Getting your firm discovered in local search results is becoming extremely important. Nearly forty percent of all search queries carried out every month have some type of local purpose (ie: city or state name, zip code, neighborhood, etc.). There are certain techniques and factors that are important in helping your firm website perform well for local searches.
1. Categorize Your Practice Appropriately
Picking the right categories for your firm in local listings is very important. Many law firms do not spend sufficient time thinking about which category names to use. They write off this as an insignificant step. When your potential clients are not learning about a specific law firm by name, they will first search for attorneys by category. If you don't associate your law firm with the category they are searching for, you won't be found.
2. The Significance of Backlinks and Citiations
Hyperlinks From Various Sites: Backlinks are the currency of the web. A hyperlink to your website is like a vote for your site in the eyes of the search engines. All else being equal, a lawyer website that has additional hyperlinks from local and relevant websites will gain more presence in local search results.
Citations: Citations are references to your firm name, address, and telephone number on various other websites. These references do not need to include a link to your site. An illustration of a citation would be an online attorney directory where your practice is listed, but not linked to. Another would be a local yellow pages website.
3. The Listed Title Of Your Law Firm
Your law practice title (ie: the name of your practice) is an especially important component for ranking well in the local search engines. You really want your title to be consistent throughout the listings as well as having it contain related terms to your law firm's practice. Having uniformity helps your practice establish confidence in the eyes of search engines. Including appropriate keyword phrases in the title helps your practice get better placement when people perform searches. For instance, The Law Offices of Joe Smith, located in Chicago, could create a title called Law Offices of Joe Smith | Chicago Criminal Lawyer. Just keep it consistent and simple. Do not try to squeeze too many key words into your title.
1. Categorize Your Practice Appropriately
Picking the right categories for your firm in local listings is very important. Many law firms do not spend sufficient time thinking about which category names to use. They write off this as an insignificant step. When your potential clients are not learning about a specific law firm by name, they will first search for attorneys by category. If you don't associate your law firm with the category they are searching for, you won't be found.
2. The Significance of Backlinks and Citiations
Hyperlinks From Various Sites: Backlinks are the currency of the web. A hyperlink to your website is like a vote for your site in the eyes of the search engines. All else being equal, a lawyer website that has additional hyperlinks from local and relevant websites will gain more presence in local search results.
Citations: Citations are references to your firm name, address, and telephone number on various other websites. These references do not need to include a link to your site. An illustration of a citation would be an online attorney directory where your practice is listed, but not linked to. Another would be a local yellow pages website.
3. The Listed Title Of Your Law Firm
Your law practice title (ie: the name of your practice) is an especially important component for ranking well in the local search engines. You really want your title to be consistent throughout the listings as well as having it contain related terms to your law firm's practice. Having uniformity helps your practice establish confidence in the eyes of search engines. Including appropriate keyword phrases in the title helps your practice get better placement when people perform searches. For instance, The Law Offices of Joe Smith, located in Chicago, could create a title called Law Offices of Joe Smith | Chicago Criminal Lawyer. Just keep it consistent and simple. Do not try to squeeze too many key words into your title.
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Our blog focuses on seo for lawyers. From the basics to advanced techniques, we provide insight on effective lawyer search optimizationcampaigns. Have questions? Don't hesitate to contact one of our lawyer search optimizationconsultants.
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