Another interesting tactic to gain more clients that seems as though it would rarely, if ever, be successful, is to submit a Contact Form on a website or sending an email stating the following:

When I Googled "lawyer -- --" your website is on page 39.

If you are wondering why your online sales and enquiries are below expectations, this is almost certainly the reason.

How often do you go past page 1 of Google? You’re probably like 93% of the population who don’t bother looking past the first page. Being on page 1 is like having a store on 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive; the easier your site is to find, the more traffic and sales you’ll get from the 600 million people who use Google, Yahoo and Bing every day.

Why choose us to rank you above your competitors?

• Guaranteed page 1 rankings, or we work for FREE


• Proven track record of ranking sites to page 1


• The lowest rates on the market – and NO setup fees

Simply reply “Rank Me!” to this email for a FREE consultation.

One point to highlight regarding the above message is that the term that the company entered into Google and found for the attorney’s website on the 39th page, is not even close to a term that the attorney’s site is meant to rank highly for. The message does not even contain helpful information relevant to their practice.

These messages are so impersonal and inaccurate because the individuals who are sending them submit so many that they don’t even review them to make sure the information is correct! Another interesting factor of these SPAM offers is that some companies and individuals will even “follow-up” with you:

Look forward to hear from you soon

Don’t let “kind regards” or “Dear Sir” easily fool you, and I’m sure that they won’t. While it may be a bit of a nuisance, it isn’t always easy to filter out these online submissions. It comes with the territory when building a legal website that ranks well and makes you a desirable candidate. Talk with your marketing consultant to see if any additional action can be taken to prevent these types of messages from being submitted. Otherwise, it can’t hurt to serve as a reminder of why you aren’t their client to begin with.

Facebook, the world's largest social networking community, has also recently ventured into the "Places" game, launching its own "Facebook Places" feature. At this point though, Facebook Places is completely different from Google Places. That is, Facebook Places is little more than a check-in service, meaning that users can access the function to tell their friends where they are at any given moment. However, if history is any indication, Facebook may eventually expand this feature, possibly to include information about specific locations that users have checked-in at. Information, such as business names, addresses, phones numbers, business hours, may soon become a part of the Facebook Places experience. Sound familiar? Sound kind of like Facebook may be positioning itself for a venture into a more Google-Places-centric endeavor? Only time will tell, but all business owners should undoubtedly keep an eye on Facebook Places for new developments in the near future.

For law firms, having a presence on the Internet, any presence at all, is a step in the right direction. However, implementing an effective legal Internet strategy could not only translate into more clients, but it could help establish you or your firm as an authority figure on the particular type of law you specialize in. Remember, the Internet is not only a source of social entertainment, but is also considered the ideal place to acquire information and exchange ideas. With a dynamic website, a strong presence on social networks, and a legal Internet marketing campaign that helps show who you are rather than just tell everyone, you may soon find yourself not only getting more clients, but getting client referrals from friends of friends whose recommendation came at the heels of you establishing yourself as an authority.

Some attorneys may be doubtful as to whether starting a blog is worth the time. Having a legal blog is an opportunity to express your outlook on several topics, including new legislation within your state or the value of being involved with your community. Another important thing to remember is that a blog provides you with something that your website does not. A blog is a place where discussion can develop about topics relating to your area(s) of practice within your community, encouraging others to participate by sharing their own opinions, even if in disagreement. While it is beneficial to add new content to your website to keep visitors informed, it is not a forum where visitors can include their input or personal experiences. And isn’t this what you want to hear?

A blog is not the be-all end-all for your online presence, but it definitely plays a role. While you may not be musing over your Internet marketing plan or blog while taking to the beach or enjoying time with your family during other popular summer activities, taking a break from the hubbub should leave you rested and with a clear mind for new ideas to manifest. There’s also no better time to reflect than when you’re able to step away from your daily routine. For those still burning away at the midnight oil, take a few moments to stop what you’re doing and give yourself the time to get away. But not for too long! Your blog awaits!

For law firms hoping to establish their presence on the Internet, Twitter is a good place to start. It's easy to set up, and can be effectively used in your firm's Internet marketing campaign if it is utilized properly. For starters, it's important to remember that your Twitter account should not be considered the same thing as your web page. While your web page is an information source about the particular area of law that your practice, your Twitter page should be a platform where you display your legal knowledge and experience in a more personalized way. Understand?

Well, in case you don't, the most important thing to remember is this: a website is for your business, while your Twitter account is for your customers/potential clients. Twitter is a platform that is inherently operated and controlled by users. Businesses such as law firms should establish a presence there, but not expect to present a sales pitch that is going to be well received. Users control the information that is spread across the Twitterverse, not businesses.

You should never assume that just because a person follows you on Twitter that he or she will become a client. In fact, your end goal using Twitter isn't to gain customers, but to gain listeners: people who are interested in the topics you Tweet about, and therefore want to share those Tweets with other Twitter users. So remember, don't use sales pitches. Instead, tweet about your area of law, showing that you're a trusted authority on the subject, and simply enjoy being a part of a growing social network where, indirectly, you may eventually gain a follower or two who becomes a client someday.

And also remember that all social networking roads should lead back to your primary branding source, otherwise known as your website. That's a whole different topic for another time though. Good luck.

As anyone familiar with search engine optimization (SEO) knows, Google recognizes relevant and properly placed keywords on a site. But this is not all. Google looks for several different factors when “indexing” a website, or making a website show up in search results for specific keyword phrases. With Google Caffeine, Google can index a large amount of content in a shorter amount of time than ever before. Considering how fast-paced our society is, which is reflected in the quick and efficient results we expect when entering a search, Google has created a way to provide us with even more updated material in a matter of seconds.

With Google Caffeine comes an emphasis on adding new content and design to your law firm’s website, building quality incoming links, keeping blog posts current, properly utilizing social media, and making sure that keyword positioning is done properly in addition to several other SEO tactics. Google Caffeine’s quick indexing also makes having a website with sufficient loading time extremely important.

Don’t let Google Caffeine give you the jitters – while it’s valuable to act fast in order to keep up with your competition and the ever-changing ways of the Internet, your actions must be deliberate and not rushed. Don’t neglect quality to get the job done faster. This does not create results that last for your law firm’s web presence. It is important to take your time, while being efficient, with the optimization, design, and structure of your legal website.

In creating a website dedicated solely to Arava, the PA products liability attorneys at Anapol Schwartz hope to assist Arava injury victims and their families in better understanding the extent of potential side effects and possible litigation. The drug maker of Arava, Sanofi-Aventis, has been required to add a black box warning after the FDA reviewed the drug’s side effects in which 14 fatalities and at least 49 cases of serious liver damage were linked to Arava. The pharmaceutical product was approved in 1998 by the FDA to be used by patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis.

The new website also addresses Arava liver failure and other serious side effects due to Arava use such as jaundice, joint disorder, chest pain, brain disease (encephalopathy), blood clotting (coagulopathy), joint disorders, peeling or blistering skin, blistering on the inside of eyelids, nose or mouth, and other afflictions.

Legal websites that focus on such specific information, especially when it comes to a potentially dangerous prescription drug, do a great service to visitors, who are typically individuals hoping to obtain more than just a piece of valuable data – they want the full story. Creating a website for your law firm with detailed, relevant, informative, and interesting content is one of many important steps toward getting noticed by search engines and helping those searching for answers to difficult questions.

For any law firm looking to utilize social media platforms in its marketing campaign, the most important thing to remember is that you're not going to create a profile only to send friend requests to a bunch of people you don't actually know, and influence those new "friends" to retain your services. That's simply just not how it works. What your end goal should be, however, is getting your message out there, conveying your law firm as an authority on the type of law that it practices, and gaining trust amongst "friends" and others who stumble across your profile.

For Facebook, creating and maintaining a firm "fan" page is a good way to get your message across, as well as display a variety of information about your firm and its attorneys. This process, at least the creation portion of it, sounds fairly easy, and actually is for the most part. However, like all business matters, if you want a strong return on the time you've invested in your page, you have to put in a significant amount of effort. You can't simply create a page, leave it alone, and expect it to attract fans and potential friends. You wouldn't treat your website that way, so why should you treat your social networking like that?

Ultimately, any strong Internet marketing campaign is going to include time and effort devoted to social media marketing. To do so requires effectively utilizing your resources to establish your online identity as authoritative, reaching out to fans and friends in a manner that is genuine, not sales-pitchy, and relying on those fans and friends to spread your message to others. Remember, social networking sites are not run by businesses. They're run by everyday users who through word of mouth discuss topics that are most relevant or interesting in their lives. Be interesting, be yourself, and word of mouth may end up securing your law firm a few clients along the way.

Social networking began as a means for friends to communicate about a variety of topics that they all found interesting. Today, social networking is very much the same thing, and forever will be a grouping of arenas where members are allowed to express themselves. For law firms, the allure here should not be to become friends with someone in hopes that the person will soon become a client. Instead, attorneys should enter into the social networking discussion as an authority on the type of law its firm is centered-around. The point of having a presence on social networking sites is not to sell your product, but to connect with other users and establish yourself as a trusted authority on whatever type of law you may practice - whether its personal injury law, criminal defense, bankruptcy law, or business litigation.

Your end goal should be to help people notice your law practice, which will allow them to talk about your firm, and ultimately refer you to their friends/followers/connections. Be an authority, and people will turn to you when they or their friends need help!

If you’re trying to save money, don’t let starting a blog get in your way. Did your mother ever tell you that money doesn’t grow on trees? Well, she was right. But blogs do! With several blog websites to chose from, many options are available without you needing to spend a penny.

Of course, there are other blog hosting sites that require a fee, and these should not be disregarded since they have additional services that other blogs do not offer. Additional costs may also be required for certain blog feature upgrades or advanced services on free blog hosting sites like WordPress, which has outstanding popularity. Who would’ve thought that seven years ago WordPress would emerge as one of the most popular places to blog? Many of its users are drawn to a wide range of free features and applications that help enhance a blog’s visual appeal, search engine rankings, and more. Several attorneys who utilize social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook have also found it helpful to add free applications to their blog so that blog posts automatically show up as Tweets and Facebook wall posts.

What you can do with a blog is practically limitless; however, you want to avoid getting carried away with blogging tactics that are ineffective. Consult with your Internet marketing strategist for suggestions on search engine optimization, blog topics, and other important factors to help your law firm’s web presence grow.