Why You Should Have a Law Blog

When it comes to marketing your law practice, maximizing use of the various online outlets can help you get more clients. Law blogs, in particular, are a crucial element of any business development plan.

If you’re new to the blogging world, you may not be quite sure of what a blog actually is or how it differs from a traditional website.  So, let’s start with a definition.

The word “blog” is short for “weblog,” and is a website that contains a chronological “log” of opinions, ideas, information or commentary on an almost any imaginable subject.  The term “blawg” is a combination of the words “law” and “blog” and represents a law related weblog typically written by legal professionals.

Law related blogs first began to hit the scene around 2002, publishing commentary on a wide range of legal topics.  If a subject involves the law, chances are that someone is blogging about it.

Lawyers and legal professionals are taking advantage of the blog platform because it can be a successful addition to their overall marketing and professional development plan.  In particular, blogs have become extremely popular for at least three good reasons.

1.    Blogs Can Help Establish Your Expertise

A blog can give you a place on the Internet that reflects you, your accomplishments and your interest.  And because of their ease of use, you can publish news and events in your practice area as quickly as you can write an e-mail.  All you do is write a title, write the body of your message and then hit the publish button.

Additionally, blogs open up your professional network.  You become visible to other lawyers across the nation, which can open up referral and collaborative opportunities.

2.    Blogs are Popular with the Search Engines

Search engines love blogs.  Because they are frequently updated, search engines typically list them very high in their search results.  This means that blogs are likely to get more traffic than traditional sites because more people can find them quickly and easily in search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN.

3.    Blogs are Interactive

Most blogs have comments enabled, allowing readers to express their own thoughts on a particular blog post.  When other people “join the conversation,” you can end up with a very exciting collection of thoughts from people all over the world.

As you can see, blogs can be a useful marketing tool.  If you’re contemplating a blog for your law practice, now’s the time to get started.  According to an ABA Journal report in 2008, only 8% of the lawyers surveyed are blogging.  This means you can position yourself and establish your credibility in your practice area before your competitors do.

Law Blogs: Increase Your Client Acquisition

Whether you’re a veteran in the legal profession or just starting out, there can be no doubt that the economic landscape has changed. This means that how you market has also changed.

For many attorneys, long-time clients and referrals have been their bread and butter. However, securing new business is becoming increasingly competitive. The good news is that more and more people are seeking legal services and, many start their search online.

To keep pace with maintaining a steady flow of clients in an uncertain economy, your marketing strategy should include an online component. In particular, you should develop a law blog.

Law blogs are search engine friendly, meaning that properly configured, can be easily found in Google. For example, most people search for attorneys by name or law firm name. Imagine, however, if a prospective client were able to find you by your practice specialty on page 1 of Google. And when they discover your blog, you just happen to be in the same locale where they live or do business. This scenario presents a win-win situation for both you and the prospective client.

Without an online presence, you are missing out on a key client acquisition opportunity. Law blogs are a cost effective marketing tool that will not only raise your online profile, but expand your reach to prospective clients and fellow attorneys alike.  A law blog also affords you the opportunity to:

• Share your experiences and knowledge, and thereby your authority in your area of practice.
• Build client relationships.
• Interact with other legal authorities.
• Educate the masses about your practice area.
• Get cited in cases as an authority on a subject.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today for a free consultation on how to develop and maximize your online presence with a law blog.

3 Benefits of Having Your Own Legal Blog or Blawg

There are many advantages to having a legal blog or blawg. Here follows at least three of the benefits:

1. It allows you to easily reach a larger audience, giving you a chance to exhibit your expertise and stature in the legal field.
2. The search engines reward sites with regularly updated content. Adding blog posts can improve your web site’s position on the search engines. (i.e. Google, Yahoo, MSN)
3. Posting your blog comments and observations is relatively quick and simple and does not require you have any knowledge of HTML.

Many in the legal field attest to the benefits of having a blawg. The Internet continues to expand as one of the first destinations potential clients and others look to for information regarding legal matters. Blawgs make it easier for them to find you and the legal expertise you have to offer.