Law Firm SEO
LawSudo’s specializes in SEO for Law Firms
Law firm SEO is the practice of using search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to help search engine spiders find your firm’s website. A search engine spider is a program that reads content on your websites to determine where to place them in the search engine’s index. Sometimes, they are known as “crawlers” or “bots.” No matter what you call them, your firm’s website needs to be easy for them to find and categorize. In a nutshell, this is why having great content is important for your law firm SEO strategy. If your firm’s website lacks up to date and relevant content then you will quickly find out that your firm’s website has little to no chance to ever being found on the first page of Google.
Law firm SEO is the process of adding information on a website that lets Google know where to place your site under various search terms that align with your practices areas. You might know a little bit about SEO, or at least know that it involves targeting keywords, but this is just scratching the surface of law firm SEO. Our team at LawSudo has years of experience building law firm websites that incorporate the latest SEO strategies that are in alignment with Google’s criteria. As the web continues to evolve, so do the SEO strategies that we use to help ensure that our attorney’s websites are listed on all of the major search engines for the keywords that will actually produce leads. Do not underestimate the value of a strong SEO strategy for your law firm or hire an online marketing firm that cannot show you concrete examples of their SEO work for previous clients. When you invest in an attorney online marketing company for your practice, invest in a company that places a high priority on results rather than a long term contract.
What will a Law Firm SEO Strategy Do for Me?
In short, your law firm SEO strategy will bring your firm’s website to the first pages of search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing. In the long term, it will lead to conversions. Bringing your firm’s website to the front pages of these search engines is making it visible to potential clients who actively seeking your services online. Potential clients click on your website for more information about your practice areas and what sets you apart from other firms in your local area, then fill out your contact form or call your firm to speak with you directly about their matters. Think of law firm SEO as the first step in the chain of interactions you want to have with your website’s visitors. Conversions are your goal, but in order to have those, your law firm needs visitors to your site.
Choosing the Right Law Firm SEO Strategy
Don’t waste your law firm’s marketing budget on a team or a “law firm SEO expert” who isn’t up to date on SEO strategies that work with the latest algorithms. Search engine algorithms are constantly becoming more sophisticated and because of this, SEO strategies that worked ten, five, and even two years ago simply won’t cut it for your law firm SEO strategy today.
If you’re not familiar with current law firm SEO strategies, take some time to read up on the subject before you interview a prospective SEO strategist. Keep the following in mind during your interview:
- You get what you pay for. SEO is a technical skill and if you choose your law firm SEO strategist by price, you will miss out on leads and conversion opportunities. Keep in mind that there is always someone out there always willing to take what your offering.
- Certain methods are actually penalized by search engines. These include link exchanges, which are groups of websites similar to webrings where multiple sites are registered within one organization and all exchange HTML in their pages, directory listings, which are listings with any online directories other than high quality, well-known industry directories, and excessive linking of low-quality links. Even valid SEO techniques like the use of keywords and anchor text can be penalized if they are used excessively;
- Guest blogging can be part of an effective law firm SEO strategy, but it has to be done right. Guest blogs from anybody other than an authority in your field should not be part of a law firm SEO strategy.
Our LawSudo SEO strategists are capable of speaking confidently about how search engines work and our team is more than willing to show you our results that we have produced for clients that practice the same areas of law that you do.
Whitehat vs. Blackhat Law Firm SEO Strategies
Before you start speaking with a prospective law firm SEO strategist, know the difference between whitehat and blackhat SEO techniques. Avoid individuals and firms that employ black hat techniques – these are the techniques that, although they might get your site some quick success, that success is cheap. Black hat SEO techniques are strategies that violate search engines’ rules and end up being penalized. They’re designed only for search engine spiders, rather than human viewers. Examples of blackhat SEO techniques include:
- Hidden text and links
- Keyword stuffing
- Paid links
- Blog spam
- Cloaking
Whitehat SEO consists of SEO techniques that abide by search engines’ rules. Work with a law firm SEO team that employs only whitehat tactics so your website is not penalized. Although making your firm visible with these strategies can take longer than reaching your audience through black hat techniques, whitehat techniques are much more sustainable and will result in longer-lasting success for your firm’s online presence. Examples of whitehat law firm SEO techniques include:
- Internal linking
- High quality content
- Website optimization
- Natural use of keywords
During your initial consultation with a law firm SEO strategist at LawSudo, he or she can answer all of your questions about using SEO as part of your firm’s online marketing strategy. SEO is a part of every aspect of online marketing, such as your website’s layout, your firm’s blog, and your firm’s social media presence. Don’t be intimidated by law firm SEO – embrace it and all it can do for your firm.