Top-level Internet domain name options (like *.com) will be greatly expanded under a proposal from the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international organization that regulates domain names.
A new top level domain will cost between $100,000 and $500,000, according to a report in today's Wall Street Journal.
If the pending proposal is approved, applications for new domain name extensions will be taken beginning in April 2009. It is unclear if the new extensions are required to be public.
Think of the possible applications in the legal field: *.law, *.legal, *.ip, *.pi, *.court, *.dui, *.trial, etc.
Legal marketers, on your mark! Get ready!
Showing posts with label internet marketing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label internet marketing. Show all posts
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
You Must be Present to Win: Search Engine Optimization for Law Firm Marketing
The Legal Marketing Association's South Florida City Group recently held a meeting on Internet marketing and search engine optimization (also known as SEO).
As the group's 2008 Co-Chair, I had the honor of introducing speaker Jay Berkowitz, CEO of Ten Golden Rules (www.tengoldenrules.com).
Here are a few Internet marketing "best practices" for law firms that Jay shared with the group:
1. Using the analogy of "an apple a day," Jay suggests adding one page to your web site every day. Of course, this is not always possible given the demands of a busy law firm. However, the point is that adding fresh copy to your law firm's web site on a regular basis is an excellent way to gain great search engine visibility for your legal practice.
2. Try to get clients, associations and other partners to link to your law firm's web site. Inbound links will increase your search engine placement on Google and other search engines.
3. "Search Engine Optimized PR" is also important for search engine visibility. When issuing a press release, post it to your web site about 24 hours in advance of releasing it to a wire service so that search engines can read and create a link to the release. Be sure to include important keywords in the headline and body copy of your press release.
As I always say, "you must be present to win" on the Internet. These are great tips to help create high rankings in the search engines (Google, Yahoo! and others) for your law firm.
As the group's 2008 Co-Chair, I had the honor of introducing speaker Jay Berkowitz, CEO of Ten Golden Rules (www.tengoldenrules.com).
Here are a few Internet marketing "best practices" for law firms that Jay shared with the group:
1. Using the analogy of "an apple a day," Jay suggests adding one page to your web site every day. Of course, this is not always possible given the demands of a busy law firm. However, the point is that adding fresh copy to your law firm's web site on a regular basis is an excellent way to gain great search engine visibility for your legal practice.
2. Try to get clients, associations and other partners to link to your law firm's web site. Inbound links will increase your search engine placement on Google and other search engines.
3. "Search Engine Optimized PR" is also important for search engine visibility. When issuing a press release, post it to your web site about 24 hours in advance of releasing it to a wire service so that search engines can read and create a link to the release. Be sure to include important keywords in the headline and body copy of your press release.
As I always say, "you must be present to win" on the Internet. These are great tips to help create high rankings in the search engines (Google, Yahoo! and others) for your law firm.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Law Firm Marketing Mistake: Failure to Invite the Connection
Almost every law firm web site we visit has a menu option entitled something like "Practice Areas." Once you click on the link you are presented with anywhere from 5 to 20 different legal practice areas; some even have sub-practice areas.
"So what's wrong with this?," you ask. The answer is that invariably there is NO PERSON TO CONTACT once you get to the practice page of interest. This is not a good law firm business development technique.
If I am a prospective legal client and I want to get information on the Energy Practice in your law firm, who do I call? Most law firm web sites leave me guessing. I can try to call the reception in the main office, at which point I am likely to hear lots of mumbling and/or get transferred around (I speak from experience).
I could also try to find the right contact by searching the "Attorneys" menu option on the law firm's web site, but too often I'm presented with a list of dozens of lawyers with little indication of which one can help me.
Here's the solution: always list the Practice Chair or key contact person (ideally an attorney) for each practice area on the practice page. Provide their direct dial number, email address, and a link to their bio page. This is a very simple step.
Best Practice: Vedder Price does a nice job of introducing different members of the firm. See: http://www.vedderprice.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/about.home/about.cfm
Help your prospects make contact with your attorneys! You might even get some new business or alliance partners this way.
"So what's wrong with this?," you ask. The answer is that invariably there is NO PERSON TO CONTACT once you get to the practice page of interest. This is not a good law firm business development technique.
If I am a prospective legal client and I want to get information on the Energy Practice in your law firm, who do I call? Most law firm web sites leave me guessing. I can try to call the reception in the main office, at which point I am likely to hear lots of mumbling and/or get transferred around (I speak from experience).
I could also try to find the right contact by searching the "Attorneys" menu option on the law firm's web site, but too often I'm presented with a list of dozens of lawyers with little indication of which one can help me.
Here's the solution: always list the Practice Chair or key contact person (ideally an attorney) for each practice area on the practice page. Provide their direct dial number, email address, and a link to their bio page. This is a very simple step.
Best Practice: Vedder Price does a nice job of introducing different members of the firm. See: http://www.vedderprice.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/about.home/about.cfm
Help your prospects make contact with your attorneys! You might even get some new business or alliance partners this way.
Law Firm Marketing Tips for Search Engine Optimization
Last week the Legal Marketing Association's South Florida City Group held a meeting on Internet marketing.
As the group's 2008 Co-Chair, I had the honor of moderating the session featuring speaker Jay Berkowitz, CEO of Ten Golden Rules (http://www.tengoldenrules.com/).
Here are a few Internet marketing "best practices" for law firms that Jay shared with the group:
1. Using the analogy of "an apple a day," Jay suggests adding one page to your web site every day. Of course, this is not always possible given the demands of a busy law firm. However, the point is that adding fresh copy to your law firm's web site on a regular basis is an excellent way to gain great search engine visibility for your legal practice.
2. Try to get clients, associations and other partners to link to your law firm's web site. Inbound links will increase your search engine placement on Google and other search engines.
3. "Search Engine Optimized PR" is also important for search engine visibility. When issuing a press release, post it to your web site about 24 hours in advance of releasing it to a wire service so that search engines can read and create a link to the release. Be sure to include important keywords in the headline and body copy of your press release.
As I always say, "you must be present to win on the Internet." These are great tips to help create high rankings in the search engines (Google, Yahoo! and others) for your law firm.
As the group's 2008 Co-Chair, I had the honor of moderating the session featuring speaker Jay Berkowitz, CEO of Ten Golden Rules (http://www.tengoldenrules.com/).
Here are a few Internet marketing "best practices" for law firms that Jay shared with the group:
1. Using the analogy of "an apple a day," Jay suggests adding one page to your web site every day. Of course, this is not always possible given the demands of a busy law firm. However, the point is that adding fresh copy to your law firm's web site on a regular basis is an excellent way to gain great search engine visibility for your legal practice.
2. Try to get clients, associations and other partners to link to your law firm's web site. Inbound links will increase your search engine placement on Google and other search engines.
3. "Search Engine Optimized PR" is also important for search engine visibility. When issuing a press release, post it to your web site about 24 hours in advance of releasing it to a wire service so that search engines can read and create a link to the release. Be sure to include important keywords in the headline and body copy of your press release.
As I always say, "you must be present to win on the Internet." These are great tips to help create high rankings in the search engines (Google, Yahoo! and others) for your law firm.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Chat Rooms: Open or Closed to Florida Attorneys?
This just in from The Florida Bar ...
Official Notice of Advertising Inquiries from the Board of Governors
"The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Advertising will consider withdrawing or modifying Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1 regarding attorney participation in chat rooms at the request of The Florida Bar Board of Governors at its meeting to be held via conference call on May 13, 2008. Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1 concludes that an attorney may not solicit prospective clients through Internet chat rooms, defined as real time communications between computer users.
The Standing Committee on Advertising also will consider adopting a proposed advisory opinion regarding specific questions relating to an attorney's participation in chat rooms based on inquiries from The Florida Bar Board of Governors and a member of The Florida Bar, at a meeting to be held via conference call on May 13, 2008.
Specific questions include whether it is prohibited in-person solicitation for an attorney to obtain a client by responding to a person or group encountered in an on-line chat room, whether an attorney can respond to specific questions posed by chat room participants such as whether anyone knows a lawyer or knows what to do when faced with a specific legal problem, and whether a lawyer may interject advice in an on-line chat involving other participants where bad advice is being given.
There are no drafts for the committee’s consideration at this time. Pursuant to Procedures 4(c) and (d) of The Florida Bar Procedures for Ruling Relating to Lawyer Advertising or Solicitation, comments from Florida Bar members are solicited on the issues presented and on the possible withdrawal or modification of Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1.
Comments must contain the advisory opinion number or issue, must clearly state the issues for the committee to consider, and may include a proposed conclusion. Comments should be submitted to Elizabeth Clark Tarbert, Ethics Counsel, The Florida Bar, 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee 32399-2300, and must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2008."
Official Notice of Advertising Inquiries from the Board of Governors
"The Florida Bar Standing Committee on Advertising will consider withdrawing or modifying Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1 regarding attorney participation in chat rooms at the request of The Florida Bar Board of Governors at its meeting to be held via conference call on May 13, 2008. Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1 concludes that an attorney may not solicit prospective clients through Internet chat rooms, defined as real time communications between computer users.
The Standing Committee on Advertising also will consider adopting a proposed advisory opinion regarding specific questions relating to an attorney's participation in chat rooms based on inquiries from The Florida Bar Board of Governors and a member of The Florida Bar, at a meeting to be held via conference call on May 13, 2008.
Specific questions include whether it is prohibited in-person solicitation for an attorney to obtain a client by responding to a person or group encountered in an on-line chat room, whether an attorney can respond to specific questions posed by chat room participants such as whether anyone knows a lawyer or knows what to do when faced with a specific legal problem, and whether a lawyer may interject advice in an on-line chat involving other participants where bad advice is being given.
There are no drafts for the committee’s consideration at this time. Pursuant to Procedures 4(c) and (d) of The Florida Bar Procedures for Ruling Relating to Lawyer Advertising or Solicitation, comments from Florida Bar members are solicited on the issues presented and on the possible withdrawal or modification of Florida Advertising Opinion A-00-1.
Comments must contain the advisory opinion number or issue, must clearly state the issues for the committee to consider, and may include a proposed conclusion. Comments should be submitted to Elizabeth Clark Tarbert, Ethics Counsel, The Florida Bar, 651 E. Jefferson Street, Tallahassee 32399-2300, and must be postmarked no later than March 31, 2008."
Friday, June 29, 2007
Dykema Gossett uses Mini Sites for Search Engine Visibility
I just came across an example of a very effective law firm marketing technique that might be of interest to you.
In addition to their primary web site at www.dykema.com, the Michigan-based firm of Dykema Gossett offers a series of very targeted "mini sites" at www.dykema.com/minisites/default.asp. One of the sites is an in-depth presentation of their capabilities in the area of gaming regulation (see http://www.gaminglawyers.net/).
Here are some benefits the firm gets from using law firm mini sites:
- Higher search engine visibility through content-rich pages
- Ability to leverage investment in main web site through shared attorney bios
- Reinforce the firm's expertise as leaders in the field of gaming regulation
- Better PR by attracting journalists who cover the gaming industry
The Internet is an excellent (and frequently underutilized) way to showcase legal services. This use of mini sites is a creative approach to generate more traffic and impress visitors who want to get more information on the firm.
In addition to their primary web site at www.dykema.com, the Michigan-based firm of Dykema Gossett offers a series of very targeted "mini sites" at www.dykema.com/minisites/default.asp. One of the sites is an in-depth presentation of their capabilities in the area of gaming regulation (see http://www.gaminglawyers.net/).
Here are some benefits the firm gets from using law firm mini sites:
- Higher search engine visibility through content-rich pages
- Ability to leverage investment in main web site through shared attorney bios
- Reinforce the firm's expertise as leaders in the field of gaming regulation
- Better PR by attracting journalists who cover the gaming industry
The Internet is an excellent (and frequently underutilized) way to showcase legal services. This use of mini sites is a creative approach to generate more traffic and impress visitors who want to get more information on the firm.
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