The document discusses how the rise of internet usage is changing how consumers search for and select lawyers. It notes that most consumers now turn to the internet over professionals, friends or government agencies for help with legal issues. As a result, law firms need to have an online presence to be visible to these consumers during their search process. The key components to an effective law firm website are good visibility in search engines, clear and intuitive design, and high-quality, relevant content that both attracts search engines and resonates with potential clients.
White Paper: The 2015 State of Consumer Privacy & PersonalizationGigya
This year’s survey results illustrate increased growth and intensity in consumer desire for data privacy and personalized user experiences. While social login usage continues to skyrocket, consumers are also showing a marked interest in next-generation authentication methods, including payment providers and biometrics, indicating a clear evolution of the concept of digital identity: Identity 3.0.
White Paper: The 2015 State of Consumer Privacy & PersonalizationGigya
This year’s survey results illustrate increased growth and intensity in consumer desire for data privacy and personalized user experiences. While social login usage continues to skyrocket, consumers are also showing a marked interest in next-generation authentication methods, including payment providers and biometrics, indicating a clear evolution of the concept of digital identity: Identity 3.0.
This article written Diarmaid Byrne, Editor, STQ, was published in issue 08 of the Social Technology Quarterly.
Summary: In the face of rising demand for data, privacy and ownership become a critical concern as vast amounts of data are accessed and bartered without the knowledge of people. In such scenarios, it is crucial to determine practices towards maintaining privacy.
In issue 08, we examine the crucial nature and value of social data and why it has become essential for brands to perform all functions of branding, marketing and selling to their customers.
Social login adoption is growing at a rapid clip as businesses come to understand social login as more than a means faster registration, and as a key for gaining access to rich, permission-based identity data that drives more relevant user experiences.
This comprehensive eBook covers everything you need to know to develop a successful social login strategy that supports your business needs.
Build Your Brand: Make A Name For Yourself Through Effective CommunicationJoe Barnes
Learn the basics of personal brand building through this easy to follow presentation modified for the web. While this presentation was aimed at graduating college seniors, anyone looking to take control of their image, reputation, and success will find useful tips on building a strong brand that will resonate with their audience.
Presented by Nathan Young and Joe Barnes.
White Paper: The Evolution of Consumer Identity - Five Predictions for 2016Gigya
2016 promises to be a year of enhanced development in the customer identity and access management (CIAM) space, with customer experience, data privacy and personalization proving to be increasingly critical components of business success. This white paper reveals five identity-related trends we foresee taking hold in the new year, including:
- The death of traditional usernames and passwords
- The decline of data broker revenues
- The convergence of security and customer experience
Give-Get Framework: Balancing Lead Generation With the Expectations of Techno...Frank Jurden
Effective lead-generation strategy begins with the task of defining
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White Paper: Bridging the Gap between Marketing & IT with Customer Identity &...Gigya
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Winning the Content Wars: A Playbook for Today’s Content ProvidersCognizant
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I gave this version of my Design for Privacy presentation to the NY Experience Group of Publicis Sapient on Monday, 4 October 2021. It includes examples of privacy and security issues, our role in designing for privacy as design professionals, as well as best practices for privacy to keep in mind.
Consumer trust has become the new battleground for digital success. To win, organizations need to master the fundamentals of data ethics, manage the "give-to-get" ratio and solve the customer trust equation, our recent research reveals.
White Paper: Achieving A Single Customer View: The Holy Grail for MarketersGigya
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This article written Diarmaid Byrne, Editor, STQ, was published in issue 08 of the Social Technology Quarterly.
Summary: In the face of rising demand for data, privacy and ownership become a critical concern as vast amounts of data are accessed and bartered without the knowledge of people. In such scenarios, it is crucial to determine practices towards maintaining privacy.
In issue 08, we examine the crucial nature and value of social data and why it has become essential for brands to perform all functions of branding, marketing and selling to their customers.
Social login adoption is growing at a rapid clip as businesses come to understand social login as more than a means faster registration, and as a key for gaining access to rich, permission-based identity data that drives more relevant user experiences.
This comprehensive eBook covers everything you need to know to develop a successful social login strategy that supports your business needs.
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Presented by Nathan Young and Joe Barnes.
White Paper: The Evolution of Consumer Identity - Five Predictions for 2016Gigya
2016 promises to be a year of enhanced development in the customer identity and access management (CIAM) space, with customer experience, data privacy and personalization proving to be increasingly critical components of business success. This white paper reveals five identity-related trends we foresee taking hold in the new year, including:
- The death of traditional usernames and passwords
- The decline of data broker revenues
- The convergence of security and customer experience
Give-Get Framework: Balancing Lead Generation With the Expectations of Techno...Frank Jurden
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Grant Proposal of the Association for Consumer EffectivenessJoel Drotts
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I gave this version of my Design for Privacy presentation to the NY Experience Group of Publicis Sapient on Monday, 4 October 2021. It includes examples of privacy and security issues, our role in designing for privacy as design professionals, as well as best practices for privacy to keep in mind.
Consumer trust has become the new battleground for digital success. To win, organizations need to master the fundamentals of data ethics, manage the "give-to-get" ratio and solve the customer trust equation, our recent research reveals.
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Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, promising self-driving cars, medical breakthroughs, and new ways of working. But how do you separate hype from reality? How can your company apply AI to solve real business problems?
Here’s what AI learnings your business should keep in mind for 2017.
TEDx Manchester: AI & The Future of WorkVolker Hirsch
TEDx Manchester talk on artificial intelligence (AI) and how the ascent of AI and robotics impacts our future work environments.
The video of the talk is now also available here: https://youtu.be/dRw4d2Si8LA
How to Become a Thought Leader in Your NicheLeslie Samuel
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A Hands-On Guide to Successful Content Marketing in the Financial Services In...Aravinth Rajagopalan
Engage Your Auidence
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Financial services as a whole – insurance, investments, tax planning, retirement planning, credit services, finance and loans, banking, real estate and more – is one of the most difficult industries for most consumers to understand. But it is also one of the most necessary sets of services out there today, because these are all topics in which the average person claims little to no expertise. In short, it is an industry custom-made for good content marketing!
Business Case #7 Internet Marketing The Internet has b.docxRAHUL126667
Business Case #7
Internet Marketing
The Internet has been the fastest-growing marketing medium in recent years. As Internet
technology has developed and broadband penetration has increased, numerous opportunities have
arisen which more and more companies are trying to exploit.
This note describes various aspects of online marketing. Each section of the note is self-contained
and addresses a particular theme:
The first section, “The online audience”, explains how, and how widely, the Internet is used today.
A medium is only useful for marketing purposes if it allows sellers to reach potential buyers. This
section looks at online shoppers and their willingness to research and carry out purchases online.
The second section, “Particularities of the Internet”, compares the Internet with other media. The
Internet is different from other media in certain respects, but there is nothing to be afraid of. The
challenge is to exploit its particularities so as get the best possible return on investment.
The third section, “Potential of Internet marketing”, shows how the Internet can be the vehicle for
marketing activities at all stages of the purchase process. Whether the aim is to arouse consumer
interest in a sales proposition, explain the proposition or close a sale, the Internet has the tools to
do it.
The fourth section, “Options for Internet marketing”, describes the most widely used online
marketing tools.
The fifth section, “The Internet marketing market”, presents the players in the market. To find the
right service provider, assuming we have decided what we expect from our online campaign and
how we want to approach it, we need to know the types of companies there are and the services
they offer.
The last section of the note, “Examples of Internet use”, describes some advertising campaigns
that have included the Internet in their media plan. This section is not intended as an exhaustive
sample but presents different ways in which the Internet has been used by companies that
advertise online.
At the end of the note we attach a list of sources of up-to-date information about the Internet.
Although the ideas and concepts set forth in the note are relatively well established, the statistics
are likely to change quite rapidly. Anticipating this eventuality, we indicate public sources from
which the latest figures on Internet marketing can be obtained.
Business Case #7
The Internet Audience
Who is Online?
One of the first questions to be considered when organizing a communication campaign is who
the intended audience is. The larger the population that use a given medium as a source of
information, the more communication options that medium will offer.
The population of Internet users in Spain is around 22.5 million and the population of daily users,
around 12 million. This makes the Internet the sixth most widely used medium.
Figure 1. Penetration of the m ...
This article written by Diarmaid Byrne, Editor, STQ, was published in issue 07 of Social Technology Quarterly.
Summary: In a data driven economy Programmatic Buying is the approach marketers are shifting to in order to best utilize data and examine their selling strategies better.
How do I use for Bing SEO?
Optimizing your website for Bing SEO involves understanding Bing’s ranking factors, including keyword relevance, backlinks, page authority, and social signals. By creating high-quality content, building backlinks from authoritative websites, optimizing website metadata, and having an active social media presence, businesses can improve their search rankings on Bing.
Does Bing matter for SEO?
Yes, Bing is important for SEO, as it handles millions of search queries daily and has a significant market share. Optimizing for Bing can help businesses reach a wider audience and improve search rankings.
How do I rank in Bing Places?
To rank on Bing Places, businesses must claim their listing, ensure their information is accurate and complete, and optimize their listing with relevant keywords and images. Positive reviews on third-party sites like Yelp, TripAdvisor, and Facebook can also improve a business’s ranking on Bing Places.
How do businesses use Bing Places?
Bing Places allows businesses to create a free listing in Bing search results and Bing Maps. The listing provides customers with essential information about the business, such as an address, phone number, hours of operation, reviews, and photos. By optimizing their Bing Places listing, businesses can improve their visibility in local search results, attracting more customers.
What is Bing Places?
Bing Places is a free online directory service provided by Bing that allows businesses to create a listing that appears in Bing search results and Bing Maps. The listing provides customers with information about the business, such as an address, phone number, hours of operation, reviews, and photos.
How do I add my business to Bing Maps?
To add your business to Bing Maps, you must create a Bing Places listing, verify it, and ensure your listing information is accurate and complete. In addition, adding relevant keywords and images to your listing ensures that your business appears correctly on Bing Maps.
What is Bing My Business?
Bing My Business is not a separate product or service but refers to using Bing Places for Business to manage a business’s online presence on Bing. By creating a listing on Bing Places, businesses can provide customers with crucial information about their business and improve their local search rankings.
Does Bing have something like Google My Business?
Yes, Bing has a similar service called Bing Places for Business. Like Google My Business, it allows businesses to manage their online presence on Bing by creating a listing that appears in Bing search results and Bing Maps, providing customers with information about the business, such as an address, phone number, hours of operation, reviews, and photos.
Google AdWords Enhanced Campaigns Guide
Google AdWords introduces enhanced campaigns to make it easier for advertisers to promote marketing messages based on people’s context like their location, the device they are using and the time of day – all within a single campaign.
This paper explains: 1. What enhanced campaigns are 2. How to plan your upgrade to enhanced campaigns 3. How to upgrade your campaigns to enhanced campaigns 4. The upgrade process for some example campaigns.
This article attempted to meet the challenge of combining two extensive topics, both equally important for modern publishing: branding and social media. It has been shown how branding and social media can function as a virtuous cycle. It has also been shown how branding strategies can be used in the publishing context, and how author, publisher, product or series branding strategies contribute to general strategic brand management. Branding strategies and social media opportunities complement each other in theory, the survey findings have confirmed the hypothesis that publishing products that can be associated with social media offerings have an increased probability of customers purchasing the products. Hence, making use of social media for branding and brand management in publishing is viable from both a theoretical perspective and from a practical point of view since it helps publishers pursue branding strategies that both support their commercial goals and at the same time are successful with and adopted by consumers.This research can confidently state that social media strategies behind publishing products increase purchase probability. Online Journal of Communication and Media Technologies Volume: 1 – Issue: 4 – October - 2011 Using Social Media for Branding in Publishing Dr. Bettina Lis Assistant Professor Media Management (Prof. Dr. Heinz-Werner Nienstedt) Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz Department of Communication.
Marketers, retailers, content owners and technology firms are more focused than ever on obtaining
results from investments in digital marketing. If past years were about amassing data from the touchpoints between
companies and consumers, 2012 will be about curating, filtering and measuring that information to drive outcomes.
According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project half of all adults in the US use social networking sites. Despite its obvious appeal as a marketing channel, social media is far from achieving "equal citizenship" status among the marketing mix, particularly for Business-to-Business marketers. This benchmark report will examine the pressures and challenges social media presents for B2B marketing, and the path taken by top performing companies to achieve success. Aberdeen's research shows that top performing companies have integrated social media marketing with existing, core marketing channels and processes.
Fifty-two times a year, MarketingSherpa offers its renowned Chart of the Week – a
concise, yet thorough visual summary of Sherpa’s proven research, findings and lessons
learned. Covering the questions and topics that today’s marketers find most relevant,
these charts take mere minutes to read, but provide the detailed information you need to
make your marketing more effective.
In September 2012, LinkedIn announced a new look for its Company Pages. From a
usability perspective, this release became an effort in bringing a better experience to
LinkedIn members. But what did the rollout mean for marketers?
On the subject of efficiency, we also found that a larger percentage of advertisers were using Phrase and Exact type of keyword matching, and realizing strong performance gains as a result. Lastly, our data suggests that advertiser adoption of mobile and tablet devices for paid-search advertising is accelerating and showing significantly better performance than similar campaigns on desktop computers.
https://bit.ly/BabeSideDoll4u Babeside is a company that specializes in creating handcrafted reborn dolls. These dolls are designed to be incredibly lifelike, with realistic skin tones and hair, and they have become increasingly popular among collectors and those who use them for therapeutic purposes. At Babeside, we believe that our reborn dolls can provide comfort and healing to anyone who needs it.
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In addition to their physical benefits, reborn dolls can also offer emotional support. For many people, having something to care for and nurture can bring a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Reborn dolls can also serve as a reminder of happy memories or loved ones who have passed away.
Welcome to the Program Your Destiny course. In this course, we will be learning the technology of personal transformation, neuroassociative conditioning (NAC) as pioneered by Tony Robbins. NAC is used to deprogram negative neuroassociations that are causing approach avoidance and instead reprogram yourself with positive neuroassociations that lead to being approach automatic. In doing so, you change your destiny, moving towards unlocking the hypersocial self within, the true self free from fear and operating from a place of personal power and love.
An introduction to internet marketing for small law firms
1. AN INTRODUCTION TO
INTERNET MARKETING
FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS
A FINDLAW WHITE PAPER
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS
2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1. An increasing number of Americans are using the Internet to search for information
and solutions online, including legal services. Consumers are also facing an increasing
number of legal needs, although the growing number of lawyers is also increasing
the competition for clients.
THE CONSUMER SHIFT
2. The consumer shift to online search is changing the way businesses advertise to their TO ONLINE SEARCH IS
customers and how law firms connect with new clients. A growing percentage of CHANGING THE WAY
consumers use the Internet to search for lawyers, making it possible for law firms with
LAWYERS CONNECT
an effective Web presence to connect with new clients online and distance their firms
from the competition. WITH NEW CLIENTS.
3. The growth of the Internet has also changed the way clients validate referrals. Most
consumers receive multiple law firm referrals when they are preparing to address a
legal need. These consumers go online to validate the firms to which they have been
referred, making it important for lawyers that rely on referrals to have a Web presence
that clearly communicates their specialty and distances their firm from the competition.
4. The most successful Internet-based marketing plans focus on all three components
of effective online client development: visibility, design and content.
Visibility: Search engine optimization (SEO) is a critical part of improving a law firm’s
online visibility. It includes the process of enhancing elements of a Web site to attract
qualified traffic through directory placements, link building, and natural results from
search engines like Google, Yahoo! and MSN.
Design: Effective site design enables a law firm to communicate its unique identity and
appeal to its target audience. Good design provides intuitive navigation and focuses on
clarity, not complexity.
Content: Well-written content serves two purposes. First, it makes it easy for search
engines like Yahoo! and Google to find your site. Second, it resonates with the needs of
your clients by communicating your area of specialty, validating your expertise and
motivating visitors to contact your practice. Developing content that serves these two
goals requires an in-depth understanding of the Internet and law firm marketing expertise.
5. Evaluating return on investment (ROI) and adjusting a law firm’s marketing mix to
focus advertising on the channels that deliver the most qualified clients can help a
law firm grow its practice. ROI measurement shows which marketing channels are
delivering for your firm and where you need to make adjustments in order to improve
performance.
6. A diversified marketing program focused on attracting well-qualified clients who
match the specialty of the practice is a proven strategy for success.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 1
3. TRENDS IN CONSUMER BEHAVIOR
How are today’s legal consumers searching for lawyers? What selection process do
they use to find an attorney? How is the Internet changing the way consumers begin
their search and how should a law firm’s advertising strategy be positioned to match
this behavior?
It is important for law firms to understand how the Internet is changing the purchasing
behavior of consumers and how advertising can be positioned to intersect with these
patterns. This section presents information on how consumers are using the Internet,
the process they use to select an attorney, and the two main categories of advertising
available to law firms.
Facts on consumer Internet use
According to the January 2008 edition of eMarketer, the average Internet user spends
15.3 hours per week online. This same report estimates that by 2012 over 217 million
Americans will use the Internet. Reports indicate that 73% of American adults use the
Internet regularly1, 95% of homes with $75,000+ incomes are online2 and 45% say the
Internet played an important role in their life3. Whether an upcoming meeting is with an
accountant, doctor, realtor or attorney, consumers today find it helpful to do their
homework online before meeting with any professional.
In a study of how people solve problems, the Pew Internet & American Life Project
reported the following answers to the question: “Where do people go to get help?”4
The Internet: 58% MORE PEOPLE TURN TO THE
Professionals (doctors, lawyers, financial experts): 53% INTERNET FOR HELP THAN
Friends and Family: 45% PROFESSIONALS, FAMILY OR
Newspapers and Magazines: 36%
Government Office or Agency: 34%
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.
In short, more people go to the Internet for answers than family members or
professionals!
Declining print directory trends
As more people go online for information, fewer consumers are using print directories like
the yellow pages. A study by Borrell Associates forecasts that 39% of the ad spending on
print yellow pages will disappear in the next five years.5 Even more significant for lawyers
today, search engines like Google and Yahoo! have already pulled ahead of printed yellow
pages as the leading source for local business information.6
Consumers facing increased legal needs
In an increasingly complex society, it is only natural that consumer legal needs are also
increasing. Many even had to deal with several different legal issues at the same time.
How are consumers coping? One thing is apparent: consumers are not passively sitting
by waiting for the legal issues to resolve themselves. Instead, consumers are aggressively
seeking credible legal help using a variety of resources at their disposal.
Legal needs vary by age, gender, place in family
Most legal needs extend to the entire family and beyond. For instance, while men are
more likely than women to have a legal need, spouses are often involved in addressing
the need. So are children, parents and other family members.7
Most consumers who went online to research a legal need or legal resource were
married, employed, well-off and well-educated; a majority (63%) were between 35
and 54 and had a mean income of $67,000.7
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 2
4. Consumers want depth, breadth and convenience
Although some consumers may be frustrated with the multitude of online choices for
legal information, most consumers are satisfied with the Internet in terms of the ease of
finding information, the depth of that information, and the amount of usable content.
How do consumers find the legal information they need online? Of those users that
commonly use the Internet, 85% of them begin with a search engine (Google is the most
popular), and 31% use legal information or directory Web sites (like FindLaw.com).
Approximately 30% of consumers look for Web sites that focus on legal specialties.7
The role of the Internet and referrals
Most consumers receive multiple law firm referrals when they are preparing to address
a legal need. These consumers tend to go online to validate the firms to which they have
been referred, making it important for law firms to have a Web site that is easy to find,
professionally designed, and written in a way that resonates with consumers and
motivates them to contact the firm.
Managing your online reputation
With the number of people searching for legal information online, if your law firm does
not have a Web presence, you are at a serious disadvantage for two important reasons.
First, when consumers are searching online to check referrals or search for a lawyer, they
will not find information on your practice, but they will find information about your
competition. Second, avoiding the Internet allows others to control your reputation
online. Social networking Web sites allow anyone to comment about anything, and the
best way to control your online reputation is to present a comprehensive story on your
practice and your specialty through a professionally designed Web site.
The Internet and its relationship to motivational and directional ads
As the purchasing behavior of today’s consumer shifts towards the Internet, it is
important for law firms to understand how advertising relates to this trend. In general,
advertising can be grouped into two categories: motivational and directional ads.
Billboards, television, radio and direct mail are all examples of motivational advertising. NOW THAT THE INTERNET IS
These types of ads use a “sellers looking for buyers” approach to how they are positioned THE LEADING SOURCE OF
in the marketplace. Directional advertising is just the opposite and is positioned for INFORMATION FOR MANY
“buyers looking for sellers.” Examples of directional advertising include the yellow CONSUMERS, IT IS IMPORTANT
pages and the Internet. FOR LAW FIRMS TO UPDATE
Many lawyers focus on directional advertising because it makes their firms more visible THEIR MARKETING STRATEGIES.
to people actively searching for legal assistance. Before the Internet was invented, print
directories like the yellow pages were almost the only form of directional advertising
available to lawyers. Now that the Internet is the leading source of information for many
legal consumers, it is important for lawyers to update their advertising strategies so their
firms are positioned in front of these “online consumers.”
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 3
5. COMPONENTS OF AN EFFECTIVE WEB
PRESENCE
What are the most important elements of an effective Web site? How can law firms
make their sites easy for clients to find on the Internet? Can just anyone build a
successful law firm Web site?
In the expanding online market for legal services, the most successful law firms focus on
three essential (and related) areas: building visibility via search engines and directories;
using distinctive site design to set the firm apart; and delivering persuasive content that
engages prospects and deepens client relationships.
Visibility
More than two-thirds of all solo and small law firms now have a Web presence.8 If you’ve
been online to survey the competition, you know the importance of visibility—of taking
steps to make sure that your firm stands out.
GOOD VISIBILITY IS A
Sponsored vs. organic links CRITICAL ASPECT OF A
Search engines are Web sites designed to help Internet users find information. The most
popular—Google, Yahoo! and MSN—together account for more than 90% of online
SUCCESSFUL LAW FIRM
searches.9 Most search results pages contain both organic and sponsored search results. WEB SITE. IT ALLOWS
Sponsored results are a form of pay-per-click advertising (the advertiser pays the search CLIENTS SEARCHING THE
engine to present this link when specific keywords are used). Organic listings are unpaid INTERNET FOR A SPECIFIC
search results and the most cost effective way of boosting your visibility to clients AREA OF SPECIALTY TO
searching for legal assistance. The good news for lawyers marketing their practice online EASILY FIND YOUR FIRM.
is this: six out of every seven clicks on a search engine are generated by organically listed
sites,10 which draws into question the value of the sponsored links. A properly built Web
site will significantly improve your organic link visibility!
The process of Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
The process of boosting your visibility with these highly trafficked, influential search
engines is called search engine optimization, or SEO. The goal of SEO is to attract more,
and better qualified, prospects to your site. This allows your firm to focus its time on
more profitable clients, as most law firms would prefer to work with a smaller number of
high-value cases than a large number of lower value cases. The higher a Web site ranks
for a given search, the greater the chance that it will be visited by a search-engine user
seeking a specific specialty.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 4
6. A multitude of factors can affect search-engine rankings:
• Site optimization: A Web site with a high percentage of keywords and keyphrases
unique to your practice area, geographic locations and client base.
• Keywords focused on how your target customer searches: Your clients might not use
legal terms when they search the Internet, so it is important to include references like
“car crash” and “auto wreck” in addition to “motor vehicle accident.”
• Use unique keywords and keyphrases: Over 89% of online searches are unique,11 so it is
important to focus on unique keywords and keyphrases targeted at your audience to
help you capture those one-of-a-kind searches.
• Keywords that cover your geographic area: For example: “Milwaukee,” “Wisconsin,” THE MORE QUALITY LINKS
“eastern Wisconsin,” “Midwest.” YOU BUILD FROM RELEVANT,
• Inbound links from other sites and law firm directories: Links from other relevant, law-
LAW-RELATED SITES, THE
related Web sites that direct users to your site increase your visibility. Examples include MORE POPULAR AND VISIBLE
links from other law firms, online directories, and legal sites such as FindLaw.com. YOUR SITE BECOMES.
• Title tags: These words are used as the anchor text on a search-engine results page
and also appear at the very top of the Web browser. They are particularly important for
optimizing the visibility of your site.
The Bottom Line on Visibility: Optimizing your site for search engines is critical to driving
more business to your firm and having your choice of the best cases. Key elements of
successful search engine optimization include keywords and keyphrases, increasing inbound
links from authoritative Web sites, and your site’s HTML programming, particularly title tags.
Design
Improved visibility drives traffic to your Web site. Can you hold the attention of those
prospects and convert them to clients? Your window of opportunity is small, because
studies show that users judge the value of a site in only 1/20th of a second! 12
One key to engaging potential clients is effective Web site design. Like a well-decorated
office lobby, site design can create a positive first impression about your firm. Like good
lighting in a store, it can make your “product”—the legal expertise that you communicate
on your site—more appealing. Site design is an opportunity to project a strong, professional
image and to communicate directly and persuasively with your target audience.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 5
7. Establish a niche. One of the most important choices a law firm makes in designing its
Web site is what it leaves out. That’s because on the Internet, being all things to all
people is a great way to reach no one. Instead, focus on what sets you apart. Use images,
words and the organization of your site to communicate your firm’s unique identity. That USERS JUDGE THE VALUE OF
can include: A WEB SITE IN ONLY 1/20TH
• Photos and other visual elements that identify the city or region you serve and
OF A SECOND.
represent your practice areas.
• Headlines, section heads and other prominent blocks of copy that target your niche and
stress unique capabilities (Spanish-language expertise, for example).
• A consistent color palette and tone that appeals to your unique audience.
While an aggressive tone and bold colors can work for a personal injury plaintiff firm, for
example, visitors to a family-law site may be swayed by a softer approach.
Strive for clarity, not complexity
Keep your site straightforward and easy to navigate. A user-friendly Web site should
welcome the visitor with a layout that’s clear and intuitive and with instructions that are
plain and unambiguous.
Is your contact information displayed prominently on every page, for example? Can a
visitor easily navigate your site without clicking the “Back” button? Is any important
information buried in the navigation hierarchy where it’s difficult to find? Good design
minimizes confusion and allows your prospect to concentrate on the site’s content.
Clear, straightforward site design can also promote visibility. Complicated multimedia
bells-and-whistles, for example, are often barriers to entry for both site visitors and
search engines. They can drive search rankings down, besides making for a poor
customer experience. Many people find the law intimidating. Your Web site shouldn’t
reinforce that view.
The Bottom Line on Design: A well-designed Web site does more than just look good. It
captures the attention of prospects and helps you stand out. Use images, colors and words
that appeal to your target audience. Most importantly, ensure your site is easy to use.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 6
8. Content
Effective site design encourages prospects to stay for a closer look. Well-written content EFFECTIVE CONTENT SERVES
can convert them into clients and turn new business into a long-term relationship. TWO PURPOSES: IT INCREASES
Good content provides a quality user experience for visitors, informs users about your YOUR VISIBILITY TO SEARCH
background, focuses on your unique proposition and converts prospects into customers. ENGINES AND RESONATES
The content on your Web site needs to serve two purposes. First, it must be written in a way WITH YOUR TARGET CLIENT.
that makes it easy for search engines like Google and Yahoo! to find your site. These search
engines use advanced technology tools to search the content on Web sites so they know
how to return search results when one of their users searches for a specific item.
This makes it critical to write the content on your page so that it is “search engine friendly.”
An online marketing professional with legal marketing expertise can help your practice
develop content that differentiates your firm from the competition in the search engines.
The second important purpose of the content on your page is to write a story that
highlights your area of expertise and resonates with your clients. A lawyer’s expertise in a
specific field is the single most important factor in selecting an attorney, more than
recommendations from others or cost.7 Your Web site should do everything possible to
reinforce your expertise in your area of specialty. Practice center pages that include
articles you have written, FAQs, success stories, and additional information on your
specialty are a great way to establish your expertise in your practice area.
Strive for content that’s up-to-date, clearly written and concise, because on the Web,
readers scan for information and will move on quickly if they don’t find what they need.
A good rule of thumb is roughly 250 words of text per Web page, an easily scannable
amount for most Web users. Effective content educates first-time visitors about the
law and your firm and brings existing clients back for more.
Keep your site fresh and relevant. This makes for a better client experience but can also
boost your visibility on the Web. Search engines typically reward sites that have regularly
updated content and assign a lower rank to outdated material.
Today’s consumer clicks past outdated articles and clichéd marketing-speak. Online
success depends on engaging people with content that’s relevant, timely and in dynamic
formats that encourage repeat visits.
Here are a few additional tips on writing successful Web site content:
1. Focus: Identify certain attributes that distinguish your practice from the competition.
2. Play to your strengths: Factor into account the strengths and weaknesses of your
practice (and your competitors’).
3. Exclusivity: Do not try to be all things to all people. Look for smaller markets you can
own versus bigger markets you have to share.
The Bottom Line on Content: Once prospects find your Web site, you need to capture their
attention with compelling, useful content focused on establishing yourself as an expert to
potential clients. Typically, Web sites with relevant, frequently updated content are ranked
higher by search engines, further increasing your chances of being seen by potential clients.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 7
9. EVALUATING RETURN ON INVESTMENT
Does your investment in advertising deliver measurable results? How can a law firm
determine which marketing channels are the most effective for their practice? Is the
channel that delivers the most prospects the best channel or is it more important to
measure the quality of each client?
Many law firms are busy serving a steady stream of clients. The problem is that many of
the clients served do not fall into the “most profitable client” category. Measuring return
on investment, or ROI, from your marketing budget can help you generate more new
clients that fit the profile of your target customer by focusing your budget on the
marketing channels that drive these clients to your firm. ROI measurement is an
opportunity to review your marketing practices and can help you make smart, informed
decisions about the future. You’ll know which strategies to emphasize, what’s working
and what’s not, and whether your message is connecting with prospects or needs to be
fine-tuned.
You don’t need a marketing degree to evaluate your marketing tactics, just a
commitment to incorporating ROI into your day-to-day practice management. Step
one is to track—via a software system or manual procedures—the leads generated by
your marketing channels. Step two is evaluating which channels are delivering (in terms
of new clients, value per case and other key factors) for your firm. ONLINE MARKETING IS ONE OF
THE EASIEST WAYS TO TRACK
One of the benefits of online marketing is that it allows you to easily track statistics (that
are difficult or impossible to measure in other kinds of marketing) on how consumers are HOW REFERRALS AND
searching for your firm. You can track search terms used to find your site, entrance and CLIENTS ARE CONNECTING
exit pages, the number of contacts from a form, as well as phone numbers and emails. WITH YOUR FIRM.
One of the leading Web analytics software is called HitBox, a tool that allows users to
easily track visitors of their online marketing campaigns.
With this information in hand, you can proceed to the final stage of effective ROI
measurement: using the data you generate to periodically review your marketing
strategy and make changes that allow you to generate more prospects and then convert
them into valuable clients for your law firm.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 8
10. Evaluating the ROI of a specific marketing channel
Let’s use an online marketing program to demonstrate the ROI evaluation process. In
this example, we will assume that a family law firm in a large metro area is ready to
analyze the effectiveness of their Web site. Using their Web analytics software (like the
one shown above), they report an average of 250 visitors per month to their firm’s site.
Their prospect tracking also tells them that 15 of the Web visitors emailed the firm and
30 Web visitors called the firm, for a total of 45 inquiries from the Web site. This firm also
knows that, on average, they convert 10% of inquiries into actual clients. This means that,
on average, the Web site is delivering 4.5 new clients every month. With an average
retainer of $3,000, these new clients are generating $13,500 in revenue per month for
the firm. With these numbers in hand, a law firm can determine how to adjust its
marketing investments in other channels compared to its online program.
Of all the marketing channels available to law firms, online marketing is the easiest one
to track and calculate ROI. Many lawyers use this channel as the benchmark from which
to measure the effectiveness of all marketing channels.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 9
11. A DIVERSIFIED MARKETING CAMPAIGN
Which practice areas and customer segments are most vital to the long-term growth
of your firm? Are some marketing channels more successful in reaching prospects
in those areas? Which channels will help drive incremental revenue from your
existing clients?
A process for tracking and evaluating the ROI of your marketing campaigns can help you
answer these questions and create and execute the most effective strategy going
forward. Ultimately, the goal of ROI measurement is to make smart, better-informed
decisions about your marketing spending. ROI-generated information can be used to
adjust your strategy, to invest more where you’re seeing results, and trim back or rethink
your investment in marketing channels that aren’t delivering.
One key barrier to overcome is the “that’s how we’ve always done it” factor. Don’t let
history substitute for thinking! To maximize your ROI, be ready to move away from TRACKING AND EVALUATING
marketing tactics that are well-established at your firm but no longer effective, like THE ROI ON YOUR MARKETING
sponsoring the same event year after year although attendance is declining or CAMPAIGNS CAN HELP YOU
maintaining alliances with other organizations that no longer serve a strategic purpose. ANSWER KEY QUESTIONS AND
You may choose to modify your online marketing strategy by: CREATE AND EXECUTE THE
• Improving your firm’s visibility on the legal directories and search engines that drive the MOST EFFECTIVE STRATEGY
most valuable traffic to your Web site. GOING FORWARD.
• Redesigning your client inquiry or registration forms to be clearer, easier to complete,
and reachable from every page of your site.
• Focusing resources on the most-visited areas of your site as determined by your
analytic software.
There’s a synergistic relationship among different marketing channels. For example,
channels affect a prospect’s decision-making process at different times. Radio and
television, for example, drive name recognition. They’re channels that put your name in
the mind of the prospect but do not normally give that prospect a decision to hire you.
The Internet, on the other hand, is indeed a “Web.” It holds prospects. Once they reach
your site, prospects are strongly influenced in their decision to hire your firm or take the
next step towards doing so. ROI information can help you strike the right balance among
channels—to put the right number of eggs into each marketing basket.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 10
12. CONCLUSION
A growing percentage of consumers begin their search for information and assistance on
the Internet, making it more important than ever for law firms to have a professional Web
presence that stands out from the competition.
The most successful law firm Web sites focus on three essential areas. If you outsource HARNESSING THE POWER
your online marketing, look for a provider who can assist you with the entire process: OF ALL THREE ASPECTS OF
1. Visibility: Bringing potential clients to your Web site through search engine optimization. SUCCESSFUL ONLINE
MARKETING—VISIBILITY,
2. Design: Creating a positive impression of your firm via design strategies.
DESIGN AND CONTENT—
3. Content: Communicating your specialty and motivating clients to contact your firm. WILL HELP YOUR LAW FIRM
Many law firms launch their first Web site with a provider that does not cover the most WIN NEW CLIENTS.
important aspects of online marketing and, as a result, receive very few new clients from
their Web site. If this is the case, it is important for these law firms to reconsider their
Web vendors and evaluate a source that specializes in law firm Web site development.
Evaluating return on investment, or ROI, from your marketing budget can help your firm
identify the optimum marketing mix for your practice by determining which marketing
channels are driving new clients to your firm. Since online marketing is the easiest channel
to measure, it can also be used as a benchmark for analyzing the effectiveness of all
advertising programs. It is important to focus your marketing investment on channels that
deliver high quality leads, not just a high quantity of prospects. This allows your law firm
to concentrate on the most profitable clients that best match your expertise.
When it comes to referrals, it is important to remember that most clients have been
referred to multiple law firms and will often research your practice online before they call
you on the phone. A successful Web presence will help to validate your expertise and
make your firm stand out from other referrals.
Law firms that harness the power of all three aspects of successful online marketing—
visibility, design and content—have a great opportunity to win business and maximize
the return on their Internet investment.
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 11
13. LEARN MORE
FindLaw, a Thomson Reuters business, is the legal industry’s most effective provider of
online marketing and client development services. FindLaw helps law firms use the
Internet to connect with more well-qualified clients, creating Web sites and other online
marketing strategies that combine technological expertise with deep knowledge of the
legal industry. Findlaw Web specialists and local consultants provide the service and
innovative solutions needed to make every law firm stand out from the crowd, converting
the Internet into an effective client-development tool for attorneys.
Attorneys can also be prominently listed on our Web portal, Findlaw.com, the world’s
most-visited legal information site. To schedule an appointment with a FindLaw client
development consultant, call 1-866-44-FINDLAW (1-866-443-4635) or e-mail
west.info-findlaw@thomson.com. Visit www.lawyermarketing.com for more
information about law firm marketing.
Sources:
1
Home Computers and Internet Use in the United States: August 2000. U.S. Census Bureau, 2001.
<http://www.census.gov/prod/2001pubs/p23-207.pdf>.
2
Pew Internet & American Life Project, April – May 2008.
3
Pew Internet, The Internet’s Growing Role in Life’s Major Moments, April 26, 2007.
4
Pew Internet & American Life Project, December 2007. Survey on how Americans address common problems that might be
linked to the government, including becoming involved in a legal matter.
5
American Bar Association (aba.net), The Five Truths of Advertising in a Membership Directory, Bob Weiss, January 2007; Harris
Interactive 2005 Study, How Americans Search, 2005; Search Engine Watch, July 2005; Borrell Associates, Say Goodbye to
Yellow Pages, July 2008.
6
2008 Marketwire, With No Distinct Winner, Marketers Need a Diverse Local Search Marketing Mix, Second Annual TMP
Directional Marketing Research Study, TMP.
7
FindLaw, How U.S. Consumers Meet Their Legal Needs Online, August 2006.
8
Harris Interactive Study, 2007.
9
ComScore Media Metrix Search Engine Ratings, December 2008.
10
Jupiter Research; Esquiro, Inside the Mind of the Searcher.
11
Hitwise Intelligence article, Sizing Up the Long Tail of Search, November 2008.
12
Lindgaard G., Fernandes G.J., Dudek C. & Brown J. Behav. Inf. Technol., 25. 115-126 (2006).
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 12
14. NOTES
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 13
15. NOTES
AN INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET MARKETING FOR SMALL LAW FIRMS 14