Why lawyers should start a SECOND blog

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“Blog” is a scary word for some lawyers. They think it takes too much time relative to the rewards, and/or that they don’t have anything to write about that anybody (i.e., prospective clients) would want to read.

This isn’t true. But let’s put that aside for now and talk about why you should start your second blog. (If you don’t have your first blog, you can come back and start that later.)

And by the way, don’t call it a blog if that word makes you nervous. Call it a “website with mostly non-promotional content,” because that’s what it is.

Anyway, why should lawyers start a second blog? To attract prospective clients, of course. And the people who can refer them.

Here’s the idea: you choose a subject that is of interest to your target market (or the people who can refer them) and that also interests you. You write about that subject and post it on a blog, er, website. Interested people find your content and read it. They sign up for your list to get more of your awesomeness. They promote your content to their friends and followers, colleagues and business associates. Your list grows and grows.

You briefly mention your day job to everyone who visits the site and signs up for your list. You tell them what you do and provide a link to your legal website. Every so often, you remind them about what you do.

So, now you have a list of people who share an interest with you. They know, like, and trust you, and while their trust is not directly related to your legal services, when they need a lawyer who does what you do, it won’t be difficult for them to make that leap.

You create this website, promote it, and have fun with it. You write about things that interest your visitors and subscribers and yourself. Or, if “writing” is a scary word for you, think of it as “curating” other people’s content that you append with your brief comments.

Do you see how this could be easy and how it could also bring you a lot of business? Basically, you are expanding your “warm market” (people who know you). When those people need a lawyer, or when someone they know needs a lawyer, you’ll be at or near the top of their list.

What do you write about (or curate)? Well, what interests you?

If you love sports and lots of your prospective clients do too, bada bing, there’s your subject.

You could write about classic cars, photography, food, exercise, or travel. Whatever floats your boat. Hey, how about boating?

What about referral sources? Well, for other lawyers, you could write trial tips, law office management, or marketing (!) Tell them how you do what you do.

You could write about personal development, productivity, or your favorite technology.

In other words, you could write about anything, so long as there are enough people in your target market who share your interest. And if there aren’t, you could always start your third blog.

For help in creating and growing your second blog (or your first), click here.

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Attorney website content for getting more referrals

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A lawyer in New York needs a lawyer in San Diego (that’s where you are) who does what you do. He’s got a client he needs to refer. Will he find your site? Will he like what he sees enough to recommend you?

An attorney across the street has a client to refer and doesn’t know anyone who does what you do. Will he find your site? Will he recommend you?

If you want to get more referrals from other lawyers, your website should have content for other lawyers.

Start with keywords.

A lawyer may include keywords in his or her search that are different from those used by prospective clients. He may want a lawyer who belongs to a certain bar association, for example, or who has a certain designation (i.e., “Certified Specialist”). He may use certain geographic keywords in his search that a local would not use.

Make sure your pages and posts are optimized for those keywords and phrases.

Set up landing pages specifically for other attorneys. Greet them “lawyer to lawyer”. Tell them about yourself the way you would if you were meeting in person or speaking on the phone.

Offer them lawyer-like content (articles, posts, white papers, briefs, etc.) that demonstrates your bona fides and makes them see you as a peer. Use terminology and examples likely to resonate with a practicing lawyer.

Talk about how you work with other attorneys. Provide stories and testimonials from other attorneys who have given you referrals. Talk about referrals you have given, too. If appropriate, talk about referral fees and how you handle them.

Provide content that helps lawyers do a better job for their clients. For out of state lawyers, for example, you might write an article on, “What out of state lawyers must know about [your field] in [your state or province]. For local lawyers in other practice areas, “What every [your state or province] lawyer who doesn’t handle [your field] needs to know about [your field]”.

Once you’ve done this, do the same thing for non-lawyer referral sources.

Your attorney website content shouldn’t be limited to prospective clients. Professionals and others have clients, customers, or patients to refer. Help them find you, give them reasons to trust you, and you will get more referrals.

For help with your attorney website content, get my Internet marketing course for attorneys.

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