Attorney SEO is the practice of optimizing a law firm’s website so it ranks higher in Google and other search engines for the keywords prospective clients type. A consultant can show you which keywords to target and where to apply them across your site, and many SEO Companies Long Island offer attorney SEO as part of their service mix.
Below: how to choose an SEO firm, what to ask in an initial meeting, and what a written proposal from a lawyer SEO company should include.
How do you choose an SEO firm for your law firm?
Search online for law firms in your area that handle real estate or business issues and build a list of at least five candidates. Schedule a consultation with each one and ask about their current marketing practices, the strategies they use to market their firm online, and the results those efforts have produced. Each SEO firm differs in the strategies it applies, so this research up front saves you from hiring a poor fit later.
Should you hire a marketing agency instead?
If you cannot find enough suitable law firms to evaluate, consider working with a marketing agency. Many lawyer SEO companies partner with law firms to market the firm and bring in new clients. A marketing agency builds a positive image for the law firm online and works to create a steady flow of new visitors to the firm’s website. If the initial effort does not produce the desired results, the agency may be brought in to relaunch the campaign and increase its effectiveness. Once the law firm begins to see results from its lawyer SEO efforts, it is more likely to keep the agency on to continue the campaign.
What should you ask once you have a shortlist?
Once you have narrowed your list of potential attorney SEO companies, contact each firm to learn more about the services they offer. This initial contact is the most important part of a lawyer SEO campaign, because meeting face to face with the SEO consultant is the foundation of a long-term relationship. Ask what services the firm offers, how those services will benefit your firm, and the products and services you are considering for promotion.
What should a written proposal include?
The last step in bringing a lawyer SEO company into your firm is to ask the SEO consultant for a written proposal. The proposal should detail:
- The types of advertising the firm plans to use
- The frequency of updates and the cost per campaign
- How the firm plans to build its reputation online and maintain it
- The length of time it will take to achieve specific goals
- The total number of people who will be involved in the project
- All promotional avenues the firm plans to use
- How the firm plans to make the changes required to reach your business goals, whether minor or dramatic, and how those changes affect current and future success
A good attorney search engine optimization company should provide prospective clients with a written breakdown covering all of these points.
Why do initial meetings feel personal?
The results of the initial meeting between a lawyer SEO firm and a law firm are often more personal than the initial visit. As the two attorneys become closer, the discussions often turn to other areas of importance to both lawyers. This happens because an organic search engine optimization plan is likely to require changes to business processes the firm currently uses. For example, if the firm uses current forms of advertising such as press releases, email campaigns, billboards, or directory listings, those tactics are not likely to change. If a new marketing strategy is required, it may be introduced during the initial consultation.
Why keep a lawyer involved even if you hire an SEO firm?
Regardless of which area of marketing a lawyer needs help with, they should look to a search engine optimization expert as their first option. Without marketing the firm quickly and effectively, it is unlikely to meet its goals in the first place. Even if the firm does not intend to hire a full-time employee to handle its SEO, it is still smart to have a full-time lawyer on hand to provide consultation and guidance. That way, when legal or business-related questions come up, the lawyer is prepared to handle them as best as possible.
FAQ
What is attorney SEO?
Attorney SEO is the practice of optimizing a law firm’s website so it ranks higher in search engines for the keywords prospective clients use, such as Google. It follows the same principles as general lawyer SEO but is applied specifically to a law firm’s marketing needs.
How do you pick an attorney SEO firm?
Search online for at least five local law firms that offer real estate or business-related SEO, schedule a consultation with each, and ask about their current marketing practices, the strategies they use, and the results those strategies have produced. If you cannot find enough candidates, consider hiring a marketing agency that partners with law firms.
What should a lawyer SEO proposal include?
A written proposal should list the types of advertising planned, update frequency, cost per campaign, how the firm will build and maintain its online reputation, the timeline for specific goals, the number of people on the project, all promotional avenues planned, and how proposed changes will affect the firm’s current and future success.
Related coverage
- SEO for Business Owners: Understanding the Power of Search Engine Optimization
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Related coverage
- SEO for Business Owners: Understanding the Power of Search Engine Optimization
- Local Search Engine Optimization