Category --- SEO
Top Tips for Finding Quality SEO Practitioners
What Your Law Firm Should Know Before Choosing A SEO Practitioner...
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Practitioners, are behind the latest and greatest way to attract new clients online. SEO experts connect specific keywords that users are entering into search engines with the practice areas law firms’ offer. That way, law firms can optimize their Websites to attract more qualified leads to their specific practice areas. Highly qualified traffic is what good SEO is all about. There is no point in attracting thousands of visitors to your website if they leave within 30 seconds because it wasn’t what they were looking for. On the flip side if you can direct traffic to your website that is looking for your services and finds what they are looking for once they get there, they will be more likely to contact the firm.
Likewise, there is no sense in running a marketing campaign for keyword terms that potential clients aren’t using. And many times, potential clients have no idea that they need a “personal injury attorney” or a “probate attorney” for their legal matter. SEO specialists research the top keywords for attorneys relevant to their practice areas, to use in generating new qualified contacts online.
For attorneys who have already realized the importance of SEO, here are three main tips to follow while searching for SEO experts to hire.
STEP One: The Portfolio
When it comes to SEO experts, the proof is in the search engine results pages or SERPs. If SEO firms are promising results, then they should provide proof of their results in the form of references and keyword searches.
The SEO firm should be able to provide you with keywords to enter into search engines. The top listings on the SERPs should include their clients as references near the top of the search results.
It is important that the SEO practitioner you choose is familiar with your business area. They may know how to promote a clothing store, but do they know anything about the legal industry or law firms? I highly recommend talking to references in this matter.
Also, it is important for the references to be current to prove that the search engine specialist is able to stay ahead of the changes in search engine behavior. Search engine behaviors fluctuate and a successful SEO practitioner knows how to stay ahead of the steep SEO curve.
STEP Two: Ethics
Just because they can doesn’t mean they should! Black hat SEO refers to SEO that uses unapproved and unethical ways to achieve rankings. They accomplish quick results but are banned when search engines realize their unscrupulous means. Having your website banned is usually not the best way to attract new business and will cost you more than it’s worth for your 15 seconds of fame at the top of the search list.
White hat SEO means using methods that are accepted by the SEO community and search engines. If you are in the market to hire an SEO practitioner, be sure to ask what type of ethical guidelines they follow. For example, WebJuris adheres strictly to White hat practices as set forth by Bruce Clay, a leader in setting ethical guidelines for SEO experts. These guidelines are in alignment with the search engine guidelines of building Websites that are actually what they say they are: marketing for law firms and services.
STEP Three: Cost
SEO results take time. That is why SEO practitioners who charge a one-time fee should be intensely scrutinized. Rankings change constantly and what the search engines find relevant and reward today may not be the same methods they reward tomorrow. Generally, one-time fees and lower monthly rates are not reflective of reputable SEO firms.
Competitive SEO costs vary depending on many factors. What is important to understand is what you are paying for. The cost for SEO services should be reflective of how many keywords you are investing in, how many pages need to be optimized and how much time the SEO practitioner is putting into that effort. Legitimate SEO practitioners should tell you up front how much the costs will be and for what and why.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) Practitioners, are behind the latest and greatest way to attract new clients online. SEO experts connect specific keywords that users are entering into search engines with the practice areas law firms’ offer. That way, law firms can optimize their Websites to attract more qualified leads to their specific practice areas. Highly qualified traffic is what good SEO is all about. There is no point in attracting thousands of visitors to your website if they leave within 30 seconds because it wasn’t what they were looking for. On the flip side if you can direct traffic to your website that is looking for your services and finds what they are looking for once they get there, they will be more likely to contact the firm.
Likewise, there is no sense in running a marketing campaign for keyword terms that potential clients aren’t using. And many times, potential clients have no idea that they need a “personal injury attorney” or a “probate attorney” for their legal matter. SEO specialists research the top keywords for attorneys relevant to their practice areas, to use in generating new qualified contacts online.
For attorneys who have already realized the importance of SEO, here are three main tips to follow while searching for SEO experts to hire.
STEP One: The Portfolio
When it comes to SEO experts, the proof is in the search engine results pages or SERPs. If SEO firms are promising results, then they should provide proof of their results in the form of references and keyword searches.
The SEO firm should be able to provide you with keywords to enter into search engines. The top listings on the SERPs should include their clients as references near the top of the search results.
It is important that the SEO practitioner you choose is familiar with your business area. They may know how to promote a clothing store, but do they know anything about the legal industry or law firms? I highly recommend talking to references in this matter.
Also, it is important for the references to be current to prove that the search engine specialist is able to stay ahead of the changes in search engine behavior. Search engine behaviors fluctuate and a successful SEO practitioner knows how to stay ahead of the steep SEO curve.
STEP Two: Ethics
Just because they can doesn’t mean they should! Black hat SEO refers to SEO that uses unapproved and unethical ways to achieve rankings. They accomplish quick results but are banned when search engines realize their unscrupulous means. Having your website banned is usually not the best way to attract new business and will cost you more than it’s worth for your 15 seconds of fame at the top of the search list.
White hat SEO means using methods that are accepted by the SEO community and search engines. If you are in the market to hire an SEO practitioner, be sure to ask what type of ethical guidelines they follow. For example, WebJuris adheres strictly to White hat practices as set forth by Bruce Clay, a leader in setting ethical guidelines for SEO experts. These guidelines are in alignment with the search engine guidelines of building Websites that are actually what they say they are: marketing for law firms and services.
STEP Three: Cost
SEO results take time. That is why SEO practitioners who charge a one-time fee should be intensely scrutinized. Rankings change constantly and what the search engines find relevant and reward today may not be the same methods they reward tomorrow. Generally, one-time fees and lower monthly rates are not reflective of reputable SEO firms.
Competitive SEO costs vary depending on many factors. What is important to understand is what you are paying for. The cost for SEO services should be reflective of how many keywords you are investing in, how many pages need to be optimized and how much time the SEO practitioner is putting into that effort. Legitimate SEO practitioners should tell you up front how much the costs will be and for what and why.
Comments
Posted by Jon on June 19, 2009 - 5:15am
Good advice
This is a good overall explanation of search engine marketing, especially as it relates to SEO for legal firms.
The advice that SEO is not a one-time service is especially true; I've seen the results from these flat-rate firms and I've seen the results of a planned-out SEO campaign that is managed over time, and there is no comparison. You'll get much better positioning in a managed campaign.
The advice that SEO is not a one-time service is especially true; I've seen the results from these flat-rate firms and I've seen the results of a planned-out SEO campaign that is managed over time, and there is no comparison. You'll get much better positioning in a managed campaign.
Posted by Anonymous on June 19, 2009 - 11:08am
RE: Good advice
Absolutely there is no comparison! Not only do you get better positioning results with a planned SEO marketing campaign, but also more qualified traffic as well. Thanks for the comment!
Posted by Tom Hedges on January 21, 2010 - 10:36pm
V. P. Marketing
I personally believe that the best way to pick an SEO team is the reference.
Viewing a Web SEO's site is also important. Check out the clients section. If there is no client section, can you trust them?
I've seen the black hat techiques. Not only on law firm web sites, but on e-commerce sites. Unfortunately there is no "law" that bans it, just trust that the team you hire doesn't use them. They are not always, hardly ever, recognized by anyone except the SEO expert and a team that is part of the entire company that you hire.
Thanks Heather for this always important piece of web development for law firms.
Viewing a Web SEO's site is also important. Check out the clients section. If there is no client section, can you trust them?
I've seen the black hat techiques. Not only on law firm web sites, but on e-commerce sites. Unfortunately there is no "law" that bans it, just trust that the team you hire doesn't use them. They are not always, hardly ever, recognized by anyone except the SEO expert and a team that is part of the entire company that you hire.
Thanks Heather for this always important piece of web development for law firms.
