Using AI Tools to Identify High-Value Keywords for Law Firm Marketing
In today’s digital world, a strong online presence is crucial
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The Value of Legal Directories for Attorneys
Attorney search directories provide more than a list of attorneys by location, practice areas, and expertise.
They provide a no-nonsense approach to getting your law firm found by the clients who need you most.
What is an Attorney Directory?
Law firm directories research, list, rank, analyze, and assess lawyers and law firms, so those who need a criminal defense attorney or personal injury lawyer must look no further than the expansive listings that range from large corporate law firms to small independent attorneys who focus on their area of need.
In short, legal directories are modern-day phone books, with expanded information that provides more than just an attorney’s contact information, but a synopsis of their legal focus and a link directly to the law firm’s website.
Listings in law directories can also set your firm apart from your competitors when a potential client searches for law firms directly through a Google search, as your inclusion boosts your organic search engine optimization.
Law firms that are listed inside the directory are more likely to be found through a direct search too, which places your website at the top of the search engine results page, directly in front of your target audience.
To get started, you must build a professional profile that communicates your law firm’s value, as it is still competing with other attorneys within the directory. Your listing must stand out from your competition.
Whether you are a new attorney working hard to establish your footprint in the community or if you are a veteran lawyer whose name is widely known in your area of legal expertise, a valuable profile will reinforce your commitment to your craft and increase trust with searchers.
To build a complete and valuable profile, take time to add pertinent attorney information, including:
Attorney directories provide an exceptional opportunity to solicit peer endorsements, which means other attorneys you have worked with in the past — or continue to partner with on certain types of cases — can recommend your law firm to potential clients.
Likewise, clients with whom you have provided solutions and positive outcomes can review your legal services within the directory too, so searchers can read real-time feedback regarding your abilities and performance. Attorneys with reviews are twelve times more likely to be contacted, which is a valuable tool that accompanies your law firm’s listing.
Even when listing your law firm in an attorney directory, your inclusion in a trusted source for legal information expands to your online identity and reputation. Simply put, being found on a trusted source — like a reputable legal directory — allows you to also be trusted by searchers.
The building that trust directly transcends to your domain authority, which is beneficial for SEO since it is an important part of the way Google recognizes your URL, making legal directories some of the best websites from which lawyers earn backlinks.
These backlinks provide an important context for SEO purposes, which means your inclusion in attorney listings on industry-relevant niche directories helps improve SEO authority and rankings.
All companies seek backlinks from sites that are related to their industries, and for lawyers, legal directories provide that contextual relevance.
Depending on your profile and level of inclusion in legal directories, as some are free and others have monthly or yearly membership fees, attorneys can submit content — like blog posts or industry-related articles — that links back to relevant pages on the attorney website.
Other directories offer Q&A sections where attorneys can answer legal questions directly within the website, building authority in practice areas where potential leads are searching for an experienced lawyer to represent them.
Most legal directories also provide star ratings and reviews, which increases the law firm’s social proof and helps attorneys stand out in searches.
Joining and participating in online legal directories that are already ranking on the first page of Google search is a great way to expand your online presence and get more qualified leads.
When it comes to legal directories, each attorney must evaluate where their inclusion will make the most impact. That may be different for everyone, depending on their practice areas, location, and marketing budget.
The top U.S. lawyer directories in 2020 include:
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What Makes Legal Ambassadors Unique?
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What Makes Leaders of Law Unique?
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What Makes Leaders of Law Unique?
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A free profile with Avvo includes limited information for attorneys. Premium profile benefits include:
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What Makes Avvo Unique?
Avvo offers more than profiles, at an additional cost:
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What Makes Best Lawyers Unique?
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Members may appear on all four FindLaw-affiliated directories:
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What Makes FindLaw Unique?
FindLaw provides more than attorney directories; they also offer additional services at varying costs:
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What Makes HG Unique?
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What Makes Justia Unique?
Justia offers more than directory placements, including:
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Lawyers.com legal network includes:
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What Makes Lawyers.com Unique?
Lawyers.com provide more than directory listing, including:
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What Makes Leaders of Law Unique?
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Martindale also owns and operates:
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What Makes Martindale Unique?
Martindale also offers, at varying rates:
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Every law firm profile is search-engine optimized (SEO) for web searchability and includes:
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What Makes Nolo Unique?
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What Makes Super Lawyers Unique?
When searching for free opportunities to get valuable backlinks to your website, do not overlook the American Bar Association, or your state and local bar association directories that will list your law firm and attorney credentials at no cost.
This approach can expand into information regarding your eligibility to practice law in that state, and typically lists the attorneys according to search criteria and then in alphabetical order or by using an outlined ranking system.
What Is the Importance of Legal Directories?
Legal directories give consumers the opportunity to research solo attorneys, small law firms, and large corporate lawyers in their areas, which can significantly increase quality leads for each group.
When attorneys appear in quality directories, their online credibility is boosted tremendously, and makes them easier to find by their target audiences.
Many attorney law directories provide opportunities for free entries, but the information an attorney can list may be limited within a marketing opportunity where quality is key.
When considering which law directory services are right for your attorneys, look for highly marketable opportunities, including the ability to contribute content, and the opportunities to answer legal questions and earn reviews directly within the attorney directory website.
If you would like to review your current online ranking and identify areas where you can maximize your law firm’s identity through customized local search engine optimization, contact the Attorney Marketing Network today to schedule a free evaluation with one of our specialists.
Can I List My Law Firm in Directories For Free Now and Pay for a Premium Membership Later?
Yes. Most law firm directories that provide free listings will allow you to enter your primary legal information, including contact information and a link to your website now, with the option to upgrade to a premium membership later. Typically, the more advanced your membership, the higher the cost.
How Can My Law Firm Appear at the Top of the Legal Directory?
Paid legal directory subscriptions typically produce the best placement results, as opposed to free listings. Many law firm directories provide the opportunity to advertise within the directory, which includes top search results or sponsored placement in your law firm’s location or practice areas. Each directory has a different way of rating or ranking lawyers in different categories.
Can Searchers Compare Attorneys Listed in Legal Directories?
That depends. Some, but not all, lawyer directories provide the opportunity to compare the attorneys returned in the search criteria to each other, so searchers can evaluate their practice areas and accomplishments on the same screen.
Do Law Firm Directories Have a Stringent Screening Process?
Each legal directory lists different criteria for consideration. As a rule, attorneys must be in good legal standing with their state bars. Other requirements may require peer referrals or positive case results. Read each law firm directory’s requirements and terms before paying for a membership, so you are sure you qualify for inclusion.
Should I Publish Articles on Legal Directory Websites Where I Am a Member?
If your law firm directory membership allows you to contribute content to their website, you should. Whether you write the content yourself or if your attorney marketing agency provides exclusive content for you, contributing articles to any consumer-focused website will increase your exposure and provide another invaluable backlink to your website.