SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization and refers to a website’s ability to rank high in a search query. Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo use “web crawlers,” bots that scan the internet for results user questions. For instance, someone googling “divorce attorneys near me” or “best criminal defense lawyer” will get a list of website results.
The sites that the web crawlers feel are most relevant to the search string will be at the top of the list, and those less relevant towards the bottom.
Why is this important? Most people select a result from the first page of returns, and less than 5% go past the third page.
If your law firm’s website isn’t on the first or second page, you may as well not exist, as over 90% of clients use the internet to find an attorney.
Building a website that ranks highly for SEO incorporates many factors. Good SEO requires a solid marketing strategy that can consistently pull your site to the front page of a search return, while unsavory tactics to “game the system” can actually tank your website, as search engine companies will penalize “cheaters.”
Local SEO is immensely helpful for legal firms since most people need a lawyer nearby and one that’s licensed to practice in their state. Incorporating local content and optimizing your site for local searches directs traffic to your site and boosts your conversion rate.
Optimizing your website for SEO is critical for growing your business. New clients are almost exclusively using the internet to find legal representation, which means that you need to proactively get in front of them. Incorporating these strategies into your online presence will help you land new cases and establish your firm as a group of knowledgeable, professional attorneys.
Our WebElevated SEO experts constantly work to keep our clients visible online using industry best practices, not shortcuts. An effective digital marketing strategy.