6 Tips To Market Your Law Firm Online
Regardless of your area of practice, marketing is essential for running a successful law firm. In today’s market, a significant portion of your efforts should occur online. Sure, you can still reach people and build a brand with radio or TV spots and ads in the newspaper, but most modern consumers go to the internet when they need to find a lawyer.
Online marketing can do a lot to help lawyers find new clients. It can also help grow your firm and build your brand. With that said, you do not want to rush into your digital marketing efforts without a plan. You need to understand different marketing tactics and how they can be used to your advantage. You also need to develop a strategy that will work for your firm.
What steps should you take to market your law firm online? Read on to get some of the top tips for legal marketing on the internet.
Build A Website
Having a website is a necessity for modern law firms. Your website is where most of your clients will find your business when searching for services online. A good website is also the foundation for running successful marketing campaigns on the internet.
If you do not have a website, build one. If you already have a website, now might be a good time to review and possibly update it. Make sure your website represents the image you want your firm to project. Provide information about the legal services you provide. Make sure your site performs well and that it is easy to use.
Search Engine Optimisation
You want as many people to be able to find your website in search engines as possible. That means you will need to work on SEO. With practices like keyword placement and link-building campaigns, you can move your site up the search rankings.
Most law firms will also need to focus on local SEO. For example, if you are a criminal defense lawyer who practices near Orange County, California, you should target that area with your SEO campaigns. One way to do that is to make sure you have your address on your site. You would also use Orange County or cities as a part of your keyword strategy.
Develop Content
Content should play a significant role in your online marketing efforts. To start, you will need written content for your website. This will include things like homepage content, landing pages and pages for practice areas. However, posting regular blog content can be valuable as well. Your blog can enhance your SEO efforts, and it can also be good for attracting clients by providing them with useful resources.
Build A Social Media Presence
Modern law firms need to embrace social media. Most of your clients use at least one social media platform if not many. Social media can be great for building your brand, reaching new clients and for engaging with potential clients. Some platforms can even provide additional methods for clients to contact your firm.
Consider the clients you have and try to determine which social media platforms they are most likely to use. Build profiles on these platforms. Try to post content to different social media sites regularly. You should also engage with people when they post to your profile or comment on your posts.
Google Business Profile
You should claim and complete your Google Business Profile. A complete business profile will make your business more accessible and easier to find on Google. It can also help with local SEO. Beyond your Google Business Profile, you could also consider claiming and completing your firm’s profile on Bing. You should also consider any directory sites for lawyers or your areas of practice. Directories and business profiles offer more ways for people to find your firm, and some can help with your SEO efforts.
Encourage Reviews
Online reviews will be a part of your brand. You will also find that a lot of people check reviews, and they are more likely to be trusted than any advertising content you might produce. Google reviews can even help your results with search engine marketing.
The easiest way to get reviews is to ask your clients to post them. Most will be happy to leave a positive review if they have a good experience with your firm. However, bad reviews are possible for a number of reasons. You can even get bad reviews without doing anything wrong. That is why you will need to learn how to respond to negative reviews.
As a final point, you might need to hire professionals to help with online marketing. Most lawyers do not have enough time to market their law firms in addition to meeting the obligations they have to clients. With professionals on your side, you can focus on being a lawyer, and leave the marketing to people with the skills and experience to make the most of your marketing budget.
