It’s this simple point: You’ve got to be authentic and you’ve got to be present when you’re writing about things online. It’s so critical. It’s hard for us; we’re reticent as lawyers sometimes to communicate a lot about ourselves. This is why when you look at so many legal blogs and so many legal websites you see these very dry bio pages. You just see this recitation of facts. There’s really no engagement, there’s no telling what makes this lawyer tick? What are their passions outside of the law? Hell, what are their passions inside of the law? We know about the aggressive, persistent representation, but tell us a little bit more about yourself. If you just take that away from it, if you can just get that engagement, think about providing more information about yourself and what drives you as a lawyer in everything you write; permeate everything you write within your website, you’re going to be head-and-shoulders above so many others who are competing for clients.

Let’s look at the types of content that you can have on your website. First and foremost here, is blogging. Blogging is great for lawyers. We as lawyers love to write. If you love to write, you really should be blogging, but you shouldn’t have someone else blogging for you; it gets back to this being authentic and being present. You need to be writing this information for yourself. Set aside a little time every day to do that writing, and your blog will flourish. You will populate it with new posts a couple of times a week. It’s a great way to drive additional authentic content for your blog. There’s a lot of other ways you can do it, as well. Write longer articles and whitepapers like, The Top 10 Things to Think About When You’re Forming a Small Business, the Top 3 Things to Do if You’re Pulled Over for a DUI. Whatever the case may be with your practice, that deep content, that long copy, is what potential clients are looking for. You can write e-books, you can send in a feed of your Avvo Q&A or your legal guides, you can create email newsletters. These are great ways to keep re-marketing to existing clients or people who have inquired but haven’t hired you yet. Send them a reminder every month about who you are and what you do, with some content linking to your blog post, linking to your whitepapers, whatever the case may be.

On a more advanced level, you can even do webinars. Webinar software has gotten incredibly easy and cheap to use. Think about doing webinars as part of the content that’s on your website. They could be informational videos, even bringing in your Twitter feed, provided you’re using Twitter in right way as someone who’s authentic, present, and engaged.

People ask, “How do you generate ideas for content?”

How do you generate ideas for anything? You’re engaged, you’re out reading the newspaper, you’re talking with other lawyers. Think about things that are interesting to you, both inside and outside the law. That’s the type of content that you want to be writing about, particularly on your blog where you have a little more leeway to talk about things that are personally energizing and engaging to you.

Measuring results: It’s fine to measure using metrics. You should use Google Analytics or other types of tools to look at exactly what the numbers are. Think about softer stuff, too. Are people commenting on your blog posts? Are people writing you offline? Taking issue with the things that you’ve written? Are you creating a sense of engagement and community? That’s really the test for whether the content that you’re putting on your website is really resonating with a potential community.

Finally, start small. You don’t need to build-out this massive content first. You can start with just a few pages on your website and build it out from there. We’re certainly happy to help, here at Avvo. As you may or may not know, we’ve recently launched our own website product, Avvo Ignite, where you can have a great website built by Avvo. We can help you out with the stuff and get you started on the path to creating a wonderful engaging website with lots of great content.

That’s it for today. Thanks so much.

The first key is a great design. You and your firm are going to want to choose content and a design that speaks to the audience that you’re trying to bring in, the clients that you want to attract. You want to have key value propositions and objectives that show up in that design and that content. The second part of this is the first impressions. Online, it is very important to have a good first impression, sometimes even more so than when somebody is walking into your lobby. Potential clients can go online and quickly and easily make comparisons to your competitors and make judgments. It’s very important to have a site that looks nice. The average person only looks at 4 pages on a website before they contact you or bounce out, so very important for a good first impression. Third is understanding your audience. For example, as a business firm, you may want to choose something that’s simple; clean, professional-looking and basic. Something that highlights and showcases your services, but doesn’t really concentrate on the artistic presence of the site.

The second key to an effective and converting legal website is ease of use. You’ve got to make it easy for people to use it. You’ve got to make easy for them to find the information that they need quickly and the stuff that’s important to them. You want to be able to direct them to the things that you want them to do, as well. Make it optimized for calls-to-action like phone calls, emails, filling out a web form, or maybe an online payment for a current client. As an example, if you want to drive more phone calls to your firm, you’ll want to have your phone number appear in several different places on your homepage, as well as pages the site. Also, following through with things like third-party validation through client reviews adds credibility. Most importantly, make your contact information easily accessible so a potential client can contact you easily whenever they decide to do so.

Mobile optimization; this is very, very, very important right now, because 30% of internet traffic is coming through mobile right now. Fifty one percent of people in the United States have a Smartphone, and 61% of mobile searches end in a call. Phone calls convert about 10 to 15 times better than a web lead. If they’re looking for you on their phone, they probably want to get a hold of you. It’s very, very important. Think of that responsive design; not a separate mobile site, but one that’s going to appear like your website but on a 4” screen, with vertical scrolling, easy one-click call and directions.

The third key to an effective legal website that converts is the right architecture; the right code, copy, and structure for your site to be found and indexed in the search engines by the search bots. Things like your keywords, your name, your firm name, the practice areas that you practice in, and your geography, are very important for all of your basic SEO. Another thing that will help you get found online is online legal directories. Think of Yelp, YellowPages.com, Yahoo local, Avvo; places that point back to your site. Google recognizes that they’re trying to find you, but it helps you with the general SEO purposes getting you found online. Also, Google Places; very important to have a Google+ account so you show up in Google Maps and Google Places. Think about that 6-pack up at the top of a search results list, where people are showing up in the map or what you do and what you practice in the geography that Google says you’re supposed to be in. Also, social pages; your Facebook page, Twitter, LinkedIn; those are other pages that link back to your website, and again, helps your website get found easier.

The fourth key is reporting metrics, the metrics that matter. How can you make important decisions about your marketing and advertising if you don’t know what’s going on with your website right now? You need to know how many people are coming to your site, how many people are contacting you, where you’re ranking in the search engines, and where traffic is coming from and how that traffic from those different places is converting. Also, a CRM and contact management solution: This can help you not only keep from wading through all of the data and the information that you have out there about where people are coming from and staying on top of them (most CRM’s and contact management solutions have a reporting tool), but it also reduces fallout, and it allows you to convert a higher percentage of contacts that you’re receiving through things such as automated email responses, email drip campaigns, auto alerts, online payment.

Next is tracking your marketing. A lot of attorney’s are saying, “50% of my marketing is working. I just don’t know what 50% is.” Getting a better handle on what channels are driving the most contacts, how those contacts are turning into prospects, how many of those prospects are actually becoming clients, and what you’re paying per client. You can get rid of the stuff that’s not working and get more of the stuff that is.

The fifth and final key is the right team. Avvo now offers SEO mobile-optimized websites, as well as contact management, and marketing conversion, through Avvo Ignite. If you’d like to speak with me or one of my colleagues about helping you with your online presence, please give us a call. Thank you.

• Create a marketing plan that works for your firm
• Enhance your firm’s visibility and authority within search, social media and in mobile
• Develop rewarding client relationships
• Grow your referral network
• Track and measure your marketing return-on-investment

National Truck Accident Attorneys.

The Law Offices of Morgan Adams has three locations across the country. The California office is located in San Francisco, California. The Law Offices of Morgan Adams serves clients who have been injured in trucking accidents. The firm assists clients in receiving compensation from the trucking company involved, and the truck’s insurance carrier. While some of these claims can be settled out of court, this is not advisable, as the insurance company aims to settle for as little as possible. The Law Offices of Morgan Adams ensures that clients receive all of the compensation that they are entitled to. This includes, but is not limited to, compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.

The new website for the Law Offices of Morgan Adams is user-friendly and offers details about the members of the firm and practice areas. The website includes a blog with up-to-date information and relevant news. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About the Law Offices of Morgan Adams and how to contact them.

The Law Offices of Morgan Adams is located at 55 Francisco Street, Suite 403, San Francisco, CA 94133.

The staff may be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://www.sanfranciscotruckaccidents.com or Phone (866) 699-6412

- Employment Based Immigration: Immigration and admittance to the United States based on certain occupational standards.

- Family Based Immigration: Immigration and admittance to the U.S. based on a relationship to a U.S. citizen.

- Naturalization: The process of becoming a resident or citizen of the United States.

- Student and Trainee Visas: Permission to stay in the U.S. while obtaining an education or job skills.

- Deportation Defense: Fighting to legally remain in the United States.

- Asylum, Refugee, and Humanitarian Immigration: Requesting permission to remain in the U.S. due to certain conditions in the country of origin.

Immigration attorney Nikhil Shah worked with Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based software that provides attorneys with the tools needed to efficiently present their services and manage client communications, to design a website that is easy to navigate for those not familiar with immigration issues. The website includes links to the latest immigration news and immigration resources, and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook and Google+.

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About the Law Offices of Nikhil M. Shah: Immigration attorney Nikhil Shah has two offices in Southern California. The offices in Marina del Rey are at 4640 Admiralty Way, Suite 500 with a telephone number of 310-496-5734. The offices in downtown Los Angeles are at 355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2450 with a telephone number of 213-943-1322. Further information may also be found on the website at http://www.immigrationvakils.com/.

Criminal Defense Attorney

With the new microsite, Attorney Santo V. Artusa Jr., provides valuable information about criminal defense in the state of New Jersey. This includes help for those accused of assault, domestic violence and drug cases. In each of these situations, a strong defense protects the accused against stiff penalties and the potential for jail time.

The Artusa Law Firm also handles juvenile criminal defense. These cases are handled differently, as they do not go through the traditional court system. Juveniles are tried in front of a judge, not a jury, and they may not be offered bail. Attorney Artusa’s understanding of this process and the juvenile courts proves a valuable asset to young people accused of crimes.

Traffic Defense Attorney

The microsite also focuses on traffic defense. Those who are accused of traffic violations in New Jersey face points and charges on their licenses, and may even lose their license and the right to drive. Attorney Artusa helps these individuals fight to protect their right to drive and avoid unnecessary penalties or points.

The Artusa Law Firm’s new site is powered through Avvo Ignite. It offers tips and advice about these two areas of law, as well as up-to-date New Jersey criminal law news. Social media connectivity makes the site user-friendly and allows visitors to easily share posts via Facebook, Google+, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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About Artusa Law Firm and how to contact them.

The Artusa Law Firm is located at 21 Main Street, Suite 309 in Hackensack, New Jersey, 07601. For more information call them at 201-706-7910 or visit the new microsite at www.bergencountycriminallaw.com.

Family Law Attorney.

Attorney Hunt is a dedicated family law attorney and can assist clients with a wide array of legal issues. Attorney Hunt is a Certified Family Financial Mediator and focuses on helping families resolve their domestic relations issues and move forward. Attorney Hunt can assist with child custody and child support disputes, as well as helping parents whose children have been taken into state custody.

Bankruptcy Law Attorney.

The economy is tough and many consumers are turning to bankruptcy protection when all other options have failed. Attorney Hunt is a qualified bankruptcy attorney and helps clients discharged their debts and start with a clean slate.

Criminal and Traffic Defense Attorney.

Attorney Hunt also assists clients with traffic citations and convictions, and criminal law issues. Attorney Hunt has successfully defended many clients from traffic and criminal charges.

Civil Litigation and Defense Attorney.

Attorney Hunt is a highly capable attorney that can assist clients with any number of civil litigation and defense issues. Attorney Hunt also offers initial consultations so attorney and client can get to know one another and see if a working relationship can be established.

Attorney Gregory Hunt’s new website is fresh and updated with information about the staff and the firm’s practice areas. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Hunt Law, PLLC and how to contact them.

Hunt Law, PLLC is located at 1018 East Boulevard, Suite 2 in Charlotte, NC 28203.

The staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://www.ghuntlaw.com/ or Phone (704) 322-4185

The law firm works with other nationally recognized lawyers and world class experts to assist clients who have been the victims of:

- Tractor trailer accidents: Nearly 10 percent of all accidents involve a truck or large vehicle. A truck that is fully loaded can weigh over 40 tons, leading to serious injuries and possible death.
- Garbage truck accidents: Garbage truck accidents are some of the most tragic trucking accidents since they frequently involve pedestrians, bicyclists, cars, or motorcycles.
- Delivery truck accidents: Delivery trucks, small box trucks, and large pick-up trucks are considered commercial motor vehicles whose operators need specialized skills to safely drive the truck and prevent accidents.
- Bus and school bus accidents: Bus and school bus accidents can have serious consequences because they are large, fast moving objects made of steel and other heavy materials that carry many passengers.

Because he wanted a website that would be accessible and informational Attorney Morgan Adams worked with Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based software that provides attorneys with the tools needed to efficiently present their services to and manage client communications. The website includes recommended actions for those involved in trucking accidents and a blog, and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook and LinkedIn.

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About the Law Offices of Morgan Adams: Attorney Morgan Adams is located at 221 N. LaSalle Street, Suite 2119 in Chicago, Illinois. Further information may be obtained at http://www.chicagotrucklawyers.com/ or 877-695-0844.

National Truck Accident Attorneys.

The Law Offices of Morgan Adams has three locations to conveniently serve current and potential clients. The firm helps clients receive justice through the courts, and receive the funds that they are entitled to as a result of their injuries. The firm focuses on injuries sustained by clients through trucking accidents. The Law Offices of Morgan Adams has helped many clients recover millions of dollars owed to them as a result of accidents and accident-related injuries.

The new website for the Law Offices of Morgan Adams is user-friendly and offers details about the members of the firm and practice areas. The website includes a blog with up-to-date information and relevant news. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About the Law Offices of Morgan Adams and how to contact them.

The Law Offices of Morgan Adams has three convenient locations to serve you.

In Tennessee, you may visit 1419 Market Street, in Chattanooga, TN 37402. The Chicago office is located at 221 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2119, Chicago, IL 60601. And finally, the California office is located at 55 Francisco Street, Suite 403, San Francisco, CA 94133

They can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:
http://www.nationaltruckaccidentattorneys.com or Phone (877) 701-8423

Personal Injury Attorney.

Attorney Padilla is dedicated to helping clients who have been injured. Attorney Padilla and his team handle the legal aspects of the injury so clients can focus on healing. If a client is entitled to compensation, Attorney Padilla will fight to get his clients what they deserve.

Litigation Attorney.

Attorney Padilla has almost two decades of litigation experience in all areas of the law. If a client is in need of representation in a courtroom, Attorney Padilla can handle their needs and represent them fairly and expeditiously.

Business Attorney.

Attorney Padilla is an experienced business attorney, and has represented both large corporations and small businesses. Attorney Padilla helps new and veteran business owners navigate the legal obstacles they face, so they can concentrate on building their business.

Padilla & Associates’ new website is user-friendly and offers information about Attorney Jeffrey W. Padilla and his staff of legal professionals. The website includes a blog with information and news that is relevant to Attorney Padilla’s practice areas. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Padilla & Associates, PLLC and how to contact them.

Padilla & Associates is located at 845 Third Avenue, 6th Floor in New York, NY 10022.

They can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://www.padillalaw.com/ or Phone (646) 699-3632

Mediation and Arbitration.

Attorney Benner assists clients with all mediation and arbitration needs. Mediation allows parties to settle their issues before they go to court, saving time and money. Arbitration is a fact-finding process agreed to by both parties in a dispute, and also allows them to handle their grievances without litigation. Both of these services help clients handle disputes amicably without having to navigate through the court system. This is especially helpful when cases span state lines.

Dispute Resolution.

Attorney Benner also assists clients with dispute resolution services, including online dispute resolution. This service helps clients deal with any issues before they snowball into larger issues. This also saves time and money and avoids a lengthy battle in the court system.

Attorney Peter W. Benner’s new website is easy to navigate and offers information to clients and other attorneys about Attorney Benner’s services and practice areas. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and allows connectivity with social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Peter W. Benner and how to contact his office.

The Law Office of Peter W. Benner is located in West Hartford, Connecticut.

Attorney Benner and his staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://www.pwbresolve.com/ or Phone (860) 337-1882

Serious Criminal Offenses Attorney

After accusations of serious criminal offenses, defendants face life-changing consequences, including long prison stays or, in Washington state, the death penalty. Attorney Stimmel is ready to defend individuals accused of serious crimes such as homicide, sex offenses, drug offenses and serious thefts.

Violent Crimes Attorney

When individuals are accused of violent crimes, domestic violence or restraining order violations, they need a solid legal team behind them, as courts often side toward the alleged victim in these cases. With a long prison term as the possible outcome, building a solid defense is crucial in these cases.

Expungement Attorney

When King Country residents face criminal convictions, they often face ongoing difficulties in jobs searches and basic civil rights. To fix this problem, attorney Stimmel helps individuals through the expungement process to wipe their records clean. In cases where civil rights or firearm rights are not protect, the law firm will help accused individuals restore those rights.

Cybercrimes and Work Crimes

Whether facing cybercrime charges or charges of fraud, embezzlement or other employment crimes, individuals in Washington State face fines and even imprisonment for these so-called “white collar” offenses. Attorney Jerry Stimmel’s experience in the courts serves as a valuable asset when building defense for these cases.

With his new website, criminal defense attorney Jerry Stimmel provides clients with up-to-date information about this branch of the law. The site, which is powered through Avvo Ignite, is also linked to popular social media sites, to make sharing information and connecting with the law firm simple.

About Attorney Jerry Stimmel and how to contact him.

Attorney Jerry Stimmel is located at 5400 Carillon Point, Building 5000 in Kirkland, Washington, 98033. The office is on the fourth floor. Contact the firm at 425-827-8105 or by visiting http://www.jerrystimmel.com/.

The law firm seeks to help people find solutions to these difficult situations. As a debt collection attorney, Mr. Carlisle uses the website to educate clients about their rights and responsibilities. Debt collection tips provided on the website include:

- Don’t Ignore The Lawsuit: Any lawsuits filed should not be ignored. Engaging the Carlisle Law Firm to defend the lawsuit could prevent the creditor from obtaining a default judgment.

- Consider Suing the Creditor: In some cases debt collection firms use illegal tactics to extract payment. If collectors violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act the debtor might be entitled to file a lawsuit that could result in debt forgiveness.

- Negotiate a Settlement: Many debtors do not realize that some creditors may settle for a lower payment to resolve the debt. Mr. Carlisle’s firm may be able to negotiate with creditors to reduce the payment amount.

Georgia Attorney William R. Carlisle has practiced law since 1996 and tried over 50 jury trials, close to 1000 civil bench trials and over 35 appeals. The debt collection attorney plays a role in shaping Georgia’s consumer finance law with numerous appellate decisions.

Because he wanted a website that would be informational and easy to use, Mr. Carlisle worked with Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based software that provides attorneys with the tools needed to efficiently present their services and manage client communications. The website includes many debt collection FAQs, a blog, and a link to Mr. Carlisle’s LinkedIn page.

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About the Carlisle Law Firm:

Carlisle Law Firm, LLC is located at 5704 Mountain Oak Drive in Braselton, GA. Further information may be obtained by visiting the website at http://www.ezdebt.net/ or calling 770-854-0583 for a free consultation.

Personal Injury Attorney.

Attorney James Bendell is dedicated to helping clients who have been injured in an accident. Attorney Bendell offers free 30-minute consultations to potential clients. This consultation allows attorney and client time to get to know each other to see if a working relationship can be forged. It also allows Attorney Bendell the chance to determine if the client has a case, and if so, how best to pursue the case. Once a working partnership is established, Attorney Bendell will litigate the case to ensure the client gets the compensation and other benefits they deserve.

Attorney James Bendell’s new website is user-friendly and up-to-date with fresh, relevant information. The site offers information on Attorney Bendell’s practice. The site also hosts a blog with news that is relevant to the personal injury practice areas of the firm. Attorney Bendell’s website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Attorney James Bendell and his staff, and how to contact them.

Attorney James Bendell is located at 842 West Kathleen Avenue, in Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815.

Attorney Bendell and his staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact Attorney Bendell and his staff at:

http://www.northidahopersonalinjury.com/ or Phone (208) 258-7367

Dave’s heart has been in defending the underdog throughout his entire legal career. After graduating from Stanford University, Dave attended law school at Georgetown University, where he volunteered with low-income clients in landlord-tenant and personal injury cases. Later, he worked in the New Hampshire Public Defender’s office for five years, gaining experience across a wide range of misdemeanor and felony defense cases. His familiarity with Washington State began ten years ago, when he entered the felony division of The Defender Association in Seattle. Later, in his private practice, he has drawn on his broad experience to develop a keen focus on defending clients against accusations of domestic violence.

Realistic guidance

Legal consequences can unfold rapidly after an arrest for domestic violence, and it’s crucial to have the calm, supportive guidance of an attorney who is well-versed in Washington’s laws. Dave provides his clients with insights into every aspect of their cases, helping them navigate all the simultaneous challenges of a domestic violence arrest. Civil protection orders call for various responses depending on the nature of a case, and cellphone records can be helpful or damaging; Dave will offer useful advice from his years of experience in handling similar situations.

Positive results

Dave has a long list of good outcomes showing how his advocacy has benefitted prior clients. These include cases in which he persuaded juries that the objective evidence was not compatible with the alleged victim’s story, and other situations in which he was able to suppress evidence from illegal traffic stops. He has had cases dismissed after persuading the court that the alleged victim was actually the first aggressor. Domestic violence accusations almost always involve a complex history between two people, and Dave can calmly untangle the threads of a legal situation in such a way as to support the person accused. He has the dedication to explore and pursue all possible avenues toward a positive outcome for clients during a confusing and heartbreaking period in their lives.

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About The Law Office of David Hammerstad and how to contact him:

David Hammerstad’s office is located at 1111 Third Avenue, Suite 2220 in Seattle, WA 98191

He is happy to provide a free consultation.

Contact him at:

http://www.domesticviolencedefenseseattle.com or phone (206) 445-0215.

Criminal Defense

For clients who have been arrested or accused of a crime, Attorney Kaloustian can help mold a defense and present his client’s side of the facts in a court of law. Attorney Kaloustian can help dispute the charges against his clients. If convicted, he may be able to help lessen the sentence or have the sentence waived.

Personal Injury

For clients who have been injured in any type of accident, whether on the job, in a motor vehicle, or other situation, Attorney Kaloustian can help navigate the courts to get the compensation that is deserved. Clients are entitled to treatment for any injuries, and may also be entitled to compensation for time off work and personal suffering. Attorney Kaloustian can help handle these issues, leaving clients to concentrate on healing and moving forward.

Family Law

Attorney Kaloustian is well-versed in all areas of family law. Adoption, custody arrangements, divorce, division of assets and modifications of court orders are all issues that Attorney Kaloustian has extensive experience in.

Mediation and ADR

For clients who are involved in a dispute, it is wise to handle the issue outside of court. This alleviates stress and legal fees. Attorney Kaloustian is an experienced mediator and can help clients come to an amicable resolution that is acceptable to all parties involved.

Attorney Kaloustian’s new website is user-friendly and offers details about the firm and staff. The site also includes news and information about the firm’s practice areas. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About the Law Offices of Jeffrey L. Kaloustian and how to contact them.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey L. Kaloustian are located at 184 13th Street, Suite 2 in Oakland, CA 94612.
They can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:
http://www.kaloustianlawoffices.com/ or Phone (510) 338-3497

Estate Planning Attorney.

Attorney Weinstein assists his clients with all of their estate planning needs. He will help you ensure that your loved ones are provided for after you are gone, and your assets are protected so they will benefit those who need them most.

Probate Attorney.

Attorney Weinstein can also help clients with probate issues and represent them in probate courts to ensure that assets are properly distributed to the rightful heirs.

Trusts Attorney.

Attorney Weinstein has much experience with creating, maintaining and administering trusts for his clients. This allows assets to be held for the benefit of another, and distributed according to the grantor’s wishes for the benefit of another.

Attorney Weinstein’s new website is user-friendly and offers up-to-date information about the staff and the firm. This includes office hours, location and news items. The website also includes relevant information about wills and trusts and related issues. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About the Law Office of Michael R. Weinstein and how to contact the staff.
The Law Office of Michael R. Weinstein is located at 1851 East First Street, Suite 900, in Santa Ana, CA 92705..
Staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:
http://www.weinsteinprobate.com or Phone (714) 619-9376.

Attorney Heflin is proud to be a member of the Maricopa County Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Attorney Heflin is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.

Immigration Attorney

Attorney Heflin is dedicated to helping her clients with all of their immigration law issues, no matter the topic. The immigration system in the United States is extremely complicated and the immigration process can be long and stressful, especially to those who have no legal knowledge. Attorney Heflin is proud to use her years of expertise and knowledge of immigration law to help her clients navigate the immigration law system to become citizens of the United States. Attorney Heflin can assist clients with filing immigration applications, petitions, cases, and appeals in all areas of the State of Arizona.

Attorney Heflin’s new website is user-friendly and offers details about the practice and immigration laws. The website includes contact information and client reviews, as well as news and updates. Attorney Heflin’s new website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About the Law Offices of Alicia M. Heflin, PLC and how to contact them.

The Law Offices of Alicia M. Heflin, PLC is located at 3411 N. 5th Avenue, Suite 311 in Phoenix, Arizona 85013.

Attorney Heflin and her staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://heflinlawplc.com/ or Phone (602) 710-2217.

E-Commerce Law

Mr. Jaffe is passionate about E-Commerce Law and assisting his clients whether they are online buyers or sellers. Mr. Jaffe is an expert in Internet Marketing Law. He is also proficient in assisting clients as they craft their Terms of Service and Privacy Policies for their websites and online stores.

Internet Law

Mr. Jaffe is also very experienced in other aspects of law, outside the online trade area. Mr. Jaffe can help clients deal with any issues that arise from Internet use, no matter the topic.

Personal Representation

Mr. Jaffe prides himself on providing one-on-one service to all of his clients, no matter the issue. Mr. Jaffe personally represents each case in court, and only relies on co-counsel when necessary to represent a client in another location outside the Akron area. Mr. Jaffe also stays connected with his clients, answering calls and emails in a timely manner. Mr. Jaffe wants his clients to always be up to date on the latest happenings in their cases; never wondering what the latest developments are.

Attorney Jaffe’s new website is full of information on the practice and the services offered. The website offers users the chance to interact with Mr. Jaffe and his staff. Attorney Jaffe’s new website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Attorney Andrew M. Jaffe and how to contact him or a member of his staff.

The Law Office of Attorney Andrew M. Jaffe is located at 3359 South Smith Road in Fairlawn, Ohio.

They can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://www.netlaws.us/ or Phone (330) 666-5026

- Estate Planning: Following the firm’s motto of “The future is in your hands. Plan for it,” Attorney Scott provides estate planning services to help clients’ families save money in court costs and attorney fees. A well-executed estate plan can also minimize strife and expedite a quicker distribution of assets to heirs and family members. A free estate planning questionnaire is available to help start the decision-making process.

- Social Security Disability: Attorney Matthew D. Scott assists clients whose applications have been denied by the Social Security Administration and advocates for benefits under Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) coverage.

- Family Law: Legal services provided to assist Elk Grove families include pre-nuptial agreements, divorce counseling and representation, financial counseling, custody and support agreements, mediation services and minor children guardianship.

In his quest to develop a new website that is user-friendly and informational, Attorney Matthew D. Scott enlisted the services of Avvo Ignite, a cloud-based software that provides attorneys with the tools needed to efficiently present their services to potential clients and manage communication efforts. The website includes a blog with tips and information on legal issues and provides convenient links to Mr. Scott’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

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About the law office of Attorney Matthew D. Scott: The law office is located at 9245 Laguna Springs Drive, Suite 200 in Elk Grove, California. Further information may be obtained at www.matthewscottlaw.com, matt@matthewscottlaw.com or by calling 916-436-7589 for a complimentary consultation.

Family Law Attorney

As a family law attorney, Mr. Godoy works with cases involving the rights of parents, children, couples and even individuals. This is a broad area of the law that includes everything from divorce to adoption. He also provides help with domestic partnerships and same-sex couples, as well as the drafting of prenuptial arrangements.

Child Custody and Support

When a family with children breaks up, issues surrounding child custody and support are common. Disagreements about who will be responsible for the children, and what that responsibility will entail, can leave kids caught in the middle. Attorney Godoy can help with negotiations, agreements and enforcement of child support requirements. At all times he will keep the best interests of the children in mind.

Divorce and Separation

Couples considering divorce need the help of a knowledgeable, skilled divorce attorney. With the help of Freddy M. Godoy, individuals who are in the process of separating from their spouses, either through divorce or legal separation, will have that help every step of the way. From negotiating the division of property to outlining the details of the separation, Mr. Godoy has the expertise necessary to make this complex process much simpler.

Through the new site, which is powered by Avvo Ignite, clients and potential clients can get vital information about family law. They can also visit the site’s blog for pertinent news and information in this area of law. With user-friendly navigation and social media connectivity, the website will improve the client experience.

About the Law Office of Freddy M. Godoy

The Law Office of Freddy M. Godoy is located at 2 Penn Center Plaza, Suite 200 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Contact them at:

214-854-4061 or www.freddygodoylaw.com

Immigration Law

Attorney Esnardo is a highly-qualified immigration attorney with over a decade of experience in her field. Attorney Esnardo is qualified to deal with all aspects of immigration law. Some issues that she handles include, but are not limited to, family-based and employment-based immigration. She can also assist with deportation defense and appeals to the United States Board of Immigration. Attorney Esnardo also has extensive experience with Religious Visas and preparing Waivers of Inadmissibility. Attorney Esnardo extends an offer of a free initial telephone consultation to all prospective clients who need assistance with immigration laws.

The new website for the Law Office of Grace M. Esnardo is an invaluable resource for both potential and current clients who need assistance with immigration issues. The new website includes information on Attorney Esnardo, her offerings as a licensed immigration attorney and other news and information on her field of law. Information on a free initial telephone consultation with Attorney Esnardo is also contained on the site. In addition, the site includes contact information for the Law Offices of Grace m. Esnardo. The site is powered by Avvo Ignite and allows users the ability to connect and interact with the firm via social media and networking websites.

About the Law Offices of Grace M. Esnardo and contact information.

The Law Offices of Grace M. Esnardo is located at 21620 Trask Place in Ashburn, Virginia.

Attorney Grace M. Esnardo and her staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

Online http://www.esnardolaw.com/ or Phone (703) 577-2901.

Estate Planning

Laura Mismas is dedicated to helping clients in all stages of life handle their estate planning needs. Attorney Mismas can handle every aspect of an estate, from financial assets to personal wishes.

Personal Injury

The Law Office of Laura Mismas has extensive experience in assisting clients who have been injured. Financial compensation for missed work, medical bills and other issues can be recovered for clients.

Real Estate

Laura Mismas is an expert in real estate law and related issues. Attorney Mismas can handle the purchase, sale and transfer of any real property. She can also assist with any legal issues that may arise from these transactions or from the property itself.

The new website for the Law Office of Laura Mismas is a helpful resource for both potential and current clients. The website includes information on Attorney Mismas, her offerings as a licensed attorney and other news and information. Information on free initial consultations is also contained on the site. The site also includes contact information for the firm. The site is powered by Avvo Ignite and allows users the ability to connect and interact via social media and networking websites.

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About the Law Office of Laura Mismas and contact information.
The Law Offices of Laura Mismas is located at 3045 Sacramento Street, #1283 in Placerville, California.
Attorney Laura Mismas and staff can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.
Contact them at:
Online http://www.lauramismaslaw.com/ or Phone (530) 617-1692.

A graduate of the Birmingham School of Law, Ms. Livingston knows the family courts throughout the Birmingham area, giving her clients an edge. She continues her education regularly and graduated in 2012 from NITA Divorce Trial College. She currently focuses her law practice in three main areas, all of which are highlighted on the newly launched site.

Divorce Law

With statistics indicating that 50 percent of all marriages will end with separation, the need for legal help in this area is strong in Alabama. Ms. Livingston is dedicated to ensuring that her clients’ rights and interests are properly protected throughout the divorce process. She handles both contested and uncontested divorce cases for her clients, and she also provides support after divorcing as clients work to rebuild their lives.

Child Support and Child Custody

When a couple who has children chooses to separate, they must decide who will retain custody of those children. Ms. Livingston seeks to protect her clients’ parenting rights while also seeking what is in the best interests of the children.

She also helps her clients negotiate and then enforce child support payment amounts, so custodial parents have the financial means necessary to properly care for their children. Consulting with Livingston Law, LLC can help ensure that child custody and support arrangements are fair for all parties.

General Family Law

From pre-nuptials to adoption, family law issues can be quite complex and require the intervention of a qualified lawyer. Ms. Livingston has dedicated her practice to helping people in all areas of family law, including these less common areas.

Livingston Law’s new website offers details about these various practice areas, as well as Ms. Livingston’s training in the field. The website has a blog that keeps clients up-to-date with legal information affecting families, as well as current news stories. The new site is powered by Avvo Ignite and incorporates Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn connectivity.

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About Livingston Law, LLC and how to contact them.
Livingston Law, LLC, is located at 1820 Third Avenue North, Bessemer, AL 35020.
Attorney Karen Livingston can be reached at 205-834-2262 or by visiting www.karenlivingstonlaw.com.

Areas of Practice

Bankruptcy – Chapters 7 and 13: Attorney David Maxwell can help bankruptcy filings as well as determining which Bankruptcy Code may be most appropriate for a specific situation.

Wills, Estates and Trusts: Setting up wills, estates and trusts can have a major bearing on a family’s financial future and the Law Offices of David Maxwell can help explain and establish the protection a family needs.

Mortgage and Foreclosure Defense: Defending a home can mean staving off predatory lenders, high-cost loans, fraud and other illicit practices. Laws are in place to protect consumers, and Maxwell ensures those laws are upheld.

Probate: Probate refers to the settling of a decedent’s financial affairs, and Maxwell can help ensure the Florida Probate Code is upheld during the process.

Divorce: A Florida divorce, now known as “dissolution of marriage,” can involve myriad legal issues, all of which can be handled by Maxwell’s firm.

Family Immigration: The Law Offices of David Maxwell can help determine eligibility for becoming a lawful, permanent resident of the U.S. and follow through with the proper procedures needed to make that happen.

Accidents and Personal Injury: Maxwell’s firm handles cases involving motor vehicle accidents as well as other cases resulting in personal injury.

Florida Attorney David Maxwell’s new website provides additional information on bankruptcy, wills, estates, trusts, mortgage and foreclosure defense as well as on his other areas of practice. The site, which is powered by Avvo, also features client reviews, a news and information blog and connectivity to Maxwell firm’s social media sites. Visitors can also obtain contact information for setting up a free consultation for issues handled by the Orlando firm.

Criminal defense and personal injury litigation have been the focus of Washington Attorney Bradley McAleer while he gained hands-on experience in two leading area law firms. He then branched out to his own private practice where he continues to provide the one-on-one direct contact with clients to provide them with the personalized attention they deserve in order to get the results they need. McAleer has been admitted to practice law in Washington and federal courts, representing defendants in criminal cases, civil matters and traffic infractions.

Areas of Practice

Criminal defense cases and traffic infractions are some of the more common cases represented by Clark County Attorney McAleer, although his practice areas extend to include additional legal matters.

• Criminal Defense – Vancouver Attorney McAleer provides thorough investigation into criminal cases to determine if a person’s rights have been violated or errors made that would merit a dismissal. If a case moves forward, his background in complex criminal defense cases and intricate knowledge of the law ensures clients a strong and effective representation.
• Traffic Infractions – Washington motorists have a friend in McAleer, who provides legal representation for various traffic violations and citations. These include tickets for speeding, red light, stop sign and U-turn infractions, and lack of registration or insurance. He also handles issues related to commercial driver’s licenses, equipment infractions and violations for missed court dates.

Other areas of practice include:

• Landlord Tenant
• Personal Injury
• Firearm Rights Restoration
• Post Conviction Relief (Vacating and Sealing Criminal Records)

Attorney Erin Bradley McAleer launched his new website to provide a user-friendly arena where people can obtain pertinent information about his practice, his background and Washington State law. The site features client reviews, prior results and a blog containing relevant information and news. The site is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers links to McAleer’s Facebook and LinkedIn profiles as well as contact information for scheduling a free, no-risk consultation.

Bankruptcy

Instead of drowning in debt, consumers sometimes find relief through bankruptcy. Avant Law compassionately, honestly and professionally guides clients through the legal in and outs of bankruptcy proceedings.

This process includes a review of the client’s financial situation and a recommendation for bankruptcy or alternative solutions. If bankruptcy is necessary, the attorneys file the paperwork and represent the clients every step of the way until the issues are resolved and the clients are ready to reclaim their financial footing and secure their financial future.

Estate Planning

Caring for loved ones remains a priority for most people, and estate planning plays a role in ensuring loved ones receive the care and provision they need. Avant Law exercises skill, compassion and sensitivity when preparing wills, trusts or living wills that fulfill clients’ wishes and provide for loved ones.

Civil Litigation

Clients have rights, and attorneys Michael Kim and Paul Caprara work hard to defend those rights. Whether clients face a civil lawsuit, private right of action or adversary proceeding associated with bankruptcy, they receive fair, professional and thoughtful representation from the initial consultation to the end of the civil litigation case.

Personal Injury

Vehicle accidents happen to almost anyone, and Avant Law understands the pain, suffering and long-term damage caused by vehicle accidents. Clients receive an advocate when they hire Avant Law to represent them in personal injury lawsuits against insurance companies and other litigants after a vehicle accident.

Avant Law’s attorneys Michael Kim and Paul Caprara value their clients. They welcome new and current clients in Southern California, Orange County and San Diego to learn more about their services at their new Avvo Ignite powered website. Clients can connect with Avant Law Corporation today via social media and at http://www.avantlaw.com. Here, consumers discover more information about the services Avant Law offers and find answers to their bankruptcy, estate planning, civil litigation or personal injury concerns.

Experience and Credentials
Buitendorp is an attorney with the law firm Genetos Retson & Yoon LLP, serving clients across northern Indiana. Since 2002, he has represented hundreds of clients and has developed a reputation as an effective advocate for both consumers and creditors.

After receiving his B.A. from the University of Michigan in 1998, Buitendorp earned from Valparaiso University School of Law in 2001. Admitted to practice in the State of Wisconsin in 2001 and the State of Indiana in 2002, Buitendorp also is licensed to practice in the federal court system for the Northern District of Indiana and is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute, the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys and ACA International – The Association of Credit and Collection Professionals.

Commitment to Excellence
As a leading bankruptcy attorney in the northern Indiana region, Buitendorp believes there are no cookie-cutter approaches to bankruptcy law. Since he began practicing more than a decade ago, he has been dedicated to personally helping his clients navigate the often confusing bankruptcy process from start to finish, working diligently to ensure the best possible outcome is achieved. The new website is an extension of his commitment to ensure clients receive the information they need to demystify the bankruptcy process.

The law firm of Genetos Retson & Yoon LLP utilizes an experienced team of paralegals and cutting-edge technology to provide efficient, comprehensive and cost-effective service to all its clients. The entire legal team understands the stress and anxiety both debtors and creditors face during the bankruptcy process. Clients are encouraged to schedule a free consultation to lean how the firm can help them face their legal issues efficiently and successfully.

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Contact information:
Genetos Retson & Yoon LLP is located at 8585 Broadway, Suite 480, Merrillville, IN 46410. Contact Attorney Seth Buitendorp by visiting the website http://attorneyseth.com or by calling (219)227-4218.

Industries Served
The new El-Hag & Associates, p.c. website reflects the expertise of an experienced legal negotiator. Although Mr. El-Hag has notably served as co-counsel in various NLRB and other mediation procedures, his legal proficiency extends to numerous lead negotiator positions and collective bargaining agreements in the following industries:

- Chemical
- Construction
- Food
- Manufacturing

Legal Expertise
Employment Law – El-Hag & Associates provides clients with advanced knowledge, service and advice in every area of employment-related issues.

Labor Law – From forming a union to helping companies and employees resolve union disputes, the company has the skill, knowledge and expertise to bring about a fair resolution to every issue.

Commercial Law & Business Real Estate Transactions – Along with his experience in hiring practices and corporate contracts, Jordan El-Hag holds an MBA in finance.

Residential Real Estate – From negotiating a contract to closing, El-Hag & Associates is prepared to represent buyers and sellers in all areas pertaining to residential real estate transactions.

User Friendly Website
The new El-Hag & Associates legal website offers advanced help to local residents. The website’s blog includes relevant details in all matters pertaining to the company’s primary areas of practice. Powered by Avvo Ignite, the new El-Hag & Associates website includes links to social media sites such as Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn and Twitter.

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Contact El-Hag & Associates: 914-755-1579
Or: http://www.elhaglaw.com

El-Hag & Associates, P.C.
777 Westchester Avenue
Suite 101
White Plains, NY 10604
Fax: 914-206-4176

Business Litigation
Ballard Law Office has handled just about every variety of business and commercial litigation out there, from insurance, unfair competition, consumer warranty and real estate disputes. They have also handled alternative dispute resolution, or ADR, mediation and arbitration proceedings.

Business Law
Basic business law can be handled at Ballard Law Office, including business formation, governance and administration of a business and director and shareholder disputes.

Contract Law
Ballard Law Office will also evaluate and prepare your business contracts, including form-type contracts for repeated use and one-time contracts for specific and non-reoccuring transactions.

Complex Litigation
Ballard Law Office also has experience with these complex cases that require a lot of litigation and will cost the court and litigants a lot of time and money. They will make it affordable and reasonable to pursue.

Probate, Trust and Estate Litigation
For these beneficiary matters, Ballard Law Office also has a lot of experience, helping to sort out wills and who has been left what. They have handled all aspects of these cases, as probate, trust and estate litigation law can be very complex.

Environmental Law
Ballard Law Office also handles environmental law as it pertains to individuals and property owners and the laws set by the state of California, namely for the liability and clean up of properties contaminated by pollutants and other dangerous substances.

General Civil Litigation
Ballard Law Office also handles general civil litigation for their clients, ranging between personal injury, property disputes and property damage.

Collections
Ballard Law Office can also help deal with the collections of payments owed to or by small businesses or corporate clients.

Contact Ballard Law Office at:
Call Us 415-781-3500
Email bhb@ballardlegal.com
Ballard Law Office
900 Larkspur Landing Circle
Suite 179
Larkspur, CA 94939
Fax: 1-866-295-5669

Practice Areas
The law office of M. Ali Salimi will give his clients free consultations regarding their tickets so they can be successfully fought in traffic court. His practice areas include traffic ticket and DUI charges brought against Southern California clients. The new website will give valuable and timely information regarding the reasons why police officers will give out these tickets, the process that is involved with fighting a ticket, and why legal representation is the best option clients should take when given a ticket.

Attorney Services
Attorney M. Ali. Salimi understands how a traffic ticket can seriously affect a client’s driving record. For this reason and many others, the attorney has dedicated his life to helping people fight their tickets and get through the traffic court system so that they can return to a normal life again. He will evaluate each case personally to give the best options based on the reason why the client was given the ticket. By giving his clients the information they need regarding Southern California traffic and DUI laws, they can make the most informed decision about their situation. Then Mr. Salimi will give his years of law experience to represent the client as he will fight the ticket in a court of law until it becomes dismissed.

About M. Ali. Salimi And How To Contact Him
Contact M. Ali. Salimi at his law office located at 9107 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450 in Beverly Hills, California 90210.
People can call his law office 310-684-2841 or visit his website at http://www.dsmsd.com.

- Attorney Brian Sommers is a board certified specialist in family law and can advise clients on personal matters including child custody, relocation protection orders, shared parenting and dissolution of marriages. He is currently chair of the Montgomery County Bar Association Domestic Relations Committee and serves on the Ohio State Bar Association Family Law committee.

- Attorney James Kirkland holds a Juris Doctor degree from Ohio State University and is listed among the Best Lawyers in America. He’s written and lectured on family law and is certified as a family law arbitrator.

- Attorney Craig Sams is a graduate of the University of Dayton School of Law. He’s a member of the Family Law Committee of the Ohio State Bar Association and the Dayton Bar Association.

Causes for Divorce
Each divorce is different, but most go through the general division of the common pleas court. Filing for divorce requires that one of the following reasons be proved:

- Absence or Neglect
- Adultery
- Bigamy
- Extreme Cruelty
- Fraudulent Contract
- Habitual Drunkenness
- Incompatibility
- Living Separately

Divorce takes its toll in many ways: emotionally, psychologically and financially. Both partners and the children, if any, are affected by this devastating situation. It’s essential that both parties have a lawyer so that the situation can be handled quickly and with dignity, the assets can be divided equally and child care arrangements can be worked out properly.

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About Kirkland & Sommers Co., L.P.A. and contact information.
Kirkland & Sommers Co., L.P.A. is located at 130 West Second Street; Suite 840; Dayton, Ohio, 45402. The team can be reached by telephone at 937-853-5555 or at their new microsite http://www.daytonfamilyspecialists.com/. Consultations are available and appointments can be made to accommodate the client’s schedule.

As a solo practitioner who only takes on issues related to military law and security clearance, clients get his full attention during their case. Attorney Cave will travel to the military base or area where trail cases are to be held, and he’s admitted to practice law in all military trial and appellate courts, the U.S. Supreme Court and several state courts.

Areas of Practice
Attorney Cave specializes in the following areas:

- Adverse Administrative Actions – An experienced lawyer can help submit a rebuttal for NJP/Article 15, denial or revocation of a promotion, security clearance, medical provider credentials or special status.

- Administrative Discharge – A military defense lawyer can help members of the military leave active duty service without being downgraded.

- Court Martial – Even people who haven’t received notice of court martial should contact a military defense lawyer as soon as possible so that they can get the best defense possible. Defense lawyers can work with military lawyers to fight for the rights of the person being court martialed.

- Security Clearance – Failure to obtain or keep security clearance can lead to job loss and limit future employability. A lawyer who specializes in security clearance can help with filling out the paperwork necessary to getting this important documentation.

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The Law Offices of Philip D. Cave and contact information.
The Law Offices of Philip D. Cave is located at 1318 Princess Street; Suite 200; Alexandria, VA 22314. Attorney Case can be reached by telephone at 703-298-9562 or visit his new microsite at http://www.courtmartial.us.com/. Consultations are available and appointments can be made to accommodate the client’s schedule.

Even if you’re blogging because you just love to write, you just love to get your ideas out there, you always want to find more readers. Certainly, for those of you who have your own practices and you’re blogging for business development reasons, because you want to expand your reach, getting more readers is obviously quite important.

So let’s talk a little bit about some strategies for distributing your content a little more broadly than simply writing it and hoping that people visit your blog.

Now, before we get into specific tactics, I’m going to start with rule number one, and that is: quality is rule number one. Quality is king.

As I often tell attorneys, if you don’t like to write, if you don’t like to engage, if you don’t like to get your own ideas out there into your blog, you really shouldn’t bother blogging in the first place. This is before we even think about content distribution. You’ve got to be writing content that’s relevant, that’s innovative, that’s thoughtful, that’s unique, that says something about you.

If you’re not going to do that, if you’re just going to be recycling a bunch of crap or doing ghost written articles or things like that, I would strongly encourage you to think about just having a website and not having a blog, because a blog is all about quality and it’s about engagement.

With that out of the way, let’s talk a little bit about distribution. Engagement is what’s really important here. There are a lot of tools out there for distributing your blog content, but before you think about the specific tools and the places you can distribute them, you’ve got to think next about your goals. What is the goal of distributing your content?

I know I said at the beginning “more readers.” Everyone wants more readers. But what kind of readers are you looking for?

I strongly believe that, for the vast majority of blogs, the kind of readers you want are other attorneys and other professionals. This is true even for consumer-facing lawyers, because in the consumer area, let’s face it, it’s really hard to write good consumer copy. It’s really hard to write blog posts that speak to consumer legal issues, that consumers are going to read.

You’re going to be writing about legal issues, and that’s going to be of interest to lawyers. That’s okay because the primary people you want to reach are going to be referral sources. Blogs are an excellent way of establishing your reputation, extending your reach, and finding more referral sources.

Think about your goals. Think about your potential audience. Yes, there will be some exceptional cases where there’s actually an audience of legal buyers that you’re going to reach, but I believe that’s the minority case.

In most cases, think about your professional network. Think about getting those referral sources. That’s going to tell you a little bit about the places where you want to distribute your blog content into.

Next is to look at your free options. There are plenty of places that you can distribute your content for free. You can do it on Twitter. You can do it on LinkedIn. You can do it on Facebook. There are other places to do it as well.

You can also do it by commenting on the blogs of other writers, and this is an excellent way to further enhance the engagement that you get from blogging. Once you’ve found other blogs of lawyers that are writing in complimentary areas, by commenting on their blogs, you are going to drive their interest and eyeballs back to your own blog. Definitely something to keep in mind.

All of this stuff takes work though. It’s not a set-it-and-forget-it. I would emphasize that’s true even with the automated tools.

So there are automated ways that you can use Twitter or LinkedIn, for example, to blast out every time you have a post to your entire network. I would discourage you from doing that. You have to put the work into this if it’s going to be useful, if it’s actually going to have a return. A lot of that stuff just turns into noise if it’s blasted out without any context.

Pick and choose. Don’t just blast out every article you write on your blog. Blast out the interesting ones, and take a little time to engage in the headline writer’s art. Write a little bit of a headline before you send that blog post out, one that catches the interest of potential readers, that piques their curiosity. It gives them a reason to click on that link and go look at your content.

Very, very important, and yes, again, like all of this stuff, it does take some work, but it’s the only way to really get a return out of this. Otherwise it’s just so much noise that you’re blasting out into the social media universe.

The final area to look at is paid options. There are paid options for distributing blog content. This isn’t for everyone. But if you are really trying to experiment with this, really trying to reach a broader universe, if you really believe that your content is useful and interesting and that it would benefit people across the wide range of the Internet to read the stuff you’re posting, you might want to explore services that will for, typically pennies a click, take your content and promote it onto a variety of publisher sites across the Web.

These can range from other blogs to massive media properties, like USA Today and the New York Times. Services such as – I’ve highlighted a few here, but there are plenty of others – StumbleUpon, Zemanta, Outbrain, these are services to play around with, see if there’s something that will work for you. You can typically use them with a very small marketing budget when you try this out.

The final point I’d like to make is that when you think about some of the services, like Facebook specifically, you need to think about whether you’re using a firm page or your personal page. This gets back to the audience in terms of distributing content.

You may do it on both, but I’ll leave you with this final thought. The great thing about social media is that it’s social and it lets your potential clients, your existing clients, and your potential referral sources get to know a little bit more about you as a person. So don’t hesitate to put that content out there onto your personal Facebook page where you can personalize it one step more and let people know what you’re all about and what some of your interests are.

That’s it for today. Thanks for watching.

Attorney Profile

Zaid Abdallah is one of the most respected defense attorneys in Northern Illinois. He holds a Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago and is the Co-founder of Illinois Legal Group. Prior to founding Abdallah Law, P.C., Attorney Abdallah worked for the Cook County Public Defender’s Office where he learned key aspects of criminal defense while trying over 700 cases in the felony drug division.

Areas of Practice

Attorney Zaid Abdallah is committed to providing the best legal services to his clients and is an advocate for their rights. He has a solid history of obtaining positive results for clients who have been charged with a wide range of criminal offenses. He has the requisite experience, skill and knowledge to defend clients against the following charges: Arson, Assault and Battery, Criminal Damage to Property, Domestic Violence, Drug Crimes, DUI, Hate Crimes, Involuntary Manslaughter, Kidnapping, Murder, Probation Violation, Robbery, Sex Crimes, and Theft.

Persons who are facing criminal charges need to get the professional advice of an attorney who is committed to protecting the constitutional rights of his clients. Attorney Zaid Abdallah can help clients fight both Federal and Illinois criminal charges and deals with each situation personally, giving the client personal attention.

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About Abdallah Law, P.C and contact information.

Abdallah Law, P.C is located at 134 North LaSalle, Suite 650, Chicago, IL 60602

Attorney Abdallah can be reached by telephone at 312-929-3171 or by visiting his new microsite http://www.chicagocriminallegalhelp.com/. Free consultations are available and appointments can be made to accommodate the client’s schedule.

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Attorney George E. Corson IV has practiced Workers’ Compensation Defense since 1992. Since 1998, he has been certified as a Workers’ Compensation Specialist by the State Bar of California.

He collaborates with adjusters and employers to ensure a quality work product and excellent turnaround time. Clients receive updates on pending claims on a regular basis. The Law Offices of George E. Corson IV concentrate their law practice on the following major areas:

Workers’ Compensation Defense

Uninsured Employer Defense

132a Defense

Defense of Alleged Employer Discrimination

Serious and Willful Misconduct Claims

With client satisfaction being the highest priority, this law practice has optimized the legal process by working one on one with the adjuster and employer to achieve the timeliest results. Once a case has been reviewed, an evaluation report is sent to each client. It includes a summary of allegations, history of benefits, medical overview, and discussion of key issues including subrogation potential. Also provided are recommendations for claim resolution in the most timely and cost effective way.

Community Involvement

George Corson is an Adjunct Professor at Santa Ana College, teaching in the Paralegal Program. He also volunteers as a youth advocate with CASA Orange County. CASA is a nonprofit organization offering volunteer services that match advocates with youth in the OC Dependency Court System. CASA OC assists children removed from unsafe environments, while the Dependency Court evaluates reunification, foster care, or adoption as options.

Professional Involvement

Approved DWC Arbitrator, Department of Industrial Relations, 2012

Certified Specialist – Workers’ Compensation Law, State Bar of California, 1998

Member, State Bar of California, Labor and Employment Law Section, 2011–present

Member, State Bar of California, Solo and Small Firm Section, 2010–present

Member, State Bar of California, Workers Compensation Section, 1992–present

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Law Offices of Attorney George E. Corson IV – Contact Information

The Law Offices of George E. Corson IV are located at 2140 W. Chapman Ave. Suite 123 in Orange, CA 92868.

They can be reached weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Contact them at:

http://www.wcabdefense.com or Phone (714)516-8188

Minneapolis Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Attorney

People who owe large amounts of unsecured debt (credit cards, personal loans, payday loans) often choose to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy as a way of discharging debts and starting over again free of late payment fees and harassing creditors. Eligibility for being able to file this type of bankruptcy essentially depends on whether the person has the means to pay back debts. Clients who do not possess enough income to feasibly settle all debts are usually eligible for Chapter 7.

Experienced Minnesota Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Attorney

Turbak Law Office can help people regain control of their finances by helping them develop viable repayment plans that also protect them from debtors who take aggressive collection actions. In addition, Chapter 13 offers the ability for people to have unpaid balances that remain upon completion of the repayment plan legally discharged. Considered a type of legally enforceable debt management plan, Chapter 13 bankruptcy is another area of civil law in which attorney Doug Turbak has significant experience.

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About Turbak Law Office

Turbak Law Office is located at 3109 Hennepin Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55408. Attorney Doug Turbak can be reached by phone at 612-827-6781. Visit Turbak Law Office’s new website for more information regarding bankrupty law, procedures and eligibility guidelines.

Traffic Ticket and DUI.

An expert traffic attorney, Silveira is skilled in obtaining positive outcomes due to his professional and positive relationships with law enforcement and judges. Clients come to Silveira Law for representation for a wide range of cases, such as red light traffic tickets, street racing, vehicle manslaughter, and felony evasion. Attorney Mike Silveira has handled more than 100 DUI cases in the Bay Area, giving him the skill and knowledge to take aggressive action in these legal situations. Silveira maintains DMV representation for clients, and he has been an active member of the Bay Area Traffic Ticket Defense Attorneys since 2011.

DMV Representation.

Clients reach out to Silveira Law for DMV representation in order to salvage their driving record and maintain Commercial Drivers Licenses for employment. Mike Silveira works to reduce the damage of negligent operator hearings so that clients are less likely to suffer from license suspension.

Drugs, Domestic Violence, and Criminal Defense.

Drug cases managed by Silveira Law include possession, transport, cultivation and manufacturing. Silveira Law works with clients who include family members arrested for domestic violence instances, and will help clients determine whether or not they were wrongfully accused. Other criminal defense cases seen by Silveira Law include but are not limited to vandalism, embezzlement, receiving stolen property, and loitering with the intent to solicit prostitution.

In addition to detailed information regarding attorney Mike Silveira, the website features information on traffic tickets, DUI, DMV representation, and criminal defense. Powered by Avvo Ignite, social engagement is maintained through sharing via Google+, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. The website also features client reviews, resources and a questions section that covers typical topics addressed by Silveira Law.

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About Silveira Law and how to contact this firm.

Silveira Law is located at 201 Spear Street, Suite 1100 in San Francisco, CA 94105.

Contact:

Phone 415-724-1037

Tuella O. Sykes and staff make it their goal to provide exceptional customer service and to manage an inclusive workplace that includes the community as much as possible. Free consultations are also offered by the law firm. Tuella O. Sykes’ resume includes bar admissions from Washington, the U.S. Tax Court and the U.S. District Court Western District of Washington.

Areas of Practice

Sykes is an experienced attorney, specializing in bankruptcy and tax law. Practice areas include:

Chapter 7 Bankruptcy: The Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes will take a non-judgemental look at their clients’ financial situation and advise them on whether filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy is the best option. People commonly choose to file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the midst of divorce, job loss and medical costs that aren’t covered by insurance.

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy: Those who don’t qualify for Chapter 7 bankruptcy may qualify for Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is only applicable to those that are employed and have a source of disposable income, as the program aims to put clients on a payment plan to eliminate outstanding debts.

Business Formation: Many people get an idea and then rush into it without understanding liability, financial planning and other obligations. The Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes works with clients who are starting their own business to make sure they’re on the right path, not only in terms of financial planning, but tax law and liability implications.

Tax Planning: Everything someone does is tied to taxes. The Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes has tax expert on staff that will counsel clients into making informed decisions for their tax planning purposes.

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About The Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes

The Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes is located on 600 1^st Avenue, Suite 307, Seattle, WA 98104. Or reach the law office by phone at 206-721-0086.

Visit the Law Office of Tuella O. Sykes online at www.tuellasykeslaw.com.

Attorney Whalen has many years of experience in helping clients protect their assets and making sure that their last wishes are followed. Twice he has been named an Awesome Attorney in Estate Planning Law, and he’s spoken for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He’s served hundreds of people in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, and all over the country.

Services Offered

Pennsylvania Estate Planning Attorney John Whalen believes that every person should be well-prepared when it comes to end of life issues so that loved ones don’t have to the burden of making guesses about what their family member wanted done. It is essential for people’s final wishes to be carried out in a respectful and dignified way, which is why Attorney Whalen helps individuals in the following areas:

Estate Planning – Talking about death is a fragile topic, but Attorney Whalen handles it with grace and tact. Whether creating a power of attorney, a will, a trust or a living will, he guides clients through the often complicated process with ease.

Estate Taxation – Attorney Whalen is well-versed in the United States Tax Code and helps clients understand it and make the best decision for their situation whatever the size of their estate.

Estate Administration – Losing a loved one is an emotional experience, and Attorney Whalen takes over the process, guiding the estate through probate, helping the beneficiaries understand the inheritance tax.

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About Attorney John B. Whalen, Jr. and how to contact him.

The office of Attorney John B. Whalen, Jr. is located at 1199 Heyward Road in Wayne, Pennsylvania, 19087. He can be reached by phone at (610) 407-0220 or via the new website, http://www.johnbwhalenjresq.com/.

As a solo practitioner, Attorney Lewis R. Rosenblum personally represents every one of his clients from the beginning of the case, all the way to the end. With more than 30 years of experience as a prosecutor in Orange County, he is considered one of the top criminal defense attorneys in the whole state due to his experience and the individualized attention and care that is given to all clients. Attorney Rosenblum is knowledgeable about all criminal topics including drug crimes, theft, domestic violence, juvenile offenses, sex crimes and violent crime. He uses his unique skill set–including finding mistakes made by police and prosecutors–to defend his clients and get the best possible results.

Prior to opening his private practice is 2009, he was Assistant District Attorney for Orange County for 28 years. He holds a Juris Doctor from Western State University College of Law and has been named one to the Top 20 Lawyers in California by California Lawyer Magazine.

Services Offered

All clients, no matter what criminal crime they are being charged with, can benefit from Attorney Rosenblum’s experience. The areas in which he practices include: credit card fraud, domestic violence, drug charges, DUI charges, expungement, Internet crime, juvenile offenses, murder, probation violation, sexual assault, theft, vehicular manslaughter, violent crimes and white-collar crime. Prospective clients who have been charged with a criminal offense may have a complimentary consultation with Attorney Rosenblum before retaining his services.

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About The Law Office of Lewis R. Rosenblum and contact information.

The Law Office of Lewis R. Rosenblum is located at 1851 East First Street, Suite 900, Santa Ana, California, 92705.

Attorney Rosenblum can be reached by telephone at (714) 624-4334 or by visiting his new website http://lrdefense.com/. Free consultations are available and appointments can be made to accommodate the client’s schedule.

Today we are going to talk about pay-per-click advertising. We talk to a lot of our attorney clients and know that attorneys are really busy and don’t have a lot of spare time. How can they manage their pay-per-click advertising efforts in the most efficient way possible and quickly delve to whether it’s working or not in driving new clients?

Some of you may do pay-per-click advertising on your own. Many others may use an individual consultant or an agency to do that work. Whatever the set-up is, what we’ve created are my top five magic questions for pay-per-click for attorneys. What are the five questions that you can ask to quickly ascertain how your pay-per-click advertising is doing? Let’s go through those.

Number one, this is kind of obvious, but how many leads is your pay-per-click advertising generating each month? The somewhat tricky part of this is that many attorneys and other kinds of businesses do not track the phone calls that they are getting as a result of their pay-per-click ads. When we talk about the total pay-per-click leads per month you are getting, you need to be taking all those people that click on your pay-per-click ads and specifically track how many of them called you and also how many of them came to your website and filled out an online form. If you don’t track both of those aspects, you are often times missing out on half of your leads that your ads are generating. So, number one, ask how many leads are being created? You have got to know that.

Number two, average cost per lead. You need to know with your pay-per-click advertising, how much each of those leads is costing you. This is really the single most important metric that is easily ascertainable, and really important to focus in on for your activities. You always need to know what this number is. Is it $50, $100, $300, is it $1,000? It’s going to be a different number for each practice and you just need to understand what it is for you now and maybe where you need it to go for this to be effective. It’s such an important metric that we have actually broken out some more detail. We’ve got a funnel to talk about this a little bit more. Average cost per lead is the key metric, but let’s start a little bit at a higher level.

This is a funnel like you use in cooking. Starts broad, gets narrower. This first number represents the number of pay-per-click ad clicks that were obtained in a prior month. You can think of this as maybe an attorney that focuses on bankruptcy in a certain geographic region. They received 200 ad clicks last month through Google and through Bing. They spent $2,000 to get those ad clicks. So, that is our starting point.

The next thing you want to track is how many leads did you received from those clicks. In this example, our click to lead conversion rate is 20%. Of the 200 people that clicked on your ads, 20% either called you or filled out a form and you ended up with 40 leads. So, of the $2,000 you spent on your ads, you got 40 leads, therefore it cost you $50 to bring in each of those leads. That’s your cost per lead. That brings us back to that magic number, average cost per lead.

Let’s take it a little bit further than that and explain how you need to think about the next part of this. You brought in 40 leads. You are not going to close all those leads. In this example, you’ve closed 25% of those leads and brought them on as new clients. You have 10 new clients out of your activity. You take your $2000 spent and divide it by the 10 new clients obtained, and you get a metric of $200 cost per acquisition or cost per new client obtained.

So, what does this all mean? Why is this important? Why are you talking about this? You need to determine in your practice, how much profit you make from a new client. That can be over a lifetime of the relationship with the client, or if you have more transactional practice, it could be just a one-time profit you get from them. You need to know that number. That profit number needs to be higher than how much you paid to bring that client in through pay-per-click.

When your agencies or you zero in on how much you are paying for cost per lead, calculate these other metrics so that you know that your pay-per-click is on track. Now let’s move on to the rest of our magic questions.

Number three. What are your top five search questions? With pay-per-click advertising, you need to know where your money is going. You will be advertising, or your agency will be advertising, on a set of key word phrases that people type in to Google. Typically, the bulk of your spending will be on a smaller set of those phrases. What you can ask is for the top five phrases that people typed in last month. That would be the bulk of where your money went. That’s going to let you know if you are advertising on relevant phrases or those that are completely irrelevant. So, it’s a very important question to ask.

The fourth question is on your top ten cities. One of the powers of pay-per-click advertising is that you can focus the ads just to people who are searching from a certain geographic area. For example, you can just show your ads to people who are physically searching from Seattle, or physically searching from Detroit. Whatever city you want to target, you can do that. This is very powerful, because you are going to have a marketing strategy for your practice, trying to reach people in a certain region. You need your pay-per-click ads to match up with that strategy. You can have your agency go into the Google interface and pull the top ten cities where your spent your money last month. That will quickly tell you if you are spending money in the right place.

We’ve reached the end of our magical journey. Now we have step five which is called, “Missed Opportunity”. In this scenario, everything is going great. You’ve got your answers to the top four and you are feeling really good. All your metrics are looking good. Your funnel is looking good. This is where you figure out if you are missing opportunities. Are you leaving money on the table? You want to ask your agency, “All right. Last month, how many times could my ads been shown in Google or Bing but they weren’t?”

Why would they not be shown? Typically money is the limiting factor. If you have a monthly budget of $2,000, your agency can go in and evaluate whether or not at $4,000, you would have received double the number of ad clicks and potentially double the number of leads. So, the final question is, “What did I leave on the table?”

Again, my name is Mark Kelly, President and CEO of Chair 10 Marketing. You can contact us through www.chair10mareting.com. It’s been a pleasure having you watch today. Thank you very much.

Experienced Attorneys
After graduating from University of Minnesota School of Law, Cindi Spence Matt started her legal career as a judicial law clerk, and now has 15 years of experience as an attorney in the state of Minnesota. Prior to opening her own firm, she was shareholder at her previous law firm. She offers clients her expertise from having experience in a vast number of areas including civil litigation, probate, personal injury and family law.

Attorney Thomas W. Spence has been practicing law in Minnesota since 1968. He’s a graduate of William Mitchell College of Law and has served as a State District Court Judge for the Tenth Judicial District in Minnesota. In addition to working in a private practice, Attorney Spence spent a decade doing volunteer legal work, and teaching university level law courses. He currently serves as of counsel for Matt Legal Services.

Services Offered
Matt Legal Services offers clients help with estate planning, setting up guardianships for children with special needs or elderly parents. Power of Attorney and Health Care Directives can be drawn up for clients. In the area of family law, Matt Legal Services takes on divorce, adoption and child support cases. Litigation is another area in which the team takes on cases.

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About Matt Legal Services, LLC and contact information.

Matt Legal Services is located at 105 2nd St. S., Suite # 2 in Buffalo, MN 55313.
They can be reached by telephone at 763-682-2247 or by visiting their website at http://mattlegal.com/. Appointments can be made to accommodate the client’s schedule.

Estate Planning Attorney.

The lawyers are dedicated to protecting the assets of their clients and insuring the last wishes of their clients are complied with. Every aspect of estate planning is covered, from creating wills and trusts to health care directives and living wills.

Small Business Consulting and Non-profit Consulting.

The law firm is a small business and the lawyers are knowledgeable about the best business structure for each type of start-up business. They know what documents are required by state law. They can assist with employment issues and all areas of contracts. Consulting with Morbey & Olsen for business planning can help prevent future litigation.

Political Consulting.

The lawyers have experience in grassroots advocacy as well as consulting in both U.S. Senate and Congressional races. They can assist every step of the way from developing a strategy, creating a budget and selecting a team of experts to assist the campaign. The firm will act as inside legal counsel, consultants or part of the team depending on the needs and desires of their clients.

Morbey & Olsen’s new website is user-friendly and offers details about the members of the firm and practice areas. The website includes a blog with up-to-date information and relevant news. The website is powered by Avvo Ignite and offers connectivity to social media sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Google+.

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About Morbey & Olsen, PLLP and how to contact them.

Morbey & Olsen is located at 1302 2nd Street NE, Suite 216 in Minneapolis, MN 55413.

They can be reached Monday to Friday between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Appointments can be made at other times to accommodate a client’s schedule.

Contact them at:

http://morbeylaw.com or Phone (612) 331-3667

So to get started on Twitter, first what you want to set up an account and create a profile. More specifically, the first thing you want to do is set up a username. For lawyers, some people have personal accounts, and they use their name. Other people have Twitter handles that are reflective of their firm name. Some people do both. Some people have multiple handles. It really is what you want to do, how much time you have, and more importantly, matching the reason you’re on Twitter. If you’re there to talk about and promote your firm, then you probably would want to have a handle that’s reflective of that. If you’re there to be yourself, then you should use your own name.

Once you have a Twitter handle name set up, then you also – please, please, please – put up a picture. You want to make it personal. If it’s for your firm, you can have a logo. You could have a picture of all your partners, or you could just have a picture of yourself. But the picture is really important because it’s about connecting with other people and talking to each. You want to make sure it’s personal and that you have not only a profile picture, but also a background picture. There’s free software that you can use to customize your background. Again, as you get familiar with Twitter and look around, you can see that other people have their contact information or pictures of themselves in their backgrounds. You can really make it more about yourself or about your firm, depending on the purpose of your account.

Once you’re all set up on Twitter in terms of having a profile, a description, and pictures, the next thing you want to do is find people to follow. That is what it’s all about. A way to do that is, quite simply, Twitter has a search engine. You can type in keywords. You can type in “lawyer”. You can type in “criminal defense attorney”. You can even look for people that are in your geographical area. If you are a huge NBA fan, you can search on that. Think about what your interests are. Again, think about who you’re trying to connect with on Twitter and why you’re there in the first place. Use those keywords to search and find people to follow. When you search a term, you’ll come up with a list of other handles. You can simply click on those profiles you want to follow and you’ll see a big “Follow” button to initiate following. They’ll get a notification that you’re following them, and hopefully, as is often the case, they’ll follow you back.

This does bring me to the next point of, how do you get people to follow you? You’re on Twitter, great. Now what? I think this is a big thing. Yes, you want to go out there and find people. So, one of the ways to get people to follow you back is to make your profile, and share information about you. It really does bring me to the whole point of the center of what Twitter is all: to listen, create, and engage.

With Twitter, you want to first listen to what other people are saying. You’re using the search engine to find people to follow. There are things that are called Twitter lists. You can look on other people’s lists and find people to follow. Again, people, subjects, you could think about news organizations and people that you follow or read about in the newspaper, reporters, the media. They’re all on Twitter and they could be a wealth of information, in terms of finding more people to follow. It kind of has that effect where you find one person, and then you can find more people through that one person. Twitter also will automatically suggest people for you to follow. And, again, you hope those people will follow you back, but you need to do something more.

As I mentioned, you’re there to, first, listen. You’re finding these people. You want to listen to what these people are saying. The next thing that you want to do is create and share. If somebody shares an interesting article, maybe you want to share that, too. So then that’s you kind of engaging with them by doing what’s called a re-tweet. You can share their article. You can also comment on their article by tweeting a reply to them directly. There are a lot of resources out there. I’m not going to get into that much detail today about how to specifically reply or re-tweet. That’s really easy to pick up and a simple Google search will teach you how to do that, if you can’t get that from just being on Twitter itself.

Again, you’re there to listen. So you want to listen to what other people are talking about, what people are sharing. Then, see how you can join in that conversation, again, by either re-tweeting something or commenting on something that somebody else shared.

Another way that you can kind of get yourself out there and then ultimately get more people to follow you, is by sharing your own content. Twitter is a great place if you have a blog. You could write a blog, then post the article and tweet that URL out to your followers, with the hopes that other people will see it.

Another thing to do is just take a step back here and let people know that you’re on Twitter. If you have a firm website, put your handle on there. If you have an email signature, put it in your email signature. Add it to your LinkedIn profile. There are a lot of places where you can just let people know that you’re on Twitter and it increases the chances of people following you back.

Let’s go back more to the idea of listening, creating, and engaging. When you’re on Twitter, you need to think about those three things. You need to focus on listening to others and on creating your own content, whether it’s sharing a blog post or writing your own thoughts, your own opinions on things, or finding other interesting articles and sharing that.

The other part is, then, engaging. That really is the most important part Listening and creating, yes, those are important. But, engaging, that’s really what Twitter is all about. Nobody wants to just hear you, in the sense of Twitter, just tweeting out the same things all about yourself over and over and over again. That’s not what it’s about. It’s about engaging. It’s about following people and talking to people.

That brings me then to the next point, which is, why even participate in the first place? What are the benefits of Twitter for attorneys?

I think the first benefit is building relationships. Twitter allows you to communicate with people, to meet people that you otherwise probably never would in an offline world. Being online and being on Twitter can connect you with people that are in the same practice area as you, for example, but in a different state. Or people that are all going to be at a conference. You could find out who is going to be there and you can connect with those people ahead of time. It really just increases your network. It helps you build and keep relationships that, in an offline world probably wouldn’t be possible.

Twitter also allows you to demonstrate thought leadership. Through being able to share information about who you are, by commenting on things that are happening in your industry, by sharing things that you’re writing or accomplishments, or other things that you have going on in your practice, that’s allows people to learn more about you. That’s really important as other attorneys are looking and seeing if they want to connect with you. Even a potential client may come to your website, see that you have a Twitter handle, click on it, and just read through to learn a little bit more about you. Your Twitter feed is not necessarily going to sell them on you, but it’s another piece when somebody is doing research on whether or not to hire you, or whether perhaps or not to give a referral. Twitter is another place they can look to learn more about you and what you know about.

That brings me to the last part, in terms of benefits. Really, Twitter is a tremendous learning tool. If you focus on the listening part and the engaging part, you can really learn a lot from others. The online world has created the ability to connect with people and learn from others in ways that just wouldn’t be possible unless you are able to leave your own town, your own city. Twitter really just opens doors to learn a lot more from people, which will ultimately help you as you move along in your practice.

The other thing a lot of people talk about, and a question that we get here at Avvo is, “Okay, Twitter – great. If I’m going to spend my time on here, is this going to get me more business? Will I get more business?” I’m definitely not going to get up here and say, yes, Twitter is what’s going to get you more business, because I don’t necessarily believe that. However, I do think Twitter is growing as a good referral source for attorneys. A lot of attorneys are active on Twitter and looking to connect with other attorneys in that space. If you can, like I said all along here, create online relationships through Twitter with attorneys and they could potentially send business your way. That is definitely a possibility.

I do not think that a lot of consumers, particularly, are going on Twitter and searching for lawyers. I don’t think so. I do think, as I just said as well, that Twitter is another piece of the research that could be helpful when people are looking to learn more about you.

I do think Twitter is definitely worth your time. How it’s set up, where people talk and share information very quickly in short bursts, means it doesn’t take a lot of time. You can really learn a lot from others, build your network, and definitely demonstrate your thought leadership, which many, many lawyers have told us. Again, just by logging on and observing, you can see a lot of attorneys are getting great benefit from using Twitter.

So that’s all I have today. Thank you so much for listening. If you have other questions or comments about Twitter for attorneys, please feel free to share them or send me an email. I’m happy to talk more about this or help anybody out, if you have specific questions. My email is Megan, megan@avvo.com. Thanks again.

We’re going to do this a little bit differently than we do typical whiteboards. It’s going to be broken out into a multiple part series, and we’re actually going to show you the tools that are needed to perform this whole process. We will be jumping around from the whiteboard to screencasts so that we can cover those aspects. (All screencast videos are located at the bottom of this post and at www.youtube.com/avvolawyers.)

The first part that we begin with is assimilating your keyword ideas. The way that I recommend approaching this is to first just come up with some top level categories and keyword ideas that you’re going to be using when you want to rank for a keyword. You keywords should not include your brand name. While it would be great if people are searching for your brand name, generally speaking, they already have firsthand exposure with you. You’ve done other marketing efforts so that they actually are familiar with your brand. By all intents and purposes, we’re going to be focusing on keywords that aren’t specific to your brands, such as “DUI attorney”, for example.

The first step is to sit down and write down the services that you provide and ancillary keywords that are related to those topics. If you’re in divorce, you might have child “custody,” you might have “alimony,” you might have “spousal support,” etc. Just sit down and write down you top level keywords and any related keywords directly related to that top level category. We’re going to remove locality, so don’t include “Los Angeles” or “Seattle” in these keywords. We’re just focusing on top level here.

You want to come up with a list of, say, 25, or so keywords. If you can’t come up with that many, that’s all right. We’ll definitely be able to come up with some more in the next steps. Another useful tool that we can use is one to actually find out what your competitors are already ranking for. We can reverse engineer their keyword data sets pretty easily. The way that we do this is we take that first step, perceived keyword list, and then we add your search locality. So if you’re in Los Angeles, you would add “Los Angeles” to “DUI attorney” and have “Los Angeles DUI attorney” as the full keyword. To do this, go ahead and search on Google and Bing for “Los Angeles DUI attorney” – granted, that’s just an example. Look at those results, and take the top five or ten results from those pages, given that they’re actually a competitor, and not someone like Avvo or Findlaw, but an actual competitor’s URL. Taking that URL, we can plug that back into the Google Keyword Tool to actually figure out what keywords that that site is ranking for. There are a couple other tools that I’ll show you here in a little bit. Using those two methodologies, we can combine the results and come up with a pretty elaborate keyword list without a whole lot of work.

Watch the screencast of the keyword assimilation step below, or on our YouTube channel.

Once we have that big list, it’s then actually bringing it back into the permutation phase. Remember that we’re really looking for non-geo specific keywords at first. This permutation phase is where we start adding locality to those keywords. I have a handy tool that I’d like to share with you, that will significantly improve your results, not only combines major cities, but also suburbs, local outliers, counties and zip codes. It’s a really useful tool, and we’ll show you how to use that here, in the screencast.

Watch the screencast of the keyword permutation step below, or on our YouTube channel.

The next phase is to actually go ahead and analyze your keywords based on your geo permutations. This can be a little bit misleading, especially in smaller geo localities, because there’s not enough search data. Google’s data is primarily based off pay-per-click data, so it doesn’t necessarily translate directly over to the SEO world. You need to be mindful of that. Even though sometimes Google will say that there is not any search volume for a keyword, it’s not always the case. Bare in mind that, just because Google doesn’t say it’s a useful keyword, doesn’t actually mean that that’s the case. There is a little bit of needling that goes into this to figure out what actually does perform and what’s going to give you the best results.

Watch the screencast of the keyword analysis step below, or on our YouTube channel.

Once we’ve gone through and analyzed, basically what we’re looking for is trends. This will also help us to determine extra keywords that maybe we didn’t find in our first two steps. But also, we’ll come up with search volume, pay-per-click data, and competition data, which is really useful to start figuring out exactly how valuable a keyword is, and how much work is it going to take, from an SEO perspective, to rank for that keyword.

Once we’ve done the analysis, we’re going to go ahead and step into the refining process, which is what we use to predict the actual amount of search volume that you’re going to get for a keyword. Just as an example, if a keyword gets 1,000 searches per month, it isn’t likely that you’re going to get all 1,000 of those clicks. In fact, if you are ranked number one, you might get 350 to 500 of those clicks. Whereas, if you’re ranked number three on Google, you might be getting, maybe, 100 clicks a month out of that total 1,000. That’s what we’re going to actually look here, in the refining process, is exactly how much search volume is there, and how much you can expect to get from Google and from Bing, Yahoo and other search engines.

Another really important process in the refining phase is to actually adjust for search intent. Speaking from an SEO perspective, we try to target monetizable keywords, meaning that when a consumer is searching for these keywords, they have a commercial intent behind it. They’re not just tire kickers looking for information. They plan on picking up the phone, reaching out to you, and eventually turning that lead, or that contact into a paying customer. To adjust for search intent, what we’re looking at is we’ll actually do a search on a keyword and we’ll go to the results page and look at the quality of content that’s displayed. It’s basically a really simplistic percentage base. If three of the results are completely unrelated to a commercial intent keyword, it’s probably a good indicator that, at least in Google or Bing’s opinion, that this keyword does not have a high level of commercial intent. This means that people are more interested in information, rather than taking an action. We’ll adjust the search volume based on the percentage of commercial intent versus information seeking.

Watch the screencast of the keyword refinement step below, or on our YouTube channel.

The next step is to predict. This is predicting the average ranking that you can achieve. It’s also to figure out how tough is the competition and how much work is it going to actually take for you to start ranking for these keywords. We’ll actually go in a little bit deeper.  There’s a couple tools that I like to use that will analyze the competition. The first one is the SEOmoz keyword competition tool. The second tool you can download. It’s called Netpeak Checker. We’ll have a demonstration from both of those.

Watch the screencast of the extra keyword prediction tool below, or on our YouTube channel.

The last step in this phase is to predict the average click through rate to your keyword. There’s a couple different data points that will affect this, including the commercial intent behind the keyword, as well as rich snippet results. If you have a headshot photo next to your Google search result, or if you have a video, or potentially, even star ratings, these can significantly increase the likeliness of a user clicking on your search result.

When we’re predicting the average click through rate, we touched on this a little bit earlier, the number one ranking, historically, is going to get the most amount of click through. If the given keyword has 1000 clicks, or 1000 searches per month, and you’re ranked number one, you might get between 35 to 50% of the overall clicks from that data. Now, if you’re ranked number 10, it significantly drops down. You might only be getting 1 to 3% of the overall clicks. Given, if you have 1000 searches done per month, and you’re ranked number 10, you only might be getting 10 to 30 clicks overall from that keyword.

We want to predict what the average click through rate is for your keyword, and again, determine how difficult is it going to be to rank at the high end and the low end. How much work is it going to get to be to number one, two or three? How much work is it going to be for seven, eight, nine, 10. We want to quantify that data.

Watch the screencast of the keyword prediction step below, or on our YouTube channel.

Finally, we will go into the measure phase, which is where we actually estimate the return on investments. This is going to be the amount of work that’s going to go in to ranking for these keywords versus what the return on investment is, or how much new business you’ll be generating based off of this keyword research and implementation.

The major things that we need to determine is the gaps in your current SEO plan. An example of a gap would be if you’re currently not doing any external promotion, like creating new content for your site and putting it up on external sites, like Avvo, which then link back to your website. Another example, you’re not engaging in blog commenting or you’re not putting out press releases. These are your basic SEO tactics and are the first thing you want to look at completing. Do an inventory of what your current SEO marketing plan is and where you can increase your SEO marketing to reach your goals.

Once you’ve determined what areas you’re currently lacking in and you’d like to improve on, we can start assigning a cost or a value behind those marketing services that need to happen in order for you to rank. Once we’ve figured out how much it’s going to cost to implement your SEO strategy, we can then estimate how much is it going to cost to get a new visitor to your website. The way that we do that is based on data from the predict phase versus the measurement phase of how much is it going to cost for your SEO campaign. When we have that idea of how much is it going to cost for an SEO visitor based on SEO activities, we can then use the pay-per-click data that we got from the analyze phase. We can compare SEO metrics versus pay-per-click metrics versus social media metrics, so on and so forth. That will start giving you a really clear idea on how your marketing money is working for you.

Once you’ve completed this whole phase, we go in and we implement the keyword research into your marketing campaigns, or your SEO campaigns, or pay-per-click campaigns, and continue to analyze and adjust. You can’t just assume that this is a onetime process. If it was a simple “one then done” process, everyone would have the exact same marketing plan.

It’s really important that you keep a pulse on how this implementation is working for you, and then measure and adjust as needed. You might find that there’s some keywords that simply are not performing, and you probably want to drop those from you campaign. Contrary, you might also find that there were some keywords that Google said were not going to perform, and they’re actually driving significant amounts of traffic, leads and conversions to your website.

I hope that you have found this most useful. Thank you.

Individual screencast recordings are below. For the best picture, be sure to select an HD option from the “Change quality” setting below each YouTube play bar:

Keyword assimilation screencast:

Keyword permutation screencast:

Keyword analysis screencast:

Keyword refinement screencast:

Keyword prediction screencast:

Extra keyword prediction tool screencast:

But the fact of the matter is email, despite how boring it is, is still one of the most effective ways for attorneys to stay in touch with clients and to market their practices. So we’re going to talk a little bit today, at a high level, about the concept of email marketing and how easy it is for attorneys to use as a form of marketing within their practices. I’ve got to tell you it’s really lightly used. Despite the fact that we all rely on email, it’s pretty shocking how few attorneys rely on this very simple, often free technique to stay in touch with their clients. I’m going to walk you though this at a high level, and hopefully you’ll take away from it some very simple things that you could start doing today to use email as a form of marketing.

Let’s start with the “why” of email marketing. I’ve already touched on the fact that it’s typically free, and it’s very easy. But it’s interesting, when you think about email marketing and putting content in front of potential clients as compared to blogging. A lot of attorneys have taken to blogging, and blogging is great. I’ve been a blogger myself for years, and it’s a great way to build on your practice as an attorney, to develop your skills, to connect with other people. But one of the interesting things about email marketing is that it can be used as a form of distribution for your blog. You may even find that by including links to some of your blog posts, excerpts within a regular monthly newsletter or email drip campaign that you’re carrying out to your client base, that you are, in fact, getting more readers. Most people who work in an office environment are sitting in front of their email reader all day long. If they’re getting your content within their email, they may be more likely to actually read that content than if they’re picking it up on a blog that they may be visiting or trying to use in browser based blog reader. Keep that in mind when you’re putting something into email, it’s going right front of your clients and potential clients every day.

The second question is the “who” – who you send it to. There are really three big categories to think about when it comes to email marketing. You’ve got your prospective clients, and I think this is where a lot of attorneys focus – potential leads. Then you have people you’re taking to, people they may be reaching through various other advertising campaigns. But that’s only one category of people you might reach through email marketing. The other two really big important categories to focus on are your existing clients and your referral sources. Your existing clients, even your former clients, these are people who may not be aware of the kind of legal services you provide, some other types of areas than the one they originally hired you for. Or they may have legal needs that they’re not entirely familiar with. A regular monthly newsletter is a way of staying in touch with them, touching in regularly so that they’re always reminded of where you’re at. It’s a very simple thing to do.

The same goes for referral sources. Referral sources may be hit or miss for when they have people they can refer your way. However, if you’re constantly reminding them on a fairly regular schedule of who you are, what you’re out doing, and your engagement with your area of law, that’s another great way to stay in touch with your referral sources.

Finally, and most importantly is the “how”. You know you want to do email marketing, but how are you going to do it? We really refer to it as the difference between drip campaigns and newsletters. Drip campaigns are a more formal way of sending out structured emails to a group of potential recipients. This could be an entire email list. It could be categorized or sliced and diced across people with a particular type of need, a certain type of referral source, or just a certain type of potential lead that you’re still trying to reach to get them to make the decision about whether they’re going to become a client or not.

A newsletter might be a simple biweekly or monthly newsletter. Newsletters distributed more frequently than that are probably not appreciated within the legal industry and I think a monthly frequency is the best way to do it. By the way, that’s the frequency I use with my own newsletter, “Socially Awkward: Where Social Media Meets the Practice of Law.” You can easily send a newsletter out and keep it every simple. I call it the distinction between simple or a service.

You could start sending out newsletters today if you wanted to. You could create a template in Outlook or in Gmail. It’s just a template email. It wouldn’t look that great, but you could put all sorts of content in it. It’s all really a matter of what you write into it. The other option is to use a service. We have a drip campaign feature that’s built into Avvo Ignite, but there are lots of other service out there that carry out newsletters. There is a free service from MailChimp, for example, that would meet the needs of most attorneys, particularly those just getting started with a newsletter. Constant Contact, Vertical Response, these are other services that provide email newsletter services. They’re all very easy to use and they’re typically very low cost.

What I’d finally leave you with is this. Once you’ve made the decision to engage in this kind of email marketing, always focus on building your list. You want your list to get as big as possible because you want to be reaching a wide enough audience. This is not only because it’s effective from a marketing perspective, but frankly, it’s going to help you build up your content because you’re going to be writing useful information. You’re going to be writing things that are of interest to both your potential clients, your existing clients, and your referral sources. At the end of the day, that kind of writing, that kind of engagement, it’s not only good business, but it makes you a better lawyer as well.

I hope this has been helpful. I look forward to seeing again on the next Fireside Chat.

The very first thing you want to do is plan for action. Your time is valuable. Your clients’ time is valuable. So the way you want to maximize that time is by thinking about what you’re going to do with the information that you’re collecting.

For example, if you want to find out better ways to communicate with your clients, you might ask them a question about how they prefer to be communicated with. Is it email, by phone, via mobile? What if all of your clients tell you that they really prefer to receive text messages? They want reminders of their appointments. They want reminders of when they owe you payment. Be ready to research and implement that [mobile notifications] if people are telling you that that’s what they want. Otherwise, that information just goes to waste.

Number two, give clients options within your survey. The very first way you can do that is with closed and open-ended questions. Closed-ended questions are those yes/no questions or rate on a scale of one to 10 questions. Those can give you a lot of concrete data to compare over a large set of users. But the open-ended questions is where you actually might get some really great ideas. Folks might tell you about their experience arriving at your office for the first time. They might tell you about their experience through the payment process. By changing up both the open and closed-ended questions, you’re going to get a nice variety of information.

The other way you can give clients options is when you send out that link, where they might click to take the survey. Invite them to also reply to you directly as well. You’ve already created a relationship with these folks. They might feel more comfortable replying to you directly. Other folks might want to remain anonymous by taking a survey.

Number three is pilot your survey. As clear as you think your survey may be, handing it over to your spouse, a friend, or a former client that you trust, can help you spot where you’re being unclear or where your word choice has a double meaning. The clearer you are in your survey questions, the better feedback that you’re going to get in the end.

Number four, how to implement your survey. There’s a wide variety of tools that you can use. The first tool I would take a look at using is a simple Word document. Type your questions up in a Word doc, attach it to an email and send it out. Invite folks to mail it back to you if they’d like to remain anonymous.  The other tool you can use is SurveyMonkey.com. It’s free to start, and they have a lot of questions that can get you started when creating your survey. If you’re not quite sure how to write your questions, they have sample questions that can get you started — pretty cool.

Number five is respond if appropriate. Again, we’ve talked a little bit about allowing people to reply anonymously. If they reply anonymously, then either you don’t have a way to respond to them, or you should respect their privacy. Sometimes we can tell the details by somebody’s certain experience, but respect their privacy if they don’t want to be contacted. An easy way that you can have people opt in to being responded to, is to have your last question of your survey say, “Would you like me to respond to your comments? If so, leave your email address.” It’s a really simple way to let people opt in or opt out.

Those are our tips. If you have any other tips, please contact us and let us know. Thanks.

What exactly is a Google+ Local map listing? You probably have done a search in the past on Google, and you’ve searched for a business, a pizzeria, a coffeehouse in your city, and you’ll notice you get these special listings. These are known as the 7-pack and include the business name, their website, their rating, reviews, as well as their contact information, such as their address and phone number.

These listings are actually considered or calculated in a different index than the primary Google search pages. Specifically, they’re based on the Google+ map listing. These profiles get a tremendous amount of click-through as well as exposure as these listings are often prioritized at the top of the page within the first one to five results. By claiming your Google+ profile listing, you’ll be able to be considered to be placed in this 7-pack map listing.

The reason you want to create your Google+ map listing is because Google’s done a really good job integrating their main search product as well as into the Google Maps and Google+ social network. The reason why you want to set up this local business profile is that it can significantly increase the online visibility and website traffic that you’ll receive.

The four main benefits are: more online visibility, which will, in turn, lead to more online visitors, and these visitors are more likely to engage with your brand and your website, leaving reviews, feedback, as well as actually going down the conversion funnel and becoming new and repeat customers.

There’s a little bit of a learning curve that’s been created since this new Google+ Local map listings and brand pages got consolidated. It is a five step process.

It starts with creating a Gmail account. This will be your primary login that you’ll use for all of the Google associated services, as well as your Google Local business listing, your Google+ personal profile, your Google+ brand page. In the end, you will merge your business listing and the brand page together.

The first step is to create your Gmail account. You can do this by going to Gmail.com, and once you’re on this page, you’ll see a button in the upper right-hand corner that says “Create An Account.” Click on the “Create an Account” button. Google asks for some basic information, such as your first and last name, your desired username, and your password. Fill that out, and then once you have that submitted and complete, you can go ahead and move on to the next step.

The next step is to set up your Google Local business listing. This actually creates your map listing. At the time of this recording, this is still a necessary step in this whole process, though it’s very likely that this step will be consolidated into the Google+ brand pages at some point. In your browser, navigate to Google.com/local/add, and be sure to login with your Gmail account from step one if you aren’t already logged in.

Once you’ve gotten to this page, you’ll be prompted to look up your business by the local phone number. Just enter in your local business phone number and press the “Find business information” button.

From here, you’ll have one of two options. The screen you’re seeing here is a scenario where the business already exists, so we’re able to see this listing, and we would click “Edit” to edit, change, or verify these details. If you don’t see your business, that’s quite all right. You just click on the “Add New Listing” button.

Once you’ve clicked on either “Edit” or “Add,” it’s time to enter your business details. You definitely want to take the time to fill this out as complete and accurately as possible. Because you’re a company/organization, you want to use your “doing business as [dba]” as the business name, your street address, your city or town, your state and your ZIP code. For your phone number, use a local phone number, not a 1-800 number.

Definitely include a contact email address, your website, a brief description of your product or services and business. This is probably the only field where you can actually get away with using hyper-local keywords — for example, “Seattle criminal defense attorney.” Make sure you include what you do, not so much as who you are. You want to be as descriptive as possible when it comes to the services that you provide. This is also a great place to put your years of experience, accolades, and so forth.

Once you have your basic information added, you want go ahead and add five categories. Google has a very large list of categories. You want to be sure to use as many of their pre-defined categories as possible. For some niches, it’s not possible to add more than one or two, and you can go ahead and add custom categories at this point. Do try to use their pre-defined categories as much as possible as this will help in your overall search rankings.

After you have this basic information section filled out, you’re going to go ahead and set your operating hours as well as your payment options. Then you want to add 10 photos and 5 videos if possible. Again, these map listings are very competitive, so making sure that you have a 100% filled out profile is going to be your best step to making sure that your website or your map listing shows up higher in the search results.

Once you’ve verified all of your information, go ahead and press the “Submit” button.

On the next page you’ll hopefully be given two options. The first is the preferred one, which is verifying everything by phone. If this isn’t an option, that’s okay. It does happen from time to time. Go ahead and select the “By postcard” which will take two to three weeks. Once you have made your selection, you’ll press “Submit.” If you selected the “By phone” option, Google will send out an automated phone call to you within 10 seconds that will sound something like, “Hey, this is Google. Here is your five digit PIN.” You just want to write down this PIN and verify it on the next screen.

Now that you’ve claimed your business listing, you’re going to navigate to plus.google.com in your web browser and login if necessary. If you’re doing all this at the same time, you should already be logged in, but sometimes there are glitches..

So once you’ve logged into plus.google.com, you want to click on the “Profile” icon on the left sidebar. From your profile page, then you want to click on the “Edit profile” button. This is your personal profile. You want to add in as much of your personal details as possible, contact information, experience, so forth. Also be sure to upload a 300 pixel by 300 pixel headshot photo. This is really useful if you set up “rel=authorship” later on, and it also gives you a personal branded element, rather than just having your business branding.

Once you’ve completed your Google+ profile, go ahead and press the “Done editing” button.

The fourth step is to create your Google+ brand page. You should still be logged in to plus.google.com, and on the left sidebar you’re going to hover over the last button, the “More” button. It will have a pop-over or rollout and you want to click on the “Pages” button in that rollout.

On these pages, you’ll see a button in the right corner that says “Create New Page,” and you want to click on that. On the next screen, click on the first option, which is the “Local Business or Place.” Once you’ve clicked, it will slide down, and you’ll have a field where you want to put in your local business phone number, the same phone number that we used in step two for your map listing.

Once you’ve submitted, you’re going to select your business on the next screen. You’ll want to confirm your address and business name is correct and also make sure you add your website URL. Finally, you’re going to select that you agree to the page terms and that you’re authorized to create this page, and then press “Continue.”

This final page here is the last step to actually create your framework or an empty Google+ brand page. You want to add in your email and a cover photo and your business logo. Once you have those three elements placed, confirm and submit the changes.

At this point, you now have a live Google+ brand page, all be it a very empty one at this point. Go ahead and click on the “Edit Profile” button. Then, again, complete your profile using the same information that you used on your map listings. Once you’ve complete this, press the “Done Editing” button.

At this point, you have a complete brand page. However, we want to verify that you are the correct owner of this page. Up at the top of the page you’ll see a “Unverified” link in light grey. Hover over that link until you see the rollout button that says “Verify Now.” Click that “Verify Now” button.

This is the last step where we merge your business listing with your new brand page. It’s pretty easy to do. It is a little bit different than verifying the listing from step two, in that you only have the option to verify via postal mail. Make sure your address is correct, and then press the “Yes, let’s continue” button.

On this postcard option, it’s very useful if you have a secretary, for example, to enter in that optional contact name. That’s just an easy way for you to prioritize who’s going to be receiving this email and who’s going to be owning this process. If you want, and you don’t have to, you can put in the contact name. Next, verify that your name is correct in step three, and click on the “I have read and agree to the terms and conditions” check box. You’re then going to press the “Request postcard” button.

In one to three weeks, you’ll receive a postcard with a verification PIN at your business’ address. All these instructions are included in this postcard, but you’ll navigate to google.com/local/verify, and enter in the PIN that was provided in that postcard. After you’ve done that, you press “Submit,” and that’s the last step that will, in turn, merge your local map listing with your Google+ Local business page and give you the best set-up to be able to rank highly in the Google+ map listings.

Thank you very much and have a great day.

Transcription services provided by Speechpad.com.

I think we all realize how much mobile, and particularly smartphones and now tablets, have changed our lives. I just saw a recent study that indicated we are much more likely to get back in the car and drive home to retrieve a left cell phone than we are to get go back for our wallets and purses.

This rapid adoption of mobile, smarthphones in particular, has also changed how consumers access content on the Internet, which means it’s something you need to consider when thinking about your marketing strategy. Let me go to the board right now and run through some numbers that will give you an even greater indication of the opportunity around mobile and things that you need to think about.

So first off, 21% of consumers researching and an attorney online start that search on a mobile phone or a device. Then,70% of consumers performing local searches off of their phone or device make a decision about that search within an hour. Lastly, 61% of those decisions result in a phone call, which is great news for attorneys marketing online because phone calls convert, on average, 10 to 15 times more than other inquiries, such as clicks. there’s a lot of opportunity around mobile for attorneys, and that’s why you need to think about it, specifically as a part of your marketing mix.

Let’s talk about some things that you want to consider when thinking about your mobile strategy. The first one is your website.

You want to make sure that your website works well on mobile devices, and there’s a term out there that you’ll hear and it’s called “responsive”. You want to make sure that your website is responsive, which means it looks great whether it’s on an iPhone or an iPad or an Android device. The websites that you can get from Avvo in our recently released product, Avvo Ignite, are responsive, and they work great on mobile.

The second thing you want to think about on your website is your call to action. So if you remember, 61% result in phone calls. You want to make sure that your phone number is clearly on your website, on the home page of your mobile website, and that it’s clickable.

The third thing to think about is making sure that you don’t have any Flash animation on your mobile website. A lot of devices, including iPhones, cannot play Flash.

The last thing to consider or make sure that you do is to include a link to your full website off of your mobile website so that consumers who want to drill down and get additional information can easily do so.

The second thing to think about when considering your mobile strategy is pay-per-click. If you’re currently doing pay-per-click campaigns on AdWords or Bing or any of the search engines, you want to consider your mobile campaigns differently and think about them a little bit differently. If you have a consultant doing your search campaigns, you might want to talk to them about what they’re doing around mobile and setting up those campaigns separately.

The cost for search campaigns on mobile tends to be cheaper than it is on desktop and there are often some good ROI opportunities there. But if you’ve done a search on Google anytime recently on your mobile phone, you’ll notice that there are only two ads slots at the top as opposed to the full range at the top and on the side. This means that search terms can be competitive on mobile. It’s just something that you want to think about, but you can find some good ROI opportunities for pay-per-click on mobile.

The third thing that you want to think about when considering your mobile strategy, is your response time. This is really important. Studies out there indicate that the chances of reaching a prospect after five minutes from when the inquiry first came in decreases by ten times. This is even more so when it comes to mobile. Remember that 70% of folks that perform a local search looking for a service provider or looking to make a purchase decision do so within an hour. It’s even more important that you follow up quickly with contacts or leads that come in through mobile.

Overall you want to make sure that you have a notification system in place so that you’re notified, whether you’re in the office or on the go, every time a lead comes in. You want to make sure that that notification system also reaches you after hours. Mobile users tend to do their searches after hours, so you want to make sure you’re staying on top of those leads as well.

That’s all we have today around mobile marketing. If you have any other questions about a mobile strategy or how Avvo can help, feel free to send me an email at leigh@avvo.com. Thanks for watching.

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I talk to attorneys all around the country, and I am always hearing about the need from attorneys for more client contacts. They want more potential leads, and more people to talk to, people who potentially want to hire them for their legal services. What I thought I would focus on today is the flipside of that coin. Once you are paying for those online inquiries, focused on getting those inquiries, or using Avvo Ignite to manage those inquires, what is the impact of following up on those very quickly? The great thing is that there has actually been some research done recently that attempts to answer that question. Some researchers at Harvard Business School and Ohio State University pulled together a survey where they looked at several thousand businesses, both large and small, in a variety of industries. Industries including consumer products, manufacturing, services, and even professional services. There were probably some small law firms within their survey.

What they did was look at the impact of various times to answer online inquiries. These would be inquiries that come in through a website or through a lead capture form for the business. They looked at what impact answering these inquiries at various intervals of time after that lead has come in had on the ability to actually make contact with that potential client. I will cut to the punch line before we go through the numbers. That is: it matters a whole lot whether you respond very quickly. Let us look at the numbers.

If we focus on responding within an hour after that lead comes in. The difference between responding within an hour to responding within two hours is a 10x difference. It is literally 10 times more effective to actually make contact with that potential client if you respond in one hour versus two hours. If you are thinking, ‘I am kind of done for the day. I will just wait until tomorrow to get back to that potential inquiry,’ it is 60 times less effective, as compared to an hour. This really, starkly points out how massive the difference is if you respond to an inquiry quickly, within that first golden hour.

There is even more to it than that. The researchers looked within that first hour to see what difference it makes if you slice it on a per-minute basis. The really interesting thing they found is that it is not really a golden first hour, it is a golden first five minutes. Literally, if you respond within the first five minutes to an online inquiry, it is four times more effective at making contact with that potential client than if you wait simply 10 minutes. Literally, that five minute difference is going to have four times the impact. If you compare it to waiting half an hour, say you’re finishing up lunch or whatever you are in the process of doing before you respond to the inquiry, it is a 21-times difference. It is a staggering difference between responding within 5 minutes of the inquiry and waiting even a shorter period of time, like 30 minutes.

You may get frustrated if you see a contractor who is working at your house– say they are working under the sink– and they pause in the middle of their task to answer the phone. They do this because they understand this point intuitively. If you do not immediately follow-up on these inquiries, if you do not stay on top of them and have a program that lets you really aggressively follow-up on them and get right back to people, this contact is likely going to call the next person on the list and move on. It is critically important that if you are working to generate more online leads, particularly if you are paying for online lead generation, that you do your utmost best to use whatever tools you can to follow up as quickly as possible with those potential clients.

Thanks for listening.

The most important thing to remember – and I will come back to this a few times –  is that prospective clients learn more about you from your response to a negative review than from the review itself. Your response matters the most. It shows that you’re professional. It shows that you’re experienced. It shows that you understand what prospective clients need.

Let’s first talk about how to respond to a negative review.

You’re going to go through some feelings when you get a negative review. First, you’re going to feel shock. You’ll think, “Who would write this about me? I’m a great lawyer. I did so much for them.” There’s a lot of things that you’re going to feel about the fact that you got the review in the first place. Next, you’re going to be angry. You’re going to be really upset that someone would say this about you, because you’re great and you did your best for them. Then you’ll start to resent your clients. Not all of them, but the ones that write bad reviews. You’ll think, “Boy, they are so ungrateful. How could they use my services and not appreciate it?”

In all of those stages, you don’t want to write a review. In all of those stages, you want to wait. If there is some time sensitive need to comment on that review, you need somebody else to write it for you.

Assuming you can get past these first three, you’ll then get to the acceptance and healing stages. This is the time (with the happy face) that you want to start thinking about how to write your response to the negative review. That’s when you can present yourself as the professional, thoughtful, experienced lawyer that you are.

So what do you do when the time comes to actually write the review, when you’ve gotten to that place of acceptance and healing?

First, you want to thank them for their feedback. They’re taking time out of their day to provide some commentary to you. Oftentimes we see in a negative review where there are some positive statements made. The reviewer is complimenting you for the value you provide or it could be your responsiveness. There’s usually some statement that is positive. The fact is, they’ve also spent time and money with you, so you do want to thank them for their feedback. That doesn’t mean that you’re accepting their feedback, but you want to thank them for it.

Next, you want to address any changes that you’ve made. If you have changed the way that your facility operates – maybe they talked about waiting a long time to come into the office and see you, and you’ve changed your scheduling or your receptionist to address those needs – talk about that. If they talk about the quality of your facility, and you’ve moved to a new place that is better, talk about that as well. There might not always be something that you can address, in terms of changes, but if there is, make sure that you mention it.

Then, offer to discuss the matter one on one with this person offline. The goal of this response is never to get into a flame war with a client. Again, is that something you would really want prospective clients to see? Make sure that you are offering to talk with them, because you want to seem open and that you want to solve the problem. You want to seem approachable, but you do not want to focus on solving the problem in the online forum.

Additionally, you want to reinforce your experience and skill. One of the things we see time and time again in responses to negative reviews is people that say, “In all my years of experience, this is the first time someone has complained about this.” Or, “It’s hard for me to tell what client this is. Having taken on 500 speeding ticket cases a year, I don’t recognize this to be one. All of my clients have been very satisfied with me.” You don’t want to alienate the person, but you want to show or demonstrate the amount of experience that you have.

You always want to take the high road. If you have to think about whether your response is this something that a prospective client might take the wrong way, then you shouldn’t have it in the response. If you know that a prospective client will take it in a negative way, then you definitely shouldn’t have it in the response. Again, prospective clients learn more from your response than they do from the review itself.

Lastly, don’t fuel the fire.  The things that you should avoid at all costs is being rude in your response. As I’ve said, your response is not really written for the person you’re responding to as much as it is to people that are thinking about hiring you. They are not going to want to hire someone that’s going to be rude to them. You also do not want to condescend. Prospective clients want to feel that they are in partnership with their attorney. You want to make sure that you’re being that partner, that you’re being respectful at all times. You also don’t want to be insincere, and you don’t want to be flip. People see that a mile away, and they’re not going to want to spend their time and money with someone that’s going to treat them that way.

One final point, with a big underline, do not attack the reviewer. We see many, many responses to reviews where someone talks about the details of the case. They talk about the client in very insulting and inflammatory ways, and that’s the last thing you want to do. At the end of the day, what you’re trying to do with all of your reviews is to get more clients and to build your reputation, and an attack will only tear that down.

In summary, if you remember nothing else from this video, remember that prospective clients learn more about you from your response to a negative review, than they do from the negative review itself. Thank you.

I am actually going to start with the “following”, because I think this is a really important place to begin. I read probably on the order of 80 or 90 different legal blogs. When I have mentioned that in the past to lawyers, I get a little bit of an exasperated sigh. ‘How on God’s green earth am I going to read 80 or 90 legal blogs?’ The fact of the matter is they are not all updated every day, so it is not necessarily that arduous. More importantly, you do not have to go out and look at every single one of these blogs every day. You do not need to create some elaborate system of bookmarks within your browser so that you can go and look and every blog every day and say, ‘There was an update today. No update today.’ There’s absolutely no need to do that. Here is how you deal with it, very simply: Google Reader.

Google Reader relies on something called RSS (Real Simple Syndication), which essentially every blog works through and every blog syndicates out its content to various ways of aggregating and reading that content. There is lots of technology there, but the simple thing to keep in mind is that you have got a free tool that you can use, where all of the updates from the blogs are automatically added. There are other readers out there: free ones and paid ones, but Google Reader is dead simple. It integrates with everything else that Google does, and it is completely free. That is what I have used for years, and it is the reader I would recommend to anyone who is getting started with aggregating and reading blog content. You simply sign up for your Google Reader account, and then there is a very simple process of cutting and pasting the URL from any blog that you want to follow in the “subscribe” box on the left-hand side of the Google Reader pane. Voila, you get updates to that blog. Every time the author of that blog writes a new post, that update automatically appears in your Google Reader. You simply need to set a bookmark for Google Reader, and anytime you want, you can go and see all of the new posts. It archives all of the old posts, so you can go back through there. It allows you to star posts that you like so that they are put into a certain category that you can go back to and review them at another time. It is a great way to stay on top of all of the new stuff that is posted.

Besides simply subscribing, you can also organize it as you get more blogs that you are following. I certainly do this with the 80 or 90 that I read. They are organized into categories. It is a simple folder system, just like you use in an email system, where you can set up folders for, let us say, other bankruptcy law bloggers. Then maybe you have bloggers you want to follow on civil procedure, criminal law, constitutional issues, or election issues, and indeed, even non-legal areas of interest, if you follow bloggers. For those blogs, for instance, bicycle bloggers or running bloggers, whatever the case may be, you can set up specific sub-folders for those so that you can dive in and review them whenever you want.

Reader also integrates with a variety of mobile apps. None of them, unfortunately, are provided by Google yet, but there are free apps provided by others that allow you to view your Google Reader account when you are on the go. Whether it is on an iPhone, Android, or tablet, those all synchronize back to your main Google Reader account so that if you have marked updates as “read,” they will not reappear as unread items. Again, Google Reader is a very simple, powerful tool for staying on top of blogging.

Also, with respect to following, I find it important to follow those bloggers that I am really interested in, who I want to engage with, on Twitter. Simply make sure that if you are on Twitter, that you are following those bloggers. Most people who blog, and who are active on Twitter, will make it easy for you to find their Twitter handle. Follow them and see what they have to say. They will often times, and this relates to my finding concept, point you to other content that you may be interested in.

Finally, always leave comments. I am not saying leave comments in everything you read — that would be ridiculous. But anytime you read something that really resonates with you, that is really thought-provoking, or that you think is wrong, it is a great practice to engage with the blogger and leave your thoughts in the comments. If you are ever torn on whether or not you should leave a comment, I always tell people to err on the side of leaving one. Those who are taking the time to write blogs love seeing the engagement that comes in through thoughtful comments, even if they disagree with you, so err on the side of doing that.

The next issue is how you find all these great blogs to follow; the 80 or 90 that I am following, watching, and looking for updates in Google Reader. I am not going to pretend that it is really simple or that there is a magic bullet. Really, the first place to start is with your favorite search engine. Go to Google or Bing and enter in the type of search that is relevant to where you want to start. Again, I think you would want to typically start with stuff that is relevant to your practice area. If you want to follow bankruptcy law developments, you might enter a search like ‘bankruptcy law blog,’ and I would always add the term ‘law blog.’ You will get page after page of results, in Google or Bing. Then you need to take the time, and again, this is not necessarily something you will do all at once, but maybe in a series of sessions, and read through each of those results. See if there is the type of blog that is at least somewhat regularly updated, if it is a writing style you like, if you think it is cogent and well reasoned. If it looks good, and again, I would err on the side of keeping anything that looks good, drop it into your Google Reader account. It is very easy to add the subscriptions and very easy to delete them later if you decide it is no longer relevant for you. That way you can start keeping a running list based on the results you are finding relevant out of your search engine results.

Next, you can go to lists. I have listed three of the top compilations of legal blogs. One, of course is Avvo’s Top Legal Blogs list. They are ranked according to the Alexa Ranking of popularity of online sites. There are about 450 legal blogs referenced there and a great place to dive in and start looking. Again, this is particularly if you want to dive into a list of more general legal content once you have gotten through the more specific practice area-devoted blogs. Then you can go look at the ABA Blawg Directory. That is a listing of many blogs that the ABA Journal thinks are relevant and well written. Finally, TheLaw.com Legal Blog Watch, a shorter list, but it is somewhat well curated. A bit of mixed quality within those blogs on TheLaw.com Legal Blog Watch, but there are some excellent blogs listed there, and it is another good resource to take a look at.

Very importantly, once you have a core series of blogs that you really like to follow, bloggers that you respect, look at their blog roles. This is simply a list of links, typically in the right-hand column of the blog, that lists other blogs that that blogger likes. These will typically be blogs that are active, well written, and are somewhat well related to content of the blog that you are already reading. Diving into those can provide an additional means of finding a lot of other great blogs that you would not have found otherwise.

Finally, I am just going to give a few suggestions. I always get this question, whenever I’m giving a talk on blogging or the ethics of blogging; ‘What are some great legal blogs to look at?’ Here are just three examples of good places to start. They are all active bloggers, all with good blog roles. One is MyShingle.com from Carolyn Elephant. It’s a terrific blog devoted to all things relating to the practice of law, as a solo practitioner. PopeHat is one of my favorite blogs about liberty and all sorts of issues related to the practice of law. Finally, OverLawyered, by Walter Olson, is a very active, well maintained blog. It is a little bit focused on the excesses of the legal system, but something that will no doubt speak to many lawyers.

That is it. That is my advice for the best ways to both find and follow all the legal blogs you can read. Thank you very much.

View the original webinar posted on November 7th, 2012 here: https://vimeo.com/50802251