Legal Internet Marketing Blog

Taking time off this summer? Well, there’s still time to blog. It’s no secret that writing a blog takes time, but it’s nothing to stress about. While it’s logical that you’d want to make sure that your Internet marketing plan is effective and providing you with the results that you want, don’t lose sight of the value in letting your firm’s personality shine through.

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!

It seems as though everyone has a blog these days, and with good reason. Blogs not only provide accessible, helpful, and interesting information, they also create an opportunity for discussion and a growth of interest among your target audience. If you are looking to drive more traffic to your legal website, factor a law blog (Blawg) into your Internet marketing strategy’s equation.

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.

If you are wondering why your legal blog does not have as many subscribers or monthly visitors as you would like, you may need to ask yourself this question. While it may feel daunting at first to explore the issues surrounding building legal blog readership, it is helpful to begin with establishing your intentions for your blog. As a starting point, remember that your blog’s content is only a part – although a very important part – of the entire blogging process. Many other vital aspects of your blog should involve effective use of search engine optimization (SEO) tools and other marketing efforts.

First of all, don’t be afraid to create a wish-list for what you would like your blog to encompass. This could relate to layout, writing tone, use of video or pictures, and blog topic choice. Having a blog for your law firm is a great opportunity, not only for you and your colleagues to share unique legal experiences, but also to encourage discussion between other firms and various readers who may be law students or even potential clients.

Simply put, if you don’t care about what goes on your lawyer blog, no one else will. While a blog demands a lot of time and effort, it is beneficial to take those extra moments to write about issues that actually interest you. That passion and knowledge of the area of law in which you practice will come through to readers. You want to stand out on the web with your blog amidst a sea of legal blogs. But how can you do this? Be yourself on the Internet just like you are when a potential client comes in for a consultation. If you hesitate to reach out to those searching for help, they may look elsewhere.

A legal blog is a great place to reflect what you have to offer and how you have helped others. You don’t need to reveal personal or confidential information to discuss the types of cases you have handled and how you and your firm are able to be successful. Another important thing to remember when thinking about your blog content is, don’t give everything away right off the bat. Give them a little and make them want more. You eventually want readers to come to you either through your law firm website, email, or phone – but you have to draw them in.

It takes time for a legal blog to gain presence on the Internet and get recognized by search engines. We all wish that creating a legal blog with heavy readership and strong Internet rankings that lasts could happen overnight, but that is not the case.

Deciding to start a legal blog is a commitment. It requires constant attention to several factors such as how often posts should be made, what kind of topics will a blog cover, how many keyword links should be included in a blog and where should they link to, etc. Launching a legal blog cannot simply be a phase or a short-lived interest in trying something new. If you want to see significant results on the search engines and have readers subscribe to and read your blog, you have to be ready to hone-in on your writing skills and read-up on search engine optimization. The other key factor is allowing time for a blog to grow. Be patient with the steps it takes for more visitors to be drawn to your blog and the process of finding more and more topics of value and interest.

If you are thinking of beginning a legal blog, one of the first things you should ask yourself is, “What kind of message do I want to send to readers, fellow colleagues and even potential clients?” Similar to any blog, the drive behind setting up a legal blog is to encourage discussion pertaining to specific issues and provide relevant, helpful information for internet users.

Continue reading "Creating a Legal Blog Presence Overnight?" »

In today's Internet environment a blog is the single most cost effective Internet marketing tool available. You can get a free blog from many places and/or you can purchase professional blogs if you have the budget for under $5000 a year and it is worth every penny.

Here are just some tips on what to do once you have a blog...

1) Update frequently
The best written and most compelling legal blog won’t yield a good ROI if you only update it biannually. Schedule time to blog on at least a weekly basis.

2) Keep your blog focused
All too often, newly minted bloggers go off on tangents and wind up diluting what otherwise could be a potentially powerful marketing tool. Think about who your potential audience is when you write your blog posts and tailor the information to what they might be interested in.

3) Cut out the fluff and avoid repetition
Hopefully... You already own and maintain a solid legal web site, so keep your blog in the same manner. Don't use it to stuff in keywords designed simply to “trick the search engines.” Not only will you lose readers, but you could ultimately damage the brand of your web site that you've spent so much time and money building.

4) Use clear, concise language
As a lawyer, you're trained to think in complex sentences and to use multiple clauses to convey ideas. But your readers are not lawyers! They need short and interesting, not long and elaborate.

5) Integrate your blog into the rest of your legal web site
Your blog and site should function as parts of each other, reinforcing the presence you’ve built online.

For more information or questions about blogging or search engine optimization for your website, contact me at susan@slsconsulting.com