How to find new law clients online

From banking to groceries, today people can and do find anything they need on the internet. The search for a lawyer is no exception. The length of time the average person spends on the internet has increased exponentially. Everyone is looking for more efficient ways to get daily tasks done, and the ability to do in-depth research on your own time and in the privacy of your own home makes it easier than ever before for consumers to find exactly what they’re looking for. For many people, conducting an online search is their first course of action when seeking answers or information.

A 2012 study conducted by The Research Intelligence Group found that 76% of consumers looked online for a lawyer, and that number can only have grown over the course of the following years. Clients are searching for legal representation online — will they be able to find you? Simply having a website may not be enough to reach the new clients you’re hoping to find. There are several steps that you can take to build your online presence and attract consumers.

Be a resource

A professional website that makes it easy for clients to contact you is essential, but your website can be more than just an advertisement for your services. Adding content beyond the standard contact information and list of services can make a serious difference in how clients researching online will view your site. Make your website a resource for potential clients with articles or blog posts about the legal troubles your clients may be facing. Whitepapers, checklists, and a Frequently Asked Questions section will all help consumers gain confidence in your expertise before ever contacting you directly. Today’s consumer often dislikes feeling as though he is being “sold” to. Providing useful information positions you in a helping role at the same time as the client is able to see that you will be able to help them with their legal troubles.

Optimize for search

In addition to informing potential clients, providing helpful articles on your website will help more consumers find it. Search engines like Google give higher rankings in search to websites that they perceive to offer more value to searchers. Try to imagine yourself in the position of someone who may need your legal services. Including content with words or phrases they might search for when looking for legal help will help let search engines know that consumers will find what they’re looking for on your site. An expert can help you improve your search rankings even further through search engine optimization (commonly referred to as SEO).

Get involved on social media

Bringing clients to your law website will always be the end goal, but you don’t have to wait for them to come to you. On the internet, the advice to “go to where your customers are” is more apt than ever. As of the third quarter of 2016, Facebook had 1.79 billion monthly active users. It is certainly safe to assume that a number of those users may be in need of legal help. Once you’ve added useful information to your site, you can promote it on social media to reach even more consumers. In addition, being involved on social media allows you to become part of the conversation. More and more companies are dedicating resources to providing customer service through social media. Instead of seeking out dedicated customer support like in days past, today’s consumer will voice their questions and concerns wherever they are already connected to a business — and they expect answers. Be there to give them.

Keep up with evolving consumer behaviors

In today’s market, the ability to connect with potential law clients online is crucial for any lawyer. The days of clients seeking out a lawyer solely through personal recommendation are by and large over. Consumers who are looking for a lawyer are using the internet to find one, and you want to be sure they will be able to find you there. Start by making your website client-friendly with articles, whitepapers, and other resources about the legal issues they may be seeking assistance with. Simply completing that first step will help your website achieve higher search rankings, but further search engine optimization will help your site become even easier for consumers to find. Finally, build a presence on social media to connect further with consumers and be easily accessible in case of questions. Utilizing these strategies lets you join the online conversation about law and find new clients.