Friday Five: Increase Your Online Exposure
Posted: February 22nd, 2008
By: Zach Heller
Category: Business Development Skills, Friday Five, Lawline.com, Marketing Tips, SEO

The internet is a quickly becoming the main focus of advertising and marketing for every industry, including the law.  There is no substitute for online exposure, as many professionals are learning the hard way.  You have to stay one step ahead of your colleagues if you are going to attract more potential clients your way.  At Lawline.com, we have worked with numerous attorneys to help them build their “internet brand recognition”.  The goal is to get your name out there as many places as possible to begin to develop your own online network.  Here are some tips.

TOP FIVE WAYS TO INCREASE YOUR ONLINE EXPOSURE

1. Write Articles.  One of the best ways to associate your name with a particular topic or area of expertise is to write about it.  Attorneys are always trying to get published, and the internet makes it easier than ever.  There are hundreds of websites out there that will take article submission from people in their network.  Most of them are free to join.  Submit your articles for people to read and your name will begin to gain exposure.

2. Join Networks and Directories.  Martindale-Hubbell, FindLaw, Lexis Nexis, and the Lawline.com Featured Attorney Directory are just a few of the popular attorney directories online.  There are many more like them and it is important to have yourself listed in as many as possible.  You may have to spend some money on a subscription fee but the value is well worth the cost.  These directories are well known and visited often.

3. Write a Blog.  Blogs are a great way to get your name and ideas out into the online world.  They are easy to start with many websites offering free blog hosting and templates.  The only trick is you have to commit some time to stick with it.  Add to it often, write about interesting news and trends that apply to your practice area, and people will read it.  It is a great way to boost your search engine visibility.

4. Update Your Website.  Websites today have begun to move away from the traditional one page information source, where all you see is a picture, an attorney bio, and a contact number.  Many attorneys are starting to add more to their website to make it engaging and interactive.  People visiting the site want to be interested.  You have to stand out from the crowd to truly make a name for yourself online.

5. Continuing Legal Education Programs.  CLE is moving online, and it is becoming much more of a marketing tool than ever before.  If you speak on a topic that directly relates to your practice area, others will see it and hear about it.  At Lawline.com, our faculty members gain immediate online exposure related to their Continuing Legal Education course.  These courses are displayed online and show up in search engines.  They are a great source of personal networking and referrals.

These are only a few of the ways attorneys can begin to market themselves on the internet.  The best thing about the world of online marketing, you can be as creative as you want.  The goal is to have your name associated with your individual area of expertise anywhere someone might look.

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