About 33% of potential clients start their search for a lawyer online. The stat means that while people will get referrals for attorneys, the information they find on search engines will influence their choice.
With this trend, you have to invest in law firm marketing. You’ll only increase your online visibility if you invest in digital marketing techniques.
Digital marketing for law firms can be challenging as there are so many aspects to consider, from website design to SEO to social media. But with the right tips and strategies, you can stay ahead of the curve by creating a successful digital marketing plan.
Here are some tips to help you get an edge on the competition and stand out from the crowd.
Make Your Website Easy to Navigate
Your website is your digital business card and one of the first places potential clients will go to learn more about you and your firm. It’s important to make sure that you design your site with the user in mind.
Start by ensuring that your site is easy to navigate and loads quickly. Organize your content to make sense and make it easy for users to find what they’re looking for. Use clear and concise headlines and subheadings, and ensure you display your contact information.
Include calls to action (CTAs) on your website and throughout your content to guide users to the next step. It could be to ask them to schedule a consultation or sign up for legal updates.
And finally, ensure your website is mobile-friendly. With over 50% of internet traffic coming from mobile devices, it’s more important than ever to have a site that looks great and works well on all screens.
If you want a better website, you can consider hiring professionals specializing in law firm web design, such as Dupont Creative. Such experts will create a custom website for your firm and organize it to your liking.
Engage in SEO Techniques
Search engine optimization (SEO) should be a cornerstone of your digital marketing strategy. By optimizing your website for relevant keywords, you can increase your chances of showing up in search results and getting in front of potential clients.
SEO for law firms can be challenging as you compete for highly competitive keywords. But there are some things you can do to improve your ranking. Examples include:
Local SEO
Optimize your website for local keywords to help you show up in search results for potential clients in your area. For example, your website will show up when people search for law firms, attorneys, or lawyers near them.
Long-Tail Keywords
Use keyword research to identify longer, more specific phrases that potential clients are searching for. These tend to be less competitive and can help you attract targeted traffic.
Start by researching long-tail keywords that are less competitive but still relevant to your practice. Then, create content around those keywords.
Optimize Your Pages
In addition to optimizing your website as a whole, it’s also important to optimize individual pages for specific keywords. This includes your home page, practice area pages, and attorney bios.
To optimize a page, add relevant keywords to the title tags and meta descriptions. These are the brief descriptions that show up in search results. So, make sure they’re engaging.
Then, add keyword-rich content to the page itself. The goal is to provide value to users while also using the keywords you want to rank for.
Categorize Your Website
A common mistake that law firms make is failing to categorize their website. This mistake can make it difficult for users to find the information they’re looking for, which can lead to frustration and a high bounce rate.
To avoid this, make sure you categorize your website properly, especially if you offer different legal services. The goal is to help clients navigate your website easily by quickly finding the relevant legal area.
Leverage the Power of Content Marketing
Content marketing is a powerful tool that can help you attract clients and grow your law firm. Focus on creating valuable content that will help you create a better image for your law firm by positioning you as an expert in your field. Such content will help you build trust with potential clients and drive traffic to your website.
When developing your content marketing strategy, start by identifying the topics and keywords you want to rank for. Then, publish high-quality information that’s relevant and engaging. This can include infographics and whitepapers.
Make sure you promote your content. Share it on your website and on social media. You can also send it to clients and prospects via email and reach out to influencers in your industry to get the word out.
Create a Blog and Post Regularly
A blog is a great way to show your expertise in your field and attract clients. When writing blog posts, focus on topics that will be relevant to your target audience.
For example, if you practice family law, you may want to write about divorce, child custody, or spousal support. Besides blogging about legal issues, you can write articles about other trends or news in your industry. The goal should be to show your prospects that you’re up to date on what’s happening around you.
It’ll be vital to pay attention to your blog’s visual appeal. Use images, infographics, and videos to break up the text and keep readers engaged.
Ensure that you post blogs regularly for better engagement. Regular posts will also attract new visitors to your website and improve your SEO. Aim to post at least once a week, but more often is better.
Create and Share Video Content
Video is a powerful marketing tool that can help you connect with potential clients and show off your personality. About 74% of consumers acknowledge that they would rather learn about a service or product by watching a video.
When creating videos, focus on topics that will be relevant to your target audience. For example, if you’re a personal injury lawyer, you may want to create videos about car accidents or slip and fall accidents.
If you practice family law, you can consider videos about divorce or child custody. If you have a legal team, you can include videos of them on their bio pages. Videos will humanize your staff and make your law firm more relatable.
In addition to creating informative videos, make sure your videos are high quality and professionally done. Clean videos will create a better image for your law firm.
Also, ensure that your videos are appealing to watch and well-edited. You can hire a professional video production company to help you make high-quality videos. You should also promote your videos on your website and other platforms.
Use Social Media to Promote Your Law Firm
Social media is a great way to connect with potential clients and promote your law firm. When using social media, it’s important to be active and engage with your audience.
Start by creating a profile for your law firm on all the major social media platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Then, populate your profile with information about your law firm. You can include your history, practice areas, and contact information.
Once you set up your profile, start posting engaging content that will be relevant to your target audience. For example, you may want to post articles, blog posts, infographics, or videos. You can also use social media to share news about your law firm, such as new cases or awards you’ve won.
Make sure you respond to comments and questions from potential clients. The responses will help you build relationships and create better engagement with your audience.
Be Selective About Social Media Platforms
With so many social media platforms available, it’s important to be selective about which ones you use for your law firm. Not all platforms will be relevant to your target audience.
For example, if your target audience is millennials, you may want to focus on using Snapchat and Instagram. If your target audience is Baby Boomers, you may want to focus on using Facebook.
It’s also important to consider which platforms will most effectively promote your law firm. For example, LinkedIn is a great platform for B2B marketing, while Instagram is better for B2C marketing.
Think about the goals you want to achieve with your social media marketing, and then choose the platforms that will help you achieve those goals.
Use Paid Advertising
Your law firm’s marketing strategy can also include paid advertising to reach potential clients. Paid advertising allows you to target specific demographics, interests, and behaviors. It can be a great way to reach potential clients who are more likely to use your services.
For example, if you’re a personal injury lawyer, you can target people who have been involved in a car accident. You can use Google Ads to target people who search for “car accident lawyer” or “personal injury lawyer.”
You can also use Facebook advertising to target potential clients. For example, you can target people who live in a certain area. Your Facebook ads can also target those interested in law-related topics or who have engaged with your law firm’s page in the past.
Use Email Marketing
Email marketing is another great way to reach potential clients and promote your law firm. Email marketing can send newsletters, announcements, or even promotional material.
When using email marketing, it’s important to make sure your emails are well-written and relevant to your target audience. You should also segment your email list so that you’re only sending emails to people who are interested in the topics you’re discussing.
For example, if you list potential clients who have signed up for your newsletter, you may want to segment that list by practice area. That way, you can send emails specifically relevant to each practice area.
Generate Reviews and Testimonials
One of the best ways to build trust with potential clients is to show them that you have a track record of success. Include testimonials and reviews on your website, and showcase any awards or accolades you’ve received.
If you don’t have any reviews or testimonials yet, reach out to your past clients and ask them to write a review or record a testimonial. You can also offer incentives, such as discounts on future services, for writing a review.
Post your reviews and testimonials where potential clients will see them. You can post them on your homepage or your social media pages. You can also make customer testimonial videos and post them on your website or social media pages.
Bring a Professional Digital Marketer on Board
Consider hiring a professional digital marketer if you don’t have the time or resources to market your law firm online effectively. A digital marketer can help you create and implement an effective digital marketing strategy that attracts clients.
Law firm marketing is not easy, and you may not be able to navigate it independently. A professional experienced in digital marketing will have the tools and resources to make digital marketing a breeze. They can make high-quality videos, create a better website for you, and curate killer content that will appeal to your prospects.
Digital marketers can also help you track your results and make necessary adjustments to your strategy. They’ll measure your results to help you see what’s working and what’s not.
For example, they’ll keep track of your website traffic, social media engagement, and email open rates. Measuring results will help you make the necessary adjustments to your strategy and ensure that you’re on track to reach your goals.
Take Your Law Firm Marketing to the Next Level
Digital law firm marketing doesn’t have to be difficult. There are many ways to reach potential clients and promote your law firm online. Start by implementing the tips in our article, and you’ll be well on your way to increasing your client base and improving your firm’s image.
If you enjoyed reading the article, browse our blog for more content.