Legal Internet Marketing Blog

While no blogger should ever feel ashamed of their downfalls – and we all have them – it can be difficult to admit to ourselves, let alone to others, what needs improving.

Nevertheless, here are 10 New Year’s Resolutions no blogger ever wants to say out loud, but may catch themselves realizing they should, so as to tackle them with initiative in 2012!

1. I will not go an entire month without posting a blog!


2. I will not go an entire week without posting a blog!


3. No longer will I post blogs without having someone proofread them first.


4. If I’m tempted to rush through writing a blog, I will slow down and take my time so I can make it worthwhile for others to read.


5. Before I publish a blog, I will pause and ask myself if there’s anything I can improve about the way it looks and what it is trying to say to my target audience.


6. I will stop rambling and get to the point!


7. As I conduct research and think about blog topics to write, I will also make the time to read other blogs within and outside of my niche.


8. I will not focus on the quantity of blogs I publish, but the quality of what the blog discusses.


9. I will make an effort to leave relevant comments on other blogs that apply to my field as well as respond thoughtfully to comments left on my blog.


10. After I publish a blog, I won’t stop there – I will utilize social networking sites and other platforms to effectively distribute and share what I’ve written.

Hopefully, you were able to skim over the majority of these points because you already do them. If not, don’t beat yourself up about it. There is plenty of time to change your ways so that you can blog more effectively for your business or law firm.

The key to New Year’s resolutions, whether they are personal or for your business, is that they should be reasonable. Push yourself, but don’t set the bar so high that you end up losing sight of your goals. Take things in stride and evaluate your Internet marketing plan as a whole and in pieces as you think of how you can achieve your ambitious, but realistic, long-term and short-term goals.

Here at SLS Consulting, we wish you and your business a prosperous, gratifying, and productive New Year!

So, you have a blog that you regularly post to. Chances are fairly good that you either write your blog, or you employ a marketing company to write it for you. Either way, you probably read the content prior to it going live, so it’s important that you ask yourself one question: If this blog wasn’t published by your company, would you still read it? Let’s examine the dynamics of a properly optimized, yet interesting and readable blog that people would want to subscribe to.

First, let’s preface this conversation with one simple truth: there are some subjects that are just plain boring. If you’re in the type of industry that is regularly referred to as uninteresting, you’re at a slight disadvantage, but certainly not one that you cannot overcome. An interesting, thought provoking, well-trafficked blog is attainable regardless of the subject matter. Ultimately, it all depends upon the writing style.

There are a variety of writing tactics that you can employ to help make your writing more interesting. For starters, you don’t need to talk solely about your company. While it is a good idea to discuss a topic that is at least related to your industry, you don’t need to use your blog to solely peddle your services. Talk about your competitors sometimes. Realize that if someone out there is reading your blog, that person may be reading other blogs within your industry (i.e. your competitors). If you’re solely talking about your own company, it may be construed that you’re avoiding your competition, when this should never be the case. In the end, you should be proud of your services, and willing to put those services up against those of your competition. Readers will recognize your willingness to compare yourself to other brands, and will reward you for it by continuing to read your blog.

You can also talk about services that may not be directly connected to your industry, but that are indirectly connected to it. For example, if you own a moving company, it would be perfectly logical to write a blog about the housing market, particularly if new home sales are on the rise (i.e. new home sales increasing = more people moving = greater demand for moving companies). In the end, it’s important to remember that your blog is not only supposed to peak interest enough to obtain subscribers, it should also be properly optimized with keywords and phrases so that it ranks well amongst search results. If your blog cannot be found with (relative) ease, then no one is going to potentially be reading it anyway.

In short, make use of your keywords, but be interesting and conversational. Work key phrases into your writing in an organic way. Don’t sound like you’re trying to pitch your company, and don’t use industry jargon that people won’t necessarily appreciate. Think of your blog like a conversation you’re having face-to-face with someone on the street. If you anticipate that person tuning out what you’re saying, you’re doing something wrong.

In our last blog post, we addressed recent discussion on some blogs like BlogWorld.com and Soshable.com about how most bloggers rely on Facebook to promote their blog. Believe it or not, this applies to attorneys, too. Sharing a legal blog post on your law firm Facebook page isn’t a bad thing. However, the opportunity to draw in new visitors to your blawg grows the more you effectively utilize different online platforms and means for distribution.

BlogWorld suggests a few of these tips to attract new readers to your blog and we’ve added additional information to fit the Legal Internet marketing approach:

• Consider having guest blog posts from other attorneys in your field


• Read other legal blogs and leave comments when relevant and when there is genuine interest


• Write blogs that are interviews of members of the firm


• Submit articles to directories about pertinent legal issues in your state and/or city


• Think about linking to old blog posts within new posts


• Include a link to your blawg in your email signature


• Pay attention to whether a press release could be written that is relevant to a particular blog post

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from running a Legal Internet marketing company for over 10 years and working with lawyers for even longer, it’s that so much is happening in an attorney’s world and in the legal world in general. Everyone – every single person’s life is influenced by the law. Needless to say, there are endless possibilities for a law firm to help people in need just like there are endless ways to promote your blawg.

Want to grow your law firm online? Contact SLS Consulting today for a free growth assessment. Call 323-254-1510.

Sources: http://www.blogworld.com/2011/04/27/could-your-blog-survive-without-facebook-and-twitter/; http://soshable.com/a-world-without-facebook-infographic/

It’s difficult to find a law firm without a blawg, or legal blog, in a world where the Internet dominates marketing. It’s even becoming rarer to find a law firm without a Facebook fan page. One of the most fascinating things about Internet marketing is that when all the right efforts are being carried out and in line with one another, a giant web is formed that helps distribute, organize, and link relevant and effective content, thus driving more potential clients to a website.

For some Internet marketing companies, and even for some attorneys, there can be a preference or favoritism towards one type of marketing tool or social networking tactic. However, a recent Infographic on Soshable highlights our dependency on Facebook and a BlogWorld article challenges us to think outside the Facebook box for different ways to help promote our blogs.

This is not to say that you should stop promoting your blog on Facebook or Twitter. The point is that you could be missing out on gaining more readership and visitors to your blog by only sticking to these social media platforms to distribute your blog.

So how can you reach new readers for your blawg? Visit our blog again tomorrow to find out.

It is not too late to join in on The Daily Post, the challenge presented by WordPress for users to write and publish one blog post a day (or a week) throughout the course of 2011. Mashable notes that WordPress announced their challenge over the New Year holiday, catering, in a way, to the likelihood that various writers and bloggers have been looking for something to help keep them motivated to blog more frequently in the New Year.

The Daily Post is a guide that provides blog topic suggestions on a daily basis to help inspire, encourage, and even give advice in regard to blogging. It can be difficult to carve out the time to write for your blog, especially if you can barely find time in the day to eat! However, if that is your situation, it may be a good idea to explore resources to help you manage your time and workload. In any case, blogging on a daily basis may not be your cup of tea, but blogging at least once a week could be a great start towards boosting your business’ or law firm’s online presence by sharing your knowledge and helping spread your unique experiences.

Any WordPress user who would like to participate in The Daily Post challenge only has to write about their intentions, then tag posts with “postaday2011” or “postaweek2011” through the year. Even if you do not want to join in on The Daily Post challenge, you can still take on this dare and make it your own. Why not devise an editorial calendar or a list of topics that you would like to cover in January, February, etc.?

Wetting your appetite for creating more online content will only help your Internet marketing endeavors. It is important to remember, however, that more content does not mean any content. You want to write blogs that are pertinent to your area of expertise, informative, and helpful to your target audience. The same goes for adding new content to your website. Make sure your content is relevant and that appropriate search engine optimization (SEO) is properly integrated.

What are your blogging goals for 2011?

Legal blogs, or blawgs, have contributed to the creation of many online communities, providing helpful resources of information for those searching the Internet for various data. Blawgs also provide a space where you can highlight your law firm’s achievements. While this can be done through describing a recent jury verdict or case settlement, many attorneys forget one of the most important components to add on their blawg: testimonials.

Testimonials capture the voice of a person who is not just a client; they are someone whose life you have truly touched and made a difference for. The value in personable connections cannot be lost through business transactions. Most clients are your clients not only because of being drawn to your skills, knowledge and experience, but also because you stood out to them as someone that they could relate to, depend on, and benefit from. As a legal Internet marketing firm, we recognize the significance of testimonials from our clients as well; every business should. Just last week, I received the following email from Los Angeles Criminal Attorney Neil Shouse:

Hi Susan:

I also wanted to say, everyone is doing a super job getting our new material up quickly, doing great work on structure and design issues, and being extremely helpful in getting our new email systems set up and with SEO planning.

We got more than 80k unique visitors last month. And we may set another record this month, even though it's a short month with holidays.

I just want to extend a thank you and recognition to everyone. Their hard and great work is paying off!

By posting a testimonial to your blawg, you are also expressing your appreciation for your client’s acknowledgement. While you may not want to post every single testimonial to your blawg (you can create a “Testimonials” page on your website instead), don’t you want your clients to know that their opinions matter to you?

If you doubt whether your client will provide a testimonial, there’s only one way to find out: ask them. If you don’t ask, they may not write down their experience with you or how you’ve helped them in the same way that the above email reflects.

In any case, you don’t want your blawg, or any blog for that matter, to be bombarded with testimonials. This approach is a good one to incorporate every once in a while. A blawg should contain a mixture of information in order to create a balanced resource as well as keep your readers interested and draw in new ones.

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