Taking Advantage of Videos for Law Firm Marketing
More businesses and service providers utilizing websites for their marketing endeavors are taking advantage of the video options to help personalize their messages. Video creation for use in law firm marketing strategies is beneficial in a number of ways. Using video helps portray personality, emphasis, and passion into your business. Law firm marketing experts believe that one of the greatest benefits of all marketing endeavors is to be able to connect with an audience.
Video formats offer those interested in expanding their law firm marketing strategies are found throughout the Internet and can increase visibility, interest, and visitors to your website. In most cases, videos created for attorneys by law firm marketing teams are very effective when placed on websites, as well as other video sites such as Google Video and YouTube.
The Internet offers the ability of attorneys and law firm marketing experts to convey emotion and compassion into words that compel attention. Law firm marketing endeavors that utilize video must take care not to seem pushy or aggressive, and to avoid the hard and fast sales pitch at all costs. Instead, marketing experts suggest that attorneys and law firms emphasize potential clients and their needs, and how you, the attorney, can help them solve their problems or difficulties. When it comes to law firm marketing, attorneys must stay in tune and in step with advancements and technologies, and video marketing has become the wave of the future for law firm marketing success in the 21st century.
Legal Marketing Tips: It's All about Keywords and Tails
When it comes to increasing legal marketing, and most specifically search engine marketing on the Internet, most attorneys and law firms are more than aware that keywords and keyword phrases are an essential aspect of optimizing website content, blogs, newsletters and articles. However, many aren't aware of the legal marketing term called "Long Tail" searches, which can really enhance the odds of generating traffic to your website.
A Long Tail search is one that is unique and not used often for search methods, but one that is very precise in its intent. Legal marketing teams know that there are some people who will type in specifically what they're looking for, such as, "Portland Oregon restraining order laws" or some such. Therefore, legal marketing teams have seen a trend of searches performed in such a manner on the Internet.
It's important to choose keywords that are specific to your legal marketing endeavors experience and expertise. However, in order to enhance the chances of search engine spiders as well as visitors to see your website, legal marketing professionals encourage attorneys and law firm marketing teams to create search terms that will cast a larger net for individuals seeking specific services. Rather than requiring users to sort through the broad range of results that typically occur with browser search terms, tweak keyword phrases to catch those users.
Legal marketing professionals suggest finding what makes your attorney's office or law firm unique and brainstorm as list of those services and characteristics. That list will be the start of your online legal marketing plan and will be your targeted keywords and tails.
Watch Your Step with Your Attorney Marketing Strategies
Many people believe that anything goes when it comes to attorney marketing strategies on the Internet. So many people have attorney marketing websites, blogs, forums, and discussion groups, that it may seem impossible for watchdogs to notice when something isn't quite right. Not so. Unfortunately, www.Findlaw.com, a leading attorney marketing website, found that out the hard way and has gotten its hands slapped by (allegedly) trying to sell Internet links to boost its traffic.
Pamela McLean states at the www.Law.com blog, Google temporarily dropped Findlaw's rankings because of the scandal. However, says John Shaughnessy, spokesman for Findlaw, changes were made that "eliminated the conflict with Google's rules by placing computer code on some links that prevented them from counting his votes to increase search results."
Kevin O'Keefe, president of LexBlog has also commented on the incident. Attorney marketing professionals are reminded that website content and web logs are classified by Google according to their relevant and useful information, and frown upon ads or promotions that are not beneficial to potential users. Google determines page rank by how many individuals visit a page as well as the inbound links from other websites to specific pages and other criteria, among which selling links is not included. Such links are not to be sold by attorney marketing teams in an effort to increase a webpage ranking.
Everyone wants to get ahead when it comes to attorney marketing strategies, but Findlaw's reputation may have been permanently damaged by this attorney marketing approach.
Don't "Defer" Your Legal Marketing Strategies
According to the Legal Marketing Association, lawyers get too busy with cases and many outside distractions that they don’t have time to work on marketing their own law practice.
When it comes to legal marketing, there are several questions to ask yourself:
· Are you obtaining the cases and clients you want?
· Are you profiting from your client/time investments?
· What do you do about cases you don't have the time for?
· Do you spend your time in enjoyable ways?
As an attorney, you're very well aware of the hassles of dealing with non-paying clients, difficult cases, and the demands and time-consuming chores of running an office. Legal marketing is critical to the future success of your law firm! Don’t worry; there are legal marketing experts that can help you create a successful law firm marketing plan and do all the marketing for you as well. Legal marketing involves well timed, relevant, marketing strategies that will generate leads into clients.
Any lawyer interested in increasing business, quality of clients and proactive business building strategies will not overlook legal marketing as a means to success. Attorneys hire professionals who understand legal marketing. That way, they have time to do what they do best, while professionals tackle their legal marketing endeavors for optimal results. Legal marketing experts know their stuff. So let them do it. And remember, more busy work does not always mean better results. Don’t “defer” your legal marketing strategies any longer!
Don't Get Left Behind in Law Firm Marketing Strategies: Get Linked!
When it comes to law firm marketing these days, social networking and networks are some of the best tools that law firms and attorneys can rely on. These law firm marketing strategies help generate clients, referrals, and commonalities. Social marketing websites such as the popular MySpace, Facebook and LinkedIn are serving as valuable law firm marketing tools in the 21st century. Because of their enormous potential and popularity, marketing teams are continuously encouraging law firm marketing strategies and tactics that utilize their benefits.
Social networking media sites enable users to establish profiles that are able to highlight expertise as well as interest groups that attract potential clients focused on specific needs. According to Oliver Picher, president of Visible Influence and recent speaker at the Delaware Valley Law Firm Marketing Group event, state that nearly 50% of attorneys and their staffs maintain an active LinkedIn account these days. Law firm marketing must keep up with changing times and expectations, and as such, users should develop profiles on social networking websites to keep law firm marketing strategies ahead of more 'traditional' competition.
The key behind law firm marketing is to get noticed, and social marketing websites such as My Space, Facebook and LinkedIn can be found in major search engines such as Yahoo and Google. Picher also states that effective networking and law firm marketing through such resources offers attorneys and law firms "virtual referrals". When it comes to law firm marketing these days, don't get left behind: get linked, and establish profiles to social networking websites for increased visibility, visitors, and to attract potential clients.
Tips for Law Firm Marketing in Dismal Times
No doubt about it, times are hard. The downturn in the economy has affected everyone from homeowners to corporate leaders. Attorneys, law firms and law firm marketing teams have also felt the pinch. Law firm marketing teams must find different ways to encourage marketing endeavors that not only create effective strategies, but also decrease waste. Larry Bodine writes for the Law Marketing Portal and offers suggestions for how law firm marketing teams can thrive in a recession.
For starters, he suggests law firm marketing teams embrace changes and take closer looks at their core strategies. Are they still relevant for the new century, or were they developed 5, 10, or 15 years ago? Law firm marketing professionals are encouraged to take a close look at clients, as well as services to assess the effect of strategies currently in place. According to Bodine, "Law firms should fire low margin, low fee, nonstrategic clients, include business development activity and results in every lawyer's performance review, shut down unprofitable practice areas, even if they generate revenue, and close unproductive offices." This may sound severe, but in today's economy, it may very well mean the difference between success and failure, and the ultimate survival of law firm marketing.
In addition, Bodine suggests that law firm marketing professionals define responsibilities, define partner roles, and increase accountability for each. Strategic marketing, Bodine says, means marketing smarter. Law firm marketing teams must be able to meet the challenges of a shaky economy in order to survive.
Legal Marketing Is Essential for Law Firms
Many people mistakenly believe that a small or large law firm that enjoys success represents a multitude of clients in a variety of specialties and continually keeps busy, doesn't need to worry so much about legal marketing, networking, developing new contacts, or continually enhancing the function and services provided to clients. Nothing could be further from the truth. When it comes to legal marketing, law firms must continually invest time, effort, and money into developing, growing, and maintaining their business. Primerus Law Firms is one such example when it comes to legal marketing. Membership in such law firm groups is able to increase profile, visibility, and enhance increased client base and expertise throughout the country.
Brian Davidoff, a managing partner at the Los Angeles firm of Rutter Hobbs & Davidoff, says, "It's not inexpensive. But like any organization, in order to make it work, you've got to get involved." Davidoff is a firm supporter of networking. Legal marketing these days is also not limit limited to domestic firms, but global memberships such as ALFA International, which includes over a hundred firms from throughout Europe, Latin America, Canada and the United States as a result of legal marketing endeavors.
Russell Reiner, of Reiner, Simpson & Slaughter, clients of Primerus, believes that networking, legal marketing, and referrals have helped to increase business. Legal marketing is just as essential for small law firms that are as it is large ones. Legal marketing strategies that develop contacts, contracts, and referrals must not be ignored.
The Pros and Cons of Law Firm Marketing Blogs
Blogs are one of the best ways to generate interest in your law firm, but they may also prove to be more time intensive than they're worth. When it comes to law firm marketing, experts caution individuals from engaging in utilizing law firm marketing blogs unless they have the time and dedication to remain committed to the task of continuously updating information, posts, and responses to comments. Darren Olivier, director of Bowman Gilfillan, a premier South African law firm states that blogs are, "An excellent informal tool to communicate with clients and develop a firm's profile."
Legalbrief Today also mentions the benefits of blogging. However, law firm marketing teams and experts should be forewarned that it is easy to libel people on blogs. While law firm marketing online may be cheaper than traditional print methodologies, it also brings with it its own set of problems. Law firm marketing professionals are well aware that millions of blogs are created on the Internet on a weekly basis. Competition is fierce. In order to increase content visibility, law firm marketing teams are required to post to blogs three to five times per week in order to maintain constant turnover of new information.
Law firm marketing teams are also aware of the fact that many attorneys are unable to spend adequate amounts of time responding to comments posted on blogs. Because of this, more attorneys and law firms are hiring law firm marketing teams to specialize in online law firm marketing strategies that utilize and maintain blogs for them.
Attorney Marketing: Blogging Isn't Just for Kids Anymore
When it comes to attorney marketing tools, blogging has presented itself as the premier opportunity in the 21st century to spread the word and generate interest in a multitude of business deals, and that goes for law firms and attorney websites too. In recent years, blogs have surpassed "high school and college students sharing experiences content" to incorporate attorney marketing endeavors. A key element to Internet marketing endeavors has included the use and enormous potential of blogging to reach vast audiences. Attorney marketing experts believe that blogging is one of the most essential methods used today to generate content, clients, and interest in the legal field.
One blogging website, Technorati, typically tracks over 100 million blogs on a daily basis. According to Valerie Miller's own blog, blogging and online communities pays off in huge dividends. This goes for attorney marketingplans, law firms and professionals. Everyone is blogging these days. If you don't have a blog, attorneys and law firms may be considered old-fashioned and out-of-touch with today's consumers. Attorney marketing professionals suggest that every attorney website has a link to his or her own blog.
Blogging is one of the most successful, and simple, attorney marketing methods used today. Blogging helps attorney marketing increase interest and popularity in content and potential click-backs to attorney or law firm websites. Effective attorney marketing strategy means placing relevant and useful, informative content on websites, blogs, newsletters, and any other types of printed matter disseminated to the public at large.
Law Firm Marketing Connections
Law firm marketing professionals are well aware of the importance of networking when it comes to marketing your attorney website or law firm. Unfortunately, many people think that you have to have a special college degree in business in order to benefit from marketing. This is not the case. Law firm marketing experts know and understand that the basic focus of marketing is to get the word out about a particular service or business. In that aspect, social networking is one of the fastest and most effective law firm marketing tools available today.
Certain guidelines in networking should be understood. Law firm marketing experts caution attorneys or law firm personnel against contacting anyone and everyone just to "reach out and touch someone." Choosing your relationships wisely and avoiding the fast or hard sell is the key to successful law firm marketing. According to Thom Singer, "When you meet new people, do not sell them on your product or services; instead, learn about them."
This advice is followed up by another law firm marketing expert, Kevin O’Keefe, “Some lawyers are seeing value in social networking." Law firm marketing experts realize the value not only of legal social networking websites, but popular social networking websites such as Facebook and LinkedIn. When it comes to law firm marketing, the rules constantly change. What was "out" yesterday is "in" tomorrow. Keep up on social networking blog sites, and don't underestimate the power of the mouse.
Social Networking: a Vital Ingredient for Legal Marketing
.jpg)
Facebook, Friendster, and MySpace aren't just for high school or college students these days. As a matter of fact, social networking sites have grown in popularity among corporate organizations and industries. When it comes to legal marketing, finding the best way to deliver a message is essential. Legal marketing involves reaching out to communities and all age groups. It is not the time to practice exclusivity.
A recent law firm marketing article published benefits provided by social networking websites and compares the difference in benefits between legal marketing websites for lawyers only and those are that are open to different interests and age groups. One website, called Legal OnRamp provides a vast range of services and content for legal professionals. The only problem is that membership is by invitation only. Users who log on to this website may request an invitation, where legal marketing for corporate lawyers, law students and educators, and professional resources are available.
However, it also benefits legal marketing teams to take advantage of more common social networking websites, including LinkedIn. With more than 20 million professionals, LinkedIn connects networks of people involved in like industries. The benefits of doing so enhances visibility, and encourages real socializing that spreads word of mouth faster than legal marketing teams could possibly imagine. Cross platforms utilized by legal marketing teams ensure productive networking for lawyers, law firms, and consumers. Bottom line: don't underestimate the power of social networking websites in legal marketing strategies.
