Legal Marketing

The digital world is a marketing hotspot for your law firm, so if you don't understand the value of content marketing yet, then it's time to get acquainted! More and more lawyers are starting to realize that implementing content marketing in their law firm's marketing strategy is vital. It doesn't just enable a law firm to increase brand awareness, build better relationships, and produce more leads — it dramatically boosts your revenue.In today's consumer-driven market, people have seen enough of the same old advertising tactics. It's not as easy to convince consumers with the same approach that worked once upon a time. To grab people's attention in a sea of online advertisements, it's important that you give them something valuable that catches their eye. This is where the value of content marketing comes in.Recent statistics show that content marketing generates triple the number of leads as traditional outbound marketing methods and cost over 60% less. In other words, you get better results for less money. Say what?So, follow along for the Lawmatics guide on content marketing for law firms.

What is law firm content marketing?

Unlike traditional law firm marketing like billboards and newsletters, content marketing is all about creating valuable content that attracts and retains your target audience by offering them something useful. In other words, instead of pitching your services, you attract new business organically by sharing valuable content.In today's world, people can smell slimy sales pitches a mile off. Content marketing is all about convincing people that you're the right lawyer for the job by pitching your business without actually pitching it.Content marketing uses an authentic approach that proves you're the authority in your area of practice. By presenting yourself as an expert, you'll give yourself credibility and convince a prospective client that you're the right person for their case. If you declare yourself an expert, then you're the person they'll turn to when they need legal services.

Benefits of content marketing

Increased website traffic

After spending so much time and energy on building a high-quality website for your firm, it would be a real shame if it didn't get any attention! If you're serious about getting people to your legal website and taking your search engine optimization or law firm SEO marketing to the next level, then you have to start producing quality content. The very foundation of organic Google search results is relevant content that draws people in. By generating high-quality content peppered with plenty of SEO keywords, you can start generating an audience that yields leads.The better content you manage to produce, the more that Google (or any search engine) will start to favor you. The higher your rankings are in Google search results, the more visible you will be to potential clients. In turn, every piece of content you create will add more and more keywords to your website, strengthening your Google presence. The end result is higher web traffic and more high-quality leads that become clients.

Establishes trust

One of the biggest perks of effectively executing your law firm's content marketing is establishing trust. If you can manage to create content that covers common pain points then you'll position yourself as the authority and expert for that particular query. As a law firm, one of the most important qualities you can have is someone your clients can trust. So, rather than mere self-promotion, create material that provides value for your readers. Educate them on what you're best at, and offer helpful insights with expert advice.Become an authentic resource for important and helpful information, and your potential customers will trust you that much more. The idea is to create engaging content that will encourage potential and existing clients to rely on you as a trusted source for expert knowledge.If you can manage to do that, then you'll appeal to a larger audience. A recent survey showed that a whopping 90% of consumers would choose a brand with greater authenticity when making their buying decisions. So, if you manage to make "keeping it real" a priority in your legal content marketing strategy, then you have an opportunity to strengthen your bond with readers and establish trust.

Increased brand awareness

The more that you appear on your potential client's radar, the higher the likelihood that your target audience remembers you when it comes time to hire a lawyer. So, get yourself visible on Google search results by familiarizing yourself with the most common search terms.Establishing brand awareness can be one of the most powerful digital marketing strategies in your arsenal. The more that you can drive your leads to instinctively opt for you compared to other brands the more sales that you can generate.If your law firm continues to pop up with answers to popular legal queries, the more you increase your brand awareness, and the more people will naturally gravitate towards you rather than a lawyer that they've never heard of before. People prefer what's familiar, and it's often really that simple. To help you achieve this, content marketing and marketing automation for lawyers is key.

Improved client relationships

If a potential client is looking for information online and you happen to offer the exact answer to their questions, you give them a reason to love you just a little bit more. If you can manage to provide valuable information at the exact moment they need it, you'll form a better relationship. Combine being informative with being entertaining, and interesting, and you encourage people to become more emotionally invested and form stronger bonds.When you can interact with your potential and paying clients, you'll foster a connection that will delight, entertain, and engage. There's a much better chance that people will do business with you, and perhaps even lead to repeat business if you create great content developed around what they're hoping to solve.

Money saved

Compared to one-way advertising, attorney content marketing is significantly more cost-effective. Social media platforms like Facebook can be one of your greatest resources for reaching the maximum number of people-and it's totally free.Although content creation does require some investment, the return on investment is substantial — whether you outsource to a writer or take time out of your schedule to do it yourself. Posting engaging content on websites, blogs, and social media is significantly inexpensive in contrast to traditional forms of outbound marketing.

Increased sales

Because effective content marketing for lawyers leads to increased web traffic and engagement, increased brand awareness, stronger relationships, and more leads, all these factors will consequently lead to increased sales. Law firms are starting to catch on to this fact, which is why over 60% of law firms spend most of their marketing budgets on their online legal marketing efforts. People are using the Internet to find lawyers more than ever, so if you can make yourself a go-to source on Google, then you'll see a jump in your sales in no time.So lawyers, if you aren't already using legal content marketing as a part of your strategy, then it's time to get started.

Types of law firm content marketing

Blogging

According to recent statistics, blogs are one of the top result-producing forms of media in attorney content marketing strategies. In fact, the very thing you're reading right now is a blog post. Blog posts are a straightforward way to provide valuable information for your target audience that is engaging and informative.

Ebooks

Ebooks are an incredibly worthwhile tool for increasing your contacts. For example, offering a gated e-book on a particular legal issue in exchange for an email address is a fantastic way to grow your contact list in your law firm CRM. It's important to note that Ebooks are typically longer than blogs, and their primary goal is to attract web users to your law firm website. They also make a great call to action at the bottom of your newsletter, or on the landing page of your website.

Podcasts

Starting a podcast is a cool way to engage your listeners and let them get to know you on a more personal level. The great thing about podcasts is that they're candid and can be totally improvised. Statistically, one out of three people in the United States have listened to a podcast over the last 30 days. So, if you have an interesting legal idea to share and decent recording equipment, consider making a podcast!

Social media

There are over 4.2 billion active social media users, so it's safe to say that this is a great place to be seen. Although there are several different social media platforms, some appeal to the legal industry more than others. A great place to start is Facebook.Create a page for your law firm, and engage, share, and comment. The idea of social media is a two-way conversation. The best part about sharing relevant content on social media is you can share third party content. Just make sure that your feed does more than just repost articles with no caption all the time. Share your opinion on it or provide some additional insight. You can share non-original content as long as you include your brand's voice in the caption. Have an opinion!These are just a few content marketing campaign ideas for your law firm. Feel free to do some basic market research of your own to get to know what your target audience's ideal form of content is.[oxygen-template id="6129"]

How to use content marketing for your law firm

Understand your target audience

So you're ready to get started creating content — now what? The great news is that even though you might not think of yourself as a writer, all it takes is a little bit of creativity. No one's asking you to write the next Moby Dick, all you have to do is write about what you already know — law.Before you start a 5000-word essay on legal doctrines that will make readers snooze, back up, and simplify. The reality is that most people aren't looking for long-winded responses with complex legal jargon. Get to know your target audience and what it is that they want to read. One of the most effective ways to do this is to ask your past clients.It's as simple as creating a custom survey and sending it to your contacts with questions like:

• Where do you go for your legal questions online?
• What kind of legal content would you like to see more of online?
• What have been your biggest legal issues?

Get to know what kind of content your potential clients are looking online for by getting to know your past clients better. That way, you can generate engaging and useful content based on what people actually want to see.

Strategize

The first place to start in reaching your long-term visions is by creating a strategy. Without a strategy, you risk wandering through the dark with no real end in sight. By creating a content marketing strategy, you'll significantly increase your chances of getting the kind of results that you want to see.Your content marketing strategy is there to help you set intentions and reinforce why you're doing it in the first place. Here's what your strategy should include:

Who is reading?

The first step is identifying who you're writing for. Who is your target audience, and what type of customer are they? Do they have kids? Are they married? What kind of salary do they have? If you plan on appealing to many different kinds of customers, then segment your content into groups to deliver targeted material to each different type of reader. Define each audience so that you can fine-tune your content to appeal to them as much as possible. Audience segmentation software can be a great tool for getting the right content to the right people at the right time.

What kinds of content will you produce?

There are all different sorts of content that you can produce. Do you plan on writing blogs? How about a podcast? Perhaps you'll create weekly videos on social media providing a quick legal tip. Make a list of the different content formats that you plan on creating, so you'll know exactly what's ahead of you.

How are you different?

For every Google query out there there are about five bajillion (fictitious figure based on zero actual data) other legal blogs attempting to answer the same question. Your strategy should include why your content is unique and why it's worth reading more than the competition's. Have a clear definition of why you're the trusted source that people should turn to.

What issues are you solving for your readers?

After you've picked your past clients' brains for what kind of legal content they'd like to see more of online, make a list of the legal issues that you plan to shed more light on for your audience. A thorough content strategy identifies what your ideal reader's pain points are so that you can become their go-to resource for all things law.

How often do you plan on creating and publishing?

The key to successful content marketing is consistency. Your strategy should include a content schedule that outlines how often you plan on creating and publishing your material. There are all sorts of third-party applications that make it easier to create a content marketing schedule and keep you on top of your goals.

Where will you post your content?

Including a blog on your law firm website is a great way to make Google love you and get people to your page. However, that's not the only channel you can post content to. From LinkedIn to Twitter to YouTube, get to know all of the different channels and decide which ones you plan on focusing on.

Measure your results and stay persistent

Content marketing is an undeniably fantastic way to generate more leads for your law firm and establish yourself as an industry leader. However, to ensure that your marketing efforts are worth your time and resources, it's critical that you measure and evaluate your results. A data-driven approach to your content marketing efforts is the best way to perfect your strategy and yield the most results.By using legal reporting software, you can track your results and make improvements where needed.Are you ready to get an advantage over your competition and scale your law firm? Sign up for a free product demo today to see how Lawmatics can help!

Do lawyers need websites? Yes! An online presence is a must regardless of what industry you’re in, and as a law firm, the most important place to start is your website. Your online presence is considered by many to be the number one determining factor in your law firm’s success. Yet, despite its importance, there are plenty of law firms that don’t put enough energy into building one. Regardless of your law firm’s size, you should be prioritizing not only creating a website but fine-tuning and optimizing it to get the best possible results out of it.

Why does a law firm need a website?

Establishes credibility as a law firm

Nowadays, it's considered downright strange if a business doesn't have a website. Having a website for your law firm proves you're the real deal. In the absence of a website, people may question how legitimate you are as a lawyer, and possibly even find you scammy.Your web page is the ultimate tool for showcasing why you're the best person for the job, and how you compare to the competition. Legal clients expect to be able to read up on a lawyer they're considering hiring, and if they can't find you online, this could hurt your chances of them choosing you over someone else that has a strong and convincing law firm website.In other words, potential legal clients are much more inclined to hire you if you have a high-quality page.Not only do consumers expect a business to have a website, but they also base their choice on how professional your website looks. First impressions count, so make sure that your website is ready to impress from the minute a visitor lands on your page.

Generates legal leads

From building a following on social media to sending out newsletters, there is no shortage of different marketing efforts that your firm should be combining into your marketing strategy. The cornerstone of your overall marketing strategy, however, should always remain having a powerful and optimized website.If you have an optimized website, then you'll show up higher on Google search results. That means when people are looking for a lawyer in your area, your name will come up — preferably first. Simply put, the more that you optimize your website to produce organic traffic, the more opportunities you have to increase the number of legal leads coming in.

Increases visibility

With greater visibility comes more opportunities for attracting leads. You can be the best lawyer in the world, but if Google can’t find you, It doesn't matter, because they don’t even know you exist.Becoming a lawyer and hoping your credibility will reach the right people naturally isn't realistic. You have to build awareness around your law firm by targeting your ideal client with an established website.People are more inclined to buy something that's advertised right in front of them. So, the more visibility you have, the more you distinguish yourself from competing law firms.

Better customer service

A website is there to give customers information on your legal services any time of day.In the old days, if someone wanted to find out more information about a lawyer, they'd have to wait until business hours to call. Today, a website serves as non-stop customer support that gives your customers everything they need to know.If you don't have the budget to hire front desk staff, then it's especially helpful to make your website your own personal receptionist. Not only should your website provide any FAQ’s, and helpful information about your firm, but it should also offer leads the option to fill out a legal client intake form that goes directly into your customer database thanks to legal client intake software. This added convenience doesn't just benefit your customers, but also you. Rather than having to manually input interested leads’ information, your website can get the information you need for you.

Time saved

It's no secret that lawyers are extremely busy. With all of the tasks that it takes to keep a practice going, it's not always possible to answer the phone or reply to an email right away. When you're busy focusing on your current clients, it can be distracting and time-consuming having to answer questions like where your location is and what your business hours are. Your website can give your leads all the information they need for you, so you can continue focusing on what matters most at your law firm — without taking the attention away from your paying clients.

What should a lawyer website contain?

Great branding

Your law firm's website is the very first impression prospects will have about your law firm. It's your chance to make an impression, and stand out against competing lawyers. So, instead of slapping together a DIY ready-made template that's impossible to distinguish from all the other law firm websites out there, why not create something entirely unique?Branding your website goes far beyond choosing some colors and pasting a logo. Branding is the magical ingredient that turns leads into paying clients by grabbing their attention and sparking a connection. Your website's branding should reflect who you are as a law firm and your personal values.What kind of message do you want to communicate to potential clients?What sort of lawyer do you want to come across as?Are you a bulldog who promises to fight ferociously?Or do you want to market yourself as compassionate and solicitous to help others?Your branding should be an overall reflection of the kind of perception you hope to elicit from potential clients visiting your page. From your font choice to your color scheme, to your choice of images, great branding is the total package of elements shaped together forming the overall mold of your brand.Don’t hesitate to do a Google search for other lawyers in your area and use their law firm website for design inspiration. Sometimes your competitors can be your best resource for what makes a good law firm website.

Branding tips

Make your logo and firm name stand out

Your firm’s logo and law firm name should be the main focal point of the page along with your areas of practice. Keep the layout simple to avoid your law firm’s name getting lost in the clutter. The best law firm websites clearly communicate their name, a description of services, and where they are within the first few seconds of glancing at the page.

Use your law firm name in the URL

Using your law firm's name in your URL makes it easy for people to remember you. Choosing a difficult to remember or generic phrase as a URL won't do your brand any favors.

Clearly display your unique selling point (USP)

Give people a reason to stay on your page and want to find out more by stating from the get-go what makes your law firm the best choice for the job. Stress your accomplishments, and choose a tagline that grabs people's attention. The idea is to outline what kind of issues you tackle, and what makes you distinct from other law firms. Feel free to get imaginative. Catch people’s attention by showing them something that they haven't seen everywhere else.

Call to action

If you don't ask your website visitors to take the next steps towards becoming a client, then who says that they will? A call to action should be listed on every page of your website. Some call to action ideas for your website include:

“Click here to call”

“Schedule a consultation”

“Click here for more info”

“Start live chat”

“Fill out a contact form”

“Sign up for our newsletter”

The idea is to urge people to become a client by inviting them to take the next steps. Think of it as inviting someone in the door — they won’t walk in unless you invite them![oxygen-template id="6129"]

Practice areas clearly displayed

There should be no question about what kind of area of law you practice in from the minute a person lands on your page. If someone has to click around or scroll in multiple directions to find out whether you're a real estate attorney or a criminal defense lawyer, then your website needs some changes.Whether it's just you, or you have a team of associates, make sure that you list all of your areas of practice and how you can help your clients. That way visitors know immediately whether you have the qualifications for their particular case.

Testimonials

Testimonials are especially important in the legal world. People don't want to just know that you practice law, they want to know that you can win! Testimonials should be proudly displayed throughout your page to give your law firm credibility and social proof.Statistics show that 93% of customers read reviews before deciding on a product or service. So, it goes without saying that potential clients are much more likely to hire you if your website is peppered with positive testimonials.Like it or not, we live in the age of Amazon, where people want proof and reassurance before making a purchase. Client testimonials increase trust and promise results. So don't be afraid to ask your satisfied customers to provide testimonials after a positive experience with you.

Mobile friendly

Statistics show that 69% of people browsing the Internet worldwide are using their phones, and the number is increasing every day. That's why you need to make sure that your website is optimized for mobile use. not only should the display look just as beautiful on a phone as it does on a computer comma but it should also be fast and responsive. If a visitor looking at your website from my phone can't easily navigate your page from the palm of their hand, it's only a matter of seconds until they go to the next law firm in their search results. When designing your page, make sure that your web page resizes itself for any kind of screen.

SEO keywords

At this point, you've probably heard of SEO but you may still not be quite sure what it means, much less how to create a lawyer website. After all, you're a lawyer not a master of internet algorithms, and you know what? That’s okay.However, since SEO plays such a huge role in the overall success of your website, it's probably time that you familiarize yourself with the term. SEO stands for search engine optimization, which involves strategizing ways to increase your law firm website’s result rankings on Google by using the right keywords.Keywords are what tell Google to list your website in response to an internet user's search. So, getting to know the best keywords for your industry is crucial. You should be targeting specific terms that will attract your ideal legal client like your area of practice and your location. Doing so will increase your rankings and attract clients who are looking for a lawyer in your particular geographical area.Get to know the best legal-related queries that you should be targeting, how popular they are, and any other valuable insights that can help you expand your audience. The best place to start is finding out what keywords your website is already being found by.Analytics software like Google Analytics makes it easy to track down where your organic search traffic is coming from and get to know the keywords that are working best. From there, you can continue to build your list full of relevant keywords that your ideal customer might be searching for. You can use SEO keyword tools to help you come up with more ideas to make sure you choose the best possible keywords.If mastering SEO sounds entirely too time-consuming for you (which it can be) then you should seriously consider hiring an SEO expert. It will require an investment on your part, however, the benefits will save you precious time, and ultimately find you more clients.

Blog

Today, it’s increasingly popular to use your website to establish your authority as an expert in your area of practice by including a blog. Since one of the best ways to drive people to your website is by offering valuable content to your law firm website. Adding regular fresh materials can be a powerful for your law firm website marketing. Not to mention, there are many strict regulations surrounding advertising your law firm, so a blog is a great way to promote your legal services without any ethical issues to worry about.A good legal blog is one that offers valuable information that's engaging to read. The more content that you can add to your blog sprinkled with good old SEO keywords, the more that Google will lead customers to your website.That’s not to say that you necessarily have to add a new post at 7 am sharp every day, but it should be consistent. The more interesting and thought-provoking material that you have in your website’s blog the more you’ll build your traffic and engage your audience.Not to mention the added perk that when someone subscribes to your blog feed, their email goes into your CRM for lawyers and you can send them drip email marketing to keep them engaged by sending regular content.

High-quality images

In life, looks aren't everything, but when it comes to your website, they are. Images are one of the most important aspects of your website’s overall design, so make sure you choose carefully. Statistics show that your website will perform considerably better if you use high-quality, professional images.Nothing turns off potential clients more than a sloppy website full of blurry or pixelated images. That's why it can't be stressed enough that hiring a skilled web designer is well worth adding to your marketing budget so you know it’s done right!

Get more eyes on your law firm with a well-built website

Growing your law firm starts with increasing your online visibility through a strong and easy-to-find website. By following these guidelines, you should attract high-quality leads and lead them directly to your website. Remember, attracting leads alone isn’t enough. You’ll need to make sure that you’re prepared to handle all of your incoming inquiries by relying on a law firm client intake software like Lawmatics. When you have an influx of leads coming in, you need an effective method for taking down people’s information and getting back to them as soon as possible. It’s impossible to do manually when you’ve got paying clients and administrative work to take care of.Without an automated system in place, you risk losing track of leads, and in turn, losing the return on the investment you made on building your website. What’s more, client intake software has built in legal reporting software that can provide valuable insights on how well your website is producing leads.Click here to learn more about how Lawmatics law firm CRM and attorney intake software can help your website climb to the top of Google search results and stand out as the top lawyer in your area.

Clients are the blood that flows through a law firm’s veins — without them, a practice can’t stay alive. To keep the clients flowing, a law firm needs to produce a steady stream of leads. And since law school doesn’t teach you how to run a business, it can be challenging for lawyers to understand all of the complexities involved with attracting and retaining leads. You know — “sales and marketing stuff.”If you’re a lawyer that feels lost in a fog of foreign business concepts, don’t worry—you’re not alone. After all, you were trained to practice law, not generate leads. However, a successful law firm is one that is run like a business, because that’s exactly what it is. So, law firms looking to stand out to potential legal clients should start thinking like a CEO and make legal lead generation for law firms a part of their business strategy.

What a legal lead is

A lead is a potential client who shows interest in your law firm. Whether they fill out a legal client intake form or call to inquire about whether your law firm is the right fit — a lead is someone who has indicated that they’re interested in paying for your legal services.Leads are a piece of a broader equation known as a client journey. A client journey can be broken up into three phases:

Intake

The first phase of the client journey begins the minute that a lead first contacts a firm. In order to ensure that an opportunity is never missed, a law firm needs to have an efficient client intake process in place. By using law firm client intake software, law firms can capture a lead’s contact information, input it directly into their database, and track a lead from day one. Software like Lawmatics shows a birds-eye view of where each lead stands, and which ones need to be followed up with.Without a clear understanding of what actions need to be taken next for each lead, it’s easy to lose track of opportunities. With so many inquiries coming in, many law firms struggle to stay on top of whether a lead has been called or emailed back, potentially letting an opportunity slip through the cracks.Statistics show that nearly 60% of law firms don't respond to their emails, and almost 35% don't even answer the phone. Unfortunately, slower response times are one of your biggest enemies when it comes to converting a legal lead into a paying client.Not only does technology ensure that you know exactly what actions need to be taken next to convert a lead into a client, but client intake software will even follow up for you. Email workflows for law firms allow lawyers to focus on their current clients while automation handles incoming leads.

Active matter

Once a lead has been converted into a client, phase two of the client journey begins which is an active matter. A client has officially hired you to represent them in court, and they have signed a fee agreement.

Former client

Once a matter has drawn to a close, a previous client is now known as a former one. However, smart firms know that former clients can be reborn into leads again, so you shouldn’t stop marketing to them. Staying in touch keeps your firm top of mind and encourages repeat business. Former clients are also great sources for referrals!

What lead generation is

Lead generation refers to the process of attracting potential legal clients to your law firm through the act of engaging and nurturing with the hopes of eventually converting them into paying clients. The lead generation process involves incorporating a sales funnel, which is a series of steps intended to eventually convert legal leads into paying legal clients. Your sales funnel eventually gets narrower as prospects navigate through it, just like an actual (you guessed it!) funnel. A sales funnel has four stages.

Awareness

The first stage of a sales funnel is making prospects aware of your law firm. This can be done through many different avenues, whether through paid advertisements, or a Google search, the idea is to make your law firm as visible as possible to get leads to this first stage of the sales funnel and one step closer to being converted to a client. During this stage of the sales funnel, legal prospects are introduced to your law firm for the very first time. Regardless of whether you're a solo practitioner or a larger firm, first impressions count.

Interest

Once a prospect transitions from curious to interested, the second stage of the sales funnel begins. When you've got a prospect’s attention it's time to try to reel in your catch. At this point it’s more important than ever to play your cards right, otherwise, you risk coming off as overly aggressive. Law firms hoping to sway a lead into converting into a client may try methods like establishing their legal expertise or offering a free consultation. The idea is to push your product through a call to action that pushes them to take the next step.

Decision

It's natural for an interested legal prospect to arrive at the point where they decide whether they want to hire you or choose another law firm. With so many competing law firms, it can be a challenge to convince legal leads why they should go with you over the competition.This is where an effective client intake process is essential. By nurturing and engaging leads, you can say top of mind and increase your chances of them deciding to work with you. Tools like drip email marketing and audience segmentation software deliver a personalized marketing experience that captures their interest more than a one size fits all marketing approach. With workflow automation for law firms, leads feel like you’re giving them special attention, tailored for their unique needs. Send content around their specific pain points and don’t be afraid to ask former clients for a referral.Showing how you were able to win a case similar to theirs in the past is a strong motivation to choose you as their lawyer!

Action

Finally, at the bottom of the sales funnel sits the action stage. This is when a lead accepts your call to action. In a law firm’s case, usually, this means signing up for a free consultation. The idea is to sell them on why you can solve their case, and how you are the best person for the job.Understanding the sales funnel is critical for moving your leads through the lead generation process and is the first step towards starting to run your law firm like a business.

How to generate leads for law firms

Now that you’ve got a clearer idea of what lead generation is, let’s examine some of the most popular methods for generating leads.

Optimize your law firm’s website

More online visibility = more leads. One of the best ways to get your law firm’s website at the top of Google search results is by optimizing your law firm website for SEO. Pepper your website’s content regularly with plenty of relevant legal keywords with plenty of reliable backlinks.Adding a blog to your legal website is another extremely effective method for driving web traffic to your website and generating leads. Double down on your specialized legal niche and establish yourself as an authority on the subject. Don’t be afraid to have a voice and an opinion, and say it loud! In today’s consumer-driven market, people want meaningful content in a legal blog that takes a stance.Above all, make it visually appealing. Statistics show that blogs lacking visual content perform significantly worse than those that are visually rich. Make it pretty!

Paid ads

Targeted advertisements are a worthwhile tactic for generating leads. Pay-per-click advertising (PPC) makes it possible to pinpoint your ideal demographic, and capture their attention with tailored ads. As the name suggests, you quite literally pay each time a visitor visits your website. You can adjust your budget according to how much you want to spend.If you decide to invest in a pay-per-click advertising campaign, it’s critical to measure your results. Measuring your ROI requires tracking your website conversions and optimizing your campaigns as needed to generate a nice pipeline of quality leads. Law firm reporting software makes it easy to see how many of your clients are coming from your campaigns and whether it’s worth continuing to invest in or not.

Social media

Ten years ago the idea of promoting a law firm on Instagram or Facebook would have seemed absurd. But, here we are in 2021 and social media is one of the hottest places to market your legal services and generate legal leads. Unlike other marketing techniques, social media offers the unique opportunity to build relationships with leads and clients through a two-way conversation. Traditional marketing doesn’t allow the audience to have a voice and engage in conversation with their favorite brands the same way social media does.Having a profile alone on social media sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter isn’t enough to generate leads. You’ll need to produce engaging and shareable content that drives people to your page and enhances your web traffic. For more tips on how to leverage social media to generate leads, go here.

Create a Google Profile

Did you know that over half of Google users use it to search for businesses? In other words, you need to make yourself visible on Google pronto. Most people don’t have the time to research each law firm individually — they rely on Google to tell them where the best-reviewed place to go is.In the age of Amazon and Yelp, people are much more likely to become a client of a law firm that comes highly recommended. So, don’t forget the importance of building a strong reputation for your law firm by getting a few great reviews under your belt.Although there are many different review sites, Google should be your primary focus as a lawyer. Setting up a business profile is free, and can be one of your best lead magnets if you manage to get great reviews.Don’t be afraid to ask your clients to leave you a review if they had a great experience with your law firm. Usually, happy clients are more than willing to help you out in achieving a five-star reputation by leaving a nice review. Don’t forget the importance of monitoring whatever review sites you’re present on, and always reply to reviews—good and bad!A common misconception is that you should only reply to negative reviews which couldn’t be further from the truth. Respond appropriately either thanking a client for a positive review or offering a solution or apology to a less than stellar review. If you get a bad review or two, don’t panic. A few negative reviews should fade into the background as long as you continue to acquire positive reviews.

Networking

Don’t let the king-pin reputation of digital marketing convince you that old-school methods don’t still hold value! Making face-to-face connections is still a powerful way to generate leads. Nearly 75% of consumers say that they value word-of-mouth referrals for making a purchasing decision. So, in addition to upping your digital marketing game, don’t forget the value of getting out there and growing your practice the old-fashioned way.Some ideas for places to network include:

Local events

Mixers

Chamber of Commerce Events

Workshops

Conferences

Volunteering

Buy leads

Many law firms rely on the straightforward, effective method of buying leads from law firm lead generation services. Investing in a law firm lead generation company is a simple way to bring in an influx of new business. However, many lawyers will argue that it’s hardly the most cost-effective method since some law firm lead generation companies charge on a pay-per-lead (PPL) system, ranging as high as $700 each.It’s also important to mention that some lead generation for law firms provide multiple lawyers with the same leads, resulting in an onslaught of calls to overwhelmed prospects, who in turn, are less likely to be receptive to these marketing efforts. So, if you’re going to buy legal leads, make sure that you choose the right company.If you do go the route of buying leads, it can’t be stressed enough how critical it is to have an extremely responsive intake process in place that tracks each incoming lead through each stage of their client journey.For this reason, law firms should rely on legal client intake software to ensure they can keep up with the influx of incoming inquiries. To maximize your return on investment (ROI,) your law firm needs an automated system in place. If you buy leads only to manually gather information from each incoming contact, you risk not only losing track of your leads, but you’re losing astronomical amounts of time compared to leveraging automation to do it for you.

Deals and promotions

It’s human nature — people just love a good deal. Offering a promotion or giveaway can be a powerful way to incentivize people to visit your website. Offering a free initial consultation is an extremely effective way to get new leads in the door.You may even want to consider teaming up with a website like Groupon to offer a coupon for legal services. Just make sure that you are up to date on the latest industry ethics standards to make sure that any deals you offer are structured appropriately.

Marketing automation

Law firm marketing can be downright time-consuming. Luckily there’s a better way — marketing automation for law firms makes it simple to generate leads on auto-pilot so you can focus on what you went to school to do — practice law.With email automation for law firms, you can streamline your marketing strategy by delivering the right message to the right contact at the right time. Text messaging software for lawyers allows you to communicate with your clients instantly. Tools like audience segmentation software breaks your contacts up into groups based on certain characteristics and sends out tailored marketing that makes it that much more likely that your email breeds a future client.[oxygen-template id="6129"]

No matter how your leads find you — deliver a powerful legal intake experience powered by Lawmatics

For a lot of lawyers, the idea of generating leads can be downright overwhelming. Law school prepared you for plenty of things, and unfortunately, lead generation wasn’t one of them.But by developing a strong marketing strategy that delivers a consistent message that’s true to your brand, you’ll manage to bring in a steady stream of promising leads for your law firm, and in turn a healthy future. Yet, generating leads is only half the battle. Once you get a lead in the door, it’s critical to deliver top-notch attention that leaves them wanting to become a client at your firm over the competing law firms in your area.Lawmatics CRM for lawyers and attorney intake software streamlines the often tedious and time-consuming aspects of running your law firm so you can focus your energy on revenue-generating tasks.From the initial contact, all the way to signing a retainer — Lawmatics offers an all-in-one solution that takes care of it all for you. Are you ready to see why Lawmatics is recognized as the most intuitive and robust CRM and client intake platform specific to the legal industry? Sign up for a free demo today!

Competition in the legal industry remains fierce. Growing your firm has never been more challenging. To rise to the top, you need to focus on solid law firm marketing strategies to attract new clients, bring in business and solidify existing clientele relationships. Without ongoing marketing efforts, things can quickly grow stagnant or turn sour.Traditional law firm marketing strategies have fallen by the wayside and now digital marketing reigns as king. However, a concrete law firm marketing strategy mixes proven methods to formulate a game plan that can encompass the following:

SEO

Digital marketing

Old-school billboard ads

Social media

Copywriting

Communication strategies

Blog writing

Website development

Branding

And more to structure a balanced approach

The entire process is not for the faint of heart and takes time, energy, and a generous budget.

The evolution of law firm marketing strategies automation technology

Marketing technology has evolved to impressive heights with full marketing automation for law firms. Lawmatics software lets law firms take charge of their marketing to launch it to impressive heights to increase conversion and receive an impressive return on investment (ROI) by bringing in new clients.Constructing and launching a law firm marketing strategy might seem like an uphill battle at first, but with perseverance and the assistance of automation software your marketing goals can prove effective once you gain a firm understanding of key marketing terms, analysis stats, pick the best tools, and launch your comprehensive marketing layout.CRM (legal client relationship management)for lawyers has become quite common and popular. A law firm CRM is used for lenient intake processes, helps turn new clients into retained clients, manages scheduling, follow ups, intake, and revenue tracking. In addition, it can prove indispensable with law firm marketing strategies by automating all the legwork. With a legal CRM system, a skilled digital marketing team, and well-devised strategy, your chances of success are great.Whether you have a solo law firm or are a thriving, established practice, renewing your law firm marketing strategies might seem like a daunting task at first. However, with automation in law firms and a baseline of knowledge your chances of success increase substantially.

How do you market a law firm?

Marketing plans vary depending on the law firm and their individual vision for the development of their practice. A firm law firm marketing strategy takes the guesswork out of plan by offering structure and direction. It becomes a wide scale collaborative process that typically involves the use of several marketing teams working together on web content, social media, and advertising.Every strategy laid forth should have trackable results so you can hone in on the most successful factors to spend your money and time on. The marketing plan will vary by law firm size, geographic location, firm’s area of expertise, and business development.A newly opened law firm is still focused on building contacts, but an established firm might want to solidify their hold as a dominant area practice. Therefore, the marketing strategy for a large legal firm in New York City is going to appear dramatically different than a small personal injury firm in Portland, Oregon. Each one requires individual law firm marketing strategies.One thing to remember when creating a legal marketing plan is that it does not need to be overly complicated. It must have structure and be based on concrete research to ensure success.The approach of each law firm will differ based on the firm’s size, area of expertise and geographic location but the actual building blocks of the marketing plan will remain the same across the board.

• Draft a detailed picture of the legal services offered by the law firm
• Focus on targeting clients
• Outline business development goals along with a projected period for success
• Develop marketing strategies geared towards reaching the target market to achieve the firm’s particular goals.
• Follow the marketing budget.

The steps of successful law firm marketing strategies

The first step to law firm marketing strategies is to sit down with the team and honestly answer the following questions:

1. What types of clients does your firm serve every year?
2. How many clients does your firm serve?
3. Do you receive leads online, and if so, how many?
4. What strengths and weaknesses does your law firm have?

Outline your law firm marketing strategies and weigh their performance over the last year. Categorize the marketing efforts by email, print advertising, digital tactics and more.

Building your law firm’s brand

Branding is your law firm's personality and identity using law firm marketing strategies. It has become a straightforward process. Nowadays, a lot of hype surrounds branding and businesses. Look around at the industry leaders and major eCommerce companies, each one stands out due to very tailored branding which has created a living and breathing identity.The fundamentals of branding are more than expensive letterhead or premium business cards. Instead, they are the image that you present to your clients and the association they feel with your law firm when they do business with you. In a nutshell, branding makes your firm memorable.

Branding USP as part of law firm marketing strategies

What is your law firm’s unique selling proposition (USP)? Think about the particular benefits that your firm exhibits that makes it stand out from the competition. Your firm’s USP is your branding foundation.Branding is an integral part of all law firm marketing strategies, so it does take some time to figure out the USP. You’ll want to brainstorm with your marketing team. Think about things outside the box to produce successful law firm marketing ideas to launch genuine branding.Display your firm's skills with pride and formulate a message that will resonate with clients. You want your firm's landing page to convert someone searching for a firm into a steadfast and loyal client. The message should drive them to contact your firm for more assistance and information.Remember, successful branding isn’t complicated. You want your message to be simple to understand and something that will linger in a client’s memories. Focus on the needs of your clients and draft your message.Law firm marketing ideas run the gamut when it comes to creating messages and slogans. Study the most famous brands and firms to get an idea of what sets their slogans apart.Let’s take a moment to look at successful branding messages/slogans. Many of the ones listed below are not geared towards law firm marketing strategies but are still useful examples.

• Nike - Just Do It
• Williams Parker, Sarasota, FL.-The Art of Law
• Red Bull - Red Bull Gives You Wings
• The Levoritz Law Group - A ‘Shark’ in the Courtroom
• AT&T - Your World Delivered
• De Beers - A Diamond is Forever
• Novack and Macey, Chicago - Small but Mighty
• Fisher Phillips - On the Front Lines of Workplace Law

Once you have picked your branding USP and slogan then it's time to launch your messaging across all your channels such as social media, website, offline literature, and professional networks.

Determining the marketing budget for law firm marketing strategies

All law firm marketing strategies have a marketing budget. You’ll want to figure out how much you want to invest in your marketing initiatives. You’ll want to stay within the budget’s limits. Once you have an idea of your finances, it’s time to explore your options such as automation software offered by Lawmatics. Automation software is like placing your law firm marketing strategies on autopilot. You can monitor the progress using visual analytics features.

Law firm marketing terms

If you aren’t a marketing pro, then you might not be familiar with the commonly used terms. Familiarizing yourself with the basic terms can prove beneficial in planning and executing your law firm marketing strategies.There are a lot of marketing terms but below you’ll find a compact list that will get you started in understanding the key ones when laying out your law firm marketing strategies.

Marketing lead

A marketing lead refers to a potential client. The person is someone who not only visits your firm’s website but also takes the extra step in contacting your firm via phone, email, or chat to speak with one of your legal experts. Perhaps they filled out the ‘contact us’ form on your website requesting more information.Marketing lead generation is particularly important because the person is opening the door to you, so you have a chance to communicate in a one-on-one fashion. Without a doubt, the marketing lead is the goal of all law firm marketing strategies. You have the fish on the line and now it is time to start reeling them on to the boat with your many laws firm marketing strategies

Conversion rate

The term ‘conversion rate’ refers to the number of people who visit your website. They are visitors that you can convert to a lead. You’ll be able to track your website’s conversion rate or simply focus on a single landing page to see the conversion rate success. CRM for attorneys helps you monitor conversion rate and also enables you to look at the intake process which is the rate at which you convert the leads into actual clients at your firm.

Landing page

A landing page is a page on your website that has been drafted to encourage visitors to act. It should gently push them to click on a button for more information, start a chat, or (if an ecommerce site) make a purchase. Many landing pages let visitors book a consultation online or even make a phone call. Landing pages are informative, actionable, and a significant tool in any marketing campaign and list of law firm marketing strategies.

Call-to-Action (CTA)

A call-to-action (CTA) refers to the push you make to ask a visitor to your website to take an actionable step and contact your firm either via email, chat, or phone. Most websites will have a button on the landing page that leads to a ‘contact us’ form that they can use to reach out to you and make a push for more information. A paid ad will also boast a CTA button that will link back to your website. With digital marketing and social media, you can use a CTA to encourage dialogue, inspire that your followers share your post or information, or request that they reach out to your firm with a direct message (DM).

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

One of the hottest and most important terms in digital marketing is search engine optimization (SEO). It is the practice of optimizing a landing page or website so that it gains a top spot (preferably first place) on any search engine results query. SEO depends on the placement of keywords and relevant keyword phrases to grab the attention of the search engines.The keywords, also called keyphrases, are words and phrases that you incorporate into the topics on each one of your landing pages within your website. Think about the words and phrases a potential client might type into a search engine to find a law firm. They might look for a personal injury attorney or seek a family law firm in a specific geographic location. Based on the search query, the search engine finds matching keywords and phrases to make the query and then displays the pinpointed websites.Keywords and semantically similar variations are placed throughout your website to signal the search engines that your page matches and is relevant to the search query. Proper use of keywords entails placing the words at key places on your webpage. You can use SEO tools to ensure proper SEO use and success with all your law firm marketing strategies

Pay-per-click (PPC)

An online paid advertising model, pay-per-click (PPC) lets advertisers set a particular monetary amount they want to pay every time a visitor clicks on one of their advertisements. PPC is a great tool in the arsenal of law firm marketing strategies to try.

Return on investment (ROI)

The return on investment (ROI) is a useful performance metric that businesses use when marketing. If you want to grow your law firm and ensure it becomes profitable then you’ll want to familiarize yourself with your ROI so you can make sure you are getting good return on the marketing investments, you have made when launching your law firm marketing strategies

Easy steps for marketing your law firm

Let’s explore the easy law firm marketing strategies that will set you up for success. We have covered the importance of budget and familiarizing yourself with the various marketing terms, now it's time to take the leap and start a real marketing push.

1. Construct a law firm website

In the digital era, constructing a website is a common occurrence for most businesses. However, building a well-designed law firm website that will enable you to successfully market your firm takes time and skill. Remember, the site is a potential client’s first impression of your firm. When laying out your law firm marketing strategies, you’ll want to pay particular attention to every aspect of the design.

• Design the site using quality photographs.
• Clearly state the services you provide.
• Outline your practice areas.
• Highlight any awards and recognitions.
• List your experience.
• Feature an easy to find CTA with complete content information.

When designing a law firm website, you do not want to miss any of the key components needed to create a high quality and high converting website. Ideally, you should hire an expert to build and maintain your site. Hiring a skilled designer should be allotted in your marketing budget and should not be something you skimp on. In fact, it is one of the most important cornerstones of every one of your law firm marketing strategies.

2. SEO optimized website

Not only should the website be pleasing to the eye and easy to navigate but it should also be SEO optimized for success. Remember, even a website that is visually outstanding is useless if it receives no traffic. The key to traffic is SEO for lawyers. Your website must gain first page recognition by the search engines to pull in traffic or all your law firm marketing strategies will be worthless.When would-be clients search for a local law firm, they will rarely go to the second page of the search results before they start making phone calls or sending out online queries. You must make sure you are on that first page to pull in the traffic and increase conversions.Your website must contain useful information that people look for when performing a search. The site should contain not only keywords such as ‘lawyer’ but also long tail keywords like ‘lawyers in San Diego, California.’ Long tail keywords give you an edge to compete locally and against all your competitors.When attracting potential clients, you’ll need to set up a Google Business listing that offers a concise description of your services along with your firm’s contact information. Google is always a key component of your law firm marketing strategies.

3. Set up free online profiles

Just because something is free does not mean it holds little or no value. Your website is a crucial way that clients will find your law firm online but there are other ways people will also locate your firm’s information which will bolster your law firm marketing strategies.Review sites are hot right now.

• Yelp: Most people have a Yelp profile and extensively use it to read reviews so don’t miss the opportunity of using the crucial site to your advantage.
• State Bar: You’ll also want to make sure your firm comes up in the local state bar listing.
• Avvo: Avvo is another area where it's beneficial for your firm to show up.
• Justia: Justia
• Yellow Pages: YP.com

Discuss potential online sources when planning your law firm marketing strategies.

4. The power of social media

Social media is king in the digital era. It packs a lot of power and influence. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn are just a few of the powerhouses that you won’t want to overlook. Without a doubt, social media advertising can have a dramatic impact on your branding potential and your firm’s success. Best of all, it takes only a minimal investment and amount of time to make full use of social media to your advantage.Law firm marketing strategies must focus on creating a law firm LinkedIn page, Facebook profile and Facebook advertising campaign to create a position of authority and attract new clients. Your social media presence should make you stand out against your competition and peers. It is imperative that you set aside time and a budget for social media when devising your law firm marketing strategies.

5. Create a blog

On your law firm’s website, you should also have a blog that you keep fresh and updated. The blog is a form of content marketing that helps build both your brand and authority. It is an essential part of your law firm marketing strategies.The content that you publish showcases your firm’s expertise, provides valuable answers to ordinary questions that most clients have, forms trust, and is also excellent for SEO to drive traffic to your website. Plus, you can use the blogs in your social media digital marketing campaign by sharing them with your followers. Law firm marketing strategies work well when combined with blog posts, articles, and other SEO content.Every time you share a blog post, encourage your followers to also pass on the information with their followers or to comment. It’s a terrific way to build an even greater following.You’ll want to fill your blog with legal-related evergreen content that is useful to the reader. In addition, the Google algorithm looks for SEO proficient blog content that is authoritative so the content will help push your website even higher in web search results.SEO is important but providing knowledgeable content is even more crucial. Keyword stuffing should always be avoided, or it can actually do more harm than good.The content you post on your website must let the readers know you are an authority. It should inspire trust in your law firm.

6. The power of online reviews

Once you have created an online presence with complete profiles then clients will start to leave reviews of your firm. When going over your law firm marketing strategies, always take the time to read reviews and brainstorm about why you might have a negative one. There is always room for improvement. Reviews are critical.In a 2019 Legal Trends Report, it was found that would-be legal clients carry out a great deal of research when hunting for a law firm and one of the integral places they start is with reviews. A few negative reviews might not hurt but if you have an ongoing string of complaints then clients might start to avoid your firm.Successful law firm marketing strategies always factor in the importance of reviews. Ask for an online review with every case if your client has expressed satisfaction with your firm’s performance. If you receive a negative review, do not ignore it. Try to respond to the client’s feedback in a positive way.

7. Take the time to network and develop your firm’s business

Attending local bar and networking events is a terrific opportunity to engage in conversations and build your brand. You can also generate referral leads. Fellow attorneys who refer to your firm are a wonderful way to develop your business and experience revenue growth. You might even want to meet with them to discuss law firm marketing strategies and examine their success.You’ll want to construct a referral relationship with other area law firms. At such events, spend the time to shake hands and mingle with your fellow lawyers. You should also attend community events to meet with potential clients.Even though it seems like digital marketing dominates, old-school networking that involves meeting with others face to face remains effective and successful in all aspects of law firm marketing strategies. Pass out business cards, give away pens, and offer ample smiles to make an impression.

8. Traditional marketing potential

The best law firm marketing strategies still use some traditional marketing tactics. Billboard ads can appeal to would-be clients, especially in metropolitan areas where they gain high exposure. Radio and television advertisements cannot be overlooked either.Despite the use of traditional marketing techniques, most would-be clients will also conduct an online search to truly evaluate your firm, so having a powerful online presence and a professional website are crucial.

9. Measuring ROI in law firm marketing strategies

To succeed, law firm marketing strategies must continue to measure their effectiveness with their return on investment. If you do not monitor the RO, then you’ll have no idea if your marketing is a success or failure.You’ll want to focus on law firm marketing strategies and tactics that are successful and discard or refine ones that are not performing well. If one marketing strategy is failing, then you might want to reinvest in a new method.Law firm data analytics help you stay on top of your ROI so you can track your law firm’s digital marketing efforts and look at website tracking. You’ll want to discover how many people visit your website and how long they stayed before navigating away.[oxygen-template id="6132"]

Common marketing problems law firms face

A hundred years ago, all an attorney had to do was hang a name plaque on their business door and wait for clients to walk in. However, times have changed. Nowadays, the key to a successful firm is effective marketing methods to form a visible practice. Using law firm marketing strategies paves the way to success.Any active law firm should focus on a mixture of networking, referrals, and marketing. To short-change any of these cornerstones might lead to problems that will cost you clients, time, and money. It is imperative that you sit down with your legal team to go over law firm marketing strategies that work.

Shortchanging time allotment

Law firm marketing strategies require time for success. Ideally, you should set aside at least two hundred hours every year for marketing which works out to around four hours every week. Honestly, that’s not a substantial amount of time considering the benefits you will reap.Try to plan when your group meets to go over the law firm marketing strategies. Every week so you can dedicate the minimum amount of time to marketing. If you start shortchanging your marketing hours, then the entire campaign might crumble. Even the best devised law firm marketing strategies fail if there is not adequate time set aside.

Failing to reach your target audience

If you do not accurately reach your target audience then your advertising and marketing efforts become a colossal waste of time. It is imperative that you carefully analyze your target audience so you can hone your marketing efforts to ensure effectiveness. Every satisfied client will also become a strong advocate and referral for future clients. Make sure to take note of customer satisfaction when going over your law firm marketing strategies.

Lack of analysis or law firm marketing strategies

With successful law firm marketing strategies, a great deal of analysis takes place to measure both success and failure of the campaign. You need a baseline to see which specific actions are showing results. If some efforts are lagging with results, you still do not want to scrap them. Accurate analysis gives you a window into the future potential of your efforts, so you know if your law firm marketing strategies work.Metrics to regularly analysis while meeting to discuss your law firm marketing strategies include:

• Analytics that show the click through rate on your website.
• Placement of your articles/blog posts.
• Review monitoring to determine client satisfaction.
• Open rate on your emails.
• Business and seminar success.

Failing to meet content quality standards

Yes, there is a push to regularly publish content/blog posts on your website but quality counts. Keyword stuffing and content that offers no real value can all negatively impact your website, readers, and Google ranking. It is imperative that you provide insightful, useful, and well-written content that remains evergreen in most situations. Law firm marketing strategies must be fresh but also stay current month after month.

Poor website design

Website design is one of the most important aspects of a successful law firm marketing campaign. The online venue is a valuable public relations tool that promotes your firms and reputation’s skills. If it contains errors or is lackluster then would-be clients might think that your firm lacks the skill and knowledge needed to handle their legal issues.Your website remains your law firm’s marketing image and a powerful platform. The site gives you the chance to firmly place yourself as an expert in your field and launch your law firm marketing strategies to even greater heights.A clever design is crucial. It should be easy to navigate and match your firm’s brand. Law firms with exceptional web designs tend to have an uncomplicated design that is engaging, readable, and informative.On your website, visitors should easily find what they are seeking without ever having to leave the home page. Tabs should clearly show where on the site the visitor can navigate to find specific information. When planning your law firm marketing strategies always think about ease of use.There should always be a clear call to action (contact us) section. Visitors should never have to hunt for how to reach out to your law firm or they might grow frustrated and leave the page. Part of successful law firm marketing strategies is putting yourself in the place of your client to determine how easy or difficult something might prove.

Failure to create a clear marketing message

A common marketing problem that plagues even the best laid-out law firm marketing strategies remains the failure to create a concise or good marketing message. A lukewarm message will set the entire campaign up for failure.It is imperative to have a firm foundation to build upon and the message remains the most critical. Clients are not drawn to half-hearted attempts and will automatically think that your lack of enthusiasm is a sign of how you oversee your cases and clients.

Unsuccessful business development

If you are not a marketing professional, then you might think that marketing is simple advertising. You just need to get the word out about your practice. Such misconceptions lead to law firm marketing strategies with big problems.Business development plays an integral role in marketing. Build your reputation and display your references with clients who trust your firm. Clients who give you glowing reviews will send future business your way and your law firm marketing strategies will shine.Stay intune to current issues within your law firm's field of practice when going over your law firm marketing strategies. Avoid falling behind on breaking news. Always discuss current events when going over your law firm marketing strategies to brainstorm ideas.A business development plan is part of your law firm marketing strategies. It allows you to measure things by keeping track of every part of your business that you hope to grow. You can determine how many times you have reached out to a client, collaborated with them, sent them emails, newsletters, or other notifications. Marketing automation for law firms can prove indispensable with such tasks by effortlessly letting you track everything, so you never miss a beat.

Improperly using social media

Having only a website is not enough. Successful law firm marketing strategies require a strong social media presence. Prospective clients will not only want to view your website but also look for your firm on social media. It is imperative that all businesses have a Facebook page, Twitter account, LinkedIn, and Instagram account. Even a YouTube channel can prove beneficial.Social media has dramatically changed the marketing landscape. It gives you a platform where followers can hear your ‘voice’ and you can build lasting relationships. Social media has become a crucial component of branding and any firm that overlooks its importance will face future marketing challenges. Law firm marketing strategies must encompass social media or miss a gold mine.Give your firm a voice and personality by having conversations with potential clients and using the free platform to reach further than ever previously imagined. Law firm marketing strategies are always about imagination and putting your firm out there by developing social media branding.

Overlooking mobile technology in law firm marketing strategies

Nowadays, everyone has a phone in their hand. Most people use their mobile device more frequently than their computer. It has become essential that every part of a business’ online presence offers mobile compatibility. Mobile searches far exceed those carried out on a computer, especially when someone is looking for a local business to contact.A study carried out by the U.S. Consumer Legal Needs Survey 2014 by FindLaw found that 38 percent of people use the internet to find an attorney and an additional 74 percent will go on to contact the office using their mobile phone after finding the law firm online.Law firm marketing strategies often overlook mobile technology which is a mistake you want to avoid.

Taking on too much

Law firm marketing strategies are time consuming, and it is easy to feel overwhelmed, especially if you are a solo firm trying to handle everything yourself. If you take on too much, then you can quickly become forgetful and lose sight of what is working and what is not. You always want to stay focused with your law firm marketing strategies.You’ll want to investigate your advertising options such as pay-per-click plans, stay up to date with social media, keep your website fresh, launch email campaigns and create a newsletter. In addition, you will need to monitor all analytics to see if your marketing ambitions are paying off. Investing in law firm reporting software will definitely help and be a wise investment to save you time and prevent you from taking on too much. When planning your law firm marketing strategies, look at how automation will save your time which equals money.

What is marketing automation for law firms?

Law firm marketing strategies are complicated and time consuming, but marketing automation lets you effortlessly stay ahead of the competition. The latest technology law firm CRM tackles a variety of marketing tasks such as email, social media, and lead generation with ease.Automation software streamlines the entire client communication process so your firm can experience rapid growth by delivering the right messages at the proper time to the correct leads. In addition, the automation platforms provide you with indispensable data tools that provide you with valuable insight into potential client’s news and behaviors.You can take the insights gained with marketing automation to formulate actionable steps that allow you to take real control of your law firm marketing strategies every step of the way.Initial outreach remains an important stage of formulating a client relationship. Leads render first impressions so your first contact with a potential client should provide personalization and relevance. With automation, you won’t miss a beat when it comes to communication. You can work it into all your law firm marketing strategies.[oxygen-template id="6129"]

The benefits of marketing automation for law firms

Let’s examine how law firm marketing strategies and automation work together like a well-oiled machine.

Data collection in law firm marketing strategies

Law firm marketing strategies and automation tools collect and record data about your users’ behavior. Using the information, you can manage your contact lists, plan different actions, and follow up needed with active prospects. You don’t have to worry about wasting time or resources chasing a lead that might prove futile. Pair this automation reward with a client intake strategy for even greater success when carrying out your law firm marketing strategies.

Customize your alerts

CRM for lawyers lets you customize automated alerts, so you never forget to follow up with a lead after you make an initial contact such as sending the first email. Set an automated reminder to reach out to a contact after a specific number of days. All law firm marketing strategies keep track of contacts via alerts.

Enhance social media

Automation tools let you enhance certain actions on social media platforms, so you don’t have to carry out the tedious tasks. When publishing a recent blog post on your website, use automation to schedule a corresponding social media post to go live at a designated time. The automation tools further analyze the post’s performance to determine its success and see where your law firm marketing strategies are taking you.

Paid advertising as a part of law firm marketing strategies

Law firm automation tools let you adjust real time bids for pay-per-click (PPC) marketing using facts. Also, the system provides keywords and dynamic ad advice so you can personalize your message and improve your scores and click through rates to make your law firm marketing strategies affordable and attainable.

Enhanced communication

Many people think that automation means creating mass produced communications such as emails with every little personalization. However, automation tools provide customization options using innovative artificial intelligence. They help with law firm marketing strategies and pave the way for innovative ideas.Quickly segment your clients into categories based on their user behavior and geographic location. You can then create customized messages based on the user’s social media clicks, downloads, and email opens. Personalize messages based on the user’s geographic location (a valuable tool if you have law firms in multiple areas). Location pinpointing is crucial for law firm marketing strategies.Marketing automation for law firms lets you segment your leads, personalize your communications, and truly reach each client or potential client to provide the information they seek. Law firm marketing strategies have never been more achievable.

Saves your law firm time

Legal professionals are always busy and under constant pressure. The last thing they want to do is focus on law firm marketing strategies that prove time consuming and exhausting. With automation in law firms, certain tasks become less difficult.You can set up automation actions for the following:

• Emails: Send emails with links requesting case evaluations and reviews. You can also create email campaigns for all your law firm marketing strategies.
• Social media: Keep your social media fresh.
• Newsletters: Launch newsletters on-time every week or month to a tailored email list.
• FAQs: Let automation answer FAQs for clients and for your law firm marketing strategies.
• Updates: Reach out for updates from clients.
• Surveys: Launch surveys to see the firm’s performance with important case milestones.

The above list are just a few perks of marketing automation for law firms. Clearly you will save countless hours while improving your bottom line using the software. Not to mention, free up valuable time. The best law firm marketing strategies always save time when coupled with automation.

Tips for using marketing automation for law firms

Marketing automation for law firms helps put you in the lead and keep you there. Use it to cultivate and reach out to prospects, gain clients, educate, increase engagement, garner greater returns, keep your clientele, and create brand awareness. Law firm marketing strategies can rely heavily on automation to achieve their goals.Here are tips on how you can use marketing automation along with law firm marketing strategies to modernize your firm and wow your clients.

• With automation, you can track every interaction that a potential client has with your website and then analyze the data so you can truly devise an effective marketing campaign. Automation quickly becomes the backbone of your law firm marketing strategies.

• Utilize the performance indicators to discover your return on investment (ROI), conversion rate, and cost per lead. The software lets you track what visitors do on your website, evaluate advertising campaigns, oversee social media, and use public relations outreach services as a part of your law firm marketing strategies.

• All the data compiled becomes valuable to learn how to get people's attention and encourage them to contact your firm when they require legal services. You can fine tune additional law firm marketing strategies, so you never miss a beat.

• Using marketing automation lets you know exactly where your money is going and lets you determine if you want to spend additional funds on advertising. If you do decide to expand your budget then you can pinpoint the best use of your funds such as beefing up your website’s content, launching an email campaign, sending out newsletters, or escalating your digital marketing reach with your law firm marketing strategies.

• Customize all your digital intake forms and use legal document automation to save time. You can also utilize electronic signature for legal documents to truly embrace the benefits of technology.

• Setup dynamic email workflows for all your law firm marketing strategies

Choosing the right marketing automation software for law firms

The goal of any law firm marketing plan is to grow your practice and extend your reach. A legal CRM system gives you the power you need when you need it. Anyone with basic computer skills can operate the software so it does the leg work needed for your marketing efforts and you can focus on the needs of your clients. Scale your business and push client engagement with ease.With Lawmatics software, you can even use workflow automation for law firms which tackles simple but time-consuming tasks. Use step-by-step templates, create visual pathways, send out follow-up messages and more with legal client intake software. You will connect with clients every step of their journey when carrying out your law firm marketing strategies.With legal CRM, you can effectively increase sales and expand your firm without manually having to tackle each task. Systemize client intake so your firm saves money on operating costs. Law firm marketing ideas polished by full automation can truly take your firm to the next level and beyond.If you are ready to embrace state-of-the-art automation software for law firms then check out Lawmatics when outlining your law firm marketing strategies.Lawmatics offers law firm CRM for attorneys who want to take their firms to the next level by entering the modern era. The software solutions are easy to use and powerful. The automation system takes care of everything from the initial first contact all the way through becoming an established client to ensure your law firm marketing strategies succeed.Contact us to learn more about our legal automation software. Lawmatics CRM lets you make all your law firm marketing strategies a reality.

A career as a lawyer is one of the most coveted occupations there are. Beside the opportunity to help people, becoming an attorney offers unique flexibility, huge earning potential, and diverse selection of practice areas to choose from. Because of the rewards that come along with a career in law, it’s no big mystery why the ambitious decide to take the path to become a lawyer. However, along with all the perks can also come a considerable number of challenges. Going to law school with the intention of starting your own law firm requires undertaking a tremendous commitment. Although the end result can be rewarding, anyone looking to become an attorney has their work cut out for them—to put it lightly.The reality is that many lawyers spend very little time in an actual courtroom, and often more time taking care of the administrative tasks that it takes to keep a practice going. Statistically, lawyers spend over 50% of their work week on tasks they’re not even paid for, like sending out marketing emails and following up with potential clients.The great news is that lawyers' workloads can be significantly reduced thanks to the help of legal software. As legal technology continues to advance, the more that lawyers can leverage these tools to efficiently handle their workload. The client intake process in particular is one of the most time consuming aspects of a lawyer's job. Provide a five star client intake process that’s thoughtful and thorough and you’ll successfully convert prospects— provide a careless client intake process full of holes, and you’ll lose business. It’s that simple.With so much going on in a lawyer's schedule, it can be difficult to give each client the attention it takes to please them. Every client wants to feel like they're your only client, and let's be honest, with so much on a lawyer's plate, it's impossible to give each client five star service on their own. The only way to give the kind of service it takes to delight and engage clients from start to finish is to automate with client intake software.Unfortunately, this is where many law firms get it wrong. In an effort to save money they avoid investing in tools like law firm CRM and attorney intake software. Yet in reality, client intake software like Lawmatics saves lawyers so much time that they’re actually losing money by not automating. Here are some of the challenges that you may be facing in your own practice and how automating with client intake software can be a game changer.

1. Law school doesn’t teach you
how to run a business

Law school teaches you all that you need to know about practicing law. From legal methods, to civil procedures, to legal writing, you learn everything you need to know to be an effective lawyer — except one major component that will determine the success of starting your own practice: how to run it like a business. Despite being technically trained to be a lawyer, that alone won’t find you clients. The only way to stand out in a sea of competing law firms and differentiate yourself from the other options is to start thinking like a CEO. The truth is that lawyers aren't just lawyers, they’re also salespeople.Manually marketing your law firm and following up with potential leads eats up a considerable amount of hours. Using law firm client intake software can streamline and automate your process, so you can turn your attention towards what you went to law school to do— practice law.When you start thinking like a business person, you realize that focusing your time and energy on profit-generating tasks is the most effective way to grow your practice. Turning to legal client intake software to automate processes can save you hours per week that you would have lost on administrative tasks.

2. Long manual processes

From responding to a lead's initial inquiries to scheduling appointments and sending and receiving agreements, manual processes take up countless amounts of hours to get done. Most of these administrative tasks are tedious, lengthy, and often risk being full of errors.Legal document automation software shaves off hours of your day with quick and easy document assembly that would take substantially more time to generate manually. Not only is the actual document creation simplified, and automated, but client intake software also eliminates unnecessary back and forth to get important forms signed by the client. Lawyers can easily send important paperwork to their clients who can sign from wherever they are thanks to a client e-signature tool. Paperwork that would have taken hours to days to get done is done with a few clicks, giving lawyers more time to turn their attention towards what matters most in their practice.Turning to client intake software can fill the gaps in your processes, doing them for you, so that your staff never feels like they’re gasping for air to keep up with it all. Automation saves hours a day, and doesn't just make things easier for your team, but also improves client satisfaction. Tools like SMS for law firms, automatic follow-ups, and the ability to self-schedule appointments makes your clients feel connected to you every step of the way. Thanks to automation in law firms, you can easily handle more business, because automation takes care of most of your client intake for you.In short, instead of drawn-out manual processes taking up all of your law firm's time, you can focus your energy on revenue-driving tasks and become more profitable. Best of all, automation allows you to personalize your responses so that your clients feel like they're connected to you and engaged every step of the way.

3. Competing law firms

Statistics show that over half of Google users use it to search for businesses. More and more law firms are starting to catch on to the fact that Google is one of their most important tools for convincing potential clients that you're the right law firm for the job. The truth is that you can be the best, most undefeated, and client-focused lawyer in your area, but if Google doesn't show you in the top search results, then people will go wherever the search engine is telling them to go.The best way to stand out against competing law firms is to execute the right marketing strategies. Even though the main part of your job is winning clients' cases, your job is also to market yourself. Finding and retaining clients is all about developing a law firm marketing strategy paired with tools like client intake software. From building a presence on social media to optimizing your website for SEO to blogging, the idea is to bring in leads. Once you have a steady stream of leads coming in, it's critical that you have an effective intake process to ensure a successful client conversion rate. Without client intake software, it can be difficult to prioritize finding time to manually follow up with leads when you already have paying clients who require your time.Client intake software doesn't just automatically follow up for you, increasing your chance of converting a lead into a paying client, but it also tracks each lead and tells you what actions need to be taken next. Surprisingly, nearly 30% of law firms don't track their leads at all. If you hope to stand a chance against the competition and ensure that your name comes up first in Google search results, you have to prioritize getting back to clients as soon as possible.Client intake software is your all-in-one solution for reducing your response time, eliminating the risk of leads falling through the cracks, and in turn improving your online reputation and making Google your best friend. Incorporating client intake software means you can rely on automation to do your marketing for you, so you have more time to focus on what matters most— your clients.

4. Long hours

Lawyers are no strangers to hefty workloads, and the smaller their practice is, the less staff they have to delegate all of the work it takes to keep their law firm running. Many lawyers work over sixty hours a week and as a result, many of them find themselves struggling to find a healthy work-life balance. As much as lawyers may seem like superhumans sometimes, the truth is they’re plain old mortals who require free time just as much as anyone else.A recent study revealed that due to the long hours and demanding workload, legal professionals have some of the highest rates of mental health disorders. It also revealed that a shocking 28% of lawyers suffer from depression, 19% suffer from severe anxiety, and over 10% of the lawyers surveyed had experienced suicidal thoughts that year.These statistics paint a startling yet accurate picture of the enormous stress that lawyers are under. The question then becomes, how can lawyers lighten their workload, and improve their mental well-being as a result? The answer lies in leveraging technology to reduce the pressure.Manual processes aren't just standing in the way of law firms' opportunity for growth, but also standing in the way of many lawyers' mental health. Using the right tools reduces tedious tasks, and makes your practice more efficient for less work. The end result is a greater quality of life, and more revenue— what more could you ask for?

5. Balancing potential clients
with paying clients

One of the biggest complaints that legal clients have about their lawyers is a lack of communication. Statistics show that two law firms as a whole have a remarkably low response rate, with as little as 30% answering the phone in a recent study. From a prospect's point of view, it's downright infuriating not to get a response back when you're looking for a lawyer. Yet, from a lawyer's point of view, it can feel downright impossible to prioritize getting back to leads when they have paying clients to focus their attention on.Many solo practitioners don't have the luxury of a front desk staff to get back to leads, so with all of the administrative tasks coupled with handling their clients' cases, it's easy for lawyers to have to prioritize paying clients over following up with leads.The debacle then becomes the fact that a steady stream of leads is how you build your practice. The only way that you can hope to succeed in attracting, retaining and delighting clients is with an effective client intake process. The most successful law firms regardless of their size rely on client intake software to follow up on their leads for them to ensure no opportunity gets missed.Automation ensures that clients get responded to quickly, and efficiently, from the first phone call to signing a retainer agreement. Client intake software like Lawmatics allows you to personalize your automations, and trigger certain responses based on your preferences. Perhaps when signs up for your newsletter, drip campaigns for law firms will send them an automated follow-up giving a little more information about your law firm. Or perhaps your client schedules a confirmation, client intake software will send an automated reminder significantly reducing the risk of client no shows resulting in lost time.Automation is the only way to prioritize leads and clients equally without having to sacrifice one for the other.[oxygen-template id="6131"]

Save time, cut costs, and drive growth with Lawmatics client intake software

It takes a team effort to build a thriving law firm, yet a team can only do so much with the resources that they have. The fewer employees that a law firm has, the more difficult it can be to follow up with every inquiry. A client intake solution like Lawmatics means automating your business and making it more efficient so your team can focus on staying connected with clients while automation handles your leads.From automated email workflows for law firms to sending out fee agreements and getting them signed thanks to electronic signature for legal documents, automation makes it possible to take on more business for a fraction of the work. You can seamlessly move your leads through each stage of the client journey with custom automation that offers a tailored experience that leaves a positive impression. Why over complicate your client intake process when you could leave it to technology to do it for you? The reality is that most challenges faced by law firms can be easily handled with Lawmatics.Are you ready to see how you can win more business, and impress your clients with the help of Lawmatics? Sign up for a free product demo today!

Comparing your own practice to the most successful law firms in your area can leave you wondering what their secret is. Maybe they have better connections, maybe they know some SEO tricks that you don’t, or maybe they put something extra in their coffee— whatever it is, they’re doing something right. It can be baffling to see other law firms in your area appear first on Google search results, while you struggle just to make it on the first page.While it may seem like the recipe for success is some sort of secret enigma, the truth is the answer isn't as mysterious as you might think. Just like Dorothy realizes she had the way back to Kansas the entire time, the secret to scaling your law firm is right under your nose and you don’t even know it.If you’re feeling like you’re run down and burned out trying to keep up with it all, you’re not alone. Statistics show that attorneys are some of the most stressed-out people on the planet due to the long hours and exigent workloads.The great news for worn-out lawyers is that it doesn’t have to be this way. Stop working harder and start working smarter by clicking your heels three times with these secrets to success.

Value time as money

The most successful law firms value time as money, so they don’t throw it away frivolously and are constantly looking for ways to gain more time. One of the most laborious pieces of a lawyer’s job is the client intake process. Onboarding new clients is tedious, and getting back to every inquiry your law firm receives either by phone call, legal client intake form, or email can feel impossible to stay on top of. A recent study showed that on average, law firms take over 3 days to respond to a message from a potential client. Since response time plays such a critical role in a client choosing your firm over another, leads need to be followed up with as soon as possible. Making a great first impression from day one means a timely response.Yet, with all of the administrative tasks, consultations, and hearings, there simply aren’t enough hours in a day. So, how are the most successful law firms keeping up with it all and maintaining five-star reputations? They rely on client intake software to automate for them.Instead of manually taking each prospect's information and inputting it into your system, client intake software inputs it into your law firm CRM for you. From the moment a contact is entered into your system, they are meticulously tracked and automatically followed up with, shaving off hours a week that you can dedicate instead to what matters most in your firm.Another time-consuming element of running a firm is creating complex legal documents that can take hours to days to complete. With legal document automation, you can assemble an attorney-client agreement with a few clicks by autofilling directly from your database. That means you can hand over client and attorney-client agreement directly after a consultation sparing yourself even more time.Clients can easily sign contracts from wherever they are thanks to tools like an client e-signature tool which eliminates the need for printing and scanning. not only is it a time-saver, but it also eliminates the risk of human error that comes along with manually generating documents.The more that you start to value time as money, the more time you will dedicate to what matters most in your practice.

Build your brand

If there's one thing that the pandemic taught us it's that businesses had to be adaptable to stand the test of adverse times. Social distancing measures forced lawyers to change the way they do business, most importantly, change the way that they found clients — online. Yet with so many firms competing for Google’s attention, it's important that you know the right ways to differentiate yourself. Building your brand is critical for standing out to potential clients, and shining on Google.Besides methods like establishing themselves on social media, and optimizing their website for SEO, the most successful firms know that the most efficient way to increase your brand’s visibility is to rely on automated marketing. Law firm client intake software streamlines your marketing and puts it on autopilot so you can turn your attention towards profit-generating tasks.Letting automation handle your marketing allows you to customize what goes out to who at what time based on triggers of your choosing. Automation tools like audience segmentation software target specific audiences based on characteristics, making them more likely to open the message. Rather than an all-in-one marketing approach, you can establish your brand by appealing to the right audience with a personalized delivery that creates brand loyalty.Whether you're welcoming a new client or sending out a happy birthday message to a prior client, personalized messaging makes you memorable and keeps you top of mind for standing out as a law firm. Whether you’re a solo practitioner or a mid-sized firm, automated drip email marketing like Lawmatics gives your firms’ marketing a "big company feel" and establishes your firm as a modern and polished brand.

Know what's working — and what isn’t

The most efficient law firms know that there is always room for improvement. There are constantly new opportunities for growth, and more places to find even more profitable clients. Although data is relatively new in the legal world, it's been around for quite some time in the business world. Legal reporting software makes it possible to track your productivity and see where the majority of your time is going. Identifying your weak points can help you make changes where necessary, and implement better time management.Seeing your current client intake process from a bird's eye view helps you identify where your best clients are coming from, so you can turn your attention more towards those sources. A data-driven approach to client intake with goal tracking for law firms is essential for identifying holes in your practice and making improvements where it counts most.Success starts with identifying what your goals are and tracking them with law firm reporting software. Lawmatics client intake software comes with built-in legal data analytics so you can easily set new goals and track them, helping you stay on top of your objectives. The right software makes it easy to read your data, providing the tools to improve your law firm's efficiency and take control where it matters most.

Make your clients feel connected to you

One of the most common complaints about lawyers is poor communication. Clients want to be updated on their cases without having to play phone tag. Leaving your client waiting around for your phone call for an update will quickly frustrate them and result in a poor reputation.Yet with so much on lawyers' plates, it's hardly reasonable to expect lawyers to get back to every client as soon as possible. The only way to make clients feel connected to you every step of the way is to rely on client intake software to automate your follow-up for you. Client intake software gives your clients direct access to you, whether by SMS for law firms, email, or scheduling an appointment themselves, making them feel like they’re talking to you every day when in reality, it’s the power of automation.Getting your clients great results in their case is important, but believe it or not, it's not all that goes into A positive customer experience. Believe it or not, there are plenty of clients out there who are thrilled with their lawyers despite not having gotten them the best outcome for their case. it all comes down to the client journey. If you can provide a positive experience for your client from the minute they first contact your firm all the way to the end of their case, you will successfully have delighted your clients.The key to client delight is making them feel valued and acknowledged every step of the way. Each stage of the client journey is an opportunity to engage and delight. Workflow automation for law firms can help you deliver a powerful client experience that makes each client feel like they're your only client.

Stop tolerating no-shows

We've already gone over how time equals money, so it goes without saying that losing time on client no-shows is a huge waste of resources. One of the biggest causes for client no-shows is a lack of a systematic client intake process. Software like Lawmatics makes consultation scheduling easy from the first step. While manual appointment scheduling involves a lot of emails back and forth trying to find the best time that works for everyone’s schedule, Lawmatics automated appointment scheduling allows your clients to do it themselves.It’s easy to schedule their own consultations by selecting the time and date that works best for them. It's as simple as sending them a link to your schedule that shows only the dates and times that you want them to see. Not only does it make it easy for clients to schedule themselves without the hassle of lengthy back and forth, but automation sends out reminders to you and the client, making sure that no one forgets the important event. Just say no to losing time that could have been spent on something more valuable.

Prioritize referrals

Referrals are one of the greatest tools you have for generating new business. So, make it easy for your clients to refer you to their friends and family!The client journey is broken up into three phases: intake, active matter, and former client. There is a considerable amount of client attention surrounding the first two stages, yet by the third stage the majority of law firms taper off.Unfortunately, what these law firms don't realize is that 75% of law firms' business comes from referrals. Don’t stop the relationship once the case is closed or you’ll be overlooking a huge opportunity for growth.Just because your client's case is closed doesn't mean you shouldn't continue to engage them. Continue to send out law firm marketing materials, send them a happy birthday message, or send them updates about changes in your law firm. The idea is to stay in their minds so the next time they have a friend or family member looking for legal services, you come to mind first.Beyond client referrals, you should also look for referral opportunities with other businesses. Start thinking like a CEO and consider what sort of businesses may be a great source for finding clients. Identify who and where your ideal client is, and figure out how you can network and build relationships with the businesses they go to. The more you start to think like a business person, and not just like a lawyer, the more you start to value the importance of referral through networking. There’s no such thing as too much visibility for your law firm. Get out there and rub shoulders with everyone — you never know who your next client could be!

Prioritize the best, and automate the rest with Lawmatics

Lawmatics platform automates the entire client intake process making your clients feel like you’re connected to them every step of the way. Not only is time money, but time is also freedom. The more you can automate, the more you’ll free up your schedule for what matters most in your practice. The more you have the freedom to turn your energy towards your clients, the closer you’ll be to building a five star reputation that Google lists on top.Stop running your practice through tedious manual processes like spreadsheets and email back and forths that eat up your time and resources, and start seeing every minute as valuable.

"Double down on what you’re best at and automate the rest."

— Jordan Ostroff

Making the switch to law firm client intake software will save you so much money and time that you're actually losing money by not automating. Best of all, Lawmatics can save you time in multiple areas - from document automation to time and billing software.Are you ready to see how Lawmatics legal CRM system and attorney intake software can help you scale your law firm by driving new and repeat business? Sign up for a free product demo today!

So, you know how to fervently defend your clients in a courtroom and you can draft up complex legal documents with your eyes closed— but do you know how to get a buzz going on social media?If you thought social media was just for filters that shoot rainbows out of your mouth and posting photos of your lunch, think again. With over 4.2 billion active social media users, smart marketers know that a presence on social media should be a critical part of any marketing strategy. On average, social media users spend approximately 2 hours a day online, so that window of time is your big chance to be seen. Surveys show that more and more lawyers are including social media as a part of their marketing strategy.However, having a presence on social media alone isn’t enough. In order to leverage its full power, you’ll need to build a following by producing the right social media content for law firms.

Why social media is a must for law firms

It’s an opportunity to connectwith your target audience.

Unlike other one-sided marketing methods, social media doesn’t just offer a chance to increase your law firm’s visibility, but it uniquely offers clients an opportunity to directly communicate with their favorite companies, solidifying relationships and building trust.The first step to finding new clients is building awareness around your law firm, wherever your target audience is, and social media is where they’re at. When people get to interact with their favorite brands on social media, they feel more connected, which breeds loyalty.

You get to present yourself as an authority.

Regardless of whether you’re a lawyer or an industrial designer, your presence on social media is an opportunity to establish yourself as an expert. Presenting yourself as a thought-leader in your area of practice gives you credibility and promotes trust.Rather than simply reposting content, you should establish your opinion and point of view. Doing so gives you the upper hand with competition by standing out as an expert.

Your firm stays top of mind.

Continuous exposure breeds familiarity, which in turn encourages preference. Simply put, if you manage to stay visible to your target audience on social media, the next time they require legal services, you’ll be the first lawyer that they think of.Staying on top of mind is one of the most powerful marketing tools you can arm yourself with. If you manage to stay active and consistent on social media, you can encourage preference over other firms, and in turn, boost your sales.

Increased website traffic.

Social media is one of the most reliable ways to drive traffic to your law firm’s website. As long as you include your website address in a post, prospects can easily navigate towards your site in one simple click.The more traffic you get on your website, the more business you’ll bring in; it’s really that simple.

More leads.

Leads generate clients, and the more you can bring in, the more revenue you’ll produce. With billions of active users on social media, you’re casting a wide net on potential clients who may be looking for exactly what you offer.

Increased sales.

Smart law firms know how much their sales funnel relies on their social media presence. As the amount of active social media users on platforms like Facebook continues to increase, the more people rely on social media to find goods and services.

Eliminates outdated selling techniques.

Known as social selling, establishing a presence on social media allows you to zero in on your ideal prospect and build a connection that eliminates outdated outbound selling strategies like cold calling. It’s a modern form of relationship-building that creates meaningful interactions that result in increased sales and less knocking on doors. If you manage to play your cards right, prospects come directly to you![oxygen-template id="6129"]

Best social media platforms to consider for your law firm

As more and more social media platforms emerge every day, it can get confusing knowing which ones to focus on. Rather than spreading yourself thin across every new one that comes out, it's only necessary to focus on the ones that matter most. Some social media platforms appeal more to certain target demographics. Let's take a look at some of the different options best suited for law firms and how to make the most out of each.

Facebook

If you haven't heard of Facebook, then you're probably living under a rock under a pile of leaves, in a cave…. under another rock. Simply put, Facebook is everywhere. In fact, Facebook has become as common of a household name as Google. With billions of active users, it's considered the most popular social media platform for a wide variety of demographics.Because of the wide outreach, Facebook is the best place to start targeting customers. Not only can it be very effective for getting your law firm’s name out there, but it's free! However, if you are willing to invest some of your marketing dollars, you can run Facebook ads that link to your website.The first step to getting started marketing your law firm on Facebook is to create a page. Remember, a page is not the same thing as a personal profile. You'll need to specify, but you're a business and brand rather than a community or public figure. Once you have a profile photo and a cover photo with your law firm's logo and name, you can publish, and you’ve got yourself a page. For a more detailed explanation of the setup process, check out this article.Facebook is all about creating and sharing content to spark engagement. We'll go over some of the best kinds of posts later in this article.

Instagram

The majority of law firms don't have a presence on Instagram. However, Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, has 500 million active daily users full of potential clients. It goes without saying that this is a huge opportunity for visibility and a chance to connect with a younger audience that may not be present on Facebook.Unlike Facebook, which relies heavily on text-based content sharing, Instagram is a visual sharing platform. Many people believe that Instagram is the future of social media because of its rising popularity.Although your first impression may be that it doesn’t make much sense for a law firm to rely on a visual platform, the truth is it can make sense. Instagram can be a place to give an impression of approachability to people who may otherwise be wary of lawyers. Instagram puts a human face behind your business and can be a great way to show behind-the-scenes news at your law firm. For example, you may choose to include photos of recent community involvement or even speaking at a conference. You can share humorous and relatable content and even legal tips.Before you dismiss Instagram, consider that a recent survey revealed that over 25% of lawyers use Instagram as part of their marketing strategy, and out of the top 20 law firms in the United States, over half of them have Instagram accounts. It goes without saying that Instagram can be a legitimate place to market your law firm. Here is a page with some more information on how to set up a business Instagram account.

LinkedIn

Over 80% of lawyers asked in a survey responded that they are active on LinkedIn. Because LinkedIn is an entirely business-focused social media platform, it's a favored destination for professional networking. Made strictly with businesses in mind, LinkedIn is a great way to promote yourself and build connections with other professionals. However, although it can be a great place to establish yourself professionally, it may not be the best place to find clients. LinkedIn is designed to build connections with other professionals and less designed with the intent to advertise to potential clients.Regardless, it's considered a staple for law firms to promote their credibility and achievements in their area of practice. It's a place to highlight your knowledge and authority as a lawyer.

Twitter

Twitter is a platform used to quickly get your message across in 280 characters or less known as “tweets.” Your Twitter profile consists of your handle, your username, bio, and your profile picture. Each of these comes together to represent your law firm. Twitter can be one of the most powerful tools you have for getting your message across and gaining insight about your customers. You can follow trends, get to know what your competitors are doing, and ultimately win fans through following the right strategies.Be careful, though— it's quick. You need to know the best strategies to hold your followers' attention in such a fast-paced environment. Twitter can be intimidating at first since it takes some getting used to. From abbreviations to hashtags, to trending slang, to figuring out your feed, there are many different components that go into a successful Twitter experience.Although it's one of the lesser-used platforms that lawyers use, it's still incredibly valuable and a great way to spread brand awareness by serving as a place to send out quick spurts of information. You'll need to make sure that someone is keeping an eye on your Twitter account at all times so that there are no gaps in responses. Often clients turn to Twitter to get quick customer service about their questions and concerns.

YouTube

Videos are a great way to share valuable and shareable content about your law firm. A recent survey showed that nearly 75% of people admitted purchasing a service or product based on a video, so it would be a missed opportunity not to dip into this realm of social media.YouTube, although less popular than platforms like Facebook and LinkedIn, is a fantastic tool for influencing potential clients. Video marketing can be useful for any industry; however, it can be especially useful for lawyers. One of the most popular forms of video marketing is sharing valuable tips relevant to your practice area. One idea is to create a weekly video with legal advice that gives prospects shareable and useful information free of charge.The great part about YouTube is that it hosts your videos for you, and you can easily share your embedded content with a simple link on other platforms like Facebook and Twitter.Now that you have a better idea of some of the options out there available to you, here are essential tips for leveraging social media marketing to promote your law firm, regardless of the platform.[oxygen-template id="6130"]

7 ways to leverage social media marketing for your law firm

1Create a goal

All good strategies begin with goals. Before you get started posting, establish what it is that you hope to achieve to get the best results. Having specific and measurable goals in mind will help you track whether you're making progress in your marketing strategy or not.Some goal ideas include:

Increase brand awareness

Generate more leads

Drive more website traffic

Increase sales

Gain customer insight

When you have a clear idea of where you hope to grow as a result of social media, you can fine-tune your strategy and make changes where necessary if you’re not making progress.

2Create a calendar

The first place to start is creating a social media calendar. That way, you schedule when you want to post on each social channel. Your content calendar shouldn't just include when you want to post, but it should outline what you want to post.Planning ahead simplifies your social media efforts and removes the hassle of trying to come up with a content idea spontaneously. Third-party social media tools make it easy to pre-plan your social media activity for the week or even month in one sitting so that you can focus your energy on your clients the rest of the time.You already have enough administrative tasks to worry about in your law practice— from answering emails to scheduling meetings to handling incoming inquiries; the last thing you need to add to your plate is coming up with social media content on a daily basis. Calendars keep you organized and intentional in your social media efforts. Take a look at this list of some of the best content calendar tools to choose from.

3Use hashtags and keywords

Hashtags should always be a part of your social media equation. Think of them as breadcrumbs to lead people to your profile who are organically searching for your content just like yours.Depending on the platform, you’re allowed to use up to 30 hashtags— so use them! The more hashtags that you use, the more you’ll appear in prospective clients' feeds. When choosing hashtags, make sure that they’re relevant and applicable to whatever you’re posting about. If you manage to use the right ones, you can gain considerably more outreach than you would have without.Along with useful hashtags to help people find you, also use SEO keywords. Keywords send Google searches to your page if you manage to use the right ones. Ideally, your page should be the first law page that comes up on a local search. For more tips on how to use SEO to increase your social media page’s visibility, go here.

4Engage with your audience

As Captain Jean Luc Picard says, “engage!” Unlike traditional outbound marketing methods, social media is all about engaging with your customers instead of a one-sided conversation.Interaction is an important part of keeping your audience interested in what you're posting about. So, rather than shamelessly self-promoting all the time, post content that encourages conversation. Whether it's an article that relates to your practice area or you ask a question that encourages your followers to give their opinion, the idea is to invite and inspire conversation.In addition to posting content that encourages interaction, you should also be commenting on your followers' content. When you comment on other user's content, you’re being social, which is the entire point of social media. Simply put, the more you interact, the more you'll be interacted with.

5Build a community

Rather than only focusing on building a following, go one step further and build a community. Unlike the following, a community is a group of loyal social media users who interact and share your posts. They resonate with your brand and are loyal to your page, which are the best kind of followers there are.The best way to build a following is to be authentic. Post engaging and genuine content that encourages people to interact. Rather than trying to post whatever the latest trend is, stay true to your business and brand, and people will appreciate the sincerity.The more that you can create a space but invites and encourages an exchange, the more buzz you'll gain on your page. Remember that you should always reply to comments and respond to any incoming messages since a lack of response on your part could lead to people losing interest in your page. It may feel like a lot of work, so you may want to delegate social media to someone in your office who has the time and skills. Building a social media community is like growing a garden. You can't simply plant it and walk away— it needs attention to flourish.

6Research your competitors

Part of a good marketing strategy is paying attention to what your competitors are doing. Take a look at some of your heavy-hitter competitors and get to know what they're doing on social media.

What kind of wording do they use?

What sort of content are they posting, and with what frequency?

What hashtags are they using?

What kind of keywords are they using?

Who are they following?

What kind of images are they using on their page?

What social networks are they on?

The more that you can study their every move, the more that you can build on the tactics that are already working for them and making them even better.Conducting a competitive analysis is all about identifying who you're up against. A great place to start is by searching specific keywords on Facebook that are most relevant to your law firm and seeing who comes up. That will give you a better idea of who the big names are in your industry and what you can imitate and improve about their strategy.

7Measure and evaluate your results

Smart law firms know how important it is to pay attention to the results they are yielding on their social media efforts. Even if platforms like Facebook are free to use, they still require a time investment. You want to make sure that you're putting in what you're getting out of it by evaluating your results. Tracking your return on investment is essential for ensuring your resources are being appropriately spent.Your ROI results are calculated by determining how much time was put into your social media strategy and how many new clients you received as a result of it. Tracking and measuring your social media progress is the best way to know whether you need to make changes and turn your attention towards another area of marketing. Some platforms may yield better results than others, so a data-driven approach to your social media efforts is the best way to ensure you don't waste your time where you're not yielding results.

Grow your firm with the right marketing strategies paired with the right tools

Social media is a great place to bring in more clients for your law firm. However, once you manage to gain their interest, it's important that you follow up correctly to avoid leads falling through the cracks. You’ll need to engage, retain and delight them by equipping yourself with the right tools like a robust CRM for lawyers and attorney intake software that ensures your clients have an exceptional journey from start to finish.By establishing yourself as a law firm that values a service-centered and attentive approach through tools like automation, you'll build a credible reputation for your firm, and in turn, produce more revenue.There are many other inbound marketing strategies that can help you grow your brand in addition to social media. Are you ready to see how Lawmatics can help you fine-tune your marketing strategy? Sign up for a free product demo today!

The legal services industry is a multibillion-dollar one that doesn't show any sign of slowing down. People will always need legal counsel regardless of the economic climate, which is why it's such a great industry to be in. Yet since there are so many people practicing law, it can be a competitive marketplace.It's critical that you stand out as a law firm by appealing to potential clients with modern solutions. Rather than settling for a generic legal brand and operating your firm with old-fashioned default methods, now is the moment to modernize your practice.There has never been a better time to commit to delivering an outstanding experience for your clients and shining in comparison to the competition. In 2021, the most successful firms know that the key to establishing yourself is using the right technology tools. With the right law firm client intake software, you can increase your visibility, streamline and automate lengthy tasks in a fraction of the time, and expand your firm.If you have a lower lead-to-client conversion rate than you'd like to see, then chances are it's time to start examining where you can make improvements. Usually, the first place to look is your client intake process. The client intake process is the most critical part of your client’s experience that should not be overlooked.Sadly, this is usually where most struggling law firms get it wrong. From the minute a lead first contacts a firm, they should be tracked carefully so that no opportunity gets missed. Yet, without a systematic client intake process in place with the help of technology, it's impossible to manually track every incoming contact.By knowing where every single lead stands and what actions need to be taken next, you'll have a birds eye view of your practice and total control over your customers' experience.

Where many law firms get it wrong

Slow response time

One of the biggest complaints that legal clients have about their lawyers is a lack of communication. Recent studies show that the majority of law firms have an alarmingly low response rate. As many as 60% of law firms contacted in a study didn’t respond to emails, and nearly 35% didn't even answer the phone. As a prospective client shopping around for lawyers, chances are you're not going to be very impressed by a law firm that doesn't even bother answering the phone.From a lawyer's point of view, it can get extremely challenging to get back to every single client right away, particularly if you're running a solo practice and you don't have the luxury of a front desk receptionist. With all the administrative tasks that it takes to run a practice, plus attending hearings, and conducting consultations, following up with leads can often get put on the back burner when you've got paying clients to attend to.

Lack of a systematic intake process

A systematic intake process is the only way to handle all of the incoming inquiries plus everything else that you've got going on at your law firm. The most successful firms rely on technology to follow up with their clients for them. Regardless of whether a lead contacts your law firm by phone, a legal client intake form, or sending an email, a quick follow-up is critical. The faster that you can reply to incoming inquiries, the more chances you have of converting a lead to a client, which is why client intake software is key.

Poor first impressions

So, how fast should you realistically get back to clients to make a good impression? As soon as possible! Think of it this way— every minute that you take to get back to a prospect is a minute lost that they could be turning to a competing firm. With the right attorney intake software, you can send a follow-up email immediately without having to do a thing. By setting up automated email workflows for law firms, you can trigger certain emails to go out to the right person at the right time. By setting the tone from the beginning that you're responsive and value lead's business, you’ll make a great impression.

Lack of organization

In the absence of a systematic client intake process, many law firms lose track of their leads. Because they rely on archaic systems like pen and paper to write down incoming contact information, there's no way to know whether someone's been followed up with or not. The only way to eliminate the risk of leads getting lost is to optimize your law firm with a law firm CRM. That way, a lead’s information is captured immediately and entered into a database.From that point on, your leads will be meticulously tracked and ensuring that no opportunities get missed.

Lack of effective marketing

Law school teaches you everything you need to know about being a lawyer, except one of the most important aspects of it— finding clients! Many lawyers are practicing law, but when it comes to thinking like a CEO, they're lost. Even though you're technically trained to be a lawyer, the only way to stand out to clients is to start thinking like a business person. You are a lawyer and a salesperson.A strong marketing strategy is a critical part of finding and retaining clients if you hope to meet with great success. with the help of modern legal tools like marketing automation for law firms and audience segmentation software, the more outreach your marketing efforts will have, and the more revenue you'll produce.

Lost time on manual tasks

It's no secret that lawyers are really busy people. Yet contrary to what most people believe about lawyers, the majority of their workload doesn't even come from what you might expect. In reality, lawyers spend much more time outside the courtroom than they do inside of it. Running a law practice requires a tremendous amount of administrative work that unfortunately takes up most of their workweek. With so many administrative tasks to take care of, it can get difficult to deliver a client-centered experience.The only way to stand out to your clients is to prioritize them over the administrative work. And since you can't stop doing the important administrative tasks that it takes to run your practice unless you want your practice to fall apart, you have to start adopting a tech-savvy approach to the way you do things. Automation is the only way to complete tedious processes so that you can turn your full attention towards clients and stand out from the competition.[oxygen-template id="6130"]

How to stand out to potential legal clients

Now that you have a better idea of what not to do let's examine what you should be doing to stand out to potential clients and encourage repeat business.

Know the best methods for attracting clients

There's a whole sea of potential clients out there just waiting to be found. The trick is knowing how to reach them. Even though traditional marketing methods like newsletters and paper mail may be effective for targeting certain potential clients, it doesn’t target every audience. You may see yourself as a lawyer; the truth is that if you hope to expand your practice, you’ll have to put your marketing hat on.Attracting and standing out to potential clients is all about using your resources wisely and trying out new methods to increase your outreach. Here are some effective ways to consider trying out.

Networking

Regardless of what industry you're in, networking is one of the best tools for bringing in new clients. Networking doesn't always necessarily have to be at networking events either. Sometimes finding new clients is as simple as striking up a conversation with a stranger. Remember, anyone that you come across could be a potential client. Branch out and make conversations in person and online.Consider joining Facebook groups and networking with other lawyers who are willing to refer clients to you. It's all a numbers game. The more people that you meet, the more opportunities you'll have to make a great impression.

Blogging

Nowadays, blogging is one of the best ways to attract new clients to your legal web page. Establishing an online presence starts with demonstrating yourself as an authority in your area of practice. Create shareable and buzzworthy blog posts that provide valuable information, and you’ll make Google your friend. The more that people share your content, the more that you'll stand out to potential clients as someone they'd like to hire.

Social media

Facebook and Twitter are great places to establish yourself as a law firm. The more followers and engagement that you have on your profile, the more credibility you’ll have. When potential clients see that you have a significant following, then they'll be that much more convinced that you're the right lawyer for them.

Respond immediately

It helps to put yourself in a consumer's shoes. When you reach out to a business to find out more information about their services, you expect a response. A timely response is the most effective way to get things started on the right foot right away. Not only are you increasing your chances of a lead converting to a client sooner, but you're building a solid reputation for your law firm.A few clicks around online review sites like Yelp can quickly reveal law firms that have terrible reputations for not getting back to inquiries. Standing out to potential clients means prioritizing a quick response time so that you don’t give them an opportunity to choose the competition over you.

Use automation wisely

Email automation for law firms is one of the best things that you can do for your law firm, without a doubt. However, it's important to be smart about how you use it. A generic automated message to a client that feels impersonal and unrelated to their inquiry isn't going to be as effective. However, by using a robust and intelligent client intake software for lawyers like Lawmatics, your automated messages will go out in a personalized and tailored style that engages them from one step to the next.Tools like audience segmentation software break your leads up into groups based on certain demographics of your choice. Since an all-in-one marketing strategy doesn't work for everyone, a tailored approach is the best way to follow up by engaging your potential clients in a way that feels more personal.Drip email marketing sends scheduled and targeted emails delivered on a schedule of your choice. Drip campaigns streamline your follow-ups and significantly grow your practice thanks to trigger-based features.Whether you're welcoming a client or sending a happy birthday message to a prior client, workflow automation for law firms keeps leads and clients engaged every step of the way. Personalized and memorable messaging is one of the most powerful tools you have for standing out and wowing prospects.

Prioritize the consultation

Every stage of the client intake process plays a crucial role in your client's experience. However, the consultation is one of the most defining moments since it's your opportunity to present why you're the best choice for your prospect's case. The better that you can prepare for your consultation, the better of an impression you can make.Prioritizing the consultation is as simple as thinking ahead and staying organized with the help of technology. One of the biggest frustrations that lawyers have are no-shows. Time last is money lost, particularly in a law firm that offers free consultations. If you block out a period of time and no one shows up, you've lost an important part of your day that you could have used for something else. One of the best ways to ensure that a consultation goes smoothly is by sending out a confirmation.Legal client intake software will automatically send out a confirmation once a consultation is booked. Not only does your client receive a confirmation email but so do you, ensuring that everyone stays on the same page. In addition to a confirmation email, a reminder email will also go out up to several days before a consultation, significantly reducing the risk of no-shows.During the consultation, make sure that you ask the right questions so that you know you have all of the most important information you need to get the case started. The better that you can prepare your questions ahead of time, the better of an experience you can deliver and stand out to your client.

Give your clients direct access to you

The truth is that even though lawyers are busy people, most of the time, their clients are too. Clients don't want to play phone tag anymore than lawyers do, so the more direct access you can give them to you, the better. Connecting with your clients through SMS for law firms builds better relationships with your potential clients and demonstrates responsiveness to their needs and concerns.Legal client intake software makes it possible to send, receive and manage all of your clients and lead interactions in one single location. Technology makes it possible to never keep leads waiting on a call back from you or waiting for you to email them back. By keeping your potential client connected to you every step of the way, you'll delight and engage them.

Offer self-scheduling

Wow your potential clients with a tech-savvy approach by allowing them to self-schedule their appointments. Software like Lawmatics makes it easy for potential clients to schedule or cancel meetings with you by choosing from time slots of your choosing with automated appointment scheduling.It's as simple as syncing your calendar and sending potential clients a link. From there, they can choose whatever time works for them without having to bother with the hassle of lengthy email back and forth asking which time works best for who— getting the ball rolling even faster in their case.

Identify your weak points

As a law firm, there are always areas to grow in. Law firm data analytics can help you identify any holes in your practice that may lead to client dissatisfaction or low conversion rates. Before the idea of data analytics sends you in a panic, rest assured that it's a lot simpler than it sounds. More and more law firms are turning towards a goal-driven approach that uses data to implement positive changes.From tracking productivity to where your best potential client sources are coming from, legal reporting software can be your best friend in finding out where you have room to grow. Visual analytics make internal activities at your law firm and fine-tune your processes as needed.With a visual representation of what your current client intake process looks like, you can make improvements where it counts most.

Set clear expectations

One of the best ways to avoid miscommunications and disappointed clients is to set clear expectations from the very beginning. Specify exactly what your client can expect throughout their working relationship with you, from how often you will communicate with them to what your billing system is.It also asked them what their preferred method of communication is and how often they like to be contacted. A one size fits all approach doesn't work for everyone, so make sure that you establish all of the most important details from the beginning.You’ll serve potential clients best when you set clear expectations upfront. That way, there's no confusion or room for frustration. Clients will appreciate clearly defined objectives and expectations and be wowed by your transparency.

Deliver quick service

The longer that you take to get back to your potential clients, the more time you're giving them to reconsider their decision. The faster that you can get the ball rolling on their case, the more delighted they'll be since chances are they'd like to get their legal concern handled as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to get things running is by using legal document automation. Manually generating important documents like attorney-client agreements can take hours to even days for lawyers to complete. Not only is it time-consuming and tedious, but there's plenty of room for error.Document automation software uses automated workflows to save hours of time, delivering speedy and error-free results that will wow your potential clients. Since most firms are operating on a traditional system of requiring their clients to print, scan, sign, and send, offering a more modern alternative can earn you significant points. No one wants to have to print, sign, and send documents if they can avoid it, so offering faster solutions like document automation and a client e-signature tool is a fantastic strategy for growing your practice.Simply choose a template that works best for your law firm and automatically generate whatever you need for your client's case. Lawmatics online text editor app ensures that anything you send is free of errors and ready to review, saving everyone time, and in turn, creating a memorable client experience.

Encourage online reviews

Most people looking for legal counsel perform a Google search before anything. If you hope for your law firm to stand out on Google, then you need to make sure that you have a high rating. IF your clients are happy, encourage them to leave reviews for your law firm. The more positive reviews you receive, the more you can start building a positive online reputation for yourself.[oxygen-template id="6129"]

Stand out to potential clients and create an unforgettable client journey with Lawmatics CRM and client intake software

Nowadays, clients expect more than ever. They expect excellence and a client-based business model that gives them the most value for their money. With so many other competing law firms, it’s more important than ever to be seen in a jungle of competition.By automating tedious processes, using intelligent marketing, and streamlining your client intake process, you’ll wow your potential clients by providing the attention that they deserve.Are you ready to see how Lawmatics can help you grow your law firm? Sign up for a free product demo today!

It’s no secret that lawyers have extremely busy schedules and are some of the most hardworking people there are. It’s not uncommon for many lawyers to work well over 60-hour workweeks. From juggling phone calls to advising clients to attending court hearings, it’s no wonder why there never seem to be enough hours in the day for lawyers to get everything done.It's not surprising that law is one of the most common industries that result in burnouts. The pressure to get everything done by extremely rigid deadlines and always being “on” can lead to a significant lack of work-life balance, particularly if you run your own practice.Yet, out of everything that goes on in a lawyer’s busy schedules, statistics show that lawyers spend a significant portion of their week devoting their time to things they can’t even bill for. Is that even possible? Yep.Even though non-lawyers often perceive a day in a lawyer’s life as passionately defending clients in front of a jury and drinking leisurely coffees outside of the courtroom with other lawyers, the truth is that lawyers have much more going on than that.Since running a law practice is the same as running any other business, there’s a lot of work that goes into keeping it going. Although the daily tasks of lawyers can vary depending on their area of practice, some of the most commonly shared tasks for lawyers are:

Document preparation

Phone calls

Client meetings

Onboarding clients

Consultations

Email marketing

Billing-related tasks

Following up with leads

On average, lawyers spend less than three hours a day actually practicing law. In many cases, the tasks required to keep a practice running can start to pile up so much that lawyers are often forced to choose between serving their clients and completing administrative work. The end result is stressed-out lawyers, dissatisfied clients, and plenty of missed opportunities for lawyers to grow their practice.This is where automation can help. With the right client intake software, lawyers can run their practice much faster with greater ease, with much fewer errors. Instead of spending hours on repetitive and tedious manual tasks, lawyers can rely on software to do it instead, turning their energy towards their paying clients and expanding their firm—all thanks to automating their client intake process.

Signs that you should start automatingyour client intake process

Losing track of leads

A law firm that’s lacking a solid client intake process is one that lacks an efficient system for tracking leads. If you’re still relying on manual methods like a pen and paper or post-it notes to track incoming lead inquiries, then please accept our invitation to join us here in 2021! Manual processes aren’t just time-consuming, but there’s a tremendous risk of losing track of leads.Many law firms have no idea how many inquiries have come in and who’s been followed up with or not. As a result, they are missing out on the opportunity to grow their practice and increase their revenue.

Chasing after documents

Most lawyers know the headache of trying to get important paperwork signed and sent back in a timely manner. When clients have to use scanners, printers, and sometimes even fax machines to return important files, it takes much longer. As a lawyer, you need to get the ball rolling on cases as quickly as possible to get the most favorable outcome for your client— time is everything.

Low client retention

A lot of attorneys don’t realize that they need to treat their law practice as a business by focusing on client satisfaction. Client retention is only possible when you give them an excellent client journey with exceptional services and communication. If you rarely have return clients, then chances are there may be some holes in your client intake process you should examine closer.

You don’t know where yourleads are coming from

Marketing costs time and money. If you want your investment to be worth it, then you need to know what’s working and what’s not. Without a clear understanding of where your best leads are coming from, you risk squandering your precious resources in places that offer no return on your investment.Does this sound like you? Automating your client intake process could be one of the smartest decisions you’ve ever made.

Losing time on lengthy back and forths

If scheduling a consultation with a client involves a series of emails back and forth trying to find the best time that works for everyone, then you’re losing valuable time. Setting up appointments with time-consuming ping pong exchanges trying to make sure everyone’s schedule works for the appointment time is a thing of the past. Automation can set your appointments for you.

Lots of no-shows

When you rely on setting appointments without an automated client intake process, you risk people forgetting their appointments, often resulting in a no-show. As a lawyer, time is money, so if you set aside a part of your day to meet with a client and you end up losing that hour due to a no-show, that’s less money in your pocket.[oxygen-template id="6131"]

10 benefits of automating yourclient intake process

1Simplified processes

Don't overcomplicate things in your practice that could be simple instead. The client intake process doesn't have to be a headache unless you allow it to be. By using client intake software like Lawmatics, you can streamline your processes and make your law firm more efficient, giving you more time to prioritize your paying clients.No more running your practice out of your email inbox or on spreadsheets that hurt your eyes. The right client intake software will eliminate chaos in your practice and simplify, keeping track of every single contact, all while impressing your leads and clients.From capturing your clients' information to setting up meetings with them, Lawmatics makes everything simple so you can focus on what matters most: getting your clients the best possible results and providing an excellent customer journey.

2Saved time

Not every law firm has the luxury of a front desk receptionist to handle incoming inquiries. In many cases, solo-practice lawyers answer every call and follow up themselves, taking up a considerable amount of time that could otherwise be spent on your clients' cases. By automating your client intake process, you can follow up with leads on autopilot without having to do a thing.Medium to large-sized firms can also benefit from the time saved through automation. The more clients you have on your plate, the more you need to focus your energy on your clients' cases rather than administrative tasks.Regardless of the size of your firm, the right software will take the information provided by a lead after they fill out a legal client intake form and input the details into your law firm CRM database. They receive automatic follow-ups without you having to type anything. No more having to double-check your spreadsheet or your email inbox to see if a lead has been followed up with or not. The right client intake software can give you a full birdseye view of where each lead stands at a glance and do the busy work for you.Automating your client intake process means no more worrying about taking time aside from your busy schedule to follow up with each prospect. Easily set up drip email marketing that sends out personalized and targeted emails that reach the right person at the right time. Standard tasks and checklists make it easy to deliver consistent communication every step of the way without you having to do a thing, all thanks to automation.

3Fewer errors

One of the leading causes of client dissatisfaction is human error. Anytime that processes like data entry are manually typed in, you risk mistakes. In the legal world, the slightest error can be critical and, in some cases, even lead to malpractice, so it's essential to eliminate the potential for mistakes that could easily be prevented with technology. Automation means significantly lower possibilities of errors and greater client satisfaction as a result. Because you deliver error-free work, you'll build client trust, which in turn creates higher client retention, and more referrals, helping you build your practice.Custom form builders make it easy to get whatever information you need by only asking relevant questions. No more copying and pasting or manually entering fields. With Lawmatics legal CRM and client intake software, you can auto-fill important client documents like attorney-client agreements, using workflow automation for law firms that merge data from your matters and contacts, saving you hours of work and avoiding potential errors.Error-free, hassle-free, and instant legal document automation— what more could you ask for?

4Improved client experience

Many lawyers make the mistake of assuming that their job is only to practice law. The truth is that being a lawyer also involves being a business person. In order to thrive as a law firm, you'll need to start focusing on client satisfaction as well as practicing law. The best place to start with that is your client intake process. It's critical that you make a good impression on your clients from the minute they first contact your law firm. Since 35% of law firms don't even answer the phone when a client calls, it goes without saying that a speedy follow-up with your prospects can make a phenomenal impression.Even though representing your clients zealously may seem like the most important part of your job, the truth is that in many cases, it's not. Ultimately, happy clients equal a happy practice.Believe it or not, there are lawyers out there who don't manage to get their clients the best possible results on their case, yet their clients are still thrilled with them— why?It all comes down to the client's journey. By offering an attentive client experience that makes your customers feel valued, your clients will feel delighted. Automating your client intake process means that your clients never feel forgotten or put on the back burner to other priorities. By giving extra effort and a consistent and positive experience, you'll find yourself with more clients and more revenue; it’s really that simple.

5Greater efficiency

Studies show that the longer you take to get back to leads, the fewer chances you have for closing a deal. Automating your client intake process means taking advantage of every opportunity by reducing delays in response time.The client intake process is arguably one of the most critical parts of running your law firm, so if you have an inefficient and sloppy process, then it's only a matter of time until your practice becomes chaotic. Automation in law firms puts your intake process on autopilot so that you can focus your energy on what matters most at your law firm. By following the right steps done the right way, you'll have significantly higher conversion rates and boosted revenue.Law firm reporting software usually reveals that one of the biggest reasons for low conversion rates and dipping revenue is holes in your client intake process. By putting an optimized strategy in place with the help of automation, you’ll attract more leads, convert more clients and create a greater return on your marketing investments.Client intake software meticulously tracks each step of the client journey, ensuring that nothing falls through the cracks. Lawmatics shows you who's been followed up with and who needs to be contacted when. By having a 360 degree of each prospect, your law firm increases its efficiency and gives your leads a reason to choose you over the competition.

6Better communication amongst staff

Without an efficient client intake process in place, communicating among staff about where leads stand can be a nightmare. If you're relying on spreadsheets or paper to track where each prospect is in the client journey, then it's easy for miscommunications to happen if multiple people are trying to access a client's details. One of the most frustrating things for a client is when two people handling their case are giving conflicting information.A CRM for lawyers and client intake software ensures that everyone stays on the same page by allowing anyone in your law firm to access a client's details from anywhere through the CRM database. As a result, you'll have better communication among staff members and less risk of things falling through the cracks when following up with prospects. Keep everyone on board and deliver consistency amongst your staff by relying on technology to keep everyone in the know.

7Fewer no-shows

Finding a time that works for everyone can often be a nightmare for attorneys. Lengthy email back and forth asking “what time works for you?” can be a time-draining hassle. Not only can it be frustrating for lawyers, but also for their clients. Most clients have busy schedules, just like lawyers, so making appointment-setting a painless experience benefits everyone.Automated appointment scheduling software allows your clients to choose meetings based on your availability. It's as simple as syncing your outlook or Google Calendar to the CRM for attorneys, and your clients can choose a time slot of their choice.By giving them direct access to your schedule, you'll significantly reduce the possibility of no-shows and double bookings, not to mention you'll impress your clients with your tech-savvy approach to appointment scheduling. No more missing meetings or losing time for no-shows. Lawmatics automates the appointment setting process and even sends automatic follow-ups to keep everyone on the same page.

8Increased referrals

One of the things that they don't teach you in law school is that it's up to you to find leads for your practice. Networking is incredibly important if you hope to grow and expand your law firm, and referrals are one of the best tools you have. Leveraging the power of happy clients is a valuable form of word-of-mouth advertising. People are much more likely to trust someone directly in their network than they are to trust an advertisement.Statistics show that 62% of people looking for a lawyer ask around with friends and family before searching online.Simply put, if you can increase the number of referrals at your law firm, you can significantly grow your practice and increase your revenue.One of the best ways to increase your referrals is to provide an efficient and consistent client intake process with automation. Email automation for law firms makes it easy to follow up regularly with targeted messages tailored for each client. By tracking where each client stands at each stage of their journey, you'll thrill and delight them and encourage them to recommend your services to their friends and family.

9Greater organization

Law firms are often perceived as cluttered environments and for a good reason. Regardless of the size, law firms are incredibly stressful and high-performing places, so it’s easy for things to pile up. There's always something going on, and there's always a phone ringing. Between important documents, incoming emails, client hearings, consultations, and sending out invoices, it's easy to get disorganized without a system in place.One of the best ways to get organized is implementing an attorney intake software and CRM into your law practice. By automating your processes, you'll free up a considerable amount of your time and take control of any disorganization in your practice.Ditch the pen and paper and post-it notes taped all over your desk. Forget about having to visit multiple spreadsheets to access client information. Using a CRM for attorneys and law firm client intake software means you can access everything all in one place, establishing order and organization in your law practice.

10More clients

One of the biggest challenges that law firms have is finding clients. With so much of their time devoted to their clients, it can be challenging to market themselves and produce high-quality leads. Using the right software like Lawmatics can help you take your law firm marketing efforts to the next level and significantly grow your practice.When you have a legal client intake software that automates your marketing emails for you and tells you which source is your best leads are coming from, you can significantly grow your business. By streamlining your processes and taking the hassle out of repetitive tasks, you'll have more time to take on even more clients.Drip email marketing nurtures your leads from each stage of the client journey process to the next. Your law firm can choose custom triggers that send tailored emails based on certain actions. For example, if someone signs up for your newsletter, they'll receive an email with more information on your practice.[oxygen-template id="6129"]Customized marketing templates make it easy to extend your reach to even more leads and never miss an opportunity to convert someone into a client. Audience segmentation software increases your chances of someone opening an email by grouping contacts based on demographics like case type and career industry. Sending marketing materials based on criteria like matter type, age, and profession can help you deliver more personalized content that they’ll be more likely to open. The end result? More clients and more revenue.

Automate your client intake processwith Lawmatics

Automating administrative tasks can help you take control of your practice and focus your energy where it matters most. In turn, you’ll have a much more efficient practice that delivers what it promises, creating happy and loyal clients who will refer you to friends and family.There's a reason why more and more law firms are turning towards more Lawmatics, the most powerful legal intake marketing automation and law firm CRM for attorneys. Our robust software helps firms execute effective strategies based on their individual goals and attract and convert more clients through the power of automation. Integrated law firm reporting software makes it easy to see what parts of your efforts are working and which parts need work.Are you ready to see how Lawmatics can help you carry out your client intake process in a fraction of the time and take your law practice to the next level? Sign up for a free demo today!

When you dreamed of being a lawyer, naturally, you imagined spending your days practicing law. After all, that’s what you’re trained to do in law school. Yet many lawyers find out once they start their own practice that being a lawyer is so much more than just practicing law.A law firm is a business and should be treated like one. In order to stand up against the competition and attract clients, you’ll need to start thinking like a CEO.Although your job is winning your clients’ cases, your job is also to market your law firm because, let’s face it—you need to continuously bring in more clients if you expect to continue making revenue. With all of the competition out there, law firm marketing is a crucial part of keeping a steady stream of clients coming to your practice.Yet, it can be tricky to balance prioritizing current clients while still making time for attracting new ones. That's why it's important to ensure when you do invest your time and money into marketing that the efforts pay off.If you hope to expand your law firm and increase your revenue, it’s more important than ever that you know the most important marketing statistics of 2021 and the best tools you’ll need to make informed marketing decisions.

1. 26% of law firms don’t track their leads

When a lead contacts a law firm and inquires about their services, it’s a huge opportunity. However, without an efficient client intake process in place, it’s a huge lost opportunity. The key to success is keeping track of every lead that comes in as well as how they found you. Otherwise, how can you hope to track what works and what doesn't?Before you pull out a pen and start writing down leads that call your law firm, consider a more efficient system. While a pen and paper may have worked once upon a time, there are more modern methods in place in 2021 that are considerably more reliable.[oxygen-template id="6129"]When there are multiple people in your law firm dealing with the same leads, it can be difficult to know who's been followed up with when and at what stage they are in the client journey. Regardless of what size your firm is, trying to keep track of every lead and contacts information on a spreadsheet or in your email inbox can become chaotic

The solution The only way to effectively track where leads are and what needs to be done next is by using a law firm CRM and attorney intake software. With technology that's designed specifically with lead tracking and client conversion in mind, it's one of the most important tools you need in 2021. A CRM for attorneys ditches piles of paper and streamlines your practice so that you can put your energy where it matters most — getting your clients the best possible results.A legal CRM tracks all correspondence with leads and clients as well as any important information regarding their file. One single database tells you whether a lead needs to be followed up with or not and if they've scheduled a consultation. The CRM database can be accessed from anywhere at any time, giving you a complete 360 degree view of where each lead stands — reducing the chances of anyone falling through the cracks.

2. 42% of the time law firms take an average of 3 days or more to respondto leads

Statistics show that the longer it takes to get back to leads, the narrower your chances are of closing a sale. Time is everything when it comes to converting a lead into a client. The longer that you wait to get back to someone, the more likely that they are to reach out to a competing law firm.

The solution Although the statistic that 42% of the time law firms take more than three days to get back to leads can be surprising, it's also understandable. Lawyers have extremely busy schedules and a lot going on. Getting back to leads can often sit on the back burner of their priorities.The best way to make sure that you're still giving your full attention to your clients without neglecting your leads is to rely on automation. The minute that a lead is entered into your CRM system, they get followed up with immediately, without you having to do at thing. That way, you don't have to worry about going down a list and calling people back. Law firm client intake software does it all for you so you can focus on what matters most at your law firm.

3. 33% of clients start looking for legal counsel online

While traditional marketing efforts like billboards and print ads still have value, over a quarter of clients look for their lawyers online. Failing to market online is throwing away a huge portion of your potential clients. Even though your old marketing efforts may have worked fine in the past, the truth is that times are changing, and you need to modernize the way you do things if you hope to keep up with the competition.

The solution The best way to start implementing a strong digital marketing strategy into your law firm's efforts is by using workflow automation for law firms. Lawmatics sends out personalized and relevant emails to leads so that they are much more likely to open the message. You can set up drip email marketing campaigns that send out a different message at different points in time based on client and behaviors.For example, when someone visits your website or signs up for your newsletter, they receive a trigger-based drip email marketing message. Marketing automation for law firms powered with audience segmentation software makes it possible to keep your online leads engaged continuously by sending out the right content to the right people when it's most likely to get a response.

4. 86% of the time, law firms fail to collect prospects’ email addresses

Grabbing someone's phone number isn't enough. In 2021, an email address is incredibly valuable. Failing to get this crucial part of a person's contact information is missing an opportunity to build a loyal client for life. In many cases, people may prefer email as their method of communication, so it’s critical that you always ask. An email address also provides you the opportunity to send out marketing content to keep prospects engaged. Don't miss out on a client because you forgot to get their email.

The solution The right legal client intake software can get all of your prospect's information at once and input it into your database without any spreadsheets. From that point on, all you have to do is type in a person's name, and you'll be able to see everything from their contact details to whether they've been followed up with or not. They'll continue to receive marketing materials on a schedule of your choosing based on whatever criteria you decide. Because email automation for law firms keeps them engaged through consistent communication, they are much more likely to use your services when they need a lawyer as opposed to going with the competition.

5. 35% of the time, phone calls from prospective clients aren’t answered

It's pretty unbelievable to imagine that as many as one out of three calls in most law offices aren't answered at all. Instead, they often go into the abyss of voicemails that never get listened to or called back. If you put yourself into the shoes of a prospective client, ask yourself how you would feel if you called a law office and no one even picked up the phone. Chances are you would call another law office who does answer. When no one picks up the phone at your firm, you're much more likely to lose that client.

The solution Smaller law firms who don't have the luxury of a large staff or a receptionist may find it challenging to answer the phone every time that it rings. The fewer staff you have, the more difficult it can be to be available to handle incoming calls from leads. However, if you rely on technology to automate a huge portion of your daily tasks, then you'll be much more available to answer the phone when prospects call.

Grow your law firm with Lawmatics CRM and client intake software

If you’re surprised by some of these recent law firm marketing statistics, then you're not alone. The great news is that by learning from your competitors' mistakes, you can make better-informed decisions for your law firm. By knowing what everyone else is up to, you can offer superior client-centered marketing.[oxygen-template id="6132"]Regularly familiarizing yourself with the latest marketing statistics won’t just help you make more informed marketing decisions for your law firm but you’ll also stay ahead of the curve.By incorporating technology like Lawmatics legal CRM for lawyers and client intake software, you can ensure that no lead gets left behind, and no opportunity is missed. Relying on automation to get back to your prospect is the key to having enough time to focus on what matters most— getting the best outcome for your clients.If you're ready to see how Lawmatics can help you take your law firm marketing to the next level, sign up for a free product demo today!

Not so long ago, the idea of relying almost entirely on technology to run and expand your law firm may have seemed too much like science fiction. At first thought, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and law hardly go together. After all, you’re not flying spaceships here—you’re practicing law.Like it or not, we live in an era of digital technology, and if you hope to stand a chance against other players in the legal professional industry, you’re going to have to embrace a little science fiction with your law firm marketing efforts. The truth is that even though all this technology may be a little daunting initially, upon closer inspection, you’ll find that embracing the technological innovation of legal software like attorney intake software and marketing automation for law firms is the key to taking your law firm to the next level.The world is moving fast, and customer behavior is changing. In order to thrive in 2022’s marketing atmosphere, it's vital that you have a strong strategy in place.

Elements of a strong marketing strategy

If you're thinking to yourself, “Wait a minute. I went to school to practice law, not to be a digital marketing professional.“ —you're not alone. It can be a tough pill to swallow when you get out of law school and start your own practice, only to realize that you're not just a lawyer— you're a salesperson. In order to find and retain clients, you have to put on your marketing hat.Developing a marketing strategy or a marketing plan is the only way to grow your law firm and meet with the great success you hope to achieve.Let’s examine the qualities of an effective law firm marketing strategy.

Explicitly outlined goals

The first element that your marketing strategy should contain is a clear set of goals. For example, do you hope to grow your lead conversion by a certain amount? Perhaps you're expanding your practice area and want to appeal to a new type of client?When setting goals, you want to be as specific as possible. Broad and generic goals yield broad and generic results. Specific goals should always contain a what, why, where, how, and a when. Leave no stone unturned when it comes to developing realistic and achievable goals for your law firm.One of the most effective ways to create powerful law firm goals is to use the SMART method:

S

Specific

Any goal that you set should be clearly defined and specified, spelling out all the achievements you hope to accomplish and any obstacles that could present themselves. Make sure that you expand on each in as much detail as possible.

M

Measurable

Are the goals that you've created for your law firm measurable? When you create a goal that has an amount attached to it, your progress is much easier to track. Take a look at the goals that you have right now. If they are not currently measurable, set them to an amount per period of time that's realistic for your law firm.

A

Attainable

The key to developing and achieving goals is to ensure that they are, in fact, achievable. Setting goals that are unrealistic is only setting yourself up for failure. If your goal is downright impossible, then there's no way you're going to achieve it. It's that simple.

R

Realistic

A good rule of thumb with goal setting is that it should require a certain amount of effort on your part to achieve and not be too easy. On the other hand, it needs to be something you can actually commit to. For example, never losing a client again is probably not realistic. You have no control over everything, so make sure that your goals are in tune with your limits.

T

Timely

A time frame is critical in order to measure your success. A deadline helps you to push yourself harder based on how much you've achieved thus far. If you're getting closer to your proposed deadline and you haven't made much progress at all, then it's time to switch things up.

Defined target audience

The foundation of a marketing strategy is knowing who you're trying to target, otherwise you’re just shooting in the dark! Get to know and understand your ideal clients and how you should appeal to them. Identify who your target audience is by establishing demographics like:

• How old they are
• Where they live
• Their gender
• What industry they work in

The more that you can pinpoint who your target audience is, the better that you can develop a strategy that aims to appeal to that kind of person. The more intentional outreach your marketing efforts have, the better chances you have of converting leads to clients.

Clearly outlined services

Not all law firms are created equally. Your marketing strategy should clearly define what kind of unique services you offer and in what area of law. There should be no question about what kind of lawyer you are in your services summary. In addition to explaining what kind of services you offer, you should also have a pitch prepared for how your services can benefit clients over competitors.

Market and competitive analysis

If you hope to grow as a law firm, then you'll have to make sure that you're paying attention to what your competition is doing. You should be following everything from what they do on social media to what kind of prices and special offers they have for their legal services.Establish what’s working successfully for them and let that influence what moves your firm makes next in its marketing strategy. In addition to researching your competitors, you should also look at wide trends like how many law firms are using SEO and what are the social media platforms they have the most success with. The idea is to take good ideas that are working for others and fine-tune them into your own tailored version.

Solid message

Your brand message is how you communicate to your audience who you are. You should create a clear message that speaks directly to your target audience. Who are you as a lawyer? What is unique about you and sets you apart? is your brand's message in line with who you are personally?Your law firm's marketing message should represent who you hope to be perceived as and what you promised to do as a lawyer. A good marketing message clearly lays out what you hope to communicate through your law firm's brand.

Clear pricing

You can't hope to effectively market yourself without knowing exactly how you plan on pricing your services. Make sure that you outline how much it will cost and exactly what is included in that price. As billing by the hour becomes more of a thing of the past, many law firms have found great success advertising on a client-friendly flat fee system.When clients know they only have one price to anticipate rather than individually billed hours piling up, it can be a great selling point. If you hope to have a strong marketing strategy, you'll need to have a billing structure that is competitive yet still profitable.

Solid and well optimized website

All of your marketing should eventually attract interested leads and potential clients back to your website, where they should be met with a call to action. It's critical that it's well structured and optimized as a final selling point once you get leads to land on your page.The ultimate goal for leads landing on your page is for them to take the next steps towards becoming a client. A good call to action invites them to do this. Some of the most common and effective CTA's are:

• Scheduling a free consultation
• Downloading an eBook
• Signing up for a newsletter
• Filling out a client intake form

Whatever your call to action is, it should compel people to take a step further towards becoming a paying client.

9 Marketing ideas for law firms

Once you’ve developed your strategic approach, here are some of the ways you can consider marketing your firm in 2022— some you might recognize, some might be new.

1Social media

Even though social media used to be a place for personal use, it's become a staple in the marketing world. If you can manage to master it, it can be one of the most powerful marketing tools out there. Both criminal defense marketing and family law marketing do exceptionally well on social media. Social media has the potential to reach an enormous audience for little to zero cost.Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are a unique opportunity to market to your target audience in a way that reaches them on a personal level. By connecting with them in an accessible way rather than merely advertising them, you start to build brand trust.The key to marketing on social media is marketing without making it look like you're actually marketing. Experts say that very little of your actual posting should be about your products and services themselves. Most of the time, you should be posting valuable and relevant information that gives you credibility in your area of practice.Although not everything that you share has to be original material, it can certainly work in your favor to post original content that will be shared by others and eventually lead new followers to your page. Some original content ideas include:

Videos

Videos are one of the most popular forms of shared content on social media. As a law firm, you should consider ideas like videos with a “legal tip of the day.” Offering free legal advice through the form of short videos as often as you see fit for your marketing schedule is a great way to build popularity amongst your audience.

Articles

Sharing articles in line with your area of practice is a fantastic way to demonstrate your stance and authority on the legal world. Rather than simply posting a link, make sure that you also add a caption with your opinion on it. Doing so connects on a deeper level with your audience and invites a conversation. Your success on social media has everything to do with engagement.

Photos

Statistics show that posts with visual content are four times as likely to get noticed as those which are text only. Consider posting images of one of your staff members or clients. Sharing news about your law firm through an image is a great way to let your followers get to know you better.

2SEO

SEO, which stands for search engine optimization, is all about getting your law firm website to a favorable ranking position on search engines— predominantly Google. There are many different SEO techniques out there, and they're constantly evolving as search engines get smarter.But let’s be honest, as a lawyer, nobody is expecting you to be well versed in computer or technical skills. However, basic local SEO is something that you should familiarize yourself with if you hope to build your brand. It's the magic formula that leads clients to you in a sea of other options online.Think about it—When someone is looking for a product or service, usually the first thing they do is perform a Google search. SEO techniques make it, so your law firm has a better chance of showing up in their search results first.It's important that your website and the content on it is well optimized for search engines. Since you're busy practicing law, you'll likely want to outsource the heavy SEO strategizing and execution to someone else. The good news is there are plenty of SEO agencies to choose from that specialize in law firm SEO.[oxygen-template id="6129"]

3Newsletters

Newsletters are one of the most tried and true forms of digital advertising for law firms, and in 2022, they're still just as effective. If you can manage to master the art of newsletters, it can be one of your most effective lead sources. Much like social media, it's an opportunity for little to no cost to reach a potentially huge audience. The trick to creating an effective newsletter is making sure that it has valuable information that makes people want to read it.Perhaps it can be recent news about your law firm or current events in your area of practice. Another tactic for convincing people to read your newsletter is to offer them a promotion or discount. Just like your website, a good newsletter should always end with a strong call to action.

4Chatbots

Put on your space suit because now things are getting really science fiction! Artificial intelligence now has a place even in the legal world. More and more businesses are turning towards chatbots as marketing agents.If someone lands on your website, a chatbot is there to provide information, advice and even schedule a consultation. Think of chatbots as an employee who works 24 hours a day without lunch breaks. What a deal!Any lead that comes your way will instantly be greeted with the appropriate information that they need. You can build a script that's unique to your firm's services and feels like a tone that you're comfortable with. While chatbots might not be able to completely take over for humans, they can certainly help convert leads into clients by guiding them in the right direction on your website.

5Personalized emails

While newsletters are undoubtedly effective forms of communication with your leads and clients, an all-in-one approach to marketing doesn't work for everyone.Statistics show that people are much more likely to read an email if it is targeted towards them personally. Personalized emails can be a targeted approach that can hope you convert leads in ways you never imagined possible before thanks to workflow automation for law firms and segmentation software.By using audience segmentation software, you can separate your leads into categories based on whatever criteria work best for your firm. That way, you know that the right person is getting the right kind of message at the right time with email automation for law firms, saving you even more time.Drip campaigns for law firms make it possible to deliver prompt follow ups that engage leads with trigger-based messaging tailored just for them.

6Business blog

If you have a business website, then it needs a blog—it's really that simple. Blogging is how law firms show their authority in their area of practice. If you manage to write a blog that attracts enough readers, then you'll gather at least several leads who are likely to hire you.One of the most practical ways to blog is to stick to Evergreen topics. Evergreen means that it's not a timely article specific to a certain period or event. Evergreen topics are relevant anytime any year. For example, if you're a family lawyer, you could create a blog about the biggest mistakes that couples make when going through a divorce. Offer your authority and expertise on the subject and build on it. It will remain a relevant and shareable article for years to come.One of the most important parts of blogging is consistency. Blogging can be an extremely effective marketing strategy if you can manage to post interesting content regularly. Make sure that you sprinkle keywords throughout your blog so that Google knows how to find you as a source for search terms that fall within your blog post’s topic.

7Online reviews

One of the first things that people will do when they are considering hiring a lawyer is to look up their reviews. Having a favorable review score can make or break your career. It's important that you keep a close eye on your firm's online reviews So that you have a feel for what people are seeing when they Google you.Since your online reviews are such a powerful marketing tool, ideally, you should encourage happy clients to leave reviews if they have a good experience. Your online reputation is one of the most important things you have to stand up against the competition, so make sure that it's managed well.

8PPC advertisements

One of the quickest ways to generate high-quality leads is by investing in pay-per-click advertising. PPC involves advertising on sites where your target audience is located. If you can manage to pair a good PPC with your SEO strategy, you can significantly shine online.The best place to start is by running a paid search campaign. This type of advertising results in showing up in Google search directly below the search bar. The more targeted you can make your keywords, the better. Specifying your location is critical since you want to attract leads that are in your area.

9Calls-to-action

As mentioned before, a call to action is all about encouraging your readers to— you guessed it, take action. Usually in the form of a command, it's a phrase that pushes someone to take the next steps towards becoming a pain client. CTA should undoubtedly be an integral part of your marketing strategy. Having a website without a clear CTA is a missed opportunity.A common mistake is assuming that website visitors know what to do once they arrive on your website. The truth is that many people will only take action if you tell them to.Every single page of your website should include a CTA. Whether it's to subscribe to your newsletter, download an ebook, or sign up for a free consultation, it's important that you monitor how effective your CTA is regularly. If it's not getting you any results, then you may want to improve on it. The idea is that you want to get people to click. If people aren't clicking, then you need to rethink your strategy.

Boost your marketing strategy and measure our success with Lawmatics client intake and CRM software

A steady stream of new business is critical in order for your firm to survive. Don't make the mistake of assuming that people will come to your law firm without any effort on your part. Creating a thriving law firm requires a careful inconsistent marketing strategy.The above 9 marketing methods are only a few of the many advertising opportunities there are to get the word out about your law firm. By executing these and measuring and tracking your results with law firm reporting software, you'll increase your chances of qualified leads reaching you who will, in turn, become loyal clients.Are you ready to see how Lawmatics can help you grow and expand your law firm marketing strategy? From client intake, to CRM, to legal time and billing systems - Lawmatics is your one-stop-shop legal solution. Sign up for a free product demo today!

Over the last year, the world as we know it has changed entirely. To survive as a law firm, chances are that you've had to make a considerable amount of changes in order to stay afloat.Since the same old law firm marketing methods need adjusting due to social distancing measures, online marketing is critical. Potential clients are online more than ever, so it’s up to you to grab their attention and increase your business. The first place to start with your digital marketing is by maximizing your inbound marketing strategies.Inbound marketing, a popular buzzword these days, is all about growing your brand. As the world progresses, so do marketing techniques, and a mass marketing approach is no longer as effective as it once was. Inbound marketing is based on a methodology that focuses on pulling leads in on their own terms rather than bombarding them with advertisements. It's all about mastering the client journey through three stages.

3 stages of inbound marketing for law firms

1

Attracting

Bringing in potential clients and establishing yourself as a credible law firm.

2

Engaging

Keeping leads engaged by following up and successfully with an attorney intake software.

3

Delighting

Once your leads become customers, the goal is to delight them by exceeding their expectations and making them feel like assets.

Benefits of inbound marketing for law firms

Better relationships

A one-sided marketing approach offers very little in terms of feedback from your prospects. However, an inbound marketing approach encourages conversation, questions, and customer feedback. The end result is an opportunity to evolve as a law firm based on listening to your clients through meaningful conversations on places like social media.

More affordable

Outbound marketing involves unsolicited advertisements urging people to buy what you're selling. Traditional advertising isn't just pricey, but it doesn't always promise a return. You can think of it as putting all your bets on one horse, and the horse loses the race. However, inbound marketing requires far less of an advertising budget and is much more likely to generate a high return on your investment.

More credibility

When you create a name for yourself online, you establish yourself as a credible resource. The more you organically come up in search results, the more that leads will view you as an authority in your area of practice. By increasing your online visibility, you come across as a more credible and trustworthy law firm that leads will go to when they require a lawyer.

Better leads

Even though the idea of inbound marketing is to ultimately boost your brand, above all that, it's more about producing high-quality leads. When you attract leads with a more targeted and personalized methodology, you attract a target audience that's much more likely to hire you.Now that you've got a better idea of how inbound marketing can help your law firm let's break down the 13 best strategies.

1. Blogging

Once upon a time, blogging was for sharing your favorite guacamole recipe or discussing the latest fashion fall trends. Now, blogging is considered a staple in content marketing.Blogging is an opportunity to write meaningful and valuable content that drives people towards your website. However, starting a blog alone isn't enough. In order to make sure that it's effective in your inbound marketing strategy, you'll need to make sure that it has the following characteristics:

A niche

It helps if you specialize in a specific area of law. Google loves niches, and people are much more likely to search for a specific legal question rather than something general. Focus on a topic that your law firm specializes in and build on it.

Evergreen and timely topics

In the world of blogging, there are two different kinds of blog posts:

1. Posts that focus on current topics that apply to the here and now.
2. Posts that cover topics relevant to any time period that can be shared for years to come.

An example of an Evergreen blog would be a post about why it's crucial to have a will — a topic that will not change frequently and is considered general information. Whereas an example of a timely topic would be a current breaking news trial that falls within your area of practice.Both timely and evergreen blog posts can offer equal value for your blog and are incredibly useful for reaching your target audience.

Keywords

Keywords are what lead Google to your blog. The right keywords will bring in the right traffic. Ultimately, your content will be the most important part of your blog; however, keywords are a vital part of leaving digital bread crumbs for leads to find you.If you’re unsure what kind of keywords to use, it might be helpful to do some keyword research. You can find choices by looking through some of the top-ranking keywords related to your area of practice. Above all, make sure that they match your intended audience.

Visuals

It’s important to shy away from walls of text. They aren’t exactly inviting, and they aren’t very easy on the eye. Visuals are a great way to break up wordy posts and enhance your blog by making it easier to digest.Statistics show that blog posts with visual content perform significantly better than those without visuals.

2. Social media

These days, having a social media account isn’t even an option. It’s just as important to have a social media account as it is to have a website. It’s not only an effective way to attract new clients, but it’s one of the most reliable ways to create brand awareness around your law firm.Attorneys have a chance to connect with leads on a personal level and create powerful relationships that go beyond traditional forms of advertising.[oxygen-template id="6129"]Before you get too carried away and start creating profiles on every social platform, however, consider scaling down. It’s better to choose only the right ones to devote your time to. Most attorneys start with Facebook and Twitter. Those are great places to begin since they have a significant number of users, and you only have to focus on two platforms. When you start branching out in too many different directions, it can get challenging to stay up to date unless you outsource.Investing your efforts in only one or two platforms initially is a great way to ensure that your efforts will pay off.It’s a good idea to create a content strategy that includes everything you plan on posting. Rather than only posting promotional content for your law firm, you should make sure you include posts that engage and build relationships. Include meaningful and shareable content that will encourage people to visit your page — and share!Tips For Getting More Followers

Follow other lawyers

The best way to get people to start following you is to follow others. Find other lawyers or relevant social media profiles that tie into your area of practice. Following other relevant accounts that actively post, you’ll have a pool of followers to engage. Get to know who’s following them and get them engaged.In your free time, go hunting for key profiles that have a big following. Interact with their posts and stay active on their profile. In time, you’ll start to attract followers who are also contributors in their comments.

Join groups

Just like staying active on key influencer profiles can be fruitful, so can being active in groups. Active groups can be a goldmine for leading you to quality followers who can lead you to more quality followers.Places like Facebook have plenty of groups that are great networking opportunities. If you’re really feeling ambitious, you can even start a group of your very own! Many lawyers find huge success starting a page of their own to engage and retain prospects.

Share often

The secret to success on social media is consistent contribution. It’s a critical part of building value around your account. Rather than just regurgitating links like some kind of a bot, provide insight behind why you’re reposting a link. Remark what you think about it and why it’s valuable for your followers.You can share anything from videos to articles to original content.

Be engaged and engaging

When others comment on your posts or send you messages, you should always reply. People are more likely to engage if they know you’ll respond, and when it comes to social media, engagement is currency.

Have an opinion

People react well to accounts that have a stance on something. Make sure that you clearly demonstrate your opinions and insights. Posting content alone without an idea or opinion behind it is easy.Followers are much more likely to engage and share content that has a strong opinion on an important matter. When posting your opinions, it helps to have data to back it up. There’s nothing that makes you look less credible than be disproven publicly online.

Use hashtags

It’s easy to forget about hashtags when posting, but you’re missing a huge opportunity. Always consider what kinds of hashtags could be relevant for your post. If you choose the right ones, you can attract new followers and significantly boost your visibility.

Host a live

Hosting a Facebook live is a great way to partner up with someone else in your practice area. Consider interviewing an expert who has a significant following and can bring more followers to your page.Live meetups are a great way to bump up new followers and re-engage your current ones. Make sure you post about it before you go live so that people know to look for it.

3. SEO

When it comes to one of the most reliable methods for increasing your visibility online, it has to be SEO. Considered a must-have for marketing, SEO can significantly increase your Google search results. A good law firm SEO strategy includes the following:

Relevant legal keywords

Between your blog and any other content you publish from your website, you should be using relevant legal keywords that attract your target audience. Again, you can refer to keyword research to choose the right ones for maximum traffic.

Website optimization

You can think of your website as a garden. It needs to be watered, fertilized, and regularly sprinkled with fresh content and user-friendly navigation.

Diverse backlinks

Your content should be filled with backlinks from a wide variety of reliable sources that support your posts. The more you can include, the higher you’ll rank in search results.

Local SEO

Your SEO should be targeted towards your local area so that when leads search for your specific location, your firm comes up. Google will provide the highest-ranking local attorneys when people search for an attorney in a pinpointed area. If you can manage to appear at the top of search results

4. Targeted advertisements

Paid ads offer an opportunity to expand your audience even more than it would organically. In turn, you’ll cast a wider net that’s easy to track how many people are taking the bait with law firm reporting software.Marketing analytics for law firms makes it easy to assess how well your advertising efforts are working and where you can make improvements.The main challenge with PPC advertising is standing out. With so many legal ads, you’ll have to be smart about your marketing strategy to get people to look. The best way to ensure that you have a chance at getting noticed amongst all the competition is to do your research.Get to know what your competitors are doing and differentiate yourself by focusing on what makes you the best. Whatever they’re doing, do it better than them — it’s really that simple.

5. Videos

Videos are one of the most successful forms of content on social media. According to recent statistics, as many as 73% of people say that they’ve purchased a product or service because of a video they saw on social media.Because of the considerable influence on consumers' decisions, it's no secret why more and more businesses are using video as a form of advertising. Despite video marketing being a somewhat new form of marketing, it’s a proven method for increasing brand awareness for your law firm.Before you start uploading videos to your social media account, it’s a good idea to know where to start. Although there are all sorts of different approaches for video creation, one of the most logical for the legal industry is unscripted legal tips.For example, if you’re a family lawyer, you might want to consider posting a weekly family law tip. Free legal advice is an extremely valuable and shareable form of video that can bring in plenty of traffic. Although you don’t have to worry about your video being the next Oscar contender for best film, you should make sure that it's well-edited. Ideally, it should be shot on a tripod and well-focused. Above all, make sure that you introduce yourself and your law firm, so people know who they’re listening to.

6. Offer a deal

Running a promotion is a terrific way to promote your law firm for various reasons. If it’s a social media promotion, then it can be an effective incentive for people to like and share your page. Each person who enrolls in your promotion can receive a discount code or enter a chance to win something.In addition to incentivizing sharing your page, it’s also a great way to boost sales. Running a limited-time discount on legal services can grow your client base and encourage referrals.

7. Newsletters

A newsletter isn’t as simple as sending out a mass boring email once a month and hoping it will do the trick. If executed correctly, a newsletter can become one of your best methods for promoting your law firm and growing your client base.It’s a relatively inexpensive yet incredibly effective way to promote yourself directly to people’s inboxes. Your newsletter should be consistent and full of useful content. Make sure that on top of being full of valuable information that it’s visually compelling as well.

8. Marketing automation

Marketing is considerably easier when you rely on technology to automate it for you. With drip campaigns for law firms, it’s easy to keep your leads and clients engaged. You can easily take advantage of workflow automation for law firms based on whatever triggers you decide on.Perhaps you send a thank you message if someone signs up for a newsletter, or a “Happy Birthday” email goes out on a client's birthday. Audience segmentation software makes it possible to individually target and nurture your prospects and clients on auto-pilot while you focus on practicing law.

9. Ebooks and whitepapers

Ebooks and whitepapers are examples of long-form content. The goal of long-form content is to convince readers that you’re the authority on the subject you’re writing about, in your case—law. By offering detailed information that presents yourself as an expert, you can potentially turn a reader into a client. Simply choose a topic that you know a considerable amount about that ties into a service you offer clients.Make sure that it’s well proofread and ideally designed using a template made specifically for ebooks and whitepapers. Consider offering a free download when a visitor provides their email address so that their information goes straight into your CRM for lawyers.

10. Gated content

Gated content is a great way to pack more leads into your CRM for attorneys. By offering valuable and exclusive content in exchange for web visitors' contact details, you’ll significantly expand your database.Make sure that whatever you decide to offer is genuinely valuable enough that it's worth visitors sharing their personal information. If people feel like they were created after being promised something valuable enough to be gated, they’ll turn towards competitors.Some ideas of gated content include product demos, data reports, and free courses.

11. Call to action

Also known as CTA’s, calls to action are a must-have in your inbound marketing strategy. The idea is to tell your visitors what steps to take next. Never allow anyone to visit your website without getting them to move closer to being a paying client. Not to be confused with a simple “contact us” button, a call to action should be a full phrase in order for it to be the most effective.Usually, it’s a hyperlink located at the bottom of an email or web page. Some ideas for law firms of a call to action could be:

• Scheduling a free consultation
• Downloading an ebook
• Click to Call

The idea is to compel prospects to engage rather than clicking away. Feel free to get creative with a call to action relevant to your law firm.

12. Testimonials

In the age of Amazon, shared client experiences are more important than ever. People want to know whether previous clients have had a success story with you or not and are eager to hear all about it.Social proof is a huge selling point. When people see that your service worked for someone else, they’re willing to take the chance of hiring you to reach the same level of success.Most clients who have had a positive experience with your law firm are more than happy to share their stories. Don’t be afraid to request a testimonial to share.

13. Case studies

A high-quality case study can be the ultimate way to prove your expertise in your area of practice. However, it’s important to note that they take a considerable amount of time when executed correctly.For a case study to do its job, it should outline how a client managed to reach their goals through the help of your firm. It should be comprehensive and thorough and promise the same success to your leads.

Use inbound marketing to grow your firm

Bringing in more clients doesn’t have to be a complex process. By using the right tools like these strategies paired with a robust law firm CRM, you can increase your leads, establish yourself as a credible law firm, and ultimately boost your revenue.Ready to find out more about how to market your law firm using Lawmatics software? Sign up for a product demo today!

One abrupt surprise that many lawyers find once they start their own firm is that there’s more to running a practice than just practicing law. You have to maintain an office, stay up to date with scheduling, market your firm, keep your cases organized, and keep the momentum growing your practice — all while being a lawyer.It’s enough to make your head spin.It’s not long before you realize that you’re more than just a lawyer; you’re also a business person. Unfortunately, law school doesn’t teach you how to treat your law firm like a business, so it’s easy to find yourself overwhelmed throughout your client intake process — and for a good reason! Running a business is hard.The good news is that it doesn’t have to be complicated. You just have to start thinking like a CEO, not just like a lawyer. Let’s break down how to do that by starting where everything stems from first: attracting clients.The first step to becoming a successful law firm is attracting clients. However, it's easier said than done. Since law school doesn't teach you how to find your own clients, you usually find yourself inevitably asking how you will attract them.The answer is certainly not a simple one, but the good news is that there are several strategies that are bound to yield results. Let's take a look at some of the most effective ways for attorneys to attract clients.

How to attract clients

Networking

As with any industry, networking is one of the best tools you have for bringing attention to your brand. The more that you can network with other professionals in your line of work, the better. It's not unheard of for lawyers to refer clients to each other, which can be incredibly helpful when you're just starting your practice. However, it's important to mention that you shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that networking with lawyers is the only way to build a network. Some might even argue that the most effective way to network is to branch out with people who aren't in the legal industry at all but rather in your area of practice.That means if you specialize in intellectual property, then it's advisable to rub shoulders with industrial designers and entrepreneurs. Get to know where these kinds of people hang out, in the real world and online. There are plenty of groups in places like Facebook, which could be a fantastic place to network with potential clients. Ultimately, networking is a numbers game. The more people that you know, the more possibilities you have to earn clients.Even though Google is an incredibly important place for your law firm to attract clients, there's something to be said about word of mouth. Finding legal representation isn't like making a reservation at a restaurant. A lawyer could potentially have the fate of someone's future in their hands, so people want to know they're making the right choice.Statistics show that over 60% of legal clients found their lawyer from asking a friend or family member. So, it goes without saying that networking is one of the most valuable ways that you can build a reputation for your law firm. Talk to everyone and anyone that you can, and don't be afraid to let the fact that your lawyer slide into conversations here and there.Who knows — something as simple as striking up a conversation with the cashier at the grocery store could lead you to your next big case.

Best tips and practices

One of the biggest mistakes that new lawyers make when trying to network is over-selling their business. The last thing you want to do is come across as desperate or overly self-promotional. Make sure that when you're networking that you stay sincere. People appreciate a genuine connection rather than one that's clearly sought out for self-interest. Lawyers already have a lot of negative stereotypes attached to them. Prove people wrong and be relatable and sincere Rather than coming across as only having dollar symbols in your eyes.

Blogging

Believe it or not, blogging isn't just for sharing fashion tips or how to make a salad in a mason jar anymore. Blogging is a critical part of an effective marketing strategy. An online presence is crucial, and legal is one of the best ways to stand out and engage new clients.If you've never blogged before, don't panic. The idea isn't to write the next Moby Dick, but rather to share your authority on a subject you're good at — law! Don't get too far ahead of yourself overthinking your blog posts. Try to blog about something that falls within your area of expertise. The best way to attract clients to your blog and ultimately your website to hire you for their services is to post valuable and exciting content.The more shareable your blog posts are, the more you'll start to build your reputation with Google. As a lawyer, Google is your best friend, and your blog is the friendship bracelet that will ultimately tie you together.Chances are you probably don't have tons of time to blog since you're busy practicing law. If possible, commit to blog at least once a week. The idea is to write something which is in tune with what people are searching for on Google. A lot of your leads will be looking for specific search terms online. For example, what do I do if I get injured on the job? Your blog post should come up as a valuable resource for whatever question potential clients are searching for. If your blog produces high-quality answers to some of the most common legal questions, then it's only a matter of time until you rank well in search queries.Above all, make sure that you post regularly. A legal blog is the most effective when you can manage to do it consistently. The more content that points towards your website, the more traffic you'll start to generate towards your business. More traffic on your website means more potential clients.

Best tips and practices

Find your niche

Casting a wide net may seem like a great way to get more followers on your page. However, trying to touch on all law subjects can ultimately lead to your blog getting lost in search engines and may not pay off the way you would like it to. Instead, dedicate your blog to your specific expertise and stick to topics that fall within your niche.

I mean, let’s be realistic — who wants to listen to a family law attorney talk about medical malpractice? It's not practical to talk about things that fall outside your legal realm. Stick to what you know best and keep your subject matter relevant to your firm. Your audience will appreciate your blog's insight much more if it's an area of law that you actually practice.

Know your readers

Any time that you're attempting to reach an audience, you have to know who they are. Get to know who you're writing for and how to build your relationship with your readers. If your blog's visitors are mostly one particular kind of person, then you'll want to use the right language and subject matter to reel them in.

Above all, make sure that you feel accessible. Using too many fancy legal terms or complicated language can turn people away. Use relatable terminology that anyone can understand.

Plan ahead

Spontaneous posting isn't the best way to keep your audience engaged. Posting regularly will breed loyal readers since they know what to expect. Even though it might seem more realistic to post whenever you find a free moment, you’re ultimately throwing away an opportunity to keep your audience engaged.

The great news is that there's plenty of technology out there that makes posting regularly simple, even with a busy schedule. Plenty of third-party applications allow you to schedule your posts ahead of time and spread them out at the time of your choosing. That way, your posting schedule is predictable and regular, which leaves readers knowing exactly when they come back for more.

Invite guest contributors

A great way to bring a fresh perspective and a new audience to your blog is to invite guest contributors. When you allow someone else to take the microphone for a moment, you're diversifying and building on your blog's subject matter. Ideally, you should invite guest bloggers that are already well established in the legal blogging and social media world so they can help promote your blog. You’ll need all the word of mouth that you can get!

Don’t forget SEO

Although the contents of your blog should come first, you shouldn't forget the importance of SEO. Make sure that you're using keywords that will leave bread crumbs on Google for visitors to find you. The more visible you can make yourself to search engines, the better. If you're not sure how SEO works, then you might want to consider brushing up before you dive into starting a blog.

Newsletters

When most people think about email newsletters, they think of boring, unoriginal content doing nothing more than promoting a business. Usually, they get deleted right away and likely unsubscribed from altogether. However, this is a huge missed opportunity. A newsletter can be so much more. Think of a newsletter as a traveling blog. It's an opportunity to bring your useful content straight into the inbox of potential clients and establish trust with your audience.

The right newsletter can totally revolutionize the way that you promote your brand. People will eventually start to look forward to your newsletter since it comes packed with all sorts of relevant content.

Best tips and practices

Newsletters work best when created on a schedule, just like a blog — post too much, and you might come across as spam. However, post too little, and your audience may lose interest. Scheduling about once a month or once every quarter is a great place to start. It doesn't matter whether you write it, someone in your staff, or outsource to a professional writer — the idea is to create high-quality content that sparks people's interest.

Social media

Places like Twitter and Facebook are goldmines for finding clients. Social media is all about sharing content that ultimately brings people back to your page to follow you. When you have a lot of social media followers, you build credibility for yourself as a lawyer. The idea is to stay top of mind, so with millions of users on social media platforms a day, it's a fantastic opportunity to make yourself visible.

Best tips and practices

If you’re thinking, how am I going to attract social media followers if I don't even know how to get clients yet? Don’t worry — it’s not rocket science! When it comes to getting attention on social media, the more creative you can get, the better your results will be. You can even have fun while marketing your law firm by gaining followers through the following proven methods.

Join legal groups

Don't forget social media is all about being — well, social! The best way to get a conversation going and start making connections is to participate in groups. Whether you join groups with fellow lawyers or everyday people looking for legal advice, posting regularly and participating in the conversation is a great way to attract visitors to your social media page.

If you're really feeling motivated, you could even create a group of your own. The idea is to get involved in a community where you’re an active participant.

Use dynamic photos

Social media is all about posting visually appealing content. When people are scrolling through their feed, they're much more likely to stop and read a post if there's an eye-catching image attached to it. Studies show that posts that include an image are much more interacted with than those that are text only. Feel free to add your original images or use many of the free stock images out there online.

Make sure that whatever image you post is relevant to what you’re talking about. Above all, make sure that it's clear and focused. Blurry photos look unprofessional and won’t do you any favors.

Post videos

Nowadays, social media has become one of the most popular destinations for watching videos. Many lawyers have great success posting videos with a daily snippet of legal advice or valuable information related to their area of practice. In addition to making your own videos, you can also share other people's content as long as you provide credit. Although it’s generally considered okay to post something off-subject once in a while, you should try to stick to a legal theme. Otherwise, posting off-topic can confuse and turn away your followers.

Be responsive

Many lawyers get it wrong on social media by forgetting that it's a two-way road. In other words, don't expect your followers only to interact with you without giving something in return. When followers comment on your posts or send messages, it's critical that you reply within a reasonable amount of time.

Social media is a place to exchange, and if your followers don't feel like you're exchanging back with them, it won't be long until they unfollow. Social media is a place to build connections and converse, so make sure you’re replying to everything.

Pay attention to analytics

Platforms like Facebook make it possible to pay attention to which posts are performing the best on your page by providing free built-in analytics. Whatever followers are responding the most to— post more of! Giving people more of what they want will lead to increased engagement, better exposure, and ultimately more followers — which means more credibility for your page!

Directories

Adding yourself to a directory is a straightforward yet effective way to get your name out. Some of the directories online are paid, and others are ad-supported free services like Yelp. The idea is to get yourself on any directory website that you can. Even Google Maps is helpful to be on.

Best tips and practices

If you're not sure where else to add your law firm, start looking for other law firms in your area. Start paying attention to which lawyers consistently show up the most, and take note of the directories that they're on that you add yourself to those directories to ensure that you're doing exactly what the successful law firms are doing.

As if attracting clients weren't already enough work, it's only half the battle. Once you bring clients in, you'll have to convince them to stick around. A one-time client certainly has value, but loyal clients are the most valuable because they come back for more.[oxygen-template id="6130"]They’re also valuable because loyal clients give credibility to your law firm. When you delight your clients so much that they only want to work with you, then it's obvious that you're doing something right.The question then becomes, how do you retain clients? Regardless of what your legal specialization is, the same rules apply.It’s all about making them happy.

Happy clients = happy practice

Wait a minute; you’re a lawyer, not a customer service specialist. Your job is zealously representing your clients and getting them favorable results on their case, and that’s enough, right? — Wrong.Contrary to popular belief, client satisfaction is not just about how you perform in the courtroom. It’s about how happy you make your clients — which surprisingly doesn’t always ride on how well you perform on their matter. There are lawyers out there who don’t get their clients the best possible outcome on their case, yet they still have clients that are thrilled with them — Why?It comes down to many different elements that contribute to the client experience as a whole.Let’s break down what those elements are:

Fulfilled services

Ultimately your clients come to you because they need legal services. First and foremost, you need to fulfill your commitment to providing the job you’ve promised to do: practice law.

Trust

Your clients are putting their trust in your hands. Be someone they can rely on every step of the way.

Fairness

Lawyers are often perceived as dishonest or unfair. Remember, just because you can charge for something doesn’t mean you should. For example, technology like Lawmatics makes it possible for clients to self-schedule free of charge, which can significantly boost the customer experience.

Valuing your customers

Customers immediately sense if profitability is number one on your agenda before they are. The best customer experiences are the ones that make your customer feel like they’re assets —not just revenue.

Exceeding expectations

When clients feel like they’ve been given just a little more than average, they’re delighted. By throwing in extra effort and positive experiences, your customers will feel even more valued, particularly during your intake process.

Consistency

Far too often, legal clients have what they believe to be a fantastic consultation with a lawyer, only to find that the magic quickly wears off. Because of inconsistencies in their communication, they quickly start to develop a poor impression of their law firm.A consistent effort is one of the most essential parts of creating a positive customer experience.By delighting clients on every step of the journey through positive experiences, you’ll find yourself with happy clients, and in turn, a happy practice.

What a legal client journey is

As the name suggests, a client journey is a collection of experiences throughout a customer’s path with any business, in your case, a law firm. Make it an enjoyable journey for your client, and you’ll have yourself a happy client, even in the absence of favorable results for their case. Crazy right?Every single stage of your client’s journey is an opportunity to delight your customer. Instead of throwing away missed opportunities focusing on cases alone, take every chance you can get to wow your clients.Lawyers should be focusing on how they provide legal services rather than simply providing legal services. By focusing on the client, you can totally redesign your law firm and deliver an unequaled experience.

Why a client journey matters

Experiences count

Customers today expect more than ever. It’s no longer okay to perform a service without a stellar customer experience attached to it. That's why, in today’s business world, more and more companies are moving towards experience-based business models rather than service-based ones. People want to be wowed, and they want to share that experience with other consumers. Give them good stories to share!The people who are most likely to leave an online review for your law firm are the ones that have either had fantastic experiences or terrible ones. The people who experienced “okay” service aren’t likely to leave any review at all.Online reviews are a critical part of building a positive reputation for your law firm since most people do a Google search before contacting your practice. You want to make sure that the first reviews that come up are good ones.In short, a positive experience for your clients doesn’t only benefit them — you have a lot to gain from it too!

Human nature seeks feeling valued

Lawyers have a reputation for not having much time for clients and lacking empathy, so why not exceed their expectations?People want to feel valued, appreciated, and heard.Put yourself in your customers' shoes, and it will come across in the service you provide. Getting to know your clients enables you to put your energy where it counts in their client journey. Focus on what you can do for them, not the opposite, and they’ll be a loyal client for life.

Not all customers are alike

As lovely as it may sound to imagine that a one-size-fits-all approach works for every client, it’s simply not the case. Clients are more than just numbers or demographics. They each have a unique set of circumstances and needs, so the kind of journey you provide should be tailored to their uniqueness.Relevant information can be used to segment your clients into appropriate categories, so you can make their interactions with your firm that much more personalized. Lawmatics segmentation software makes it easy to break your clients into groups for the purpose of enhancing their client journey.Now that you have a better idea of why the client journey is important, let's delve into each stage.

The three phases of the client journey

1 Intake

A client journey begins the moment they contact your firm. It’s your make-it-or-break-it moment to give them a reason not to go to the next law firm listed in their Google search results. Where a lot of law firms go wrong is failing to make the good impression that they need to make to start the client journey off on the right foot. Perhaps they don’t give the potential client the response they were looking for. Maybe it lacks luster, or maybe they fail to return their call at all. All too often, lawyers have so much going on that their communication is seriously lacking.Yet, good communication is one of the most desirable traits a lawyer can have. Clients want to know that their lawyer is going to get back to them about their case details. Since first impressions count, it’s critical that you show a potential client during those first few moments of interaction what they can expect if you work together: good communication.But let’s be realistic. You only have so many hands. It’s mentally and physically impossible to give the level of attention that each client needs individually and simultaneously, all while practicing law.This is where automation is critical. A CRM for lawyers and attorney intake software like Lawmatics collects a potential client's contact information for you, inputs it into your database, and engages immediately — without you having to lift a finger.

2 Active matter

Once a lead becomes a paying client, they’re now in the second stage of their journey, which is an active matter in your system. Even though it might be easy to assume that the hard part is over now that you’re hired, it’s hardly the case.It's an opportunity to showcase how attentive and communicative you are with them as each new part of their case develops. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that you don’t have to impress them just because you already landed the job. Current clients are still incredibly valuable since they promise potential referrals and repeat business. Don’t be afraid to market to them just like leads by sending them valuable newsletters or resources.It helps to make them feel connected to you by giving them direct access to their case through a client portal. Technology like MyCase, which started primarily as an attorney-client communication portal and then evolved into a full-blown legal practice management software, makes clients feel included and invested in each step of their case by providing a gateway to everything that’s going on.[oxygen-template id="6129"]Instead of communicating with your client through traditional communication channels spread out between email, telephone, and snail-mail, you can share information all in one single location. Not only is it an opportunity to delight them with direct access to your law firm, but it’s also an opportunity to delight them with cutting-edge tech that shows off how modern your practice is.

3 Former client

So, you’ve carried out a client's case to the end. This is where many lawyers hang up their hats, give themselves a pat on the back, and move onto other things. As far as they're concerned, they've achieved client success.Unfortunately, this is one of the biggest missed opportunities out there. A whopping 75% of law firm business comes from referrals. That means if you’re not wowing your clients all the way to the point that their case has drawn to a close, then you’re missing out on one of your biggest sources of business. Your legal client lifecycle isn't done yet.Don’t stop the attorney-client communication there! Remember, the most successful law firms know that their clients aren’t just customers but a relationship that requires nurturing through your law firm CRM.Keep them engaged through engagement cadences like email drip campaigns and newsletters. Don’t close the door, but rather keep the conversation going. Check in how they’re doing, ask them for reviews, wish them a happy birthday — do things that remind them you care just like you would in any other relationship.The idea is to delight them by showing them you remember them, and you value them. In turn, they’ll do the same for you! Customer loyalty sprouts from a memorable attorney-client relationship.

How to delight your customers through each stage of the client journey

The best place to start when developing a plan for a positive customer journey is by putting yourself in your client's shoes. How would you like to be treated as a customer? What makes you tick as a client? The more you start to think about what makes you happy as a consumer, the better you’ll start serving your clients.Think of your clients as someone you're courting. What does it take to win their heart?

Get to know their preferences

Nothing says great customer service like catering to your client's needs. Take some time to get to know what your client's preferences are and how they do business. Get a feel for how they like to be communicated with and deliver catered service based on their individual needs.An all-in-one approach doesn't work if you hope to deliver ideal customer service. A positive customer journey starts with a personalized approach that makes your clients feel valued. By taking the time to do business with your client on their terms, they'll feel appreciated and valued.

Match their communication style

It's great if you can determine as early on as possible what kind of communication style your client has. Some clients don't like to be bothered with much more than an email here and there. Yet, there are other clients that would like to know what's happening with their case at all times. Using technology to give your clients direct access to their case is a great way to provide them with updates without having to call them every time there is an advancement.

Always deliver your best

Let's face it, a day in the life of a lawyer can be stressful. There are days when there's a lot on your plate, and the last thing you feel like doing is putting on a smile. After all, you were trained to practice law, not provide a gleaming smile. Unfortunately, a big part of your job as a lawyer is providing customer service. The trick to creating happy customers is to treat every client as if they were your most valuable and treasured client. That means putting your best foot forward even when you're not in the mood.When a client contacts you, you may not always have the answer right away or the time to answer in detail. Instead of being cutting or impatient, simply say that you're currently working on getting back to them with an answer, and you'll let them know as soon as possible. Always be friendly and never let your clients see you sweat. Above all, never seem too busy for your clients. This is where automation can come in handy when clients need a response fast, but you're busy handling other matters.

Don’t bill for every little thing

We get it — your time is valuable. But billing for every little thing will eventually turn people off. Rather than keeping a running bill for every task, hand off a load of work to automation. A CRM for attorneys can do all sorts of responsibilities for you, like self-scheduling appointments, which means one less item added to your client's bill. The less you bill your clients, the happier their client journey will be.

Say thank you

Whether you have just had a meeting together, a phone call, or you wrapped up the case entirely, a great way to go the extra mile for your clients is to thank them. Something as simple as a thank you can be the very thing that makes a client loyal for life.A simple text or email thanking them for the opportunity and reiterating the next time you'll see each other is a great way to nurture your relationship. The idea is to send a personalized message that shows you care about them as a client and you're grateful for their business.

Delight your clients every step of the way with Lawmatics

Growing your law firm is no small task. It’s a monumental project that you need all the help you can get on. With so much competition out there, your best tool for winning clients' business is to wow your customers every step of the way with the help of Lawmatics robust technology.Automation makes clients feel connected to you every step of the way. It provides an effortless and client-centered approach — one that won’t just encourage repeat business but also shared experiences and referrals.

No more having to choose between losing valuable time lost on practicing law and giving clients the attention they deserve. Now Lawmatics does it for you.Provide memorable experiences and build your law firm on a foundation of positive reviews and referrals with Lawmatics CRM, client intake, and law firm marketing software. We offer solutions for all practice areas — personal injury software, family law software, immigration client management software, and more.Are you ready to learn more about mastering the client journey? Check out our Tech Tok video presented by lawyer and Lawmatics CEO Matt Spiegel, who shares more insight on how to achieve customer delight in your law firm.

Matt was Co-Founder and CEO of MyCase, the legal practice management software company previously mentioned. He is now Co-Founder and CEO of Lawmatics, the #1 attorney-client relationship management platform that provides law firms with legal intake software, CRM, and law firm marketing automation. In this Tech Tok, Matt talks about why it’s critical to invest in the client journey and how to use technology to differentiate your practice so that you can win more business, impress your clients, and be more efficient. Check it out here.