Looking to bring in more clients to your firm?
Law firms want to rank whenever potential clients are searching for legal services online. Because when your firm ranks online you get:
- More qualified leads
- More signed clients
The problem is…
Most law firms have no online presence whatsoever.
Growing your digital footprint takes hard work and a solid strategy. Without knowing the right steps to take your clients will find your competitors.
You need an online presence if you want your firm to grow.
Lawyers face more competition than ever before. 96% of legal advice seekers begin their journey with a search engine. If your firm can’t be found on page one of Google… you’re losing clients as we speak.
The good news is that there are strategies that you can implement today to start ranking locally, drive targeted traffic to your website and build your online presence.
So let’s jump into it.
What You’ll Learn
- Why Law Firms Need a Digital Presence
- The Foundation of Showing Up Online
- 5x Strategies To Increase Your Law Firm’s Online Presence
- Accelerate Your Growth
Why Lawyers Need a Digital Presence
Word of mouth referrals and courthouse signings aren’t going to cut it anymore.
Legal prospects are searching online before they pick up the phone. They find websites, scan reviews and analyze who they want to work with. If your law firm doesn’t have a strong digital presence… you won’t be considered.
Here’s an example:
John is involved in a car accident and needs a personal injury lawyer. He pulls out his phone and types “personal injury lawyer near me” into Google. If your firm doesn’t rank in John’s search results… someone else will get that phone call.
It’s also easier than most lawyers think to build your online presence. Sure, it takes strategy and consistency. But when the fundamentals are nailed down most firms see pretty quick results.
The Foundation of Showing Up Online
Before jumping into proven law firm marketing strategies, the basics need to be covered.
Do you have a website?
Yep, starting here. Your website is critical to your law firm’s success online. It should be quick to load on mobile devices and easy to navigate. Websites are law firms highest ROI marketing channel by a landslide.
But simply having a website isn’t enough. You need to show Google what your firm does and who it serves. Doing so requires optimizing your site for search engines.
This means making sure your website follows proper:
- Technical SEO
- On-Page SEO
- User Experience (UX)
Think of your website as a house. If the foundation isn’t built correctly then the rest of your efforts won’t matter.
5 Strategies to Increase Your Law Firm’s Online Presence
Now for some actual strategies to help law firms build their online presence. But remember, nothing will flourish if you haven’t set the foundation.
Implement SEO Best Practices
SEO or search engine optimization is your firms number one long-term investment. The better your SEO practices are… the more your firm will show up in Google.
Think about it…
Jimmy is looking for a “family lawyer near me.” All he does is look at the first page of Google. All the firms on page two don’t exist.
Local SEO is where most law firms should focus their energy. Claim your Google My Business page, build location-specific pages on your site and grow your online reviews. These three things tell Google that you’re legitimate and relevant in your market.
Publish Valuable Content
Content marketing is another fantastic strategy for law firms.
Posting helpful blog articles on your website serves two purposes. One, it drives organic traffic from people who are searching for answers. Two, it positions you as an authority figure.
Lawyers that consistently publish long-form content win big in SEO. Make sure your blog posts are:
- Relevant to your desired clientele
- Easy to read and understand
- Optimized for your target keywords
When posting articles… think about the questions your clients are asking. Not what you want to say about your legal services.
Focus on Building Quality Backlinks
Backlinks are links from other websites that point to yours. They’re like a vote of confidence from Google.
Law firms can earn backlinks by getting listed in online directories, legal associations and industry related blogs. If you’re a small firm start local and work your way from there.
Building backlinks used to mean “Who you know?” but not anymore. The most legit way to gain links is by creating link-worthy content.
Either way you decide to build links for your firm… make sure they’re quality links from credible sources.
Encourage Online Reviews
Online reviews are a huge influencer when deciding on a lawyer.
When searching for local lawyers… potential clients read online reviews. And if they see your firm has 10+ five-star reviews they’ll more than likely give you a call.
Make it a habit to send clients a Google Review page link as they’re leaving the firm. The more positive reviews you have, the better your firms online reputation will be.
You should also respond to negative reviews. Take the high road and show prospects you care about their opinion.
Market on Social Media
Social media won’t increase traffic to your website on its own. But it can help amplify your content and brand.
LinkedIn should be your law firms top priority social media platform. Share blog articles, case victories and business updates.
If you’re a local law firm Facebook can work too. Just remember not to stretch yourself too thin.
Want to Grow Faster?
Implementing these tips will put you far above your competition. But here’s the thing…
Most firms already know they need to market online. But finding the time is the real challenge.
And that’s exactly why most law firms hire a specialist to help lead their marketing efforts.
There’s no wrong answer when it comes to this decision. Just know that if you want to see results… you have to start somewhere.
Bringing it All Together
Here’s a quick recap of what was just covered:
- SEO so your firm can be found
- Create content so they trust you
- Backlinks show Google you’re an authority
- Online reviews assure clients you’re the best choice
- Do this consistently and you’ll grow your firm
Now it’s time to get to work! Implement one of these strategies today and monitor the leads start rolling in.