how to market for a lawyer

by Reynold West 10 min read

How to Market a Law Practice.

  • Choose a Specific Type of Law. Instead of being a general practitioner, you can automatically set yourself apart by choosing one type of law to focus ...
  • Choose a More Specific Niche.
  • Build a List of Clients and Referrers Over Time.
  • Create a Helpful Website.
  • Give Away Free Resources in Your Community.

Full Answer

How to market your law firm successfully?

Part 1 Part 1 of 4: Establishing Your Online Presence

  1. Build a professional website. More than ever before, people shop for legal services online. ...
  2. Write useful blog posts. Now that you have a website, you need regular content which will improve your standing in search algorithms.
  3. Use Google Analytics. ...
  4. Meet people on social media. ...

How to market yourself as a lawyer?

The 5 Most Effective Ways To Market Yourself (And They're All Free)

  1. Write. One of the best ways to get your name out there and build credibility is to write and share your thoughts publicly.
  2. Get quoted. Writers and journalists like to include quotes from experts to bolster their argument. ...
  3. Leverage email. Communicate via email what you are doing and your successes. ...
  4. Use social media. ...
  5. Speak publicly. ...

How bad is the legal job market for new lawyers?

“The job market for entry-level lawyers is 25 percent smaller than it was 10 years ago, and we are in the midst of a very strong economy. There is no reason to believe that the number of...

How do you market a law firm?

recently declared that they will now offer marketing campaigns specifically for lawyers as well as law firms. These campaigns will be uniquely structured so as to meet the needs of lawyer SEO and more. Website Depot has had attorney and law firm clients ...

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What is the best way to market to lawyers?

10 steps for marketing your law firmCreate a marketing budget. ... Build a well-designed law firm website. ... Ensure your site is search engine optimized. ... Claim your free online profiles. ... Make sure your law firm has a social media presence. ... Manage your law firm's online reviews effectively. ... Try your hand at content marketing.More items...•

How do I market myself as a new lawyer?

5 Great Ways for New Lawyers to Market Themselves in 2020Get Focused. ... Write a Book or Legal Guide. ... Give Presentations to Lawyer Groups. ... Create a Website. ... Take to Social Media. ... Offer Free Seminars to the Public. ... Opportunities Abound.

How do lawyers attract firms?

Top Legal Marketing Platforms Today78.2% of firms used a website to attract clients.58.2% used online directories to market their firm.43% used social media marketing.23% used paid Google Ads.3.6% invested in billboard marketing.7.3% ran print ads (as in newspapers or magazines)5.5% utilized podcasts for marketing.

What are the 3 most important skills that you think a lawyer needs?

They must develop superior multi-tasking skills, a strong work ethic, and the ability to juggle competing priorities. They must be able to meet tight deadlines, and this requires calendar and time management skills.

How do lawyers market themselves?

Spend some money getting the branding and content writing. You should hire professionals to do it. Consider having a blog even if you post just a dozen articles – this is for potential clients or referring lawyers who visit your website to discover what your real areas of interest and expertise are.

How do I brand my law firm?

The answer to that question lies in your law firm branding, an important part of your overall marketing strategy....Creating Your Brand IdentityFirm name.Logo.Color scheme.Typography and fonts.Marketing materials.Stationery such as letterheads and business cards.Images.Copy such as website and blog content.

How do you attract law clients?

Just about every law firm wants more and better cases. This is why competition in marketing is so tough. Every prospective client has many options....How Google Ads or Search Engine Marketing (SEM) Help Attorneys Get New ClientsFamily and friend referrals.Online search.Referrals from other lawyers.Legal directory.

How do law firms win clients?

Final thoughts on how lawyers get clients In summary, lawyers get new clients by two major methods–referrals and reviews.

How do law firms engage clients?

Best Ways for Law Firms to Engage and Attract ClientsThink Digital (yes, this includes social media) ... Spotlight Your Team's Knowledge. ... Goodwill Marketing.

How do you know if you'd make a good lawyer?

You work well with others. That's right—being a lawyer means working with people! ... You can persuade others. The ability to persuade=the practice of law. ... You are independent and self-disciplined. ... You can endure the grind. ... You don't take things at face value. ... You must be able to network.

What is the starting salary for a lawyer?

A newly qualified solicitor in a regional firm or smaller commercial practice may expect to earn around ÂŁ25,000 to ÂŁ40,000. Starting salaries for newly qualified solicitors in larger commercial firms and those in the City will be from ÂŁ58,000 to ÂŁ65,000, with the larger City firms paying ÂŁ80,000 or more.

What interests should a lawyer have?

Law (main motivation: serving and protecting society)applying rules and regulations.influencing people.legal matters.persuading people.protecting others.social justice.solving difficult situations.working with those who have lost direction.

How Do You Market a Law Firm?

There is no single strategy for marketing your law firm; there are actually many different methods, tactics, and platforms. This should be great news to you, as it presents the opportunity to diversify your marketing and reach more clients than ever.

Know your audience

The first step in creating a law firm marketing plan is to hone in on your niche and know your target audience. After all, most lawyers provide specific types of services for people in a specific area or region.

Pick your platforms

There’s a misconception that in order to market effectively, you need to be on every platform. That is not the case, and can in fact be a huge waste of your time and money.

Nurture your leads

One study found that 40% of law firms don’t respond to their contact forms at all, letting potential leads run cold with no contact. If you are going to invest in marketing, you want to make sure you are following up with your leads in a timely manner.

Keep clients happy

Marketing your law firm doesn’t stop with new client acquisition. Maintaining relationships with existing and past clients is also important in earning positive reviews, driving referrals, and keeping clients happy.

10 Strategies to Market Your Law Firm

Wondering how to market your law firm? Then you’ll be happy to know there are many strategies you can use - from law firm SEO to content to paid ads. Here are a few of the best strategies to start using today.

1. Social Media Marketing

Social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter are great tools for growing your following online. Many law firms see success with creating valuable content for users and engaging with their existing follower base.

First things first: a good website is vital

A stylish website—one that shows healthy, consistent activity and updates—helps potential clients locate and hire you. Design with your ideal clientele in mind and how you want to establish your brand.

Be known for thought leadership in your area of practice

This is a powerful method of demonstrating your value, rather than simply describing it.

Use a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system

Keep track, with the help of a CRM, of how many people connect with you in response to your marketing efforts, and what type of services they use.

Attend conferences

Sponsorship matters because business is still based on reputation, and how you are perceived as contributing to the community. A website is basic for credibility, but networking is the real key.

Client reviews are marketing tools

If you’re like most attorneys, you’re only vaguely aware of Google My Business, and you haven’t claimed the ownership of your firm on sites that review lawyers and local businesses. Google now rewards businesses with highly rated reviews with more visibility in the results Google displays after a search.

Be present in associations, conventions, and educational initiatives

Sponsoring an event in your practice area may not lead to a linear uptick in client referrals.

Take networking seriously

Referrals from overlapping areas of law practice are golden. Take, for example, an immigration attorney. One who does not handle criminal law.

What to include in LinkedIn for attorneys?

Things to consider for LinkedIn include: A fully fleshed out summary with specific details of the attorneys professional successes, a clear statement of expertise and results, recommendations from at least 10 clients, a professional headshot, and a tagline under the headshot that makes the area of expertise clear.”.

How much of a law firm's traffic is to the bios of specific lawyers?

According to Ana Levin of Everlaw “ 80% of law firm traffic is to the bios of specific lawyers. This is because clients hire a person, not a firm. To take advantage of this, make sure that each bio page has a strong call-to-action, to drive conversion. For example, include a contact form directly on the bio page, or make your phone number and e-mail address very prominent on the page.

How to protect your online reputation?

How can you protect your online reputation? “Actively manage your online reviews and reply/respond as frequently as possible, even to the positive ones! This will help your clients feel heard and appreciated. Don’t let negative reviews especially go unaddressed or unresolved, or assume that an angry client can’t be made happy. Do what you can to resolve or explain the issue with respect and a genuine effort.” If you are new to promoting your practice online, a good place to start is with your existing customers “74% of clients say they’re willing to provide testimonials, yet some lawyers don’t even bother to ask.” Says Apryl Beverly of BAAB Writing and Marketing Services.

What is the critical thing to remember with all content marketing?

As Sherry Holub from JV Media Design explains, “One critical thing to remember with all content marketing (especially in California due to the recent proposed formal ethics opinion on attorney blogs) is to avoid language that could be considered solicitation.”

Is it important to protect your reputation online?

There’s no denying the need to protect your reputation online . With more sites than ever offering reviews and feedback on attorney performance from past clients, it is vital to remain engaged online. As Chris Campbell – Chief Tracking Officer at Review Trackers – says, “A New York Times and Latitude study…revealed that online reviews inspire twice as much consumer/client trust than Facebook “likes”, tweets, or follower counts. Customer reviews on sites like Yelp, Google+ Local, Angie’s List, etc. have been proven to influence 79 percent of consumers’ decisions.”

Does a law firm's website affect the bottom line?

Even if your site is pulling in impressive traffic, it won’t affect your bottom line. Not without a way for your customers to demonstrate their interest. One way for law firms to optimize their sites for lead generation is by incorporating a live chat feature.

Is YouTube a good search engine for lawyers?

According to David Shiffman, founder of Brandamos.com, video content is a key area of opportunity for law firms looking to stand out online. “Youtube is the second largest search engine in the world, and it is owned by Google. In fact, Google actually ranks videos higher than websites in some cases. For lawyers, we recommend building out a YouTube channel with a series of videos talking about specific areas of practice and specific scenarios that potential clients may be involved in.”

How to set a law firm marketing goal?

One way to set an attainable revenue goal is to review all of your current client engagements and assign likely revenue generated this year. Then, create a total revenue goal that is attainable; one that with commitment and hard work, could actually be reached .

What is the first thing you need to do to grow your law firm?

The first thing you need to do is to identify specific and measurable objectives for the growth of your law firm. I recommend creating tangible objectives for each of the seven areas above. If you remember back to your marketing courses from college, marketing objectives need to be Smart:

What is marketing in law?

Marketing is everything you and your firm do to market the firm and its practice areas. Marketing is all about the MESSAGES you put out into the marketplace on who you are, what you do, and the unique value your firm delivers. Marketing efforts generally benefit all lawyers in a law firm not the individual lawyer. Law firm marketing includes everything above from websites and social media, to blogging efforts, client communications, branding and law firm public relations . Marketing softens the marketplace so prospective clients and referral sources know the firm. When the market is familiar with your law firm and its brand, it makes it that much easier for the next task – accomplished 100% by the sales force – I mean the lawyers.

What is legal marketing?

This page is designed to provide a law firm marketing primer for you as an individual lawyer, and for your entire law firm. Legal Marketing is interpreted many different ways depending on what a particular company is selling. In other words, advertising agencies will say they do lawyer marketing strategy but what they really do is help their clients place paid ads. A public relations firm will say they do marketing, but their core mission is to get placements, guest features, articles, interviews, and other forms of PR for their law firm clients. While advertising and public relations are both components of a law firm marketing plan, they are just two out of many strategic legal marketing ideas law firms need to focus on to drive new revenue. In fact, to make this concept easy for lawyers, many years ago, I created a foundation for every lawyer and law firm’s marketing strategy called The Four Pillars of Marketing ™.

How much of my law firm revenue comes from referrals?

Likely 80% of your revenue this year will come from existing clients and referral sources. Knowing this, make the process of retaining and growing those relationships a top priority in your law firm marketing plan. Specifically:

What is the importance of branding as a lawyer?

Branding – As a lawyer it’s important to remember that YOU are the brand. Clients hire lawyers not law firms. That said, you still need to stand out above your competitors by having a graphically appealing logo, website, marketing materials, social media profiles, invoices, letterhead, and business cards.

How to make your contacts manageable?

Identify your Best Contacts – Make marketing manageable by focusing on your very best contacts. These are people you know, like, trust, and respect and they feel the same way about you. As you develop your contact list, consider law school classmates, referral sources, community and religious organizations, business and industry contacts, friends and neighbors, and other club members.

How do you market a law firm?

The main steps are to define your business goals, undertake some market analysis, craft your marketing strategy, and then execute it. The process takes time and patience, but we’re here to talk you through how to do it—and how to do it well.

Why do lawyers need a marketing plan?

A detailed marketing plan can also save you time, effort, and marketing budget in the long run. By having a defined plan, it becomes clear who on your team is responsible for what. This helps you stay on track and accomplish your firm’s legal marketing tasks that might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Why is law firm marketing important?

Marketing your law firm correctly can help to put more eyes on your business, leading to increased opportunities to generate income. Put simply, you need a decent amount of clients to make money—and a proper marketing strategy will help you get there.

How to achieve law firm marketing goals?

When you’re looking at what needs to be done to achieve your law firm marketing goals, be honest about whether your firm can achieve all your goals internally. If handling marketing internally isn’t feasible, consider outsourcing some (or even most) of the marketing tasks. You can hire an expert to help with everything from SEO to content creation—so don’t be afraid to outsource where you need it. Clio’s global network of Certified Consultants is a good place to start.

Why is marketing important in law?

A good marketing plan helps you stand out from your competitors and get the clients your law firm needs. But first, you need to understand how and what your competitors are doing. What are the characteristics of your competitors? What is their market share? How do they try to differentiate themselves from other law firms?

How does SEO help a law firm?

SEO strategies can increase your law firm website’s position in search engine results pages (like Google) to drive more visitors to your website. This is a powerful marketing tactic because if you’re easier to find, your firm will be more top-of-mind for potential clients. Many law firms put a lot of time, money, and effort into creating high-quality content for their websites. However, without a good volume of web visitors and potential clients looking at your content, your website will not help you gain the clients you need.

What is email marketing for lawyers?

Email marketing for lawyers is an online marketing strategy that offers a lot of bang for minimal effort (especially if you use tools like Mailchimp to help). Sending out targeted and consistent marketing emails to your network can help you build your brand, establish your law firm’s expertise, and bring value to readers. Email marketing is also easy to measure, with marketing platforms offering analytics like how many people open your email. This way, you will know how well your marketing efforts are received.

Which social media platform is the second most effective to get legal clients?

Facebook is generally regarded as the second-most effective social platform to get legal clients.

What happens if you don't have a digital marketing plan?

First things first: If you don’t have a robust plan for digital marketing, you’ll struggle to get new clients.

How to make a LinkedIn profile?

Include a professional snapshot, headline, and cover photo. Add your professional summary, achievements, experience, skills, academic background, and anything else that helps your profile stand out.

How does grassroot marketing work?

Grassroots marketing builds your presence from the ground up, helping you become well known in your territory. Essentially, you cultivate a strong relationship with a community, whether the one you live in or a group of people that share the same interest (s).

What is SEO law?

Search engine optimization (SEO) refers to the strategies and tactics that help your law firm’s website rank higher for relevant terms that users search for on search engines (like Google, Bing, and Yahoo).

What sites do you receive reviews on?

Being open to receiving online reviews and responding to every review you receive on GMB, as well as Yelp, Avvo, Facebook, Better Business Bureau, and Yellow Pages

How to get yourself noticed?

One way to get yourself noticed, expand your network, and establish a relationship with your local community is to attend local events.

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