Website Design, SEO, Social Media Marketing for Attorneys

Web Marketing and the HTML Title Tag...You're It!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73828 — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Lawyer search engine marketingrequires the big stuff, such as content, and it is also in the details. One of these details is the HTML title tag. The HTML title tag specifies the title of your web page and is inserted into the header. It needs to be context-rich and identify the contents of the web page it points to.

Who Uses the Title Tag?

Resource librarians, directory editors, and other webmasters all use your title tag when they link to your page. The better your tag, the faster it will be reviewed.

Future clients! The title is the most notable piece of information shown to search engine users. They are also able to see it when they are on the web page.
The search engine uses your HTML title tag to determine the topic of your web page, which then goes into the actual ranking of the page. Even though this seems like prime real estate to plug in a bunch of keywords, avoid this temptation!

Also, a note to the wise: titles should be in proper case, so learn your title capitalization rules.

Need more information regarding search engine optimization or online marketing? Call Foster Web Marketing today, and take control of the success of your website. Also, order your copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites, before you hire anyone to help you with Internet marketing for your law firm.

Take Your Web Design from Generation X to the Millennial and Beyond!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73437 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Web design for law firms has changed throughout the years, and the biggest jump has been from stagnant, standalone web pages to dynamic pages with a-million-and-one ways to contact you. What does this mean? This means that Web 2.0 is all about YOU!

All about me?
Yes. Think about Web 2.0 in the context of the Millennial Generation. They use technology - from their mobile phones to their iPads - to let others know about them. You need to do the same with your practice.

How do I get involved?

Social media sites: Facebook, FourSquare, Yelp, and Twitter
Bookmarking sites: Digg, Reddit, StumbleUpon, Jumptags, and Delicious

...and last, but not least – you need to blog.

Blog?
It is easy. So many people blog - from stay-at-home moms to CEOs. Blogging has become so simple, and Google loves blogs because they are constantly being updated with new and interesting content, which are great for page rankings.

Your web design is not just about the flashy toys; it is about whether your content is relevant to the users of today. Keep on top of what is popular and what is working, and be prepared and ready to jump on the constantly moving web design train.

If you are looking for a company to help you with web design for law firms, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

...And Miles to Go Before the Web Design is Done

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73438 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

If you ever find yourself sitting back and thinking, “Yes, my website is finally done,” then think again. When it comes to web design for law firms, the design is never complete because your site should be continually changing, updated, and added to.

One area of your site that should always be updated is your web content. Google rewards this by pushing your page closer to the number one search result - as long as you are constantly offering new and fresh material on your site.

The design of your practice page should never be set in cement, and do not think that the ten library articles you have will sustain you for the next five years - or even the next five days! Your web design will constantly grow as you are adding more and more informative content.

Think of your homepage, too – this page should always have a new headline as you tell of your latest and greatest case. Like a newspaper, that headline should be different each and every day, with updates as they come along.

Web design is a living, moving creature. Keep it dynamic to gather interest and gain clients who believe in you and your expertise.

If you are looking for a company to help you with web design for law firms, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Tricks and Tips for HTML Title Tags

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73827 — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Here is a quick list to make sure that your HTML title tags are taking your search engine marketing to the next level:

Use proper capitalization rules. **Exception** FAQ pages – you may use the question as the title, which would then follow the standard capitalization of the first letter of the first word of the sentence.
Titles should reveal what is on the page. Do not make it a mystery.
Create a unique title for each page.
This tip goes with tip number two – the title should accurately show what the reader will get on the web page, because, if he or she bookmarks the page, then the title of the page becomes the name of the bookmark. If your title simply says “Home,” this is not going to show any detail or distinguish itself from any other web page.
To expand tip number four – if you are creating a title for your homepage, then you still want to show what the reader will receive from the page, AND you want to clearly show the name of your attorney practice.

Need more information regarding search engine optimization or online marketing? Call Foster Web Marketing today, and take control of the success of your website. Also, order your copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites, before you hire anyone to help you with Internet marketing for your law firm.

The Rules of Web Content for Attorney Marketing

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73435 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Once you have captured users with your enticing headline, you then need to keep their attention as they read your article or watch your video. Web content for attorneys is more than just regurgitating something you read on another website, dated from two years ago. It needs to be fresh and relevant, and it needs to be your voice and your expertise. Here are some rules to follow when it comes to writing web content:

The Easy Way – NEVER take the easy way. Whether it be your own words or not, never cut and paste from another website. Duplicating words without significant variance will hurt your page rankings.
ADHD – Jumping from topic to topic within one article to seem exciting will only cause confusion. Stay on topic, and keep it clear.
Boring – Do not put all of the important information at the end of the article. No one likes a cliffhanger when it comes to what they want to know. They want to know the purpose for the article at the very beginning.
PhD Accessible – You are not writing your dissertation here. Keep your articles easily accessible to all possible reading levels. Use “real-people” words instead of attorney jargon. Bullet lists, subheadings, and lists also increase readability and are good to use.

Use the above rules as you write, and your content will be what it needs to be in order to turn readers into actual contacts. You will then be able to email or call them, put them on your monthly newsletter list, and – when all works out perfectly – add them to your client list. It all starts with your written word.

To find out more about our web content for attorneys and the packages that we provide, contact us today at 888.886.0939, or fill out our online contact form.

D'oh! What Do You Mean the Homepage Isn't the Most Important?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73436 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Your website is completely built and ready to go. The practice pages are complete with outstanding keywords and phrases, and your blog is updated multiple times throughout the day. You stand back and marvel at the homepage particularly, because this page is the one you spent the most time, money, and thought on. You think, “I am done.” Believe it or not, though, great web design for law firms does not focus solely on the homepage.

Do I have to start my website from scratch now?
No! Do not throw away everything you have done! There is a simple solution:

On each page, make sure there is a way for the user to contact you.

How do I do this?

Add a link that says something along the lines of “Contact Us,” or have live help so a user can instantly talk to you.

Where should the “contact us” link take the reader?

Have it take readers to an easy, noninvasive contact form that takes this information immediately into your contact database. Offer free information to entice the reader to fill it out.

In the end, remember that your homepage is not the page that will make you or break you, and if you have already sunk a lot of money into the perfect homepage, then there is still hope to be had. Just take the time to improve what has been done to get the best out of your web design.

If you are looking for a company to help you with web design for law firms, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Web Content Converts Chance to Contacts to Clients

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73426 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Web contentfor attorneys has a purpose for your practice, and it is not simply to take up space. If you are doing content right, then it is taking a user who is passing through your website and converting them into a contact with the potential to become a client. That is the real point, and your goal! You want a user to think you have a good website; however, you really want that person to be intrigued by your expertise and fill out that contact form or phone you. This begins the lawyer/client relationship.

Am I already doing this?
Are you following the magic formula?

Catchy Headline + Informative Content (that answers prospective clients’ questions) + Call to Action = Web Contact

The headline catches attention, the information keeps attention, and the call to action encourages the user to reach out to you for further information. You have just caught yourself a contact! The next step is in your hands, because now you have the opportunity to call, email, or otherwise contact your potential client. This is a fish you do not want to throw back.

Converting someone into a contact and then into a client is not rocket science. It only takes informative web content and your professional, quick response.

To find out more about our web content for attorneys and the packages that we provide, contact us today at 888.886.0939, or fill out our online contact form.

Keywords and Phrases are Needed for Optimized Attorney Web Content

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73424 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

I saw a picture recently, and it said, “Nerd Quirk #191 – Searching Google in full sentences.” Believe it or not, this is what most people do when they sit down to a computer and begin searching for something they have no knowledge of. They tend to use phrases instead of just typing in random words that will give them general results and have them searching for hours. Even though Google can pull up results in less than a second, if the results are not relevant, then it was wasted time. The more specific the phrase, the more specific the result, and this is where you need to create search engine optimized web content for your attorneywebsite.

Keywords
This means that you need to sit back and think like someone who is in need of a lawyer instead of thinking like an actual lawyer. A group of random keywords in lawyer jargon will not do the trick. You need relevant phrases that include a location. This makes it way more specific and more along the lines of what a user will search for.

Keywords and phrases also need to be included in more than just in the meta-keyword section. You need to put them in the body of articles in a natural, clear way – do not force it. Put them in your titles, descriptions, and headlines, too.

To find out more about our web content for attorneys and the packages that we provide, contact us today at 888.886.0939, or fill out our contact form.

Seniority Rules in Lawyer Search Engine Marketing

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73826 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

In some companies, the longer you have been there, the easier the job becomes, the more perks you receive, and that office with a window gets closer and closer. When it comes to your attorney web page, does age matter? Should you consider how long your website has been up when you are concentrating on your lawyer search engine marketing?

Early Bird Special
From what has been researched, the longer you have had a footprint on the World Wide Web, the better. It does have an advantage if you are one of the “old-timers” and had a site up before paid inclusions or listings came about. If this was you, then you were grandfathered into the search engine databases without spending a dime.

Borderline Hoarders
In this instance, being on the edge of hoarding is a good thing. Your site has been around longer, which means your collection of incoming links is huge in comparison to a site that was just created.

The Good Ol' Days
If you were there in the beginning, then you are part of the foundation of the internet. Others have come to learn from you and imitate you. You have seen trends come and go and have been brave enough to jump on board by keeping your site dynamic, relevant, and informative.

Call Foster Web Marketing today, and take control of the success of your website. Also, order your copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites, before you hire anyone to help you with Internet marketing for your law firm.

How Important Is It for Your Lawyer Website to Be #1 on Google?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73421 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

You have probably read it on every lawyer search engine marketing website that you’ve visited: being #1 on Google’s search engine results is the absolute most important step you can take on the road to turning your attorney website into an effective marketing tool.

Here at Foster Web Marketing, however, we like to back up our online marketing strategies with facts. Let’s take a closer look.

The Cornell University Click Distribution Study
Researchers at Cornell University had test subjects look at the Google search results of almost 400 varied keywords. As they read through the results and eventually clicked on a link, researchers tracked their eye movements and which result users eventually chose.

The results of the click distribution study? Just over half of the test subjects clicked on the first link that Google provided, but spent an equal amount of time reading the first two entries. The first eight entries (generally, the entries “above the fold”) received some examination and some clicks. Surprisingly, all “above the fold” entries were read and considered.

What can we learn?
This click distribution study shows that, even though being at the top of the list on Google for your targeted key words is important, all of the “above the fold” search results are considered by users, and the second spot gets an equal amount of consideration as the first spot. In other words, being anywhere on the first page of a search query list is great news – and writing engaging, informative page titles and page descriptions can make a huge difference when it comes to converting search engine users into website visitors.

Do you need help with your attorney online marketing plan? Call Foster today.

When It Comes to Search Engines, There's More than Just Google

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73420 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

These days, the word “Google” is synonymous with search engine. In fact, it’s common today to hear Google used as a verb. However, even though Google is certainly the behemoth in the search engine industry, it is important to understand that there are other players on the field – and that millions of people use search engines other than Google every day. While some of the search engines are similar to Google, others are less traditional. Let’s take a closer look:

Bing. Launched by Microsoft in 2009, this web search engine may well be Google’s biggest competition to date.
Yahoo! Search. Begun as a website directory in the early stages of the internet, this search engine sees a significant number of queries each day.
YouTube. You may not think of this video website as a search engine, but millions of people search for web videos each day – and the numbers are only growing.
Ask. Founded in 1996, Ask.com is a question-and-answer based search engine that stresses everyday language and user-generated content.
AOL Search. Even though it is number five on the list, this search engine still gets 33 million unique visitors each month.

What does this information mean for lawyer search engine marketing? Google is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to search engine optimization – and the field is always growing and changing. Optimizing your attorney website for Google but ignoring other search engine trends is simply not the best way to plan for the future. Change is the only constant, and your attorney website should be ready for it.

Do you need assistance with attorney website SEO and other online lawyer marketing strategies? Speak with our marketing experts today at 888.886.0939.

It's Not Enough to Be on Page One: Convert Search Queries into Website Visitors!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73419 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

This week, we discussed the three major steps on the road to making your attorney website into a successful online marketing tool. While the first step in the process (getting on page one of the search engines) and the third step in the process (converting website visitors into clients) are obvious to anyone who has dabbled in web marketing, the middle step is often overlooked.

You must get search engine users to click on the search result that leads to your webpage.

When it comes to lawyer search engine marketing, it is simply not enough to be on page one of Google or any other search engine if no one reads the search result and decides to click through to your website. How can you make your Google search result more enticing?

Write a killer title. When someone types words into a search engine, they are looking for information. They have a question that needs answering, and they would like an answer that comes from a reliable source. Does the title of your web page answer a question? Does it let your reader know that the information comes from an expert?
Write a killer meta description. If a reader likes the look of your title, then they will likely glance at your meta description for more information. Is the description relevant to the keywords they typed into the search engine? They better be.

Do you want to learn more about how you can successfully convert search queries into attorney website visitors? Or how to convert your website visitors into clients? Contact the marketing experts at Foster to get started. Call 888.886.0939 today.

Foster Web Marketing's Stance on SOPA and PIPA

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)73445 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

You’ve likely heard a lot about SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act) and PIPA (Protect IP Act), two bills that are making their way through Congress, over the past few weeks. These bills are designed to prevent theft of copyrighted materials on the Internet and would provide the U.S. Department of Justice the ability to shut down sites that do not comply with copyright laws. While well intentioned, we don’t believe this is the solution to stopping piracy on the web. This does not suggest that we are in favor of making it easy to steal copyrighted material, only that there are other solutions that wouldn’t put the freedom of the Internet at stake.

For example, under the proposed legislature sites like Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and YouTube would be held liable for the content posted by their users. These websites rely on user-generated content to exist and it would be impossible for them to monitor all of it closely enough to remain compliant. If you posted a video of yourself singing a Rolling Stones song on YouTube, both you and YouTube could face legal action.

But it wouldn’t just impact major social media networks. If a spammy comment gets by your spam filter and onto your website, you could be liable. Sweeping legislation like this will stifle the growth of the web industry and put a cog in the very effective and ethical web marketing that many small business use to brand themselves and bring in new customers.

As an Internet company and strident believers in web marketing, Foster Web Marketing wants to make our position on these bills very clear. In no way do we support the theft or sharing of copyrighted material illegally, but we do not believe these bills will solve the issue. Smart hackers will pirate content regardless of whether it can be posted on YouTube. Innovation is the key. When Napster was allowing millions of people free access to illegal music, the door was opened to iTunes…an easy, affordable way to distribute music legally. Hollywood must make copyrighted music and video easily accessible in a legal way for people to be persuaded away from illegal activity.

What do you think is a better solution? Comment below!

Your Attorney Video Marketing Tools: Our Green Screen Studio

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)72436 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

What do you see when you look at 90 percent of attorney marketing videos on the internet? You see an attorney, sitting at his or her desk, and talking into a camera. The sound is often tinny, the desk might not be that organized, and the background is just plain boring.

When most people think about green screen technology, they think of movie special effects – dinosaurs, aliens, explosions, and spaceships. But the reality is that green screen technology is a common tool for cinematographers who want to create high-quality, cost-saving, and professional videos.

The green screen difference

How does green screen technology improve video marketing for lawyers? To put it simply, a green screen allows you to create exactly the video that you have in mind – and even videos that you didn’t think were possible. Green screens make it easy to add your law office logo, multiple backgrounds, and text. In addition, a green screen studio provides a closed environment especially built for video – an environment that is constructed to optimize sound and light. Finally, a green screen studio is an inexpensive way to produce a video that would otherwise require multiple locations.

The green screen studio at Fairfax Video Studio

How can your law office take advantage of green screen technology? At Foster Web Marketing, we have our own green screen studio as well as our own team of video producers, writers, and marketing experts. We specialize in leading attorneys through the entire process of getting professional video on their website, from brainstorming initial ideas to seamlessly integrating video onto your site. For more information, call us today at 888.886.0393.

Your Attorney Video Marketing Team: A Professional Spokesmodel

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)72434 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Some people are extremely comfortable getting up in front of a camera and filming video. Other people understandably would rather not be on film or believe that they wouldn’t do the best job at representing their law firm. Still others simply want a professional actor to handle the acting while they focus on lawyering.

At Foster Web Marketing, we understand that, while video marketing for lawyers is important for every law firm, not every lawyer will want to be on video. For those who want a professional to convey the mission of their law firm to visitors, we have spokesmodels on hand to help.

A video spokesperson can raise the quality of your website
Although it is good for your potential clients to get to know you and see your face, there are plenty of good reasons and advantages to using an actor or spokesperson in some or all of your attorney videos. Your lawyer website visitors want to watch videos that feature a well-spoken, confident, and comforting person who can teach them more about their possible case and help them solve their legal issues.

Call today to learn more about our video studio and spokesmodels
At Foster Web Marketing, we have all of the resources you need to create high-quality, expert marketing videos that will reach out to your readers in a way that text simply cannot. From our green screen studio to our scriptwriters to our spokesmodels, we will see your project through from beginning to end. Want to learn more? Call us today at 888.886.0939, or browse our video gallery.

High-Definition Video: Don't Market Your Attorney Website Without It

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)72433 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Do you remember the first time you saw high-definition television? Perhaps you were watching a football game and were wowed by the sight of individual blades of grass. Perhaps it was an action movie where the sound, light, and color made you feel like you were actually there. Whatever you were watching, though, probably looked cleaner, brighter, and sharper.

High-definition video improves all types of viewing experiences

While online attorney videos are a far cry from a professional football game or a multi-million dollar blockbuster, you should know that video marketing for lawyers can benefit from high-definition camerawork just as movies and television have in recent years. Sure, you don’t need to capture live sports or explosions, but you do need to present your best self to potential clients through high-quality sound and video. High-definition video puts your best foot forward by giving viewers the best possible viewing experience, including a sharp image, clear sound, deeper colors, and more artistic shots. Even though your viewers may not immediately notice the difference, they will absolutely notice and appreciate the professional look and feel of your videos.

Shoot your attorney videos in high definition at Fairfax Video Studio

At Foster Web Marketing, our marketing and video experts can help you create moving, high-quality attorney web videos using only the best high-definition cameras and state-of-the-art equipment. We don’t just produce marketing videos for law office websites, we produce the best attorney videos possible using a combination of experienced professionals and high-tech tools. Want to learn more about how you can get video on your website? Call us today at 888.886.0939.

Is Writer's Block Hurting Your Web Marketing?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71792 — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

You want to offer a free book to those who spend time on your website, but writing takes time. The longer you sit in front of your blank monitor the worse your writer's block seems to get. You are probably beginning to ask yourself if a free book offer is really needed.

So...is it needed?

Yes! Books show that you are the expert of whatever the topic happens to be. It also gives those who are not sure if they are going to be a client a chance to “research” their situation on their own - knowing that you are their resource. This will give them a sense of security in your knowledge and cause them to continue digging through your site and form a relationship of trust with you.

The free offer of a book will encourage readers to become loyal clients, and it is a great way to receive the contact information that will be needed once they decide that you will be their representation.

If you are concerned that you do not have the time to devote to writing a book, we have the solution for you. We will write your book for you. Our ghostwriting service provides you with the opportunity to have your book written by a published author who knows how to write books for your target audience. If you have questions about our ghostwriting services or web marketing since the Google Panda update, call us today at 888-886-0939, or fill out our contact form.

Extra! Extra! Smart Web Marketing Equals Free Offers

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71791 — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Everyone loves the word “free,” and most will take whatever is being offered - especially if it is something relevant to them. If a future client comes across your website because they searched for Dallas malpractice, and you offer them a free book regarding this very situation, then you have just secured someone who is going to stay on your site longer than just a glance. Google Panda rewards those sites that can keep a person on it versus someone who clicks on it for only a moment, and this is favorable to your attorney search engine marketing.

What does offering something free do for me?

It gives you contact information without having to ask for it directly. By offering an incentive, the reader has to provide their name, address, email address, phone number – all of their contact information – in order to receive the item. They are giving you their information and probably not even thinking that it is going straight to your contact database.

What can I offer for free?

You have many choices – reports, books, videos, DVDs, and CDs are all great offers, and all can be downloaded straight from your website. This is wonderful for the reader, because they do not have to wait; the needed information is instant. Instant web marketing is always a good thing.

If you are interested in creating a book or report as your free offer but don’t think you have the time to put it together, we can help. We have a published author who will ghostwrite your book for you. For more information, contact us at 888-886-0939, or complete our information form

Use Your Newsletter to Boost Your Search Engine Marketing

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71790 — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

One way to expand the reaches of your attorney website and boost your web marketing is through building a community. A simple way of doing this is to have a newsletter that is sent out on a monthly, bi-monthly, or weekly schedule.

What should I include in my newsletter?

Your latest and greatest achievements! Use this as a time to brag about your expertise and your experience. The newsletter should include the top news from your area, so that it is relevant and interesting to those receiving the newsletter.

Be sure to check that all the links are in working order. Do not send a link regarding a Dallas big rig accident that takes the reader to your case regarding a medical malpractice case. Also, always include links to your social media websites along with your contact information.

How does this enhance my search engine marketing?

As more and more people receive your newsletter and use the links to your website and social media websites, you will need to be on your toes and always have new content. You will have clients who are posting questions and/or leaving comments. It will keep you active and your web marketing active. By having this content and activity, your web marketing will stay on top of the search engines.

If you have an interest in using the internet to expand your web presence, contact Foster Web Marketing for a free consultation today.

The Hunt for Foreign Keywords

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71254 — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you are a lawyer in a rural area or small town, then English may be the only language of your concern; however, if you are lawyer in the city of Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, or any other major city in the States, then you must remember to include multiple languages regarding your keywords. Yes, you have worked so hard to have the perfect keywords in English, and now you must think about them in another language. No person should be left out. Your lawyer website needs foreign keywords if it is going to expand its web presence.

Here are some tips for picking up the correct, foreign keywords:

In some languages there may be multiple words for our one word. For example, we may use the word “injure,” yet Spanish speakers may use “herido” or “lesion.” The task is to find out which one is the most productive keyword.
You need to know which version of the language to use: universal, local, or regional. This is all dependent on how narrowly you want to target your audience.
You will either want to hire someone who is bilingual or already have bilingual staff, so that they can help you with the nuances of the language.

In the end, it is very important to use the right tools and people. Get it right, and your web presence has just grown through reaching out to a population with little representation.

If you have an interest in using the internet to expand your web presence, contact Foster Web Marketing for a free legal consultation today.

Pay Attention to Your Practice Area Pages

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71251 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

A future client has had an auto accident, but it involved a truck, and they are not sure if you handle that type of accident in your practice. They want to find out because they have heard from a friend of a friend of a friend that you are the best. How can they gather this information quickly and effectively on your lawyer website? Through your practice area pages.

A good example comes from Foster Web Marketing client Rasansky Law Firm, located in Dallas, Texas. He has a “Practice Area” tab, and he lists all his broad areas of practice. Within each block of practice area, he has buttons for the specific areas that come under that practice area. Once you click on the specific one you need, you are taken to a page that has general information regarding that area of practice. From there, there are tabs that will take you to blogs, the library, FAQs, videos, and resources specific to the particular area of practice you chose. The outline would look like this for the scenario above:

Vehicle Accident
- Truck Crash
  - Blog regarding vehicle accidents involving truck crashes

The more attention you give to your practice area page on your lawyer website, the better informed your client will be, which will generate a respect for you and your expertise. Make it so that they are able to gather as much information as possible without getting lost along the way.

For information on how we can help you convert more prospects to clients using your website, contact us today at 888.886.0939, and be sure to order our free report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites.

Keep Your Blog "Hot" on Your Lawyer Website

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)71250 — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

You have a blog on your lawyer website, and you want to keep it interesting, relevant, and informative to your current readers so that they remain readers. But you also want to attract new readers, as well. You are busy, though, and there are not enough hours in the day to survey people to find out what they want to know. Also, with information moving so fast due to the internet, what was popular in the morning may have fallen to the wayside by dinner time! So, how do you find out what the people want to know and what they are already curious about without having to spend hours of wasted research? Google Trends.

What is Google Trends?

Google Trends is a free tool for you to use and, just on its main page, you can view the top ten topics/keywords that people are searching. For example, around eight in the morning on December 4^th, Oklahoma State was the third most searched. Its “hotness” rate was mild, and its search peaked last night. Google Trends also shows all the news articles and blogs in which Oklahoma State was discussed.

It is a very useful tool because it will keep you on top of what is current, meaning that you will be one of the firsts to write about it. If you can be alert to the ever-changing news, then you become the go-to blog for readers. They will begin to trust your expertise and depend on you to bring them the news.

We know what needs to be done at Foster Web Marketing, and we currently offer two different services to help extend your reach and exposure online.

Find out why you NEED A Foster Web Marketing blog by clicking here.

The Tools of Search Engine Marketing

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70228 — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

In order to use SEM to its fullest, you must know what tools are in the toolbox and how to use them. There are many tools to use, and they fall into the following four categories:

Keyword Research & Analysis – The three major goals of this category are to make sure that site can be indexed in the search engines, find the most relevant and popular key words/phrases for your website and practice, and use those found key words/phrases in a way that will create traffic.
Website Saturation & Popularity – This shows your search engine footprint. How many pages you have indexed on a search engine, and how many times is your site linked to another site?
Back-End Tools – These tools are the tools offered to you by other websites. For example, Google Analytics, YouTube Insight, and Twitter Web Analytics.
Who Is Tools – This useful tool will show who owns and operates various websites. It also provides information regarding copyright and trademark issues.

Search engine marketing contains its own box of tools, and, if all are used in conjunction and correctly, it will benefit your placement on any search results page.

Search Engine Marketing Success for Lawyers: #9

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70227 — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

No, we are not talking about a love potion. We are talking about number nine from the ten steps to a successful search engine marketing plan:

Get in the news, such as Google News with RSS feeds

In order to make the news, you need to use the news. This means that you need to use RSS feeds, as well, and you need to use them quickly. You must be the first one reading about the “Occupy” movement, so that your attorney website has the first blog about it. By being the first, you are now the originator rather than the regurgitator. This is good for two reasons:

You now have the authority over this topic, which produces loyal clients who respect you.
Your search rankings have gone up because of your clients, who are connected to you through your own RSS feed and have cited you on their own pages/blogs, which spreads your name and reputation to others.

By applying the search engine marketing plan and doing it well, you not only boost your spot on search engine pages, you encourage your current clients and gather future clients along the way. It is a win-win situation. For more information, give us a call at 1.888.886.0939. Also, be sure to order one of our many free books!

10 Steps to a Successful Search Engine Marketing Plan for Lawyers

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70226 — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

To be successful in any part of your web marketing, you need a plan. Search engine marketing is no different. Here are the ten steps to a successful search engine marketing plan:

Research your target audience.
Set your online goals and key performance indicators.
Build an initial list of important keywords that represent your current and most relevant content and potential content.
Validate your keywords by testing and refining them with your keyword selector tools, such as Yahoo Keyword Selector, Google Keyword Selector, Google Trends, and Keyword Discovery.
Check your current ranking.
Optimize the website by improving your web design, architecture, and page content.
Pursue link-building and partnerships.
Colonize the Web by publishing and circulating it on wiki, blog, video, and picture sites (like Flickr and Youtube).
Get in the news, such as Google News with RSS feeds.
Install good tracking software, and track and analyze your performance for better results.

As you can see, to be successful, you will need yourself and your team to take charge of the web and all its aspects. Each “front” has the potential to lift your attorney website to the very top. It will take time and trial and error, but will be well worth it in the end when you see your website as the number-one search result.

To learn more about how you can use search engine marketing to boost your law practice, call us today at 1.888.886.0939 or order a free book!

What's Better than One Call to Action on Websites for Lawyers? Find Out!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70225 — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

You may have read our article about the importance of strong, well-developed calls to action. You may have read our article about the importance of having a call to action on every page of your attorney website. However, did you know that it is important to offer your attorney website visitors more than one way to act?

Different calls to action for different people

Why do you need more than one call to action on your attorney website? It’s simple: Different people are comfortable taking action in different ways. While one visitor may feel best talking to a real person over the phone, another visitor might prefer to live chat with someone on the computer. While one website user may be looking for a free legal ebook, another user may want to set up a free consultation. The only way to make a connection with all of these people is to offer them different avenues.

It’s as simple as the word OR

It’s easy to add another option to your calls to action. Let your website visitors know that they can call you today OR that they can check out your complimentary guide on accident claims. Tell them that they are free to fill out a contact form OR stop by your office to schedule an appointment. OR lets your website users know that you aren’t commanding them or pressuring them, you are giving them options and letting them take control.

Maximize the power of your calls to action

Need more guidance when it comes to developing successful calls to action? We specialize in websites for lawyers and online marketing. Call us today at 1.888.886.0939 to speak to one of our marketing experts OR fill out the contact form at the top of this page. Get started today!

20 (Yes, 20!) Call-to-Action Ideas for Attorneys & Law Offices

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70223 — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Go to any attorney website on the internet, and scroll to the bottom of the page. We assure you that, 99% of the time, you’ll find an offer for a “free, no-obligation consultation.” While it is great to offer potential clients a free meeting, it is also important to understand that you have the opportunity to offer your visitors more.

Here are 20 different examples of calls to action for lawyer websites:

Schedule a free consultation.
Fill out an electronic contact form.
Find out if you have a case.
Talk to a lawyer.
Get your legal questions answered.
Share your contact information.
Connect with us on Google+.
Request a free offer.
Learn more.
Sign up for our weekly newsletter.
Tell us your story.
Drop by our law office.
Download our free legal guide or ebook.
Leave a comment on our blog post.
Follow us on Twitter.
Follow us on Facebook.
Chat now with an online representative.
Download our app.
Contact us!
Call us!

This list is far from a complete look at calls to action – get creative, be unique, and remember to offer something that will help your potential clients.

Need help developing the calls to action on your attorney website? Let our expert lawyer marketing team help. Call Foster Web Marketing today at 1.888.886.0939 - or fill out our contact form, or live chat with a representative…

A Chicken in Every Pot, And a Call to Action on Every Page!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)70224 — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 08:00:00 EST

Here’s a mistake we often see on websites for lawyers: They have a call to action, but it’s only present on their homepage or their “Contact Us” page. While that’s a great start, you should know that you can significantly increase conversions and contacts by making sure there is a call to action on every page of your website.

Why is it important to have a call to action on all of your pages?

When visitors find your page through a search engine, chances are that they do not go directly to your home page – and they might not even land on your practice area page. In many cases, they will be directed to a library article, a frequently asked question, or a blog post. If these pages don’t contain a call to action (or more than one call to action), then they may well navigate away from your website altogether.

On the other hand, if all of your pages contain one or more calls to action – and opportunities to explore the topic further on related pages of your website – visitors are more likely to contact you and get to know your law office. This will not only get you more conversions and more clients, it will also lower your bounce rate – a statistic that search engines use to rank your website.

Do you need assistance with your attorney website calls to action, or do you need to revamp your lawyer website altogether? We can help. Call Foster Web Marketing today at 1.888.886.0939 to learn more about our online marketing services.

In the Post-Panda World, Beware Redundant Website Content

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)69587 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Any attorney who has been paying attention to the world of lawyer website design knows that posting duplicate content is a huge no-no. Duplicate content is unoriginal, unhelpful to readers, and hated by the Google search engine spiders. However, did you know that it can also be harmful to post redundant content or repetitive content?

Just days after the Google Panda update was released, Google's website featured an article outlining 23 different ways website owners could make certain that they were posting Panda-friendly content. One of the 23 questions you should ask of your website was whether or not you post redundant articles, content on overlapping topics, and articles with different keyword variations plugged in.

What is the difference between posting articles with similar topics and posting redundant articles? Here are a few pointers:

Beware of article spinning, which is when writers rewrite the same basic article in multiple ways by using synonyms and restructuring sentences.
Always strive for unique content and unique reporting - not simply rewriting what someone else has already said.
Be an authority on your subject, not an echo chamber.
Be wary of mass-produced content or content that is not specifically tailored for your site.

Do you have redundant and repetitive content woes and need assistance with the articles on your attorney website? Talk to the marketing experts at Foster today. You can learn more secrets to writing great content or partner with professional legal writers to regularly post new content on your site.

The Moral of the Google Panda Story

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)69586 — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

After Google updated its search engine protocol with Google Panda, the web was abuzz with information about what Google Panda does, which pages it harms, and what we could do to make the Panda like our websites. But from all of the new strategies, tactics, and SEO ideas that resulted from the Google Panda release, there is one central, simple truth: Google Panda rewards websites that put their users first.

Let's repeat that: search engines will always reward websites that focus on the needs of its users.

Why is this true? Google's job as the leading search engine is to successfully connect users with what they are looking for. And users are, without exception, looking for accurate information, an easy-to-use website, and someone who can help them with what they need. As Google improves its search engine, it will only continue to reward websites that help visitors, and it will only continue to penalize websites that are just playing the game and looking for traffic.

What does this lesson mean for lawyer website design and your own attorney website? Think about what your visitors want:

Fast-loading pages
Unique and interesting content
Up-to-date and information
Intuitive design
The answers to their questions
Solutions to their problems

The solution is simple, but it also takes some hard work, some thought, and some time. If you need help with your online attorney marketing and tackling SEO for your lawyer website, give Foster Web Marketing a call at 1.888.886.0939.

Out of Fashion: Black Hat Marketing Strategies

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)69585 — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

It's time to clean out your closet. Those black hat SEO strategies are not only woefully out of date - they are hurting your page rank and your traffic.

What are "black hat" SEO strategies? Basically, it is any search engine optimization strategy that uses deception or misdirection to trick sites like Google and increase your traffic.

Why are black hat marketing strategies so harmful to your website? The new search engine update, Google Panda, now allows Google to pinpoint many black hat strategies and dock the sites that use them. In addition, future search engine algorithm updates will also likely target those "cheating" with black hat marketing tactics.

So, what pieces in your lawyer website design closet need to go? Here are the biggest black hat fashion faux pas:

Keyword stuffing. Having too many keywords on a page is now a red flag for Google. It's okay to incorporate keywords, but keep the writing natural.
Link farming. Any backlink is a good backlink, right? Wrong. Focus on organic linking from related websites with high PageRanks, and avoid taking the easy way out with paid spamdexing and other shady linking practices.
Content stealing. Sure, the article might be great, but it belongs to someone else. Also, Google will recognize duplicate content and penalize you.
Cloaking. Why would you show the Google spiders one thing and show your readers another? This is a deceptive practice that is punished by the Panda.

What is in for the post-Panda season? White hat SEO techniques, of course. To learn more about what your attorney website should be doing, contact the marketing experts at Foster today. Begin by giving us a call at 1.888.886.0939.

Think Beyond the Competition 2

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68744 — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

When it comes to choosing the "accessories" of you lawyer website, such as colors and fonts, you may think the flashier the better. Unfortunately, this is not the case. You must actually think about what the user will see on their monitor versus what you see on your monitor.

Fonts

Fonts - there are thousands of them out there. Everyone knows the usual culprits. For example, Georgia, Trebuchet, Arial, and Verdana - these fonts are what we call "web safe" fonts. They are safe because they are default fonts that everyone has on their own computer or any computer they happen to be using. The most commonly used and easy to read are Georgia and Trebuchet.

To Serif or Not to Serif

It is recommended to always use a sans serif font because a monitor, no matter how good it is, has less resolution than a piece of paper with words printed on it. The serif part of the font tends to blur making it harder to read. Without the serif, the words are cleaner on the screen. Verdana was actually a font created just for use on the web.

Color

Again, as with fonts, colors vary from monitor to monitor. You want to choose a web-safe color that all monitors running on a 256 color palette are able to see as you see it. When choosing the colors you want to use, there are hexadecimal codes that are used instead of the "name" of the color. These codes define the color. To find these codes and colors, look up "browser safe colors" for your choices.

When designing your first website or redesigning your current site, remember to think about what users may or may not see on their side of the monitor. It may look hip and unique from your chair, but their eyes may see black when you see gray.

Beyond the Homepage

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68743 — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Your homepage needs to be spectacular, of course. It is very important; however, it is not the most important page and may not even be the first page a future client clicks on. Hopefully, if you have done your keyword/SEO homework, the first page he or she clicks on is the one that is relevant, and this should not be your homepage. The page may be a blog, an article, or a practice page. Read below for more about blogging, articles, and practice pages that you need to include in your lawyer web design.

Blog: Blogs allow you to add more content to your site in a very simple way. Search engines love this type of content because the content is relevant and fresh. You can post about a recent case or, if it is part of your brand, even write about a personal, family event.

Article: They are capable of increasing the traffic on your website. Each article can be specific to one of your areas of practice. The articles can then link to your blog and practice area pages.

Practice Page: As with the articles, you can have specific practice pages. When users click on that link, it is speaking directly them, and they will continue to dig into your website - and ideally become loyal clients.

With each designed page, remember to always include a call-to-action, perhaps an incentive, and your contact information. And always remember: you are more than just a homepage.

Think Beyond the Competition

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68742 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Your attorney web site has a design that looks amazing, but looks are not everything. You need to be able to think beyond the actual look; what is "in" will soon be "out" as technology changes and improves. Here are a 4 tips to keep in mind as you think about your lawyer website design:

Dynamic - your content should be alive, always changing, and interesting. Keep it fresh and relevant to your clients.
Ego - get rid of it! Your website is about your practice, not about you. Your clients should know about your practice before they know about you.
Video - 62% of Americans watch online video - need we say more?
Answer - you are the answer! Always think about what you can say to rid your future clients of all hesitation. Showcase your expertise, so that there is no question that your practice is the only practice for them.

Design does not stop at the facade of your attorney website; it is only the beginning. If you are able to think beyond what you are able to see, then your website and practice will score above the rest.

If You Want Great Online Attorney Videos, You Need Great Lighting

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68741 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Making an attorney video is as simple as setting up a camera and pressing record, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. Great online lawyer videos - videos that keep visitors' attention, improve your website's page ranking, and convert readers - require well-written scripts, quality recording equipment, and professional lighting.

Why is great lighting so important for lawyer videos? It's simple: quality lighting makes it easier for visitors to connect with the attorney speaking and quality lighting makes your video look professional. Dark videos can appear grainy and unwelcoming, and more than that, they send a message that your law firm doesn't appreciate excellence. Here are four tips on keeping your online videos looking sharp, clean, and bright:

Use more than one light source.
Avoid setting lights behind you.
Use light reflectors to prevent shadows.
Be sure to white balance your camera.

While it is certainly possible to create good-looking attorney videos by yourself after conducting some research and with the appropriate equipment, using a professional team can take the burden of video production completely off of your shoulders. At Foster Web Marketing, we have access to a green screen studio, the best available equipment, and talented cinematographers, which means your next great lawyer video just one call away. Schedule a meeting today about creating video for lawyers by calling 1.888.886.0939.

Video Web Marketing: The Lucky Seven

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68494 — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Once you have decided to fully utilize all the web has to offer for your attorney website by using video, you now have to decide what type to use and what will speak to your clients. Here is a list of video types that can help further your web marketing:

Product Demo. Use this to prove that something works and prove that your practice works by showing a positive outcome from one of your current cases.
Promotional. Promote your free e-books using this method instead of a newsletter.
Training or Educational. Use this type to educate your clients. This not only empowers them, it also builds trust from your clients to you because you are the teacher in this process.
Fun. These videos always have the opportunity to go viral, and your video may end up on Facebook, YouTube, and/or Twitter. If you have the time, or if your practice is more casual, personal, and family-oriented, take the time to show a different side to your attorney practice.
Staff. Allow your clients to not only know your face, but to know the face of your staff. That way, when they walk in that door, they already know who they are meeting.
Podcasts or Video Blogs. Just a fancier, more premium way to present your content versus having your client read your content.
Testimonials. Future clients want to know what your current clients think of you, which is why leaving comments is so important. Having testimonial videos is a perfect way to not only receive this information, but also build trust. The future client is hearing the testimony from the actual person. It is an honest way to get the public's opinion of you out there.

As you read through the types of videos and begin to take the step into this media landscape, make sure you choose the video that best represents your practice. There is no need to do all seven, but perhaps a few of them fit the image you want perceived. Choose wisely, and open up the world of videos to your practice.

A Flip Video Camera is Not Sufficient for Great Attorney Videos!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68740 — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Camcorders and home video cameras used to be large, difficult to use, and expensive. Today, the advent of Flip video cameras and other digital video cameras give many amateur videographers a small, affordable, and easy-to-use option for capturing memories, video blogging, and documenting events. However, are Flip video cameras a good choice for attorneys wishing to create quality online videos?

While small, handheld video cameras are a convenient way to capture video, they are far from the best option when producing online lawyer videos. Although you can record attorney videos on these small cameras and post them online, they may suffer from many common quality issues, including:

Poor sound quality
Poor video quality
Shaky video
Lighting issues

It is absolutely possible for attorneys to make their own website videos without professional help, but it is vital that your videos look and sound great in order for them to be effective lawyer marketing tools. A video that is hard to hear, shaky, or poorly scripted will not help your website's page ranking, conversion rate, or usefulness. High-quality videos, on the other hand, can truly help you connect with web visitors and accomplish your SEO goals.

For more information on how you can begin adding quality attorney videos to your website, browse our library of lawyer video articles. To speak with one of our online attorney video experts, call us today at 1.888.886.0939, or fill out the quick contact form on this page.

The High Points of Web Video

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68492 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Web 2.0 is what the internet is today, and this just means that you now have access to self-publish. You can do this by creating your own website, updating and adding content, promoting through social network websites such as Facebook and Twitter, and/or adding your attorney practice to Google Places, Yelp, and FourSquare. Another underutilized medium for self-publishing is web video.

Video Makes Your Practice Come Alive

Web videos are a great self-publishing tool because you have to power to show your clients and future clients who you are -- literally! They will see your face, hear your voice, and be able to view your physical space (if you use your office as a backdrop) before they even step foot outside their homes. A video is an excellent way to allow your clients into your attorney practice and see it in action.

Video Reaches Further than Words

Video is dynamic and descriptive through its images and sound. A user who finds your website through a search engine will feel as if they are interacting with you when they watch your video versus reading flat words on the screen that may or may not apply to them. Video is an effective way to connect with the people at home.

Testimony

Here is what Virginia DUI Attorney Bob Battle has to say regarding the decision to add video to his Web site:

Because of the great positioning my Web site gets in the search engines and the fact that most people who see the outstanding design and content on my Web site decide to hire me before I even speak with them, I have chosen not to participate in the recession!

His video on BobBattleLaw.com was featured in an article in Lawyers USA in 2008.

Do not be left out! Join in the world of Web 2.0, and reach out to your clients and future clients in a new and updated way through your web videos.

Shooting Attorney Videos with Webcams Can Leave Visitors Cold

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68739 — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

A webcam can be a very valuable tool for attorneys - for example, a webcam on your desktop or laptop computer can allow you to meet "face to face" with clients and potential clients online. However, using a webcam to create online lawyer videos is not the best way to connect with website visitors, convert readers, or help your page rankings.

Why are webcam videos a poor option for attorney videos? Although the quality of webcam picture and sound has improved recently, your videos will often be dark, grainy, and difficult to hear. At the same time, webcams can be difficult to angle correctly - and the backdrop is undoubtedly the back wall of your office. If you want to make a first impression on potential clients that paints you as a professional, high-powered lawyer with a focus on thoroughness and quality, the webcam is not the way to go!

At Foster Web Marketing, we provide our attorneys with high-definition video, expert lighting, crisp sound, and SEO-optimized tags that make each online lawyer video highly watchable, effective, and professional. We understand that, while it is important to add video to your attorney website, it is just as important to make sure you outdo your competition. Want to learn more about our lawyer video services? Watch a few of our videos for lawyers, and give us a call today at 1.888.886.0939.

Know Your YouTube

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68489 — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Here are a few facts:

Youtube gets over 3 billion views every single day
Youtube Mobile gets over 100 million views per day
35 hours of footage is uploaded to Youtube each & every minute
More video is uploaded to Youtube every 60 Days than the 3 Major US TV networks have produced in 60 years!

YouTube was birthed six years ago and is the world's largest video sharing platform, and it ranks as the second largest search engine in the world. That is so important for you to remember - YouTube is a search engine.

Search Engine State of Mind

You have conquered the rankings of Google and Bing. Once you think of YouTube as a search engine of the same degree, you will want your attorney web marketing to conquer their ranks as well. To accomplish this, you want to create attention-grabbing, relevant videos that viewers will watch in their entirety. You want to garner "likes," comments, and views. Take the time to come up with the best tags so that your clients and future clients can search and find you.

The younger generation knows how to search for what they need, and they will go through all the available search engines to find it. If they know they want a video, YouTube is the place to go. Do not forget this gargantuan search tool when it comes to your attorney practice.

How Lawyers Can Use Podcasting as a Marketing Platform

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67811 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

When it comes to your attorney marketing, there are so many different avenues you may take, including print, radio, the World Wide Web. Within the Web, there is your personal site, your social media sites, and an eye on your search engine optimization. There is another medium that you may be missing, though - podcasts.

What are they?

A podcast is an audio file, usually in MP3 format, that a user may either listen to from their computer or download and listen to on their MP3 player. They usually have the option to subscribe to the podcast. When a new podcast is uploaded, it will automatically download onto their player. This way, the user is able to constantly stay updated.

What are the benefits?

1. Reach a new audience. The home computer is no longer convenient for the modern user. No one is ever at home, and we demand information on the go. A podcast is a great way to reach this busy generation.
2. Build a relationship with your listeners. As it is with all of the ways you contact your clients, you want to use it to build trust between them and you. The sound of your voice is an excellent way to accomplish this task.
3. Authority. A podcast will highlight your expertise and your practice.
4. Respond to customer feedback. Your clients will feel special if you respond to their questions through Facebook or Twitter, but to actually hear their name "live" will cause even more of an impact on that individual client. Likewise, it will also perk up the interest of others who would like to hear their name, as well.

Is it right for you?

Can you set-up a regularly updated podcast? If the podcast aspect of your attorney marketing goes stale, then there is no point. Be sure you are able to update it as often as you update your website and other social media sites.

Try it out. Let your clients not only know your face, but know your voice and your expertise. It's a great way to let them know that you have their best interest in mind.

Google Hiding Some Search Queries: What Does It Mean For Marketers?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68031 — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Last week, Google announced that it will make Google searches "secure" for all logged-in users - meaning that anyone who is signed in to Google will automatically make encrypted SSL (secured socket layer) searches. While that might sound like a bunch of technical nonsense to many readers, the new security measures do have repercussions for online marketers, law firm websites, and anyone with an online business or webpage.

Here's the bad news first...

When you move from an unsecured URL (http) to a secured URL (https), the user gains security, but those with websites who are tracking traffic lose very useful information. Although Google Analytics can still show you keyword reports that include some of the information regarding these searches, this new change may mean that you will not have access to an accurate or complete list of long-tail keywords.

Very simply, website owners and marketers will lose part of a valuable tool: knowing how search engine users find your website and what pages on your site they visit.

But there's a bright side, too...

It's important to note that secure user searches will only take place if someone is logged into his or her Google account. Currently, less than one out of ten searches fall under this category.

In addition, you should understand that referrer blocking won't have an affect on ads - if a user clicks on one of your Google ads, you will still get the same information as before, whether or not they are logged in to their account.

Need more information regarding search engine optimization, online marketing, or referrer blocking? Call Foster Web Marketing today, and take control of the success of your website.

Clogging up the Streets and the System

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67810 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

First, they occupied the streets. Now, their lawyers want them to occupy the court rooms - if the charges are not dropped.

In New York City, there are about 800 Wall Street protesters who have been arrested in the last month and are now being represented by lawyers who are threatening to clog up the Manhattan court system, which already deals with an estimated 90,000 cases a year. Most of those who were arrested were issued summonses for violations and desk-appearance tickets for minor crimes. The first-time offenders of the group will probably be offered "adjournment in contemplation of dismissal" (i.e., charges are tossed after six months if the offender is not re-arrested). As of October 17^th, five of the 47 held overnight were dismissed due to lack of evidence. On November 15^th, 60 demonstrators are due to appear before a judge.

Most of the demonstrators are seeking trials - rather than pleas or deals - if the charges are not dropped. If this does happen, then the National Lawyer's Guild will represent the protesters pro bono. Martin Stolar, a defense lawyer whose organization has offered to represent the protesters, stated that they are prepared to try every case.

With all the many demonstrations going on in multiple cities, the future of Occupy Wall Street will be in the court rooms for an indefinite period of time.

How Your Website Can Take Advantage of Current Events & Breaking News

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)68030 — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Not surprisingly, breaking news and current events create a significant increase in related search engine queries, which means a large number of interested readers are looking for information and insight into the latest headlines.

Finding the right angle...

If the current event is somehow related to your products and services, it is vital that you react to the news quickly with blog posts, informative articles, news pieces, and videos. For example, if you are a products liability attorney, you should immediately post information about a large Toyota recall or a nationally covered defective product accident. If you are a damage claim attorney, you should be ready with a content blast following any large storm or hurricane.

Or getting creative...

However, if the current event or headline doesn't have anything to do with your business or profession, you can still use the daily news as inspiration for your marketing strategies. Here at Foster Web Marketing, for example, we noticed the countrywide spotlight on Occupy Wall Street and borrowed the idea for our own Occupy Main Street campaign, which is focused on smart marketing and organic content. The secret to using unrelated breaking news to boost your content is to borrow ideas, symbols, and themes from current events and make them your own.

Want to learn more about creative marketing strategies that work? Contact an online marketing expert at Foster today, and start improving your own website.

Checking Your Links' Travel Paths

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67809 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

You have links throughout your website, and your website consists of pages upon pages. You have ultimate control over your own site and can go through and make the appropriate updates and changes when needed, but what do you do when the links you use are no longer working? You do not have control over those sites, but there needs to be a way for you to make sure the links on your page are always working.

How to check using Google Chrome

Built within Chrome is the option to "Check My Links." This link checker is fast, checks multiple pages at once, and even provides you the error for the link(s) not working.

How to use "Check My Links"

First, install Chrome if you have not already. Then go to the extension install page. Next, click on the icon that now appears in the top right of your browser window. Your links are now being reviewed.

This tool is simple, easy to use, and will keep your web marketing polished. Clients and future clients who use your site will appreciate the time you take to make sure that everything on your site is working and current. Nothing looks worse than a site that leads to nowhere.

How to Pique Interest for Your Attorney Website Content

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67548 — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

Content will always be the most important item when it comes to websites, blogs, articles, speeches, and the like; however, no one will know if you have relevant, interesting content if the spotlight is missing. The spotlight is your headline. Think about Las Vegas and all of its fancy, neon signs. Think of the title of your favorite book. Think of the intriguing headlines you spot on tabloids as you wait to pay for your groceries. Headlines are what make the reader turn to page two.

How can you create attention-grabbing headlines?

Present a solution to a problem. Think about what problems your practice solves, and go from there. Perhaps your practice revolves around big rig crashes. A headline you may have is "What You Need to Protect Yourself after a Big Rig Accident." Another example might be "What You Can Do to Trim the Cost of Your Health Insurance with the New Health Care Laws."

Ask a compelling question. What questions are your clients asking? Use their questions to headline your answers. For example, you might title an article "Are You Preparing Wisely for Your Retirement?"

Introduce a list. Everyone loves a quick list that can be referenced for future use. Share a secret and/or stir up controversy. You will never be able to make every individual happy. Controversy sparks conversation and interest. Here are a few examples: "Five Things the Major Pharmaceutical Companies Don't Want You to Know about Their Brands Versus Generics" and "9 Tips for Successfully Preparing Your Taxes."

Tabloids will always have the most sensational of headlines, and you definitely do not need to go that far, but keep in mind that tabloid headlines do garner interest. Give time and thought to your headlines and your content. Grab the eyes of your future clients through headlines, and earn their loyalty through content.

Buffer App Review: A Great Social Media Tool for Lawyers on the Go

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67547 — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

There are literally hundreds of thousands of mobile apps available today - but only a handful of them can truly help with attorney mobile marketing and online lawyer marketing. We've found a new app that we think is a great tool, and it's a simple way to make sure you are making the most of your social media updates and Tweets.

What is the Buffer app?

Buffer allows you to form a queue of Tweets from your computer or your mobile device, and it then spreads those Tweets out during the day. The application allows you to avoid Tweeting a lot of good content all at once and instead helps you share content at times when followers will be most interested. In addition, Buffer allows you to better understand the impact of each of your Tweets by analyzing data from Twitter.

How can Buffer help your attorney marketing strategy?

It can be difficult to use Twitter throughout the day, which is the most effective way to use social networking sites to help your business. Buffer allows you to make a group of Tweets all at once and then posts them intermittently. In addition, Buffer's Twitter analytics helps you better understand who your Tweets are reaching and what the response is.

Want to learn more about how mobile applications could help your lawyer website or how your attorney website can go mobile? Contact Foster Web Marketing today.

How Will the iPhone 4S Affect Lawyer Mobile Marketing?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67546 — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 08:00:00 EST

In just the first weekend of availability, computer and technology powerhouse Apple announced that they had sold over 4 million units of their new smartphone, the iPhone 4S. The phone outsold all other mobile devices in history, and solidified the iPhone as the most popular smartphone on the market today.

But what does this mean to online marketing strategies for lawyers and mobile marketing for attorneys? While many critics were quick to point out that the new iPhone 4S did not offer users many new features or benefits, there is one aspect of the new cell phone that has many marketing experts rethinking mobile SEO: Siri, the personal assistant.

New Voice Recognition Software Could Change Mobile Marketing

The biggest change that the iPhone 4S brings to the mobile marketing table is voice recognition software, which allows smartphone users to easily and accurately search the web simply by talking to their automated personal assistant Siri.

Siri may mean iPhone users search for businesses on the internet more often with their cell phones - and it may lead users to utilize different keywords and phrases in searches since they will be speaking instead of typing.

It is still too early to tell what effects voice recognition software and smartphone personal assistants will have on the mobile marketing world - but it is something to think about and watch.

Does your law firm need assistance with attorney mobile marketing? Talk to our experts today.

Do Grammar and Spelling Affect My Search Rankings?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67213 — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Spelling and grammar are not currently used by Google to directly assess the quality of lawyer web pages. However, even though writing quality does not directly affect your how your attorney website ranks, it absolutely can affect both the popularity and effectiveness of your website.

Google has found that accurate spelling and good grammar are often linked with highly-ranked web pages; that is, the higher a page is ranked, the better its spelling and grammar. What does this tell us? Readers appreciate pages that are well written, and other websites are more likely to link to well-written content.

Remember: content should not be written for search engines - it should be written for readers who need legal help. Would you call a lawyer whose website is full of poorly-constructed sentences, spelling mistakes, and slapdash content? Never. Would you call a lawyer who has clear, easy-to-understand content about the issues you care about? Absolutely.

Far too many web marketers and search engine optimizers focus on how search engines evaluate web pages, but the truth is that search engine algorithms strive to evaluate web pages like human readers. No matter what changes Google implements in the future, you can always make your website better by thinking about what your readers want. Without fail, they want typo-free, clear, and quality writing.

Is your attorney website in need of dynamic, high-quality content? The legal writers with Foster Web Marketing can help. Call 1.888.886.0939.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qoFf6Kn4K98

How Steve Jobs Changed Web Marketing Forever

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67211 — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

This week, the world lost one its greatest businessmen, innovators, and visionaries -- Apple co-founder and former CEO Steve Jobs. The 56-year-old marketing guru lost his battle with pancreatic cancer on Wednesday, but not before giving the world a plethora of well-designed and groundbreaking products that changed the way we live and the way we communicate.

Here are a few monumental marketing lessons from Steve Jobs:

Good marketing educates people. Jobs believed that marketing shouldn't be about tricking people into choosing your product or service, it should be about educating them so that they understand that your product is something they want.
Simple can be harder than complex. Jobs may be most famous for the simple, intuitive design of his company's products. He was sure to explain that these "simple" devices often took hard work to develop, but that they were well worth the time and effort.
People don't know what they want until you show it to them. Job's wasn't a big fan of focus groups or even listening to what customers wanted - he believed that the best ideas are the ones that no one has even thought of yet. Yes, you should give customers what they want, but often they can't put those desires into words.

And here's a lesson that isn't about marketing, but about life: Jobs was emphatic about living each day as your last - and looking in the mirror each morning and asking what you will do each day to get closer to your dream.

Here at Foster Web Marketing, we will remember what Jobs accomplished as well as his timeless marketing lessons.

Google+ Is Open To The Public, But Activity Has Plummeted – Now What?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67210 — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google's new social networking site Google+ recently switched from its invite-only system to a system that is open to the public. However, soon after, activity on the Facebook competitor fell by a staggering 60 percent. While the website reportedly already has an estimated 43 million users, a large number of those who have signed up for accounts have not stuck around to use the site's features.

Why hasn't Google+ taken off?

Some social media experts believe that the website simply doesn't have enough unique features or benefits in comparison to Facebook to make people switch to something new.

Has Google+ peaked for good?

Many believe that we shouldn't write off Google+ altogether. The website is still planning to add new features, and a social networking site that is integrated with Google's many other successful ventures could find success down the road.

Should I sign my attorney website up for Google+?

Businesses and fan pages are not yet available on the website, but they are expected to be soon. In fact, the business pages may offer better opportunities for marketing than Facebook. We will have to wait and see.

Still confused about how your attorney website can take advantage of social networking sites to improve business and attract high-quality cases? Talk to the social media experts at Foster Web Marketing, and make sure your lawyer website isn't left in the dust.

Blekko - The Latest in Search Engines

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67094 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google, Bing, and Yahoo are the most well-known search engines, but there are other search engines out there. Blekko is the newest addition to the search engine family.

Blekko was launched in November 2010 and, during its first week, had more than 1 million queries. It boasts that it is better than Google due to its search results garnered from a bank of 3 million trusted websites. Blekko says you will receive no spam results from them. They have recently received $30 million in funding, including a substantial sum from Europe's largest internet company Yandex.

John C. Dvorak, an American columnist and broadcaster in the areas of technology and computing, stated, "[Blekko is] the best out-of-the-chute new engine I've seen in the last 10 years."

How does it work?

Blekko uses slashtags for their searches. This allows for ease of searching and categorizing searches. Though it may look and act different, Blekko, as with the other search engines, is looking for content. Relevant, updated, and resourceful content on your website will help it show up on the first page of results. Make sure your keywords are the best keywords and are the actual words your future clients are searching. Also, take the time that is required to keep your website at the top of the search results.

Regardless of which search engine you use, the search engine is looking for the best. Your attorney website needs to be the best. If you are missing out on first-page search results, contact Foster Web Marketing to find out what we can do for you.

Three Attorneys Who Make Content King on Their Websites

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67209 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

We often give our attorneys tips for writing great lawyer content and making their content improve their page rankings and conversions. However, sometimes the best way to learn about great content is to see great content in action. Below, check out the attorney websites of three of our clients who are doing it right when it comes to consistently-posted, unique, and quality legal content:

Lavan & Neidenberg, nationwide Social Security and veterans' disability benefits lawyers
Davis Law Group, personal injury lawyers serving Washington State
Hupy & Abraham, personal injury attorneys with offices in Wisconsin and Illinois

What do all three of these lawyer websites have in common? Here's a quick list:

A variety of different articles, such as FAQs, library articles, blog posts, and new items
A range of issues and topics
High-quality writing that is interesting to read and free from grammatical errors
New material posted consistently and often.
Articles that contain information that visitors are seeking out

How is the content on your attorney website? If you want to learn how to improve it, or if you are looking for legal content writers to work their magic on your website, contact us at 1.888.886.0939 or fill out the short electronic contact form at the top of this page.

What is Google Universal Search and How Can It Help My Lawyer Website?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)67093 — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you've just started using Google, then you may not know that your Google search results have not always looked the way they do now. What you see now - or rather what you are using - is called "Google Universal Search."

Before

Prior to 2007, Google search results would portray a listing of websites. If you typed "attorney offices," then you would view a "OneBox" that sat above the usual top ten websites, and this OneBox would give a few location results.

After

Since then, Google has rolled out Google Universal Search. Now, if you type "attorney offices," you will receive location results integrated with the website search results. No more OneBox. Also, if Google deems the location results more relevant than the website results, then the locations will appear at the top.

What this means for you

Your search results integrate websites, locations, videos, images, blogs, and news. If you are fully utilizing all of your attorney web marketing branches, then future clients will be able to find you.

This also means that you must take the time to add YouTube videos, post relevantly and often on your Facebook page and website, use Google Places, and work on your link building and keywords. Do not leave a source untapped. If used correctly, your practice will permeate Google Universe, and there will be no fear of falling into the black hole of search results.

Three Free Tools to Keep an Eye on Your Competition

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66589 — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

When implementing a marketing plan for your attorney website, it can be easy to just focus on your website - how much content you are posting, how many backlinks you are getting, and where your page ranks for important keywords on search engines. However, it is also important to keep track of what your competition is doing, how they are doing it, and what their results are.

Here are 3 free tools that can help:

Open Site Explorer (www.opensiteexplorer.org) This simple yet ingenious free website allows you to type in a competing website and receive a list of sites that link to that site and the anchor texts. You can compare up to five sites.
Yahoo! Site Explorer (www.siteexplorer.search.yahoo.com) This intuitive and no-frills site allows you to see who is linking to your competition and gives you the option of downloading the information into a spreadsheet.
Google Trends For Websites (www.trends.google.com) This free tool from Google allows you to see competitor traffic, related websites that users also visited, and related keywords. However, this tool only provides data for websites of a certain size.

Do you know what you can learn from this information, and how you can use it to improve your own lawyer marketing strategies? Our online attorney marketing and SEO team can help. Give us a call today to learn more.

Attorneys: Get In a Marketing Mindset

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66588 — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Are you a great lawyer who puts 100% into their practice every day that you step in the door - but you aren't getting the high-quality cases that you know you deserve? Unfortunately, being the best attorney in your area doesn't necessarily mean that you will get your pick of the clients... or that anyone will even know your name. Whether you like it or not, marketing is the key to getting more business and better business.

If you don't have an effective marketing strategy for you law office, people simply aren't going to know that you have the answers they need. And if you don't get into a marketing mindset, other law offices are going to pass you by on the way to the top.

How can you get the marketing mindset you need to maximize the potential of your law office?

Surround yourself with those who are also committed to building the most successful practice that they can.
Start looking at the world from a marketing point of view - what just made you buy that shampoo instead of the other brand?
Inform yourself by keeping up to date on marketing news, tools, and trends.
Examine the marketing plan that you have now - and look at where each dollar is going.
Ask yourself whether your current marketing strategy is proven to work, and look into whether it has gotten you any solid results.

No one is born with a mind for marketing - you have to develop one over time. It doesn't mean taking time or attention away from your clients, and it doesn't mean getting new clients through unethical means. What it does mean is that you consider your clients and what they need when you make decisions for your firm.

Want to learn more about attorney marketing, both online and off? Talk to someone who is already in the right mindset at Foster Web Marketing today.

Put Your Facebook Page in the Limelight

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66531 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Your attorney website shows up on the first page of search results, and you are using every social media outlet available. But your Facebook page...why does this page never show up on a search result page? You make sure that you post, comment, and update. What more does it take? Here are four tips to help solve this dilemma:

1. Set-up a custom URL. Facebook offers you your own custom URL after you have reached 25 "likes." Your URL will look something like this: Facebook.com/companyname. Keep in mind, though, that once it is set, it is set.
2. Use your company name. Make sure that the name you choose for your Facebook page is as close as possible to, if not the same, as your actual company name.
3. Fill out your company information. Fill it all out! Keywords, description, about, general information, etc. The more information you have in this area the better.
4. Share the link. Provide the link to your Facebook page on your homepage and on each page of your main website.

You have taken the time to make sure that your attorney website is not lost in the plethora of search results; make sure that your Facebook page rises to the top as well.

Four Marketers Every Lawyer Should Follow (On Twitter And Elsewhere)

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66587 — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you are like us, you are always looking for the next marketing innovation, the latest marketing news, and daily inspiration for improving your business or lawyer website. One of the best ways to keep up to date, in the know, and competitive is to be aware of what the best marketers on and off the web are thinking, saying, and doing.

Here are 4 of our favorites (and their Twitter names, when applicable):

Dan Kennedy (@theofficialgkic) Together with Bill Glazer, Dan Kennedy runs the Glazer-Kennedy Insiders Circle, writes best-selling marketing books, and frequently engages in speaking at marketing events across the country.
Chet Holmes (@chetholmes) A marketing expert who has helped grow a number of Fortune 500 companies, Chet Holmes teaches business owners the 12 core competencies of successful companies.
Ben Glass (@benglass) The face behind the Great Legal Marketing mastermind group is not only the go-to expert on online attorney marketing, he's also a successful personal injury attorney with offices in Fairfax, Virginia.
Napoleon Hill You won't find the real Napoleon Hill on Twitter - he has been dead for 50 years. However, this former advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt wrote the best-selling book ever published about success, in which he shares timeless advice.

Want to follow one more marketing expert on Twitter - and one those of us at Foster Web Marketing know personally? Add our CEO Tom Foster (@tomfosterweb) to your list, and start learning about new attorney marketing ideas and tools every day.

The 8 Best Lawyers to Follow on Twitter

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66528 — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

And now, we take a moment to go over the top ten lawyer profiles found on Twitter (drum roll please):

Ben Glass @BenGlasslaw: Personal injury and medical malpractice law firm in Fairfax, VA. We offer free books BEFORE you talk to the adjuster, sign any forms or hire an attorney.
Ross Jurewitz @SanDiegoInjury: San Diego personal injury attorney. Accident lawyer for the Jurewitz Law Group. Trial lawyer. Texas Longhorns fan. Legal marketing addict.
Chris Davis @DavisLawGroup: Seattle attorney Chris Davis is the founder of Davis Law Group, a personal injury law firm.
Gerry Oginski @GerryOginski: NY Medical Malpractice & Accident Trial Lawyer.
Chris Keane @ChrisKeane: Child injury and child abuse lawyer - representing little kids in big cases of shaken baby syndrome and pediatric traumatic brain injury.
Bob Battle @BobBattle: Top Rated VA DUI & Reckless Driving Speeding Defense lawyer in Richmond VA area.
Sandra Rohrstaff @sandrarohrstaff: Lawyer helping families in wrongful death and children injuries.
Dave Frees @davefrees: Ideas & Information to Improve Your Business and Your Life (TM) Dave Frees has been called the Grand Master of persuasion and communications skills.

Why are they the top 8?

These profiles are personalized, from the background to having their photo uploaded. These profiles also include contact information and a detailed description of their practices.

These successful Twitter users are taking advantage of social media, and they are also clients of Foster Web Marketing. Foster Web Marketing would love to see you at the top, too. Contact us today at 888-886-0939 for help with your attorney web marketing.

The Facebook Times Are a-Changin'

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66527 — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

Again, Facebook has decided to update/change/improve (or, according to some users, worsen) their user interface, and these changes may affect your social media marketing for your attorney website.

Now, instead of viewing all the changes you may make to your page, a "fan" of your page will perhaps see the change if you are a "Top Story," or if your recent change does not drown under other recent changes from other pages. In order for one of your fans to always see your changes, they must subscribe and choose that option.

How can you make sure this happens?

Engagement

Constant, sincere, and relevant engagement is now needed for your clients to take the time to subscribe to all of your posts, pictures, articles, statuses, etc. As it is with your website, your Facebook page now needs to invite your clients to interact with your page. Ask questions for your clients to answer, post an article that will warrant comments, and (of course) make all your updates interesting.

If there is no desire to visit your Facebook page, then there is no desire to subscribe to your changes.

Make sure that your clients and future clients want to always view your changes as top stories on their feed. Engage your clients, ask for their voice, and they will ask for yours.

Facebook's iPad App has Finally Arrived

mike@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)66565 — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

What Facebook's iPad App Means for Your Law Firm

Yesterday Facebook came out their much-anticipated app for the iPad and with its release came a wave of online commentary. Mashable.com published a great article that points out some of the features that the app provides, but recognizes the common consensus that its arrival hasn’t impressed the online community. We were rather disappointed as well but like our fellow critics, like Jill Duffy of PCMag.com, did notice that an overwhelming emphasis has been placed on photos and video.

So what does this mean for you? For one, if you aren’t posting photos and videos on your Facebook account you will not be one of the first profiles iPad users see in their news feed. The emphasis on the visual aspect of your page is yet another argument for the importance of web video and not limiting your videos to just your website or YouTube. Also, an interesting aspect of the app is the focus on your profile picture rather than your name, so a picture that really stands out is going to help draw the eye to your page.

While the importance of your visual exposure on your profile or fan page is the most glaring difference between the app and the website there are also some features that stand out as well. One such feature is the inclusion of “Check In” and “Nearby” tabs that allow you to share where you are and shows you where your friends have checked in on a world map. Another is that if the email that you use as a login is used on any user review sites such as Yelp.com, it is included in the “Apps” category of the site, allowing you or your clients to instantly post a review if you have you iPad on hand.

Overall we expected more from the social networking giant and felt more than a little disappointed after months of speculating what the Facebook app would look like. However, that being said there are some lessons to be taken from the app, most importantly that if you don’t have pictures and videos, you simply wont be noticed. For more information on how to make the most of the web marketing aspect of social media feel free to call us at 1.888.886.0939, post on our Facebook fan page or give a shout out on Tom’s Twitter profile @tomfosterweb.

Three Examples of Great Calls to Action

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65994 — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:00:00 EST

What is the ultimate goal of your attorney website? It's not to generate traffic, although that is a nice start. It's not to generate leads, although that is a great step in the right direction. Ultimately, it's to bring your firm more cases.

There is, however, a process that you must follow to make that happen. First, generate traffic with great content, video, and social media. Next, you'll need to convert the visitors to your website into real leads.

The best way to turn a website visitor into a lead and potential case is through a free offer. We are not talking about offering free consultations...everyone does that. How can you be unique? Here are 3 suggestions to get you started:

Write a book and do it fast. If you don't have a book on your website that you are giving away in exchange for contact information, you are missing cases. If you don't have time to write a book or don't feel that you are a good writer, hire a ghostwriter to do it for you. You should have books for each of your practice areas and perhaps even niches in those practices areas. Great examples of this are What Every Virginia Military Wife Needs To Know About Divorce by Charlie Hofheimer and Five Deadly Sins that Can Derail Your New York Workers Compensation Case by Brian Mittman.
Books are a great start, but it doesn't have to stop there. Ben Glass gives away "Car Accident Kits" in exchange for contact information. This includes a camera, flashlight, and a few other handy tools to have if you have been in a car accident. Ben loves to get creative -- follow his marketing adventures on his Facebook page.
Do more than just provide links to your offers. Whether it's a book, car accident kit, or DVD set, you need to make people aware. Mention your offers in your videos, send out a press release for each new offer, and let local media outlets know about what you are doing. If you can attach yourself to a good cause by giving away helpful information, it's bound to attract attention. If you need help getting started, just give Foster Web Marketing a call at 888-886-0939.

Four Reasons You Still Need to Market Your Law Office Offline

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65539 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

You are on the first page of the search engines. You are getting lots of great website traffic. You have tons of Twitter followers and Facebook friends. You're getting a significant number of leads directly from your online presence each month. You can finally stop sending out your hard copy newsletter and place ads in the paper, right? Wrong.

There are a number of solid reasons to keep marketing your attorney's office offline. Let's take a closer look:

Not everyone has the internet. Sure, we're in the digital age, and it seems like almost everyone has a smart phone, iPad, and a laptop on them at all times. However, a significant number of people are still offline, including large numbers of senior citizens and low-income families. These people need legal help, too, and they will often look for it though traditional, offline means.
Your competition might stop offline marketing. Offline marketing is certainly an added cost, and many of your competitors will probably choose to stop doing it altogether. That means that when someone looks offline for a local attorney, they will find you, not them.
Many people want a more personal connection. Marketing is more than just signs and advertisements - it's also attending marketing events, speaking at seminars, and communicating in person with potential customers. These marketing techniques will never go out of style, no matter what gadget is invented next.
Offline marketing builds a more concrete status for you and your firm. The internet can feel very anonymous and ethereal at times. By continuing to send out mailers, place hardcopy ads, and participate in your community, you are establishing yourself as a real place with real employees who involve themselves locally. It gives you a more physical presence - and one that is more lasting.

At Foster Web Marketing, we care about all aspects of our attorneys' marketing plans, and we understand that both online and offline marketing can help establish your brand, grow your local presence, and lead to more clients and better cases. Want to learn more? Speak with one of our marketing experts today.

What's The Latest Information on Google Algorithm Changes?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65544 — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

There are few constants in our world - and even fewer constants when it comes to search engine optimization and the mysterious Google algorithm.

According to Google spokeswoman Mistique Cano, the search engine behemoth isn't trying to play games or take over the world by regularly tweaking the algorithms that determine how websites rank in their search results; they are simply trying to build a better product that produces more accurate results and makes their users happy.

How has the algorithm changed most recently? This summer, Google rolled out the second Panda update - a change that many hoped would improve some of the issues with the original Panda update that took place in February.

Google has stated that the new Panda update will help improve how the search engine deals with "scraper sites" - sites that copy unique content using web scrapers and post on new pages. Many complained that the first Panda update improved the ranking of many scraper sites, in some cases to the point where they were ranking higher than the original sites that they were copying. Panda 2.2 will be addressing scraper site issues, though the company has said that it will continue to look for better ways to combat these plagiarizers.

Yes, the fact that the algorithm changes often can be an annoyance to an attorney who is trying to optimize their law firm website. However, one thing should never change: great, unique, relevant, and timely content will always be rewarded. Want to learn more? Contact our web marketing experts and content specialists today to get started.

Steve Jobs' Retirement: What the Web Marketing Community Can Learn

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65144 — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

On August 24, technology visionary Steve Jobs officially resigned as the CEO of Apple, Inc. His decision comes after several years of health problems and a cancer diagnosis - and also after over a decade of successes and innovations at the computer and gadget giant.

What impact has Jobs had on the marketing community?

While the success of the iPod, iPad, iPhone, and MacBook have certainly made Jobs a household name over the last 14 years when it comes to personal computers, new technology, and intuitive applications, many in the online and mobile marketing worlds also understand that Jobs was a pioneer of everything from advertising and branding to creative content and customer loyalty.

What can the online marketing community learn from Jobs and Apple?

Don't follow the leader; be the leader. Apple has taken some big risks throughout the years, but they can never be accused of following trends or just trying to keep up with the competition. The result was not only financial success, but also several revolutionary (and wildly popular) products, such as MP3 players and Smart phones.
Simplicity is often the best way. Apple has developed an almost fanatical following of users - and many praise the intuitive, simple, sleek, and user-friendly products and applications that make the company such a standout. Add an extremely well-run customer service department, and watch your company grow.
Building is more than just a marketing buzzword. The iconic apple logo. The lowercase i. The memorable commercials. Apple doesn't just sell phones and computers; they sell a culture and a way of life. Often, their customers don't just use Apple products; they identify as Apple users.
Let your customers do some of your marketing. What's more likely to convince you to buy a product: a commercial or a glowing recommendation from a friend? By focusing on keeping their customers happy, informed, and part of the process, Apple and Jobs have created millions of users who happily go out of their way to spread the gospel.

Do you want to improve your online marketing strategies and start being a leader in your field? Talk to Foster Web Marketing about creating a plan of action.

After Google Panda: The New Definition of Search Engine Optimization

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65146 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Six months ago, Google ran an update to their search engine algorithm - a ranking filter known as Google Panda. The Panda filter was meant to make search engine ranking more helpful for users and prevent low-quality sites from appearing before more legitimate ones. However, for SEO marketers who had been using Google's original ranking algorithm to create successful webpages, Google Panda meant that many of the sites that were specifically tailored to Google's system of analyzing websites were now falling in the rankings.

With one update to their algorithm, the search engine optimization game changed forever.

Should you fear the Panda?

At Foster Web Marketing, we don't fear the Panda. We understand that Google's algorithm will continue to change in the future, and their search engine - and all search engines - will always center on finding websites with the most accurate, best written, and most relevant content. While some SEO and online marketing companies are rushing to figure out exactly how the Panda works and exactly how to beat the Panda, we don't believe understanding how search engines work is as important as getting great ranking or getting more business.

Here's what we think is at the heart of great SEO:

Well-written, original, and relevant content
Regular website updates that keep your page fresh and relevant
Unique information and propositions that engage readers and separate you from other websites
Articles, videos, and other information that keeps users on the site
A diverse range of readers who visit your page from different sources

The bottom line? After the Panda update, SEO is much more about user experience and readability and less about old search engine strategies like keywords. Optimizing your website in today's world may be as easy as thinking about what your prospective reader wants and needs.

Want to learn more about how SEO can help your website and business? Contact Foster Web Marketing today.

Is Google+ a Viable Marketing Tool for Your Law Firm Yet?

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65541 — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

In the past few years, businesses have learned that social networking sites like Facebook can be extremely powerful marketing tools. Now, Google has unveiled its own social networking platform, Google+, which hopes to compete with or even replace Facebook. But is Google+ a passing fad or a great new opportunity for business? Should your business prepare to build a Google+ page?

Here's the deal: currently, the vast majority of businesses and other entities are not able to make a Google+ page - but it might be worth the wait. According to Google, they are planning on launching a separate platform for businesses that will include special features, apps, and options.

How will Google+ help your business?

It could help your Google search rankings. Because Google+ and Google search are connected, having a business page on Google+ could boost your website.
It could bring a different demographic to your business. Many experts believe that Google+ could attract an older and more professional crowd than Facebook.
It's free - there's no risk. Even if you do create a Google+ business profile in the next year and the networking site doesn't become popular, it is not a big loss to you. If you don't create a profile and the site knocks Facebook off of its throne, you would have missed out on a prime opportunity.

Are you marketing your business online in the smartest ways possible? Learn how you can get ahead of your competition by speaking with a web marketing expert at Foster today.

How to Get Relevant Attorney Website Content Ideas from Unrelated Sites

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65149 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Now that you understand that regularly adding relevant content to your attorney website can both improve your search engine results and attract new clients, you have a whole new issue on your hands: what are you going to write about?

While content writing can be easy at first, finding fresh and meaningful topics and angles to share with your readers can get more and more difficult - especially as you finish covering your clients' most common questions and concerns.

One great way to find new content ideas is to simply surf the web and look for non-legal, non-attorney web content that you can convert into great new content for your own site.

For example, content-based sites like Mashable.com, AOL.com, and Yahoo.com have fresh ideas, topics, lists, and article structures every day, which you can use for inspiration. A social media article discussing the "Top Ten Tech Twitters" could be converted into a very relevant attorney blog called "Top Ten Attorney Twitters." A health article that lists "Five Signs You Might Need to See a Dermatologist" can be converted into "Five Signs You Might Need to Speak with a Defective Drug Attorney."

Great content ideas, blog topics, and news items are all within your reach - and the inspiration can come from anywhere. Keep your eyes open and your mind working even when you are catching up on online news or surfing your favorite websites. You will begin to see new content ideas and writing opportunities with every mouse click.

Need more tips on how to produce original, relevant, and optimized content? Contact us today at 888.886.0939.

How To Successfully Use Link Tagging In Your Offline Direct Mail Marketing

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65143 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Tracking your website traffic is extremely important - it can help you understand which of your marketing campaigns are working and let you know exactly how many people visited your website for exactly what link. While many people understand that you can easily use link tagging through Google Analytics to track email campaigns, online press releases, and online newsletters, fewer people know that you can also use link tagging in offline direct mail marketing, such as hardcopy newsletters, promotional letters, or brochures.

But how do you use link tagging to track offline marketing materials?

Buy a new URL from a website like GoDaddy. Make sure that the URL is short and simple, since all visitors will have to type the address directly into their browser after receiving your piece of mail.
Set up a 301 redirect to a link you have tagged in the Google URL builder. This way, all of your offline direct mail visitors will be redirected to your webpage immediately upon typing in the address.
Identify the source of your link clearly, such as "September paper newsletter." Be specific, and add dates if you are sending out multiple campaigns.

The last step? Check out all of the new information you are learning from your link tagging: exactly how many people visited your website after receiving your mail, which piece of mail they read before visiting, when they came, and how long they stuck around.

Do you want to learn more about link tagging and offline direct mail marketing? Speak to one of our web marketing experts to learn more.

A Powerful Marketing Tool You've Probably Never Considered

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65456 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Like many lawyers, you are a DIY - do-it-yourself-er. And, as you are learning, marketing a law firm is just as much work as practicing law. We can't erase the fact that it takes content, links, social media, video, and - most importantly - time to create a web presence that is actually successful for your law firm.

Time is where nearly every attorney and business owner falls short, but there are many ways to manage your time effectively... and generate more business. Think about a law firm that is twice the size of yours. Do they have twice as much time as you? No, of course not. But they might be twice as effective with their time.

Here are a few tips to help you more effectively manage your time while you are juggling marketing your firm with practicing law:

Set clear goals. This sounds extremely simple, but it is vitally important. Think about where you want to be in 6 months, 1 year, or 5 years. Next, consider the steps it will take to get there. Give yourself deadlines for each step, and hold yourself accountable. If you create a plan and stick to it, you will be amazed how quickly goals become reality.
Take it one day at a time. Each day you need to consider what is important, urgent, both, or neither. Not everything that is urgent is important, and not everything that is important is urgent. Create a list. If you can knock out 3-5 things each day and spend at least 1-2 hours on long-term planning, then you have had a successful day.
Change starts at the top. If your staff is slowing you down, then you need to take the time to train them properly. Good time management and productivity skills are essential to every office - especially law firms. Once you set priorities and procedures, be sure to communicate them very clearly to your employees.

Good time management is more of a lifestyle change than a marketing tool, but effective use of your time will allow you to focus on what is really important. For more information on effective time management, grab a copy of Ben Glass' book "Militant Time Management For Lawyers".

Three Key Things to Remember About Marketing Your Law Firm on the Web

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65537 — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Web marketing experts keep trying to beat Google at its own game, and Google keeps changing the rules of that game. While Google keeps evolving, and SEO experts chase after them, it can be easy for those with attorney websites to become frustrated. Why can't Google keep everything as it is? Why isn't Google more transparent? Why do I have to keep changing my web marketing strategies every time they decide to play by different rules?

While we understand that Google's constant adjustments and modifications can be frustrating, our team at Foster Web Marketing is cool and calm. Why? Because we remember these 3 things:

Google ain't the government. Google may change the rules, but you don't have to live by them. And Google doesn't have to do what is "fair" or "right." Make the SEO choices that you think are right for your law firm, and realize that you don't have to jump every time Google tells you to jump.
They are in this game to make money. Ultimately, Google is a business, just like yours. They are making changes that suit their needs, not your needs. If they believe a change to their ranking system will improve what they do, then they will do it.
Be ready to change as quick as they do. Nothing in the world is permanent or constant, and that's doubly true for the world of Google, SEO, and internet marketing. This stuff isn't easy, and changes are happening every day, whether or not Google announces an official alternation. All you have to do is adapt before your competitors.

We are here to help our clients recognize changes in SEO quickly, adapt their online strategies accordingly, and ultimately continue to get great leads and great new cases from their webpage. Want to learn how to evolve your web presence right alongside Google? Talk to one of our web marketing and SEO experts today.

3 Ways Education Marketing Leads to More Links to Your Lawyer Website

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65454 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Attorney link building is hard. There are no two ways about that. But there are ways to increase links organically. One of those ways is providing information that is so interesting and informative that people use it a resource and link to it on their website. This is a concept known as "education marketing," which is endorsed and employed by experts like Dan Kennedy and Chet Holmes.

Here are 3 ways you can use education marketing to build links to your attorney website:

Think about the searches you do when you need a service or product. Write a series of posts that answer the most frequently asked questions about your law firm and practice areas. Visitors will come in via search engines, but you can also broadcast your message on social media and inform local publications about your free information.
Seek out PR opportunities to speak and network with other people in your local community. Local links are powerful for local businesses. By reaching out to people who are in need of experts, you can get links to your website. One great way is to provide a guest post for a local media outlet in exchange for a link back to your site.
Video is hot in search right now, and that trend doesn't seem to be fading. Create videos to complement your frequently asked questions and host them on your website. Videos make link building easier because they are often more informative and nearly always easier to understand than text content.

Link building is one of the most important ways you can improve your search engine rankings. Real-life relationships quite often lead to links, so consider a link to be a very real endorsement of your law firm and your information. For more information about attorney link building, contact us today 888-886-0939.

Three Tips for Designing Your Attorney Website

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65457 — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The design of your attorney website is crucial to converting searchers into contacts and real cases. Within the first few seconds on your website, they will make a decision about whether or not you are the right fit for them. Doesn't seem fair, right? Well, it might not be, but your design should be an inviting reflection of your firm.

Here are a few tips to make the most out of your lawyer website design:

Color. Think carefully about the colors on your site. Certain colors are associated different emotions. Red is often associated with aggression and violence, while black can be associated with darkness and secrets. This doesn't mean you should avoid red and black, but it does mean that you need to be careful not to go overboard. In general, we recommend a light background and dark text, which is very easy to read. Your website should flow without distracting the visitor from the content.
Architecture. By this, we mean how users navigate your site. On each and every page of your site (besides specialty landing pages), users should be able to navigate to important pages like the home page, practice areas, FAQs, and your contact page. Don't expect people to search around for more than a second or two; they would rather leave than try to navigate a disorganized site.
Layout. You probably already know to keep the really important content where users can begin reading without scrolling. Don't waste space with distracting graphics or images that aren't helpful to the viewer. Every element of your site should be designed with the curious visitor in mind. We recommend a 3-button layout, like you see on this site with a video on each page. This provides options for visitors and makes the entire site easy to navigate.

If you have questions about designing your attorney website and want to speak with a professional, give Foster Web Marketing a call at 888-886-0939.

Let Your Profile Do the Talking

tom@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)65025 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Your attorney website can always use more traffic. The internet can provide this, and it can provide it for free on the top three sites: Google, Twitter, and Facebook. Here is some information regarding what they can do for you.

Google Places Profile

97% of consumers search for local business online. Make sure your practice is one of them! You can add photos, videos, free items, and post live updates along with your contact information.

"Google Places is the most visible way you can get your name out there to anyone who is looking for anything you offer in your area. To not use it shows you don't care about marketing," says Chris Gallagher, Bean & Leaf owner.

Twitter Profile

Joe Q. Public tweets. Reality stars tweet. Steve Jobs tweets. You should tweet, too. On the your Twitter page, not only do you get to see your tweets and the comments left for you, but you are also able to upload a picture, a brief description of your practice, an email address, and find out who follows you. Your clients are also able to see who you follow, and who you follow can make quite the impression.

Facebook Profile

This profile is a combination of the benefits of Google Places and Twitter. You may include your address, phone, website address, and an actual map. Going further, you may also add the year your practice was founded, your attorney practice areas, a company overview, your mission, and your products. Also, any free materials you offer can be offered through your Facebook profile.

Use the tools that are offered to you, especially the tools that are free. Future clients use the internet as their first research tool, and, if you are missing any of the profiles above, your attorney website may miss out.

Four Ways to Get Great Google Places Reviews for Your Law Firm

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)64610 — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to a new study conducted by the Pew Research Center, more and more Americans are turning to location-based online services to find nearby businesses and products - using sites like Google Maps and Google Places. Because of these growing numbers, it is imperative that your Google Places business listing is thorough, accurate, and filled with rave reviews.

But how can you grow your number of high-quality Google Places reviews? Here are a few quick tips:

Ask, ask, ask. It's just like your mother always said: sometimes, to get what you want, you just have to ask nicely. If your client or customer sends you a thank you email or comments that they have had a good experience, ask them to write a review! A few organic, heartfelt, and personal reviews from real clients are leagues better than anything else. And don't be afraid to let your client know how much a review would help you when you ask them to take the time to write one.
Become a reviewer yourself. Many people want great reviews of their business, but they don't understand the process of online reviewing themselves. Get on Google Places and start reviewing your favorite places around town. Using the website will quickly help you think of ways to improve your own page and increase reviews for your unique business.
Don't try the shortcuts. Yes, you can pay people to review your business or offer prizes and incentives to clients who write reviews. However, this does not lead to the sincere, honest reviews that really affect readers. In addition, it simply isn't playing by the rules.
Mobilize your most loyal clients. All businesses have them: the clients and customers that know your name and have been coming to you since you opened your doors. These clients will not only be the most willing to take the time to review, they will also be the best at describing your services.

For more information about Google Places, request a free copy of our report, Google Places: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know to Dominate.

How to Use Facebook as a Customer Service Tool

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)64608 — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Facebook and other social media platforms have become an excellent way of building long-term customer relationships, establishing your brand, and improving your web presence. However, more and more businesses are learning that Facebook can also be a valuable customer service tool.

Even just a few years ago, unhappy or confused customers and clients would write and mail a letter to companies - or call a phone number. In both instances, complaints and questions remained private. Today, people who use your products and services are more likely to post gripes and questions publically on social networking websites like Facebook and Twitter. While some businesses see negative wall posts as an alarming problem, others are embracing Facebook as a new opportunity to shine when it comes to customer service.

Here are a few tips to get started:

Respond to wall post complaints quickly and individually. Don't post a cut-and-pasted "sorry about your experience" message. Display genuine concern and get the problem solved.
Get a customer service Facebook application. Using your main wall for customer service has several downsides: wall posts quickly disappear below the fold and are not searchable - plus, they may put a negative spin on your main page. Build a customer service application or tab on your page that is dedicated to handling customer communication. There are also several apps already available, including GetSatisfaction, Aisstly, and Parature.
Solve problems directly, don't re-direct. To truly offer customer service on Facebook, don't simply re-direct users to your main webpage or ask them to write an email. Offer a solution without multiple steps.

Do you want to build your web presence on sites like Facebook, or do you simply want to improve your business' online marketing and customer service? Foster Web Marketing may be able to help. Give us a call today.

Decipher Your Pay-Per-Click and Organic Content Using Google Analytics

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)64601 — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

You have decided that the best way to increase your attorney web marketing is by using pay-per-click (PPC) and organic content, but how do you keep track of it? Easy - use Google Analytics.

Analytics is a powerful tool, and it has the capability to separate data for your PPC and Organic traffic. Here are the steps to follow:

Set up Google Analytics. Foster Web Marketing can do this for you!
Install the Analytics Code. Foster Web Marketing can do this for you, too!
Link your Google Analytics Account & Google Adwords Account. You will need the same Google account for both Analytics and Adwords in order to link the two together. Also, make sure the login has administrative access on the Analytics account.
Turn on Auto-Tagging.
Update links for your tracking software.

It may sound tricky, but don't worry - Foster Web Marketing is here for you and your attorney web marketing. We are here to help!

Seven Ways to Generate Qualified Leads with Social Media

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)64600 — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Social media is needed to keep your attorney web marketing up to par with the competition, but how can it create loyal leads for your practice? Here is a list to help you make sure your social media avenues are working for you:

Twitter. Be everywhere all the time using hashtags and schedulers.
LinkedIn. Use the advanced search feature to find leads that fit your practice.
Facebook. Interact with your current clients and possible leads by "liking" them and leaving messages or comments.
Mobile. Use SMS short codes to give clients the option to receive additional content.
YouTube. Use video and add relevant tags.
Digg and Delicious. Increase your social media footprint by having your employees bookmark your high-quality conversion pages.
Online Community and Chat. Provide micro-groups that are specific to your practice, and use live chat to instantly engage visitors.

Social media works for you, if you know how to use it. Rather than "get rejected by seven different technologies," you now can be accepted by qualified and loyal leads to grow your practice.

5 Tips To Increase Traffic To Your Attorney Website

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)63288 — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

The kids are back in school and now you have "all this time" on your hands. Use that time to update your lawyer web marketing to increase website traffic. Here are five ways to increase unique users:

5 Tips to Increase Traffic:

Keywords - the more keywords you have, the more likely your website will come up on a search engine's first page.
Content - make it unique and valuable. Make sure it is relevant and that you are constantly adding more content (at least three times a week).
Content generators - stay away! If the majority of your content is replicated, your page will hit the skids due to search engines' new and improved intelligence. Read about Panda 2.3 for further information.
Links - use them to link to related articles on your site. Also, use them as part of your web marketing through social media sites.
Giveaways - who does not love the word "free?" Offer free information for the user, such as a free information guide, book, brochure, or anything that shows you are putting forth that extra effort and connection.

Effectively update your web marketing with these five easy tips to garner the most traffic you can get.

Instant and Live Chat Equals Excellent Customer Service

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)63287 — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Excellent and quality customer service is no longer sustained through countless phone menus or through staff transferring a client from one person to another. Top-notch customer service is now instant and needs to be part of your legal web marketing plan. Live chat might be the answer.

Live chat may be either a button on each page of your website for the user to click when needed, or the live chat window may pop up after the user has been on your page for a certain amount of time. Either way, this tool is useful, user-friendly, and an immediate way to make a connection with a future client.

How does Live Chat improve customer service?

It increases confidence in your firm. Whether the possible client uses the chat service or not, the fact that it is available establishes within the user that your firm is real, and you are legitimate. It is also more secure than email and more immediate. If there is a question, the user no longer has to wait for someone to receive the email, read it, and respond.

It is also a way for you to know your visitors and the types of questions that are asked, which will allow you to improve your website as you update.

Implement live chat onto your website; both you and your future clients will appreciate the benefits.

Follow Up and Follow Through with Every Lead

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)63286 — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

24. No, we are not referring to the hit television series. This 24 is in reference to how many hours you have to follow up with a lead. If you wait longer than that, it's likely the lead has found another lawyer.

How do I effectively follow-up?

Ask for help! The initial phone call or email should be done by your staff. If you do not have a staff to handle this, then consider outsourcing.
Have a follow-up plan. This should be done prior to your first lead. It should state the exact steps you and your team makes, the responsible parties, and time frames.
Make use of a database. You will need somewhere to keep the contact information. Type in their information as soon as possible.
Follow up forever! Have a plan devised that allows you to stay connected on a long-term basis. Try out newsletters, a quarterly phone call, or sending out legal updates. Do not drop a lead unless they ask you to.

Though the public prefers the internet because there is not another person right there hounding them for their business, they also want prompt and considerate customer service. The first part of that service is a quick response to their inquiry.

The 3 Most Important Words In Web Marketing Today: Local, Mobile, and Social

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62986 — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

They say there are only two things you can count on in life: death and taxes. But there is an oft forgotten third: web marketing changing faster than most law firms can keep up with.

Web marketing is not for the faint of heart. Search engines change, technology evolves, and anyone that wants to get cases from the Internet needs to keep up. Today, there are 3 words that are vitally important to finding new clients and maintaining relationships. This could change; but for now, every firm should focus on optimizing for local, mobile, and social.

Local. Do a Google search for a brick and mortar store or office. You will likely find 7 local listings before any organic search results. If your potential clients are looking for a lawyer in your city or town, this is probably what they find also. If you want to be found in local searches, you absolutely must optimize your Google Places profile. Make sure your physical and web addresses are correct, upload photos and videos, and provide as much information as possible. Reviews help your ranking, so ask some past clients to write positive reviews on your Google Places page. (Click here to get a free copy of "Google Local: What Every Lawyer Needs To Know To Dominate".)
Mobile. Does your law firm have a mobile website? You can easily see how many of your website visitors are coming from mobile devices and tablets in Google Analytics. People don't stop searching in the evening and on weekends, but they aren't doing it from desktop computers. More people are searching from mobile devices, which means they will want to visit sites that are optimized for mobile users. Go to your attorney website on a mobile device and see for yourself. If you don't like what you see, it's time for a mobile site.
Social. Powerful social media sites like Facebook and Twitter have been around for a while now, but law firms still aren't taking advantage of them. In fact, this is not competitive space for lawyers who use it correctly. Remember that social media is about creating and maintaining real relationships. Treat fans and followers just like you would any person you meet offline. Check out SocialToolsForLawyers.com to learn more about using social media to get cases. (Click here to get a free copy of "Secrets of Social Marketing for Lawyers Revealed"!)

Remember that we are talking about the here and now. These are tools that lawyers are taking advantage of to get cases as we speak. Everything could change in an instant, but right now you need to get on board with local, mobile and social marketing. For more information, give us a call at 888-886-0939.

What Are Google Sitelinks and Why Are They So Important?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62985 — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google's sitelinks are the additional links that are displayed below some search results. Recently, Google has made some changes that strongly emphasize sites that have sitelinks.

As you can see in the screenshot above, if your site holds the first spot for a Google search and has sitelinks, it owns quite a bit of the most valued real estate on the internet. Previously, sitelinks were much smaller and did not contain any descriptive text.

So how do you get sitelinks? You can request them from Google in your Webmaster Tools, but there is no guarantee that Google will use them. And if you don't suggest pages, they may choose some anyway. According to Google Webmaster Help: "Our systems analyze the link structure of your site to find shortcuts that will save users time and allow them to quickly find the information they're looking for. We only show sitelinks for results when we think they'll be useful to the user."

Once again, Google is emphasizing the user experience. This move means that they are more confident than ever that their algorithm is returning good search results, and the first position in a search result just became much more valuable. So if you can't guarantee that Google will give you sitelinks, what can you do to help your site reach that number one spot? It all starts with content...really interesting, relevant, and unique content. Changes like this are indicators to attorneys who want to succeed on the web that they need to step it up or be left behind.

For more information about marketing your firm on the web, get a free copy of Tom Foster's book "Explode Your Practice With Internet Marketing".

Three Tips to Make Your Drip Campaigns More Effective Conversion Tools

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62960 — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Perhaps the most overlooked element of an effective marketing campaign is the follow-up sequence. Also known as a drip campaign or autoresponder, this is the series of emails, postcards, hand written notes, phone calls, and direct mail that you send a potential client. You've worked hard to generate leads from your website, so here are a few tips to make your follow-up sequences a more powerful conversion tool:

Use other tools other than email. Email marketing has become the cheapest online marketing tool available to most law firms. It is easy to track opens, clicks, and the traffic it sends to your website. But it's not the right marketing tool to reach every potential client. Some people ignore what they perceive to be "junk" email. Others simply respond better to a direct mail piece or a personal phone call from someone at your office. Tools like Blue Orchid and Infusionsoft allow you to integrate these into your campaigns. Consider the marketing that you respond to and see how you can apply it to your firm.
Stick to education-based marketing. Educational marketing is the best and most effective way to communicate with a potential client. Rather than trying to sell yourself, you are offering helpful information that positions you as the go-to expert in the field. No one wants to read about how great your firm is, but lots of people want to know how uninsured motorist coverage can affect their estate planning. A drip campaign is the perfect place to use your extensive knowledge of your practice areas to convert your contacts into real clients.
Automate it. You are a busy lawyer and you do not have time to follow up with each person that contacts you 12-18 times over the course of 6 months. You must automate the process in order for it be effective. Keep an inventory of your books and other marketing materials, and find a printer or hire an intern that can help send packages and mail while you focus on being a lawyer.

If you aren't following up with every contact that comes into your office, you are missing cases. It's that simple. For more information about follow-up sequences and other web marketing tools, call Foster Web Marketing today at 888-886-0939.

If Facebook Goes Public, Will It Impact Your Attorney Web Marketing Plan?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62694 — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

The rumor is - Facebook will go public in April 2012. The rumor is - Facebook is considering going public after they garner 500 investors. The rumor is - Facebook will never go public. Regardless of whether one of these rumors becomes a reality or not, Facebook is a crucial tool for your attorney Web marketing campaign.

Facebook Should Be Included In Your Marketing Plan

If the social media company never goes public, it is still a vital instrument to use. You can keep your clients informed in a dynamic way, have them check-in when they are at your place of business, and they can leave comments to help inform future clients.

If Facebook does decide to go public, this is also a benefit to you and your marketing campaign. Going public equates to increased funding. This funding will allow Facebook to add new products, new assets, and new applications to their site, which will allow you to take advantage of what they are offering. It is a win-win situation. You would have opportunity to even further spread the word about your firm without any of the grunt work.

Find Out How to Take Advantage of Social Media

Wondering how you can incorporate Facebook into your marketing plan? Order a copy of our book, Secrets of Social Media for Attorneys Revealed: Mission 101, for tips from two industry experts.

Videos on Website Equals to Longer Visits and a Happy Panda

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62693 — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google's Panda update pushes your website to remain relevant, well-used, and resourceful. A dynamic and easy way to do this is to add videos. It will enhance your website and your attorney Web marketing campaign!

Why Choose Video?

Videos are excellent because now it takes more than just a few clicks to cause traffic on your site; you want people to stay on your site. A video does the trick because if the video is two minutes, then the user stayed on your site for at least two minutes. Videos can be updated, switched-out, played on command or instantly. You can have one of your attorneys in the video or hire a spokesmodel.

By using videos, your attorney Web marketing has gone from flat words on a screen to something with color, music, and life. It instantly grabs attention, enlivens your story, and makes your site sticker. People are more likely to stay and watch than to stay and read.

There are many goals when it comes to Web video. You want your videos to become viral, convert viewers into contacts, and provide information. Educational videos generate loyalty. Loyal users will mean more to your marketing, practice, and Panda than random traffic. When viewed, you know that users went beyond your homepage and are digging deeper for more information.

Each type of video has its rewards and risks; however, by adding them you will bring your website and marketing into the 21^st century, which will then increase your loyal clients.

Get Started Today

For information about our video services, contact us today by calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order our FREE report, How to Make Sure Your Videos Get Found on YouTube!

Legal Web Marketing Professionals can Extend Facebook's Reach with BranchOut

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62227 — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Let's face it - legal web marketing strategy needs to evolve as quickly as the technology powering it. BranchOut is the new social media player on the block, and this one seems like it's here to stay. BranchOut offers an interesting proposition to Facebook users: you can use the power of Facebook to make professional connections... without having to become Facebook friends. While only a year old, BranchOut has already amassed millions of members.

BranchOut is a network on Facebook, which means that you use your Facebook account to access it. According to the BranchOut website, this social media service offers:

Professional Profiles: You can create your own profile that shows only your work history, endorsements, and education. You can use your profile to professionally connect to other Facebook users running the BranchOut application, which establishes a bond without the users becoming Facebook friends.

Job Opportunities: BranchOut offers the ability to search a list of 3 million jobs and 20,000 internships.

Facebook Power: The BranchOut network allows you use your Facebook friend network to help you discover connections that you may already have. For instance, you can search for a certain company, and the BranchOut network will identify all Facebook friends who are associated with that company.

Networking: BranchOut gives you the ability to establish a work-oriented connection between yourself and other people. The whole point of BranchOut is to avoid the stigma associated with Facebook friendship, while at the same time using your Facebook connections to build a separate professional network.

BranchOut is not the first social networking service catering to professionals, and it surely will not be the last. While the next best thing in legal web marketing may be constantly changing, it is important to utilize the best tools available in the present. If you have any questions about BranchOut or how to dramatically increase the effectiveness of your marketing with social media, give Foster Web Marketing a call toll free at 1-888-886-0939.

3 Free Marketing Tools that Will Make Your Life Easier

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62216 — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

What tools are the pros using to track their data, improve their websites, and make more money? Here are 3 of the top FREE tools you can take advantage of to grow your law firm:

1. Google Analytics is THE most important tool to

maintain and improve the health of your website. You can see the same data that Google sees and take the necessary measures to improve your site's ranking in search results. For example, Google Analytics will tell you the bounce rate and time on page for every page on your site. If these areas are suffering, you know you need to add video to those pages to keep them around longer. This is just the beginning. Here is the official support center for Google Analytics.

2. Google Webmaster Tools is a great supplement to Google Analytics. Here you can submit a sitemap so that Google's crawlers can easily find every page on your website, and you can see other websites that are linking to you.

3. Social media is vital to your business these days.

With so many networks, you need a place to manage all of them in one place AND track analytics. Hootsuite lets you manage your Facebook, Facebook business page, Twitter, and LinkedIn on one platform. It also shortens links so that you can track who is clicking on them and when. Get a free account before you decide whether or not to upgrade to pro.

If you want to be a marketing superstar, you need to take advantage of every tool at your disposal. For more information about marketing your attorney website on the internet, get a free copy of Tom Foster's book Explode Your Practice with Internet Marketing.

Are You Connected? 5 Reasons Why BranchOut Offers a Real Challenge to LinkedIn

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62225 — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Most of us are probably familiar with LinkedIn by now. LinkedIn is currently the most popular social media service for professionals. It's increasingly common for an attorney's web marketing scheme to include social media profiles and connections. The ability to gather exposure on the web cannot be denied, and services like LinkedIn offer a niche service in bolstering professional connections. While once the only legitimate service of its kind, LinkedIn is now feeling the heat from some competition.

BranchOut hit the ground running in July of 2010 and hasn't stopped running since. With millions of users and the power of Facebook driving the network's success, BranchOut stands a good chance of becoming LinkedIn's most feared rival. BranchOut differs from LinkedIn in that it is not its own entity entirely; instead, BranchOut is a network on Facebook that utilizes a current Facebook user's connections to establish a new profile and set of connections that are purely career-oriented.

Here are 5 reasons BranchOut could rival LinkedIn:

1. Facebook friends: That alone should say it all. The world's most powerful social media website powers the BranchOut network. BranchOut searches the user's Facebook contacts to help discover professional connections.

2. Job listings: BranchOut is both a social media network and a job searching tool. Professionals can use BranchOut to search for jobs that meet their search criteria. This feature could give BranchOut the edge it needs.

3. Exposure: While LinkedIn is now a household name, it isn't quite Facebook. Facebook users can very easily add the BranchOut application to their Facebook service. The popularity of Facebook and its integration with BranchOut lead to excellent exposure.

4. Same thing... but better: BranchOut claims to offer many of the services that LinkedIn offers, including making professional connections and discovering previously unknown "inside" connections at companies via your social network. BranchOut is attempting to offer a similar service but in a more connected, Facebook-friendly package.

5. Easy transition: Many attorneys and other professionals in need of marketing already use Facebook to market and connect online. BranchOut is a logical step for those who already use Facebook for marketing. It's likely that many users will opt for the integrated Facebook/BranchOut combination instead of having to manage separate accounts over multiple websites.

If you have any questions about how LinkedIn or BranchOut can help your marketing, please give Foster Web Marketing a call at 1-888-886-0939.

Marketing as a Lifestyle Rather than a Business Tool

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)62223 — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you've ever been to a Great Legal Marketing conference, you've heard Ben Glass say that marketing is a means to a better life, not just a better business. It's about being home in time for dinner and working fewer hours. It doesn't happen overnight, but the right approach to marketing your law firm can literally change your life. Here are 3 ways to get your practice turned around quick!

Automate every process possible. Email marketing, newsletters, social media, web content...you can automate all of these processes either with software or by outsourcing. They are all powerful marketing tools that are time consuming if performed manually, and you don't have that kind of time. Find a way to make it happen while you sleep, and we guarantee you'll sleep better.
Don't wait for the next big thing. The Internet changes too quickly to sit around waiting for the "magic pill" that is going to change your business. The things you do today could start bringing in more cases tomorrow! For example, Google+ is a brand new social network. Don't wait around to see if it will catch on, go ahead and test it out for yourself. Check out Gerry Oginski's page to see exactly what we mean. Don't be a sit-and-wait marketer...take action!
Block out every distraction. Have you ever wondered how Ben Glass has time for 9 kids, 3 businesses and still manages to run marathons? It's because he is a time management master. In fact, he even wrote a book called Militant Time Management for Lawyers. In addition to using your time wisely, block out people in your life who are distracting or negative. As Rem Jackson reminds us at the Great Legal Marketing conferences, "you are the average of the 5 people you hang out with most." Hang out with winners and you can be one also.

If you are a solo practitioner or member of a small law firm and want to transform your practice into the one you always dreamed of, take a look at the video below. Ben Glass, Rem Jackson, and Tom Foster have years of experience in life-changing marketing.

Check out www.GLMRescueMission.com for more information!

What Is Link Tagging and How Can It Help My Marketing?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)61635 — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

Take a look at your Google Analytics. If you are like most firms that do a mix of email and print marketing, there is likely a large slice of your traffic that comes directly to your site without a specific referral source. Does this mean that people are typing your URL into their web browser? Probably not. If you are taking advantage of email marketing, your direct traffic is likely coming from people who click links in your emails from a desktop email client like Microsoft Outlook, Apple Mail, or Mozilla Thunderbird.

Don't worry; that huge chunk of traffic is easy to track. Using track-able links like Bit.ly is one way, but it won't integrate with Google Analytics. This is very important data that you need to be able to use in conjunction with other data about your sites visitors. Google has provided a tool that allows you to tag links to you so you will know exactly where each visitor comes from.

Head to Google's URL Builder and paste in a URL to a link you want to share in an email.

Enter a campaign source, medium, and other details so you will know exactly where this person came from when they click the link. If you do this for every link in every email you send, you will soon have a mountain of data regarding what interests people more, what content keeps them on the sites, and how much of your direct traffic comes from email marketing.

When we see this URL in Google Analytics, we know that they came from our weekly email newsletter and which date it was sent on. Here is an example of what your link will look like:

http://www.fosterwebmarketing.com/blog/how-to-get-more-twitter-followers-for-your-firm.cfm?utm_source=emailnewsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=7-29-11&utm_campaign=marketing

For more information about link tagging, please refer to Google's guide to link tagging. If you are interested in learning more about web marketing for attorneys, we encourage you to sign up for our weekly email, which is loaded with tips for getting more traffic and more cases.

How to Manage Your Facebook Business Page from Your iPhone

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)61634 — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

While we highly recommend getting an app like Hootsuite to manage all of your social media networks in one place, most apps are limited and cannot perform all of the functions native to the network. For example, when uploading images to Facebook from Hootsuite, you get a link to a photo, not a thumbnail. Here is a way around that to make sure you are getting the most out of Facebook for your iPhone.

Go into your Facebook app and click the "+" in the top right corner. From here, you can search for pages that list you as an administrator. Choose your page.

It will default to second page of your Facebook app menu. Scroll to the second page and hold the icon of your business page. Just like moving apps around the iPhone home screen, you move widgets within the Facebook app. Move your app over to the first page so you will have easy access to it.

From here, you will be able to write posts, upload photos and tag people you are with. It's a very powerful social media tool that all businesses should be taking advantage of!

For more information about social media marketing, get a free copy of our book Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys Revealed: Mission 101.

How to Get More Twitter Followers for Your Firm

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)61131 — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you are like most law firms, you have created a Twitter page and have less than 100 followers. And how many of those are family members and other people in your office? In order for Twitter to be an effective marketing tool, you have to seek out people who might be interested in your business. Here are a few tools to help you get as many followers as San Diego personal injury attorney Ross Jurewitz (he has over 4,000)!

WeFollow.com This is a directory of Twitter users that you can add yourself to for free. You can also seek out people to follow by many different categories. Be sure to tag yourself with as many relevant categories as possible.
TweetAdder.com One of the best ways to get followers is to follow other people. If you are a relevant and interesting source of information, there is a good chance they will follow you back. TweetAdder takes this to the extreme. Search for users to follow by location, occupation, who they follow, and who follows them. Once you amass a huge list of people to follow, TweetAdder does the rest for you. And if someone doesn't follow you back within a specified amount of time, it will automatically unfollow that user. A must have for serious tweeters.
Use Hashtags. When you use a hashtag, especially a trending one, your tweet is visible to thousands and even millions of people. Inserting yourself into breaking news is a good idea for all web marketing, but this is true for Twitter in particular. To learn more about hashtags, check out "Hashing Out Twitter #Hashtags."
Tweet... a lot. No one will notice you if you are tweeting once a month. You should be engaged with Twitter everyday. Use a tool like Hootsuite to turn your blog posts automatically into tweets. You also need to be deliberate about your tweets. An interest-sparking headline followed by a trackable link is the form most of your tweets should take. Send them to interesting pages on your site and offer your followers an incentive like a free book.

You can keep track of your Twitter growth over time with websites like TwitterCounter.com. Just like content, you need to stay the course to see results. For more information on using Twitter for your law firm, get a free copy of Tom Foster's book "Twitter for Attorneys."

Why Google Panda is a Good Thing for Your Law Firm

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)61130 — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 08:00:00 EST

You know that saying "rules are made to be broken?" That is NOT the case with Google Panda. In fact, you should be paying close attention to the guidelines Google is providing for you. The fact of the matter is that many firms will ignore Google Panda and look for a new way to cheat the system. It won't work, and that is good news for you. Here are 3 ways to start taking advantage of the Google Panda update right away:

Write better content. Easier said than done, but this is key to long-term success on the web. Even if it means writing less content, make sure that every article or blog post on your website has substantive, interesting subject matter that is optimized for search engines. No more keyword stuffing, no more white text on a white background, and no more buying links. Get back to the basics.
Do an SEO audit. Remember the old days of your website when you added tons of content without thinking much about the quality? It's time to clean that old content up! If you have a marketing assistant or intern, have them go through old pages on your site to make sure they are linked to other pages within your website and aren't stuffed with keywords.
Be patient. If your website has been dinged by Google recently, take a deep breath. You will recover from this with a fresh approach to your web marketing. But as you write better content and re-optimize old pages, remember that it will take time to rank high on search result pages. Why? Because Google needs to see that people like these pages by tracking time spent, bounce rate, and inbound links. That data doesn't accumulate overnight.

It's true that Google Panda has presented a hurdle for many businesses. Be one of the leaders of the generation of web marketers. If you are paying close attention to updates and changing your site accordingly, you'll come out on top in the end. For more information on marketing your firm on the web, get a free copy of Tom Foster's book "5 Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make."

How to Create and Track a QR Code With Bit.ly

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60315 — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

You've likely seen QR codes like this in magazines,newspapers, postcards, and menus. Don't be intimidated by them. They are easy to use, completely free, and a great way to drive offline marketing to your website.

First, go to http://bit.ly and shorten your link. To get the most out of any link, you'll need to give people a reason to go there, like a free book or report in exchange for some information from them. For example, we used this QR code to drive people to a page where they can register for a webinar and get a free book. The page is no longer active but you can still watch the webinar at www.VideoForSmartLawyers.com.

Once you have your shortened link, click "Info Page."

Here you will be able to access your QR code. Every link you create with bit.ly will have a QR code associated with it. Download your QR code and include it in your print marketing. You can then come back to track the results in bit.ly to see if it was a success. In this case, 12 of the 502 clicks came from the QR code, which is about 2% of the total. Not an overwhelming number, but those are 12 people that might not have known about the webinar otherwise.

There are a few other things to consider when using QR codes in your print marketing. The

first is to make sure users know how to scan them. Provide them with the names of free mobile apps like QRreader and ScanLife. Your potential and current clients will enjoy the satisfaction of being a part of this cool new technology, and you can employ a free marketing tool. Also, be sure that the page you send them to is mobile-friendly. Check the bounce rate of the page in Google Analytics to se

e how people are responding to your landing page.

You can get more information about mobile sites by clicking here or scanning this QR code!

Why Facebook Doesn't Have an iPad App

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60187 — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Since Apple released the first generation iPad in April of 2010, iPad owners have been complaining about the lack of a Facebook app. The fact that iPhones already have a Facebook app made it seem even worse. It is now July, and Facebook still has not released an app for iPad, and the grumbling has turned almost hostile.

Lackluster Response

Facebook's response has been a bit lackluster, and iPad owners apparently do not appreciate it. Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg responded by saying that iPads are not mobile like smartphones. He feels that Facebook.com should be sufficient for iPad users. Although the mobility of the iPad is debatable, Zuckerberg doesn't seem to care much.

Good News

There is good news for those of you who own an iPad. There are many rumors going around the web that Facebook is getting ready to release a dedicated iPad app. The source states that the app has been in the works for about a year - if this is true, then it means Facebook started development just a couple of months after the release of the first iPad. Let's face it, an app which does one thing (allow access to Facebook) doesn't usually take a team of programmers a year to put together, so this one could be a pleasant surprise for everyone. It could also end up being the standard for all tablet computers.

Marketing Benefits

Marketing through social networks provides a big benefit to attorney marketing campaigns. If you're not utilizing Facebook and other social networks for your marketing, you should definitely reassess your web marketing strategy. If you're ready to revamp your online strategy or just need a set of professional eyes to look over your current campaign, give us a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Don't forget to download a free copy of our report Twitter for Attorneys: A Quick Start Guide.

Facebook Adds Preview Feature to Comments

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60314 — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Facebook has recently added "rich comments" to their website. Previously, when you posted a link or video on Facebook, a preview or thumbnail was shown to your fans. There was no preview if your fans commented with a link or video, which resulted in long URLs that were often overlooked. (Long URLs are nearly extinct in the social media world anyway since you can track clicks with services like bit.ly.) Web page previews and video thumbnails will add a new level of engagement to the social network.

How does this affect your law firm? It's not enough to just set your social media on autopilot with a tool like Hootsuite. Imagine you are at a cocktail party: no one wants to hear you talk all the time! You need to listen and engage. The same applies to social media. Treat the relationships you create online just like you would if you met these people in person. Previews in comments are almost certain to generate more comments and engagement from users, and you will have more opportunities to grab and keep the attention of your fans.

Social media is an opportunity that you cannot afford to ignore. Watch our free webinar on social media at SocialMediaAndAttorneys.com, or get a free hard copy of our new book by Tom Foster and Ross Jurewitz, Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys Revealed: Mission 101.

Is YouTube the Most Social Site on the Internet? You Be the Judge!

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60186 — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

We all know that YouTube dominates the video segment of social media, but do you think the video sharing site is the most social site on the internet-more so than Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn? And why does it matter?

As you form your legal web marketing plan from top to bottom, you need to be sure to focus on what works best for your market segment and execute accordingly. There's no time to waste on strategies that don't work.

Nowadays, anyone with a camcorder (found for less than $100 in most retail stores) can stream video on YouTube and share their stories, whether for personal or professional interests. And, like all social media efforts, it's FREE. YouTube has quickly overcome almost all websites in terms of the sheer number of hits it gets.

The average web surfer now chooses YouTube over other search engines for items such as:

Step-by-step instructions on anything from home improvements to legal questions
Cute, comical, or just plain strange home videos
Movies and television episodes
Sporting events

The draw of YouTube for legal web marketing is in the visual and audible elements. It's one thing to read an article on a topic, and quite another to see and hear do-it-yourself instructions from an expert on a topic. People remember video better than text, and the two together are even more powerful. Uploading videos to YouTube in tandem with blogging, Facebooking, and Twittering can provide a powerful boost to your legal web marketing efforts.

As an added benefit, YouTube also adds another element of searchability for your business. A subsidiary of Google, YouTube uploads are searchable by the Google search engine and help you optimize searches for your business. YouTube also offers the ability to embed video outside of the site itself, which could increase your visibility.

The advantages are unbeatable for your legal web marketing efforts. Start uploading videos to YouTube today to get results fast. If you need help, give the internet marketing experts at Foster Web Marketing a call at 888-886-0939. Be sure to take a look at our book Explode Your Practice through Internet Marketing.

How Google and Facebook Are Changing the Meaning "Targeted Marketing"

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60185 — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

With Google and Facebook's popularity seemingly skyrocketing, advertising with these online giants has become a red hot commodity which many legal web marketing campaigns have targeted. Along with hundreds of millions of users, however, comes the difficult task of marketing to your intended audience.

So how exactly do you market to hundreds of millions? By targeted marketing. Many of you may not realize that your target audience doesn't have to be broad - it could almost be as specific as you'd like it to be. Both Google and Facebook give you the ability to specify with great detail who sees your ads. One of the keys to successful marketing on Facebook is making friends. The more you have, the better the odds of your marketing efforts paying off. Getting friends is tough, however, and sometimes requires a bit of clever thinking.

Take a look at what Taco Bell did earlier this year when they were facing an image crisis over the quality of one of its products. They offered a free taco coupon on their Facebook page for those who became a friend. Their target audience was probably customers who frequent Taco Bell, but they now have about 6 million friends who came for the promotion and are now readily available for new marketing material with a click of a button.

This is truly a unique case of marketing, but it shows how their targeted audience responded positively to a free promotion. Even though you're not offering tacos, keep in mind the lure and impact of incentives to clients. Give us a call 888-886-0939 and let our experts examine your web marketing and see what you can do to give your campaign a boost. Be sure to order a copy of our book Explode Your Practice Through Internet Marketing, written by our very own Tom Foster, a nationally recognized author and internet marketing expert.

How EdgeRank Determines Whether People See Your Facebook Posts

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60182 — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

When your Facebook friends post messages on their pages, there's a good chance that you may have missed a part of their story, and the same goes for attorney marketing posts you make on your page. Facebook utilizes a system called EdgeRank to determine which subset of messages posted by your friends is actually displayed on your page and vice versa.

Facebook's news feed system displays your friends' messages, which are "sorted" through EdgeRank. Described as an "optimization method," it goes through all posts and determines which to display, and it shows only a subset of the whole message. The reasoning behind this system is that there would be too many messages for you to view at one time if EdgeRank didn't sort them for you. It seems that Facebook wants to control your experience, and it makes sense if you think about it.

A lot of people have hundreds of friends linked to their accounts. If you've been a Facebook user for a number of years, you probably remember how hectic things could get if you didn't log in to your account in a timely manner. If you wanted to see a post from a particular friend, you were going to be doing a lot of scrolling.

There are several elements to EdgeRank calculations:

Affinity score between viewing user and edge creator. This considers the number of messages you send a friend and how often you visit their page, then assigns an affinity score based on its calculations.
Weight for this edge type. The edge type includes things like create, comment, like, tag, etc. Weight is distributed to the various edge types and is basically another method of calculating contribution.
Time decay factor based on how long ago the edge was created. This means that newer edge types have priority over old ones. So if you post a new comment, it has precedence over previous ones.

There are other factors that EdgeRank considers in calculating which post is displayed in what particular way, but Facebook isn't giving up any more of their secret formula.

So what's the lesson? Just as Google is working hard to provide the most relevant results to its users, Facebook is learning quickly and attempting to enhance their users' experience. With EdgeRank and other changes in store for Facebook, have you been keeping up on your end? If you'd like to find out more, give us a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Also be sure to download a copy of our book The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites.

Did Mark Zuckerberg Sleep Through a $1 Billion Meeting?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)60181 — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Who hasn't heard of Facebook founder and business tycoon Mark Zuckerberg, especially now that Hollywood has made him famous through the movie The Social Network? And what does multi-billionaire Zuckerberg have to do with your own legal web marketing efforts?

Zuckerberg has it right: develop a product that's the hottest thing going since the Internet or the remote control and you get to call the shots, regardless of the reported cost or the time of day. It's reported Zuckerberg turned down a billion-dollar deal because the timing didn't work for him due to a social conflict and the fact that he doesn't like early morning meetings.

Follow your passion and you'll reap the rewards. Obviously Zuckerberg follows this golden rule, and so can you. If your practice is your passion, then starting a web marketing campaign or simply executing your current efforts more effectively will only increase your bottom line.

To most of us, a billion dollars would mean the world. But to Mark Zuckerberg, it was a pittance. Why? Because he had confidence in this first-of-its-kind online viral medium and knew it was being sorely undervalued. How can you be sure you aren't under-performing on your legal web marketing efforts and being under-valued by prospective clients?

Ask yourself some questions about your legal web marketing plan:

Are you using all of the appropriate online marketing platforms to your advantage?
Are you effectively using key words on your website, your blog, and all of your social media outlets, including YouTube?
Are you building an editorial schedule that suits your practice and your followers, thus enhancing your bottom line?

If you feel like your web marketing strategy needs a boost, give the internet marketing experts at Foster Web Marketing a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Also, be sure to take a look at our book Explode Your Practice through Internet Marketing.

How to Track Un-Trackable URLs

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59713 — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Most web marketers can't code worth a darn, but they don't have to most of the time. Great content management systems and email marketing software make it easy to perform tasks that were once very complicated. Tools like Google Analytics make it simple to track activity on your websites with just one little snippet of code. But what if you want to track a web asset that you don't have complete control over?

For example, we often create meetings and webinars in GoToMeeting. We are provided with a registration page that we have very little control over. Since we can't install the Google Analytics tracking code, it is very difficult to track how many people come to the page and how many actually register.

Luckily, there is a fairly simple solution. The first thing you need to track a URL like this is buy an easy-to-remember domain name from GoDaddy. For our July 2011 webinar, we bought the domain name www.SaveYourWebsite.com.

Next, rather than doing a 301 re-direct to the GoToMeeting URL, we shortened the URL with bit.ly. Take the bit.ly URL and head over to GoDaddy.com. Click "Domains" then "Domain Management." Choose your domain then look for the setting called "Forwarding."

Now when some goes to www.SaveYourWebsite.com, they are sent first to the bit.ly link and then to the final destination. You will be able to check link statistics in bit.ly, and they give you a free QR code for each link you shorten. This is great way to track traffic from direct mail. There are many ways to use bit.ly URLs, so get creative!

For more information on creative marketing for attorneys, check out Tom Foster's book 5 Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make or give us a call at 888-886-0939.

Why Google Really Launched the +1 Button

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59716 — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google recently launched a new feature on its search engine called the +1 ("plus one") button, which can be good news for legal web marketers. Once you're logged in to Google, the button is available alongside every search result you receive. It's designed to improve the quality of your search results by taking note of what you have previously +1'd. It will be integrated along with Google+, which is their version of social networking and currently in the testing phase.

But why did Google launch the +1 button?

Just last year, Google's CEO stated that they would like the "friends" data from Facebook in order to offer better search results to users. Google currently allows Facebook users to scan their Gmail contacts for Facebook users, but not vice versa. With Facebook's refusal to share information, Google opted to collect its own data and launched the +1 button.

So how can this affect my legal web marketing campaign?

No one really knows Google's search algorithm with certainty, but you can bet that when you click the +1 button your future search results will be affected one way or another. If a current or potential client clicks the +1 button next to your search result, your website and others similar to it will essentially be "remembered" for future reference. Once Google collects enough data with +1, your clients can expect custom tailored results relevant to their search.

Others from your network can also see what you're interested in and have the option to check it out. This has the potential to be an alternative to valuable "word of mouth" referrals - it's just in a more discreet form.

With Google and other influential websites constantly upgrading their systems to enhance user experience, it can be challenging to try to keep up with the latest web marketing trends. Don't be intimidated by the changes; they are inevitable. We understand that you need to keep up to date with the latest to stay on top of your competition. Give us a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939 and let us assess your current legal web marketing strategy to see how it stacks up with current trends. Don't forget to download a free copy of our book "Google Local: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know to Dominate."

How Much Is Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg Worth?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59714 — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Facebook's popularity is well known, and it seems that millions of people can't go a day, or even an hour, without checking Facebook, especially with the widespread use of smartphones. It's also well known that Facebook provides a valuable medium for attorneys and their marketing campaigns.

So what kind of dollar figure does this popularity translate into for Facebook's founder Mark Zuckerberg? The latest estimate, provided in March 2011 by Forbes, has Zuckerberg at a cool $13.5 billion. This can be attributed to the following statistics provided by Facebook:

Facebook has more than 750 million active users.
The average user has 130 friends.
Users spend an average of 700 billion minutes per month on Facebook.
30 billion pieces of content are shared every month by users.
250 million people engage Facebook each month through external sites.
10,000 websites integrate with Facebook every month, joining over 2.5 million total.
Over 250 million active users are currently accessing Facebook through smartphones.

This is why Mark Zuckerberg is worth $13.5 billion. High demand by hundreds of millions of people can create that kind of income for you. This is a nice income stream for him, of course, but what about those of us in the real world? The best web marketers can do is take advantage of these incredible numbers by implementing the latest web marketing strategies. This is done by integrating new technologies and features offered by social networking sites into your campaigns.

If you're currently not utilizing Facebook and other social networking sites for your campaign, or if you would like to update your current strategy, call our web marketing experts for a consultation today at 888-886-0939. Be sure to order a copy of our book "Explode Your Practice Through Internet Marketing."

How to Customize Your Facebook Business Page URL

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59712 — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

While a large portion of our time is now spent online, there are still times when we want to send a friend, potential client, or customer to an online entity when we aren't at a computer. This is why domain names were invented in the first place. Domain names can be a friendly, easy-to-remember method of directing people to destinations on the web instead of IP addresses. When you create a website, you can choose your domain name, but the same is only partially true of sites like Facebook and Twitter. Now that social media has become such a powerful internet marketing tool, it's important to drive prospects to these sites for further engagement and long-term marketing. Here is a tip to make your Facebook domain name easy to remember.

If you haven't already created a Facebook business page, you can do that here. Don't use a personal account for your business, or you will have to manually accept every person that wants to follow you. Next, give people a reason to go there by posting interesting content and links. Once you have 25 fans, Facebook will allow you to customize your URL.

To do this, go to facebook.com/username and choose the page that you wish to customize. For branding purposes, it's wise to choose the same name as your website. For example, our website is www.FosterWebMarketing.com and our Facebook page URL is Facebook.com/FosterWebMarketing. The more consistent your web assets, the easier it will be to direct people there if you are offline.

To learn more about social media from pros like Tom Foster and Ross Jurewitz, get your free copy of their book "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys Revealed: Mission 101," or give us a call at 888-886-0939.

How to Create a Custom LinkedIn Profile URL

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59679 — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

There are many ways to boost your SEO, including all kinds of shady methods that you don't want to be involved in. You should, however, take advantage of all of the legitimate resources that are available, especially if they are free. LinkedIn has established itself as major social media site. Aimed at professionals, they have created an environment for people to network, discuss, and discover. LinkedIn profiles are free, and they even allow you customize your URL. Here's how:

Head to LinkedIn.com. If you haven't already created a free profile, it's time to make one. If you have an account, sign in.
Hover over "Profile" and click "Edit Profile."
- Scroll down until you find the URL for your public profile and click "Edit."

On the right side of the screen, you will find "Your current URL." Click "Customize your public profile URL."
- Now you can set your custom domain. You don't have to just use your name, either. A few examples of URLs that would be good for SEO are linkedin.com/in/Virginiacaraccidentlawyer or linkedin.com/in/bestworkerscomplawyer. You can brand yourself and give yourself a little extra search boost, too!
If you are looking for help with your social media marketing, you can watch our social media webinar for free anytime at SocialMediaAndAttorneys.com. Need a little more guidance? Contact us today to find out how we can help.

How to Manage Bad Links and Boost Your Online Reputation

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)59285 — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

One of the most important aspects of search engine optimization is the quality of links pointing to your site. Herein lies a problem for webmasters. Anyone can link to your site, even low-quality sites or people with bad things to say about. Does Google take this into account when assigning your PageRank, even though you have no apparent control over it?

To some degree, you actually do have control over it. Here are 3 ways to manage your online reputation and avoid getting tangled up in bad links:

Write good content. We really can't say this enough. This doesn't just mean writing interesting blog posts for your website, though. It means optimizing it correctly for search, syndicating to social media sites, and updating on a consistent basis. Good content will naturally collect good links for your site.
Avoid paid links. We aren't talking about Google AdWords or any other PPC here. Those are legitimate avenues to bring targeted traffic to your site. We are talking about any unnatural, "spammy" links from or to your site. Don't ever buy links from a content farm or sell links to others. Google is smarter than you think. A few bucks for a link is not worth the rankings it could cost you in the future. Also, only link to sites you trust. Google is always paying attention!
Quality over quantity. It is much harder to write one quality article than it is to bang out three crummy ones. You are much better off with less content if it's really good content. If you are in a competitive market and can't keep up, it could be time to hire a writer for your site. Content is king, right? Maybe we should say "great content is king."

Managing your online reputation is not as complicated as you might think. Just like your mom told you as a child: don't talk to strangers. If you don't feel right about a link or a piece of content, forget about it! Google is always checking to see if the sites that link to you are legitimate, and they are adamant about keeping their search results clean.

For more information about link building, SEO, and content writing, give us a call at 888-886-0939 or check out Tom Foster's free book The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% Of Lawyers Make with Their Websites.

Even Google's SEO Isn't Perfect

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)58518 — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

As big and dominating as Google seems, they're not immune to the problems faced by their own competition. Many of us tend to think that Google has this search engine optimization (SEO) thing down pat, but looking at Google's latest SEO report card, the results are surprising and could affect the way attorneys are marketing.

Google's SEO is optimized for users, so there are some aspects which could be tweaked on Google's end to make its SEO more effective for search engines. This is highlighted in an analysis of over 100 Google properties, which include meta description tags, consistent internal linkage, title tags, etc. Surprisingly, the results revealed that only about a third of the properties analyzed had meta description tags associated with them. This is disconcerting because meta descriptions play a huge role in determining how your snippets are presented among search results.

Another of Google's SEO properties shown to be inefficient was different URLs leading to the same content. This is not a huge issue, but demonstrates that Google has some fine tuning to do.

Overall, Google's SEO still does a great job, and they should be applauded for their efforts, especially with all the pressure to stay on top of the search game. But what do the inefficiencies mean for your website? It means that you or someone you've hired to manage your site should be on top of known SEO blunders and make changes to your web site as needed. Google is constantly tweaking their SEO properties, so your best option is to stay informed.

If you think that your website may require some updating and/or tweaking to account for the constantly changing face of SEO, give us a call today for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Don't forget to download a copy of our book The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% Of Lawyers Make with Their Websites.

How to Get More Facebook Fans

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)58516 — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST

Social media sites have begun take to take over the world, or at least that's how it feels. Has anyone had a day go by without thinking about any one of the multitude of social media sites we all have accounts for? This is especially tough to avoid if you have easy access with a smartphone. Despite all of the time spent on social media sites and the mass of people using them, the challenge from an attorney marketing perspective remains the same: getting more leads.

In this case, it's about getting more Facebook fans for your page. I compare this to the sport of fishing - you have to attract the ones you want with specific bait. A good starting point is to offer Facebook-exclusive information, which is available nowhere else. You want to give users a reason to "like" your page, and this can be accomplished with exclusivity. Just like you bookmark a site with the information you've spent hours searching for, your users will "like" a page with exclusive information. If you have books published, it's a great idea to have those available on your page, too. The more relevance you offer, the better the odds of being "liked."

Earlier this year, Facebook replaced FBML for what's called iFrame, which offers more customization for landing pages. You can utilize the new system by having a call-to-action image created on your landing page. The "call to action" is usually calling for the visitor to click the "like" button and become your fan. You can be creative with this, as any .jpg file can be used. The purpose of this method is to try to force the visitor to "like" you in order to gain additional relevant information. Some businesses even offer contests that visitors can enter simply by "liking" them. Once they "like" your page, they will see a new page giving them "inside" access.

There are many guides available for customizing your landing page, but if you're not so savvy, you should consider hiring a professional for great results. If you've been looking into getting more fans, or if you just want give your web marketing campaign a boost, give our experts a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Don't forget to order a free copy of our book Explode Your Practice through Internet Marketing.

How to Change the Default Tab on Your Facebook Fan Page

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)58515 — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Now that you're officially part of the social media conglomerate, the next step for your attorney marketing campaign is customization. Let's take a look at what you need to do to change the default tab (a.k.a. "landing page") of your Facebook fan page.

The first thing you need to know is what Facebook allows you to do in terms of making changes to your landing page. Facebook's official policy regarding the matter reads as follows:

"Facebook currently only allows you to change the default landing tab for people who have not yet become a fan of your page. Visitors who are either admins or already like your page will always have the wall as their landing tab."

Here's how you can change your default landing page for non-fans:

Once you're logged in and on your Facebook page, click on "Edit Page" near the top right-hand corner.
Now, on the left-hand side of the page, click on "Manage Permissions."
You should now see an option called "Default Landing Tab." Here you can choose the default tab for visitors who have yet to "like" you.

Visitors who aren't fans of your page will now see a different tab than fans, so make the default tab work for you by putting together something that will entice the visitor to "like" you. Just consider this the beginning of converting visitors to fans and potentially clients.

If you haven't done so already, customizing your Facebook fan page should be the first thing on your to-do list. With millions of users, Facebook can be a crucial component of any attorney's marketing campaign. Contact us for a consultation today at 888-886-0939 and start optimizing your web marketing. Be sure to download our book The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make with Their Websites.

5 Apps for Viewing Google Analytics on a Smartphone

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)57905 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Many of you know what Google Analytics (GA) is and the benefits of this fantastic free service. For those of you who don't, Google Analytics allows you to see how people found your site and what they viewed. It provides a great deal of detailed information, which can be priceless for your legal web marketing campaign.

For those of you who are currently using GA, there are now many applications available for your Android and iOS smartphones. Some of these apps are even complex enough to allow you to view almost all of the main features of GA on your phone!

The following apps are available for most smartphones:

DroidAnalytics is a great Android app for viewing overall trends on your website, and it supports multiple accounts. You are able to view daily, weekly, and yearly statistics and also display graphs. This one will cost you about $3.41 on Android Market.
Analytics Widget is free, available for Android, and simpler than DroidAnalytics, but the simplicity is what makes this one great. A widget is placed on your home screen that displays basic information, such as the number of visitors or page views.
Analytix, offered for Android, sells for about $1.41. Like DroidAnalytics, it also offers a host of information that you can view in graph form. It offers a collection of the most commonly used data on GA, such as page views, visits per day, mobile traffic, etc.
BAM Analytics Pro is definitely a professional application for iOS smartphone. For $1.99, this app can give you detailed information, create up to 65 different reports, and export them through CSV, XML, and email.
Analytics App is good at summing up your GA data and displaying it in an easier-to-read format. It will run you $1.99, and there are many options to customize.

Google Analytics is a great tool, and now you can access that data pretty much anywhere you go. If you're not using GA for your website and want to find out what it can do for you, give us a call for a consultation at 888-886-0939. Don't forget to also download a copy of our free report “How To Get Found On YouTube.”

How to Upload Contacts into Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)57915 — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

You have your social media accounts set up, and now you want to upload all of your contacts. Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter all offer similar support for uploading your legal web marketing contacts from various email accounts, such as Gmail, Hotmail, etc. With this in mind, understand that each social media site offers slightly different ways for you to import your contacts to their site.

For example, let's say that you want to upload your contacts stored in Yahoo mail to Twitter:

Log in to your Twitter account and click the “who to follow” tab at the top.
Next, click on “find friends” and you'll see a list of services from which Twitter allows you to import contacts. Currently, Twitter allows: Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, AOL, and LinkedIn.
For this example, click on Yahoo, and it will take you to a page for you to log in to Yahoo.
Once you log in to Yahoo, a new window should pop up asking you to agree to authorize access to Yahoo contacts.
Clicking “agree” will start the process of uploading your Yahoo contacts to Twitter.
Going back to Twitter, you should now see a list of contacts which were imported from Yahoo. It will also let you know if they are on Twitter and offer an option to send invitations to those who aren't.
Now you're all set with Twitter!

You can basically follow the instructions above to upload contacts from other email clients you may be using. If you have a lot of contacts, it may be a good idea to edit them before you upload them to your social media account, as it can be overwhelming if you're dealing with hundreds of contacts. Facebook and LinkedIn work in a similar fashion to Twitter, so go to your account settings and look for a function to import your contacts – they may also be referred to as “friends” instead.

Be sure to order a copy of our newest book, Secrets of Social Media for Attorneys Revealed: Mission 101!

CBS News Got It Right With This Story About Social Media!

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)57058 — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

Even though “The Early Show” producers might not have read our blogs and articles, they were “drinking the same Kool-Aid” as us when they decided to highlight the significant impact social media has had on small businesses.

In a recent broadcast, CBS News Business and Economics Correspondent Rebecca Jarvis examined how one small business was able to profit from the use of social media. Jarvis focused on the owner of Luke’s Lobster, Luke Holden, who despite the poor economy, decided to take a big risk by opening a restaurant in the East Village in New York. Instead of relying on the traditional types of advertising (you know the ones we’re talking about...TV commercials, print ads, billboards and the Yellow Pages), he decided to keep it social.

Holden used the website, FourSquare, to market his business. This website, which also has a mobile app, gives people the chance to “check in” and let others within their social network know their location. For local businesses, it’s like word-of-mouth advertising on steroids.

As a result of using social media, Holden was able to succeed when the odds were stacked against him.

Apply This Marketing Lesson to Your Law Firm

If you want the opportunity to get directly in front of your target market, then social media is your answer. We have long been preaching the importance of social media for attorneys and other small business owners. If you are ready to attract more cases, then get involved in social media, today.

Be sure to order a copy of our book, Secrets of Social Media for Attorneys Revealed. It is a beginner’s guide to maximizing social media for your business.

Another Reason to Create Attorney Web Video: Mobile Views

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)56644 — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

According to a recent article in the New York Times, more people are using Apple iPhones, iPads and iPod Touches to watch mobile video than any other devices. The article, “80% of Mobile Video Views Happen on Apple Devices,” reveals the research findings of FreeWheel.

Based on the 2011 Video Monetization Report by FreeWheel, Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch generate the majority of mobile video views. Here are some of the details included in the report:

Four-fifths of all mobile video views occur on Apple iOS devices.
30 percent of all video views happen on the iPhone and iPod Touch.
20 percent of video views are done using Android devices.

In FreeWheel’s opinion, Apple is dominating the mobile video views due to the fact that they had an early lead in the mobile video market. The New York Times reports that FreeWheel “hypothesizes that greater viewership on Apple devices represents the priorities of video publishers and mobile developers as well, who build for iOS devices first before moving on to other platforms.”

Make Sure Your Law Firm is Creating Web Video

We constantly preach the importance of creating quality Web video as a way to attract a greater number of clients. The fact that more and more people are viewing videos using their mobile devices should prompt you to take action. You need to be developing and syndicating interesting attorney Web video on a regular basis. If you are not, your competitors are going to start stealing your potential clients.

Contact us today at 888.886.0939 to learn about our video continuity plan.

Be sure to order your copy of the book, How Really Smart Lawyers Are Using Video on the Web to Get More Cases!

Everything You Need To Know About Apple's WWDC in 12 Minutes

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)56605 — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 08:00:00 EST

On June 6, 2011, Steve Jobs of Apple announced a few major updates to their software. These updates could very well change the way we use computers. To listen to the Foster Web Marketing 12 minute recap, click here. Among the major changes are:

Mac OS Lion with full screen apps, touch gestures and the Mac App Store.
iOS 5 with full Twitter integration for iPhone and iPad. iMessage will allow BBM-like communication between devices.
iCloud will allow you to back up and access not only music but photos, videos and documents.

You have probably heard a lot of buzz about this which is why Jimmy Daly interviewed our resident Mac nerd (and his brother), Robby Daly. You can listen here to get everything you need to know in less than 12 minutes!

Click here to download and listen.

Mobile users love Google maps – is your law firm ready for them?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55870 — Thu, 26 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google recently announced that mobile device users account for a full 40 percent of all Google Maps use, and by June they expect over half of Maps use to be from mobile devices. This means that every day more and more people are turning to their smartphones to look up local information, search for directions and - more importantly - seek out businesses.

Google is also adding features to Maps, like giving users the ability to "check in" to a location (similar to the popular app Foursquare) and also giving them an easy way to rate businesses and leave feedback. It is clear that smartphones are becoming an increasingly important marketing opportunity, and law firms need to capitalize on these features by making sure they have a strong mobile presence.

Two ways for law firms to capture mobile traffic

First we recommend that law firms claim and update their Google Places account, which provides Google Maps users with information about your business. You want to make sure that the information users see on Google Maps is correct. There have been cases where the default information in an unclaimed Google Places account was incorrect, sending people to the wrong address or providing the wrong phone number.

Second, create a stylish, easy to use and well-designed mobile website for your law firm. With a mobile version of your website, mobile users can easily learn about your firm if they find you on a mobile web search or if they find you by Google Places.

With Google Maps installed on over 200 million mobile devices, attorneys need to ask themselves: am I doing everything I can to capture the attention of mobile users? Learn more about Google Places and our custom mobile websites by filling out our online contact form or by calling 1.888.886.0939.

Legal Marketing Expert Ben Glass "Rocks the Boat" With New Program

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55615 — Wed, 25 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Many of the lawyer marketing techniques that attorney Ben Glass has used have been met with resistance by other attorneys. Not every legal professional likes what Ben has to say, as they would prefer a more simple, traditional form of marketing. So, it’s not surprising that Ben’s new program, “No Fee For Kids” has been met with some opposition.

What Got the Wheels Turning

Ben was inspired to create a program where the attorney fee is waived for any child who is age 12 or under at the time of the accident and whose case settles without having to file a lawsuit. According to Ben, he came up with this out-of-the-box idea after sitting in the courtroom listening to an attorney attempt to justify a large fee he had charged in a child auto accident case.

In a recent press release, Ben says, “the case itself was relatively simple and the insurance company had offered its policy limits. The judge felt that the fee was excessive for the risk and amount of work done.” It was this situation that got the wheels turning in Ben’s mind.

As a father of nine children, he wanted to find a way for kids to have legal representation without have to pay a high fee. The rest is history.

It Must be Great Marketing

Ben has challenged other lawyers to take the “No Fee For Kids” pledge alongside him. While many attorneys have jumped on board, there have been some negative responses. According to Ben’s Facebook page, one lawyer told him to stop rocking the boat with his program. If it stirs up controversy, it must be great marketing!

Check it out for yourself at http://nofeeforkids.com.

Get the skinny on creating a winning Facebook ad for your law firm

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55535 — Sun, 22 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Small business advertisements have been a big source of revenue for Facebook, because Facebook offers advertisers access to demographic data that allows them to target their niche markets. If you are looking for another relatively inexpensive way to advertise your law firm, consider a targeted Facebook ad.
Things to consider when creating a Facebook ad:

Facebook users like things that are free. If you have a book or other free offer on your main website, consider advertising it on Facebook.
Create targeted ads. Facebook has a lot of data available about their users - much more than Google or other search engines. This means you should not approach a Facebook ad like you would a traditional ad.
Be creative. Create different ads that target different segments of your niche. Think about the typical age and location of your ideal client, and what hobbies they might engage in or other relevant data.

If at first you don't succeed...

Yup, try, try again! Don't be dismayed if the ad does not do well; you may have to experiment with different approaches before you figure out what makes the potential clients in your niche respond to an ad.

Making the most of social media isn't as hard as most attorneys think

Don't look at social media as a time-consuming new thing you have to figure out - look at is as a great new way for you to engage your potential clients on a friendlier and more personal level. You can also get more tips about harnessing the power of social networking in our new book, "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys REVEALED!" which you can get from us for FREE.

What the LinkedIn IPO means for social networking and your marketing plans

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55528 — Sat, 21 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

LinkedIn made history as the first social networking site to go public, in an initial public offering that left investors stunned. At the end of the first day, LinkedIn was valued at an impressive $8.9 billion - an opening day surge of 109 percent.

Social media has arrived

LinkedIn's internet IPO was the biggest since Google went public in 2004, and for many investors it represents social media's debut on Wall Street. Financial analysts believe that this stunning IPO will cause other social media companies to scramble to go public as well, with the hopes of reaping similar profits (it is worth noting that the closing price on LinkedIn's first day was 36 times its revenue in 2010).

A new business model?

What is intriguing about social networking companies is that they usually grow quickly and organically. This is because social media is more valuable to users if they can involve their friends and acquaintances, so it is in users' best interest to attract as many new users if they can. With this business model, social media companies do not have to spend obscene amounts of money on marketing and incentives - their users do the selling for them.

The next social networking IPO will be...

There are more social networking companies poised for IPOs. Analysts believe that companies like Facebook, Pandora, Yelp and Groupon will go public within the next year.

Take advantage of the social networking revolution - develop a social media marketing plan for your law firm. Get help from our FREE book, "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys REVEALED!" right now!

"How to" for Lawyers: Writing Headlines That Make Great Tweets

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55199 — Tue, 17 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Mashable.com recently posted a great article (5 Killer Social Media Tips for PR Pros) that among other things, talked about how to create headlines that are “tweetable.” Basically, the gist was that you should pay careful consideration to headlines of any press releases you produce, so that you can encourage the number of tweets and re-tweets.

While we think this tip is a great one, we would expound upon it by saying any headline you write, whether it is for an article, blog post or press release, should have tweetability.

When people find an interesting content piece, they will often share it by tweeting a link or mentioning the title. As a lawyer and marketer, this is your chance to get in front of your ideal clients.

What Makes a Headline Tweetable?

According to the article, you need to keep a few things in mind when writing a tweetable headline:

Make sure the headline is short enough to be tweeted along with the link to the content.
Include relevant keywords in the headline to make it searchable.
Capture people’s attention by making the headline compelling or a little controversial.

To learn more about how to succeed on Twitter, read our article, New to Twitter? Here’s 5 Things Every Attorney Should Know. You should also order our FREE report, Twitter for Attorneys.

There are a lot of components that go into a successful social media and Internet marketing campaign. To learn what it takes to create a powerful online presence, which will help you get more cases, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Social media marketing - law firms have no choice but to embrace it

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)55130 — Sun, 15 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Getting attorneys to embrace social media as part of their marketing strategy is a challenge. Many see social media sites like Facebook and Twitter as a way to waste time. However, no matter your personal feelings on this topic, it is clear that Google and Facebook are changing the way your prospective clients search for services. If you don't embrace the change, you'll be left playing catch-up.

Facebook's goals are probably the most obvious - they want their site to be the go-to hub for all online social interactions. But their ambitions don't stop there. They encourage users to share information about businesses they like and use, experiences they've had and content they find compelling. The "share" and "like" features are powerful, as studies show that online users trust the opinion of their friends more than anything else when it comes to making a decision.

This last point is the most important for lawyers to digest. People trust their friends. Your clients have friends. You need to woo not only your clients, but also your potential clients and their friends. Building trust is integral to online marketing these days, and social media is the way to do this.

Skeptical? Google is getting on board, too. They have rolled out a feature that shows web searchers search results that have been recommended by their friends. This changes how attorneys do online marketing - it means a slick website and informative content are not enough - you need to win the hearts of your clients and potential clients so they feel comfortable recommending you to their friends and family.

Intrigued? Not sure you agree? Either way, you will want to read our newest book, "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys REVEALED!"

"Hey, is this thing on?" Why your social media marketing isn't working

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)54662 — Sat, 07 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

The great thing about social media is that so many people use it these days to look for information and see what their friends recommend. The problem attorneys will find is that as users become more sophisticated in their use of social media, they will also become more discriminating about the content they trust. This means that if you are not posting compelling information that your followers can really use, they will filter you out.

Folks, the bottom line is this: if you are not posting info that engages your followers, your social media efforts will be a waste of time.

Content is STILL king

Now is the time to take a look at what you are posting on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. Are your followers "liking" your posts? Are they sharing them with their friends?(Hint, if you don't know the answer to this question, it is time for you to investigate some social media analytics tools.)
If you are not getting a good response from your social media efforts, and if you are not effectively engaging your law firm's followers, it is time to revamp your strategy - and this usually means posting content that your potential clients actually want to read!

In a social media rut? Here are a couple of articles to jump-start your efforts:

Tired of playing catch-up with your online marketing? Get your copy of our FREE book, "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys REVEALED!"

Flex your creative marketing muscles on Facebook and Twitter

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)54626 — Fri, 06 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Are you sick of hearing us talk about the importance of social media marketing yet? Well we're not the only ones who think it is important. You might like this blog written for real estate professionals that touts the benefits of getting your business onto Facebook and Twitter. See? We aren't the only ones telling our clients that social media is a must!

Your potential clients are looking for you on Facebook and Twitter before they call

Why should you have a Facebook and Twitter account for your law firm? Because these days people will look you up on social media before they call your office. They want to learn more about you, and see if you seem like the kind of firm they could trust. Think of social media as a way to make a great, personal first impression on your potential clients.

"Thou Shalt Not Be Boring!"

We can't agree with this advice enough! When you post on Facebook or Twitter, don't write like an attorney! Let your regular Jane or Joe side loose, and talk about what interests you and what you're passionate about. It is good to inject some of your personality into your posts, so your potential clients can get a feel for you as a real person.

Remember that with social media marketing you're working to build trust in your firm. Learn more about how attorneys can leverage social media in their online marketing plan with our latest report, "Secrets of Social Marketing for Attorneys REVEALED!"

Attorney Social Media Advice: Know Your Fans, Friends & Followers

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)54223 — Tue, 03 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Have you ever heard a business boast that they have thousands of “likes” on Facebook or followers on Twitter? While big numbers always sound impressive, you have to understand what these numbers mean and how they translate into more business for your law firm.

In our article, “How Social Media Fans, Friends & Followers Affect Your Law Firm,” we talked about how social media can help you grow your law practice. Your fans or followers can help you increase your online exposure through “word-of-mouth” marketing, plus they will point people your direction, who are in need of legal help. Think of your social media friends, fans and followers as influencers, decisions makers, advocates and of course, potential clients.

Know Your Social Media Group

Just like any other form of legal marketing, you have to know your target audience. Your social fans, friends and followers should be comprised of colleagues, acquaintances, past clients, current clients, prospects and anyone else with whom you have come in contact.

In essence, this group will become your online raving fans who will listen to what you have to say and will pass your message along to those who need to hear it most.

If you are looking to improve your attorney Web marketing campaign, give us a call at 888.886.0939. We have a team of marketing experts who will help you take your law firm to the next level, so that you can start attracting the cases you want.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, Twitter For Attorneys: A Quick Start Guide.

Smartphone users are ripe for your marketing efforts, says Google

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)54188 — Sun, 01 May 2011 08:00:00 EST

Google recently conducted a survey of about five thousand U.S. adult smartphone users in an attempt to better understand the potential of the mobile marketplace. The results, they claim, reveal an advertising goldmine.

Smartphone users are active internet and app users - is your law firm ready for them?

Since we now offer mobile websites and mobile apps for smartphones, we're very interested in smartphone statistics. What is compelling in Google's study is that 81 percent of the people surveyed use their smartphones to browse the Internet, and 77 percent use smartphone apps.

Not only are smartphone users actively searching online for goods and services, but they also use their phones in a wide variety of places. They use them at home, at the office, while watching TV and often - ill advisedly - while driving.

According to Google researchers, there are three kinds of smartphone internet searchers: action-oriented searchers, those seeking local information, and those seeking to buy something.

How can lawyers take advantage of the exploding mobile marketplace?

Attorneys need to focus on the first two types of information seekers - those with a goal ("I need a lawyer" or "I need information about the accident that just happened") and those seeking local info ("is there a law firm near me?" or "my sister needs an attorney, I wonder if there is anyone close to her.") A well-designed custom mobile website or smartphone app could be just the thing to get your law firm noticed by smartphone users.

Lastly, the Google survey noted that smartphone users were frequent visitors to social media sites. Don't forget your Facebook and Twitter accounts as you build your mobile empire.

Ready to take your practice to the next level with an awesome, custom-designed mobile website or with a sweet smartphone app that your potential clients will love? Contact our crack sales team at 888-886-0939 or reach out to us online.

Are you losing clients because you don't have a mobile website?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)54089 — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Like any business with an online presence, you are probably losing clients because you don't have a mobile website for your law firm. How can you tell for sure? If you have Google Analytics installed on your website (and you do if you're one of our clients) then you can read this article to learn how to check how many mobile visitors are visiting your site - and how quickly they are leaving.

Why is it so important to have a well-designed mobile attorney website?

Mobile web surfers are not patient - if a site takes too long to load on their device, or if the navigation is clunky, they'll move on and never look back.
Every day, people are spending more and more time on their smartphones. If you don't have a solid mobile presence, you're missing out on these potential clients.
People hurt in an accident or suffering from a tragic "life event" (let's face it, most people don't think about finding a lawyer until they are facing a Tragic Life Event) have phones with them - and they'll use them to look for help immediately. How can they contact you if you don't have a mobile presence?

A mobile presence can be a properly designed mobile website, or it could be a free app that you offer your potential clients and their families. Ready to take the next step? We have a lot of ideas for apps, and we design amazing, custom mobile attorney websites that integrate with DSS, our awesome content management system. Call us today at 888.886.0939 to learn more!

Stay in Front of Your Clients Using an Attorney Mobile Application

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)53795 — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

When it comes to creating a mobile application for your law firm, there are many benefits. You can stand out from your competitors and help your prospects, not to mention the “cool” factor of having your own mobile app. However, there may be a huge advantage staring you in the face that you haven’t thought of – a mobile app helps you stay in front of your clients.

Stay Top of Mind with Your Clients

What if someone told you that you could stay in front of your clients up to 18 hours a day? That they would constantly see your law firm’s name every time they picked up their phones? You would be pretty impressed, to say the least. A mobile application keeps you “top of mind” with your clients. It is far better than most trinkets that attorneys use to promote their firms.

Create a mobile app that offers useful features to your clients. Think about what your clients go through when faced with a legal issue. What could you provide in the form of a mobile app that would make things just a little easier for them?

For example, if you are a personal injury attorney, create a mobile application that allows them to store notes from important conversations, medical expenses and other pertinent information that impacts their case. If you can create a helpful mobile app, your clients won’t forget about you next time they need legal help!

Ready to Create a Mobile App for Your Law Firm?

If you are looking to create an attorney mobile application, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

Why use Foster Web Marketing for your mobile attorney website?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)53692 — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

We've been impressed with the response we've gotten to the rollout of our new mobile websites. Judging by the number of orders we've gotten there was definitely a need out there for mobile attorney websites. However, we've been asked a few times - why use Foster Web Marketing for your mobile site instead of a website developer in your town, your cousin or a free Wordpress mobile site?

The benefits of a mobile attorney website from FWM

There are many benefits of getting your mobile website from us, here are three big ones:

You get a mobile site that is completely integrated with DSS. Nobody else can do this for you. Every piece of content you add to DSS is visible on your mobile site, and you don't need to do ANYTHING extra in DSS to make your mobile site work. It just works!
You get a mobile website that matches the look and feel of your FWM website, giving your law firm consistent branding. Consistency is important for your clients, as it builds trust in your business.
You get a custom-designed website built by experienced developers. We don't take shortcuts, and you don't get a cookie-cutter, one-size fits all mobile website. Our design team comes up with a unique design just for you, based on your main sites' design, then our developers code your site individually.

Want to see a sample of our work? Grab your smartphone and visit Ben Glass' mobile website www.vamedmal.com.

Are you ready for a mobile site? Learn how to check your Google Analytics account to see if potential clients are trying to view your site on their smartphones. Want to talk to our superstar sales team about getting a mobile site of your own? Call us at 888-886-0939 or fill out our easy online contact form.

Massive surge in mobile website traffic sends retailers scrambling

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)53274 — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

The explosion of mobile websites for e-commerce in recent months should serve as a call to action for law firms looking to expand their marketing efforts. As more and more smartphone users turn to these small handheld devices for their online needs, the opportunity to capture their attention with a well-designed, easy-to-use mobile site should not be missed.

Mobile e-commerce will account for $2.2 billion in retail sales this year alone, five times more than just three years ago. Retailers are working furiously and spending big bucks to get their mobile sites online. One software company estimates that retailers will have to spend $50,000 to $100,000 to create mobile retail websites (psst, our mobile websites are much more affordable!)

Why a mobile site? Can't mobile web visitors still use "regular" websites?

As smartphones evolve, mobile users have become impatient with the slow speed and navigation difficulties of non-regular sites. By examining web traffic analytics, many businesses are finding that as their percentage of mobile visitors grows, their bounce rate (the rate at which people quickly leave the site without doing business) increases. This is because websites not optimized for viewing on a smartphone are too difficult to use for web visitors accustomed to quick and nimble web apps.

Is your law firm ready for a mobile website?

You may have frustrated mobile web visitors - and not even know it! However, with a little research you can see for yourself if your firm could benefit from a mobile website. Check out our article, "Use Google Analytics to tell if your potential clients think you need a mobile website."

We do mobile websites! Check out one of our custom designed, fully functional mobile websites - use your smartphone to browse to www.VAMedMal.com. Ready to get your own mobile site? Contact our sales dudes at 888-886-0939.

Are you using or abusing social networking for your attorney website?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)53149 — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

When we convince our attorney clients that they need to jump into social media, often a lot of time and energy goes into creating a Facebook page and Twitter account for the firm. Unfortunately, once the initial excitement dies down those once promising pages are neglected or abused.

The two main ways attorneys abuse social media

The "set and forget" - Did you set up automatic feeds to your Twitter or Facebook account to share content that you add to your website... and that's it? We see this one a lot - attorneys are busy folks, and you may think that you're participating in social media just by doing automatic updates. However, think about this from your follower's perspective - what is interesting about a scheduled feed? Remember that the most successful people on social media share something of themselves.
The absentee parent - You set up your Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn accounts with the best intentions, but you rarely or never check in. If you went to the trouble of getting social media accounts for your firm, USE THEM! The whole point of social media is that it gives you a voice, and allows you to develop a relationship of trust with your followers. You'd be crazy to not take advantage of this unique marketing opportunity.

The bottom line: set some time aside each day or at least every other day to update your social media accounts, and give your followers a reason to pay attention to what you have to say.

Ready to optimize your social media accounts? Request our new FREE book, Secrets of Social Media for Attorneys REVEALED.

"I Have a Facebook Page for My Law Firm, Now What?"

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)52878 — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

If you have already read our article, The ABC’s of Creating a Facebook Business Page For Your Law Firm, you know that setting up your own page is not hard. You only need to complete a few simple steps to get your Facebook page up and running.

The problem that you might now be facing is how to use your Facebook page to get business. Below are some tips to help you continue moving forward with your Facebook marketing campaign:

Recommend your business page to your Facebook friends. A business page is different than a personal profile on Facebook. You cannot request friends through your business page. Instead, people can “like” your law firm’s page. To encourage the number of “likes,” recommend your new business page to the people you are friends with through your personal profile. You can also encourage your past and current clients to “like” your page on Facebook.
Start posting. It is not enough to simply have a business page; you also need to use it. You should post updates, videos, links and other interesting information. In addition, you should comment on other people’s postings, especially if they posted something on your business page. If you are not sure what is appropriate to share on Facebook, read our article, Wow, That’s a Little Too Personal! Social Media Tips for Lawyers.
Make a plan. You don’t need to spend hours a day on Facebook, but you should determine how much time you are willing to spend. Even 15 minutes a day can help you build your business through Facebook.

Don’t get overwhelmed by social media. Use it to your advantage and start increasing your client base by utilizing Facebook.

Make sure you order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites!

Attorney web marketing: are you selling yourself TOO hard?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)52727 — Sun, 10 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

We definitely aren't shy about letting you know that we want your business. We've got free books and reports that you can order, we have a toll-free number prominently displayed, we offer an easy-to-use live-chat service, and we always remind you in our content that we can assist you with your attorney web marketing needs. However, there is a fine line between being accessible and being pushy.

Is your website all about YOU?

Take a step back and look over your own website. Are you writing and posting content for your web visitor - or do you just keep adding content about how great you are? Or do you liberally pepper your content with phrases like "call us today for a free consultation!" with little other substance?

Focus on your potential clients and their needs

If this sounds like you, maybe it is time to dial it down a notch. Put yourself in your clients' shoes and focus your efforts on posting content that is helpful and informative, content that you know a potential client would want to read. Don't just beat your reader over the head with demands that they call you TODAY.

If you give site visitors the information they need and prove to them that you know what you're doing (don't forget your case results and testimonials!) then you'll develop a relationship of trust that will one day turn them into a client.

Not sure how to lure your readers into contacting you? Read more in Convert Web Visitors Into Contacts Using This Secret Formula!

Attorney web content tip: break up your page with sub-headings!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)52726 — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 08:00:00 EST

Have you ever clicked on a link that opened up a webpage with a huge block of text and thought, "whoa, no thanks" and moved on? Take a look at your website - are you committing the sin of posting visually daunting content?

Don't challenge your web visitor to read novel-like blocks of text. They're not coming to your site for a literary experience, they want info - and they want it NOW. Today's tip - break up your long blocks of text with page sub-headings.

What is a page sub-heading?

In the body of your text, you have the option of adding sub-headings. This is a section heading or paragraph heading that summarizes what the next section will be about, and it is usually in bold text to catch the reader's attention. On this page, "What is a page sub-heading?" and "Why do page sub-headings matter?" are page sub-headings.

Why do page sub-headings matter?

People who surf the internet aren't looking to immerse themselves in long, nuanced content. They want to skim pages and find exactly what they need. If a quick skim doesn't give them what they're looking for, they'll move on in seconds. Breaking your content up into digestible paragraphs or bullet lists with bold, interesting page sub-headings will cause your web visitor's eye to pause and take in what you have to say. Make sure you're telling your web visitors what they need to know, and use punchy page sub-headings to do it.

Looking for more ways to optimize your content? Read about making the most of your page titles and meta descriptions!

Polishing up your website? Three little extras to tie it all together

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)51997 — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

So you think you've got a pretty good attorney website and you have the hang of writing content. There is probably more you can do to tie together all your marketing efforts and build a site that will get customers into your marketing pipeline.

Three things you may not be doing on your site today - but should...

Video! See the video at the top of this page? We recommend that you pair your content with a video, to really engage your visitor. You can also set up a YouTube channel and load your videos there, to further spread the word about your practice. Keep in mind that you can make videos specifically for certain pages on your website (we love videos tailored to great written content!) and you can also make videos specifically for a more general YouTube audience. Always consider your audience and your message when creating video!
Call to action! Don't passively wait for your website visitor to contact you, tell them what you want them to do! Is your contact information readily visible? Are you putting an easy to find, easy to use contact form on EVERY page so they can get right in touch? Do you tell them to pick up the phone and call in every piece of content? You need to!
FREE offer! So they're not ready to pick up the phone - but I bet they'd like a free book! Here, we've got one for you - The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites. See how easy that was? People love free information - and if it is GOOD information, they'll come back to you when they're ready to hire you.

Check out all the free stuff we offer on our website, and contact us online or give us a call at 888.886.0939 when you are ready to work with the Big Dogs in attorney website design!

Attorney website design: Why you need video instead of a flash header

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)51370 — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Considering how ubiquitous and popular online videos are these days, we still get quite a few clients who want to settle for having flash animation on their websites. We try to talk them out of it, but you know how some clients can be - they know best!

We want to explain in more detail why we want you to put videos on your site instead of just using flash animation...

Flash animation is wasted space. With flash animation, your website visitor will see the same flash images over and over on each and every page they visit. When you have flash on each page, you are wasting space, because web visitors will just tune it out.
You want to target your message. If you have several different practice areas, you want to target your message to these different areas. With flash, you're saying the same thing no matter what practice area your web visitor is interested in. Video gives that extra personalization and allows you to give specific information to visitors to each of your practice areas.
Brand yourself as a leader in your field. By delivering targeted, unique video content to your website visitors, you'll come across as a leader and an expert. Clients want to hire somebody who knows what they are doing, and video gives you an opportunity to show clients your expertise.

Thinking of putting a picture of yourself or your logo up on your site instead of flash or video? Go back and read the three points above again - they all apply even more in that case!

Find out what else you could be doing wrong on your website in our FREE book, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

3 Easy Tips for Writing Effective Attorney Blog Headlines

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)51424 — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Magazines, newspapers and other printed publications spend a great amount of time on creating headlines, and there is a reason. The headline is what will prompt someone to read an article. It is as simple as that. Your blog is no different. If you want people to read what you have to say, you need to entice them to do so. That means you need to put some thought into your headlines.

Below are some things to consider when developing your attorney blog headlines:

Speak to your audience. What thoughts are going through your prospects’ minds as they search the Internet? What kind of language do your clients use when describing their cases? Your headline should be written in the language of your audience.
Offer value. What will your Web visitors gain by reading your blog post? Will they learn the top 5 actions to avoid after a car crash? Will they learn the secrets insurance companies keep hidden? Your headline should explain what value the written piece has to offer.
Include a keyword. This one can be a little tricky. One of the major elements in creating a piece that is highly optimized is the headline. You therefore need to focus on creating a headline that catches your prospects’ attention, but also attracts search engines. This type of headline is possible, it just takes a little creativity.

If you need help creating quality content, we can help. To lean about our content writing for lawyers, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Order a FREE copy of the report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

Attorney Web Design: Why a Blog Should be a Part of Your Website

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)51422 — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

When blogs (short for Web logs) first became popular, they were mainly used as commentaries. Now they are used by businesses to attract potential clients, build relationships and show expertise. In addition to these great benefits, a blog also has tremendous SEO value, which is why you need to make sure you have one incorporated into your attorney Web design.

If you optimize your blog entries the right way, you will improve your chances of being found by major search engines, including Google. Here are some easy ways you can get the most out of your blog:

Include keywords. Before you start writing, think about one keyword you would like to target with your blog post. If you represent motorcycle accident cases in Miami, your keyword might be Miami motorcycle accident attorney. Make sure you mention the keyword in the body of the blog post, but don’t overdo it. You want the keywords to appear naturally within your content.
Create a catchy headline. Your headline should be an attention-grabber, but it should also include your targeted keyword. Therefore, your goal should be to create a headline that is appealing to your readers and the search engines.
Link internally. Going back to the first tip in this list, when you include keywords in your blog posts, link them to your practice area pages. In the example of the keyword, Miami motorcycle accident attorney, you would link that phrase to your motorcycle accident page.

It your current attorney Web design does not incorporate a blog, give us a call at 888.886.0939.

Order a FREE copy of the report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

Why we like case studies on attorney websites – and you should too!

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)50930 — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

Very often when we tell attorneys that they need to add case results or case studies to their website, they are reluctant. Sometimes this is for good reasons, because their state bar doesn't allow it, but other times it is because they worry about confidentiality or think they just aren't that interesting. So we want to explain for all to know why we love case studies, and why you need them on your site.

Why post case studies / case results?

Feed the search engines. Search engines like cases studies because they are usually packed with keywords. Think about it - if you write about a car accident case, you'll talk about specifics - broken bones, brain injury, property damage, uninsured motorists, insurance company problems - these are the keywords that will help your site rank high.
Look like an authority. When you write about cases you've already handled, it shows prospective clients your experience. It also makes them feel more comfortable when they see that you have had prior successes.
Familiarity breeds trust. If you have case results or studies that are similar to the client's own situation, the client will see that not only do you have experience, but you have relevant experience. That will help make them feel like they can trust you with their situation, since you were clearly successful with one similar to it.

Worried about confidentiality? You don't have to add the dollar amount if you don't want to, and you can alter details to protect your clients.

Get more website optimization tips by reading our book, Explode Your Practice Through Internet Marketing!

CONTENT IS STILL KING – here's how to write MORE

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)50928 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

We've said it before and we'll say it again - CONTENT IS KING. In order to rank well on Google, Bing, Yahoo and other search engines, you need to have a large amount of QUALITY, ORIGINAL, RELEVANT content. And if you're already adding content to your site - you probably need to add more.

We recommend that you add AT LEAST 30 pieces of content to your website each month. If you are in a competitive area, you need to add much more. So - how can you get more content on your website? Here are some tips:

Jot down questions that your clients ask you throughout the week, and turn them into quick FAQs for your site.
Notice what you tell clients when they're in your office or on the phone - can you turn your knowledge into an informative, 400 word article?
Write about local events. Do you take burn cases? Write about a local fire. Auto accidents? Write about that DUI that happened the other night.
Do you have an intern, paralegal or assistant? Give them your notes or ideas and let them turn them into website content. Even better, get them on a schedule so they add a set amount of content each week.
Mix it up - don't think you have to write long articles for each piece. Add short FAQs, blog posts, summaries of local news stories - these can all be 200-250 words.
Write about content themes. So a local accident was caused by a teenager texting and driving? Write an article about the dangers of texting and driving, a news story about the actual accident, a blog post about what your state is doing about texting and driving laws, and an FAQ for people who suspect their accident was caused by a texter. That's four pieces of content from ONE idea!
Get us to write monthly content for you. We have a variety of content management services you can choose from.

Need some more ideas? Check out our content writing section for great writing tips to keep you fresh!

Make Your Law Firm's Website One That People Will Love

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)50903 — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

At a recent SEO conference, Matt Cutts with Google told the individuals in the crowd to ask themselves, “how can I make a good site that people will love?” This question was related to the recent algorithm shift Google had made and how to go about building quality links.

The Big Change

Once Google made changes to their algorithm, which is used to rank websites, businesses watched their online traffic plummet. Others found their sites significantly moving up the search engine ranks. The main targets of Google’s algorithm update were sites with poor quality content and content farms.

What Does Google Have to Say About Building Links?

Even though content has been the main focus of the algorithm change, many people are asking questions about link building using Google-approved methods. That is where Cutts’ question came into play. You must determine what impression you want to give your target audience and what steps need to be taken to make them happy. According to Cutts, if you are able to accomplish these two things and bring brand value, links will come your way.

Valuable Attorney Link Building Advice

Cutts did give one very valuable piece of link building advice – find an authority website (a trusted, popular site) and see if they will publish a guest article you have written. If the site agrees to publish your article, you just attracted a strong inbound link. These kinds of links can help you succeed online.

Read more about what Cutts had to say regarding the Google algorithm change in our article, Google Explains the Panda Update – Know the Impact on Your Law Firm's Website.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

Google Places for Attorneys: It's Really Not That Hard

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)50397 — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

There is a right and wrong way to do things when it comes to attorney Web marketing, especially when Google is involved. If you have a Google Places listing (which you absolutely should), you need to be aware of the do’s and don’ts of this local service.

Many law firms will be competing for the top spots in Google Places, but don’t worry. You can beat them by adhering to the following advice:

DO research other lawyers in your area. You need to figure out which of your competitors are online.
DO review your competitors’ Google Places listings. Find out what they are saying about their law firms.
DO click on “more about this place” when viewing a competitor’s listing. You will be able to see information that Google has identified as relevant to the law firm.
DO get reviews. Ask your clients to review their experience with your firm.
DO NOT create a Google Places name that is crammed with geo-location keywords. Use your name instead.
DO NOT add geographic locations to the custom categories within Google Places. Any custom categories you create should describe your services.
DO NOT skimp on information. Fill out all of the form fields provided.
DO NOT use lists in the description of your law firm. Think paragraph, not bullet points.

Learn more by reading the article, 7 Steps to a BETTER Google Places Listing for Your Law Firm! You should also download a free copy of the informative report, Google Places: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know to Dominate.

What do 99% of attorneys do WRONG with their website content?

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)50362 — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 08:00:00 EST

I bet we caught your attention because you’re working hard on your website and you want to know what you might be doing wrong. Is this a good time for us to tell you how fantastic the online marketing mavens are here at Foster Web Marketing? Would you like us to tell you how many years we’ve been in business, how many clients we have, or how dedicated and aggressive we are? No! You just want the information you came here for. Guess what – so do your web visitors.

Don’t make your website content about you.

We just showed you what so many attorneys out there are doing wrong – they talk about themselves. We can’t say this enough – the content on your website should be about your web visitors, their concerns and what they need. When you are writing content or editing content that has been written for you, resist the urge to write about you, your firm, your many wonderful qualities and accomplishments, etc, etc. Your web visitors’ eyes will glaze over and they’ll move on to another site before you can say “and we have 150 years of combined experience!”

Look around – are your competitors making this big mistake?

I bet if you check out your competitor’s websites, you’ll see them trotting out the same old lines about how great / experienced / educated they are (and I bet they have a big ol’ picture of their faces in the header, or a giant firm logo). Is that what you want to see when you are desperately looking for information about a legal matter? Yeah, we didn’t think so.

Need more advice on what your competitors are doing wrong? Request our FREE report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Attorney Website and get a leg up on the competition!

Sharing Your Attorney Blog Posts on Twitter & Facebook Is Fast & Easy!

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)49913 — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

When you take the leap into attorney Internet marketing, you may quickly find yourself walking around blindly in the realm of the World Wide Web. Different terms are thrown your way – SEO, tweet, RSS, blogging, link building and so on. Who has time to keep up with all of the Internet terms and gadgets?

While you don’t need to waste your time on every latest and greatest marketing tool available online, there is one that you should not ignore. It is known as Hootsuite.com.

It Doesn’t Take Much Time to Automatically Share Your Blog Updates

In today’s marketing age, it is all about building relationships on the Internet. Social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, have changed the landscape of lawyer marketing. While social media is crucial and should be incorporated into everyone’s marketing campaign, it can be time consuming. That is where Hootsuite.com comes in.

With Hootsuite, you are able to seamlessly share your latest blog posts with your Twitter and Facebook followers. When you sign up for Hootsuite, which is free, you can choose a setting that allows you to share these posts automatically across your networks. Under the free account, you can share one blog. If you have more than one blog, you must pay a small monthly fee.

To start sharing your blog updates in Hootsuite.com, go to Settings, then RSS. There are a few simple fields that you will need to fill out to get your blog set up. It will only take you minutes to complete the fields; however, it will save you hours in the long run.

Our Attorney Web Design Company Can Help You

Find out how we can help you with your attorney Internet marketing campaign by calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order your FREE copy of the eye-opening report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

Client Testimonials Should Be Included in Your Attorney Web Design

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)49322 — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

We understand that state bar associations have different rules and regulations regarding client testimonials. However, if possible, we do recommend that you include a client testimonials section as part of your attorney Web design.

Why Testimonials are Important

You may have impressive case results, a law degree from Harvard and a strong legal background, but saying how great you are, is not always an effective strategy. When people need legal services, they simply want to know if you can help. They also want to know if they will have a good experience working with your law firm. A testimonial from one of your satisfied clients will go a long way. Let your clients explain how great you are, it is far more powerful.

What Makes a Good Testimonial

When you request testimonials from your clients, remember that the more details that are provided, the better. A one-sentence statement may not have your desired result. In fact, it might look like a made-up testimonial. Make sure that your testimonials expound upon your clients’ experience with your firm.

If you can obtain video testimonials from your clients, it will be even more powerful. A video testimonial will give a personal feel and convey emotion that a written testimonial cannot. Make sure your attorney Web design has the capability to incorporate video.

To find out what it takes to create an effective website that includes client testimonials, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Attorney Website.

Attorney Web Design Should Get People Talking

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)48328 — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

Sunday, February 6, 2011, was a happy day for thousands of Green Bay Packer fans, as the team earned the title of Super Bowl champions. It was also a day where advertisers were willing to spend millions on short television spots.

In our article, Attorney Web Design Should Be Modeled After Super Bowl Ads, we talked about how there are many lessons that can be applied to lawyers. One of these lessons has to do with the importance of getting people to talk.

Super Bowl Ads Attract Attention, Good & Bad
All you have to do is type in the words, “Super Bowl ads,” and you will get pages and pages of news commentaries, blogs, articles and opinion pieces on the various commercials that aired yesterday. Twitter was filled with tweets as people watched the ads unfold. Of course, people had things to say about each and every commercial, both good and bad. For advertisers, they achieved one of their main goals – they got people talking.

Get Your Prospects to Talk
When you are developing your attorney Web design, you need to think about what will make YOUR target audience talk. You need to position yourself, so that you are the first one they think of when they need a lawyer or know someone who does. Therefore, everything you do in terms of your attorney website should be centered on this goal. Your website design must encompass:

Content that is easy to navigate
Interesting Web video
Compelling free offer
Simple way for people to contact you

For more information on what goes into an effective attorney website design, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Attorney Website.

The Fastest Way to Get Noticed (Hint: Attorney Web Design)

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)47863 — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 08:00:00 EST

With all of the hundreds of law firm websites in your area, how will you ever get noticed? The answer to this question has to do with your attorney Web design.

When someone is searching for information after a car accident or work injury, he or she is looking for quick answers. No one wants to read through boring text or navigate through a complex website. If you want to stand out from your competitors, your website design needs to have your prospects in mind. For example:

Is your website organized well? Web visitors should be presented with a website that is easy to navigate. Your site should be laid out in such a way that prospects can quickly find the information they need. You can view some examples in our attorney website design gallery.
Does your content speak directly to the reader? When you think of attorney Web design, you might not consider the relevance of content. Your website content is crucial to attracting and converting prospective clients. We have written extensively on this subject. Learn more by reading this article: Convert Web Visitors Into Contacts Using This Secret Formula!
Do you have video on your website? Web video is huge and we have gotten to the point where people expect to see video playing on websites. It is therefore imperative that you create quality online video that is informative and educational.

To find out what it takes to develop a profitable attorney website, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the shocking report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Attorney Website!

10 Signs That You Have the Best Attorney Web Design in Town

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)47361 — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Who decides if you have the greatest attorney Web design in your market? Does it come down to color, layout or some other factor?

There are many components of a successful attorney website, but there are certain things that will help you stand out from the crowd.

Below are the top 10 signs that you have the best attorney Web design in your area:

You don’t have a headline that states your law firm’s combined years of experience.
There is a free book or report offered on each page of your website.
Your content is focused on your prospects, not you.
A video plays on your site that addresses the concerns of your potential clients.
There is an easy-to-complete contact form.
You have the capacity to add new content to your site.
Your content is written in a way that is simple for your readers to comprehend.
Each page of your website has an interesting headline that grabs your prospects’ attention.
There’s a place where Web visitors can view your case results and client testimonials.

And last, but definitely not least, you know you have a great attorney website design, if...

10. You are getting contacts through your website!

If you have just discovered that your website doesn’t have one of the signs listed above, we can help. Contact us today at 888.886.0939 for more information!

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the informative report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Attorney Website.

Keep It Simple: 5 Content Writing Tips for Lawyers

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)46905 — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

Legal concepts are complex for the average person. They don’t know the intricacies of the law. In fact, most people don’t care. When they are faced with a legal issue, they simply want answers to their questions and guidance on how they should proceed.

With that thought in mind, when you are writing content for your lawyer website, you need to keep it simple. Below are five tips that will help you create content that converts your Web visitors into contacts.

Focus only on a few key points. Your goal is to provide only a “taste” of information. Ultimately, you want them to contact you for more information.
Use examples and stories. If you have past cases you can reference that illustrate your points, use them. People love stories and real life examples.
Keep it short. If you are writing an informative article, it should be no more than 500 words. Blog posts and news updates shouldn’t be longer than 250 words.
Break up the content. Since your prospects are likely reading the content on their computer screens, use bullet points and subheadings as much as possible.
Give your prospects a reason to contact you. Every piece of content you write for your website should prompt the reader to contact your law firm. If you have a free book or report, mention it at the end of your article.

If you need help creating quality content for your attorney website, call us today at 888.886.0939.

Don’t leave our website before you order your FREE copy of the report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

5 Tips to Help Attorneys Maximize Their Use of Social Media

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)46458 — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

There have been suspicions that Google and Bing are using social media in their page ranking algorithms. A recent report confirmed these speculations.

According to a report by Danny Sullivan of Search Engine Land, both Google and Bing are using social media signals (Tweets, Facebook Likes, Stumbles, etc.) as part of their organic Web search rankings. You can read more in our article, Why Social Media Matters to Your Business.

This information has a direct impact on the way you approach your Internet marketing campaign. If you are not currently using social media to market your practice, you need to start. Here are a few tips for every lawyer who wants to attract new business:

Get involved. It’s not enough to sign up for a Facebook or Twitter account. You actually have to use these websites.
Create a Facebook business page. These pages are free and are definitely worth the time to set up.
Post relevant content. The goal is to get people to read and share your content. Therefore, the content has to be relevant to your target audience.
Develop interesting headlines. Headlines are important. You need to peak someone’s interest, so that he or she wants to read your posted content.
Make sure you are using social media buttons. It is crucial to have social media buttons on your websites, so that people can connect with you and share your content.

If you are looking for help with your attorney Web marketing campaign, give us a call at 888.886.0939. We have what it takes to help you succeed.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, Twitter for Attorneys.

Three Better Ways to Spend Your Lawyer Marketing Dollars (Doesn't Involve the Yellow Pages!)

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)46033 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:00:00 EST

It doesn’t matter how many facts and figures you throw at them, some law firms are still going to insist on advertising in the Yellow Pages. They will be the faithful few that refuse to let go, even though it’s apparent that consumers are now turning to the Internet for the information they need.

In our article, Some Lawyers Are Still Clinging to the Yellow Pages, we talk about recent trends impacting Yellow Pages advertising and how it is time to allocate your marketing dollars to another media. Of course, this media is the Internet.

Below are three ways to maximize your lawyer marketing dollars and get more of the cases that YOU want:

Update your website. You need to constantly add content to your website, such as blog posts, articles, news updates, testimonials and FAQs. You should add 30 content pieces to your website each month.
Create Web video. People love watching online videos. Just look at the video sharing site, YouTube. More than 700 billion videos were viewed on YouTube in 2010. Create informative and relevant videos and you will attract more Web contacts.
Write a book. You might be wondering what a book has to do with Internet marketing. A book has a lot to do with it. There are hundreds of lawyers in your area competing online for the same clients. You need to stand out. A book helps you do that. Plus, it is a great way to encourage prospects to contact you.

Contact us today at 888.886.0939 to learn more about how we can help you! Also, be sure to order your FREE copy of the eye-opening report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

Promoted Tweets Reach More Than Just Followers

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)45372 — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Not long ago, Twitter unveiled an advertising opportunity, known as Promoted Tweets. According to SearchEngineNews.com, the “Promoted Tweet program allows advertisers to turn published tweets already in their Twitter stream into keyword activated top ranking ads, viewable to the general public.”

When someone searches a particular keyword or phrase, a Promoted Tweet will likely show up in the search results. Promoted Tweets contain the statement, “Promoted by...,” which lets readers know that they are paid ads. According to Twitter, “Promoted Tweets will also retain all the functionality of a regular Tweet including replying, Retweeting, and favoriting.”

Twitter also had the following to say about Promoted Tweets:

“We use several signals to determine a Promoted Tweets’ relevance to a user, including the public list of whom they follow. We will expand the rollout only when we feel we're delivering a high-quality user experience.”

Initially, the Promoted Tweet program was only offered to the major brands, such as Starbucks and Best Buy. It is unclear as to when it will be available to all marketers. Visit our website often for updates on this program and more.

For information on how to use Twitter for your law practice or other business, order a FREE copy of our report, Twitter For Attorneys: A Quick Start Guide. It will show you how to get the most out of Twitter.

We want to work with you!
To find out more about our attorney Internet marketing services, call us today at
888.886.0939. We have a team of specialists who know what it takes to help you succeed.

Review Sites Can Help (or Damage) Your Online Reputation

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)45371 — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Whether they had a good or bad experience, your clients can let the world know their thoughts about your law firm. You can look at this capability as a potential problem or you can view it as a major marketing opportunity.

We recently wrote about Google’s new rating feature, Hotpot, but that is only one of the many review sites. Some of the major players in local business reviews include:

Yelp.com
Yahoo Local
CitySearch.com
Judysbook.com

Be Proactive
Don’t sit back and keep your fingers crossed that people are going to write good reviews about your law firm. You need to take action. Below are some things you can do to boost your online reputation:

When someone is happy with the outcome of his or her case and experience with your firm, encourage that person to write a review.
Monitor the review sites to see what people are saying about you. Some of the sites, including Yelp, allow you to provide direct feedback to client reviews.
Make sure your business information is accurate on the major review sites. If something isn’t accurate, correct it.
Sign up for Google Alerts. This will allow you to see when someone mentions you or your firm on the Internet.
Have your people in place. If you have group of individuals who believe in you and your business (a.k.a. raving fan base), ask them to step in when someone writes a negative comment about you. They can write about their positive experiences with your firm.

For assistance with your attorney Internet marketing campaign, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

Is Getting More of the Cases YOU Want on Your New Year's Resolution List?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)44983 — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

The New Year holiday is quickly approaching. In addition to thinking about how you are going to ring in the New Year, you also need to start contemplating your resolutions. If “getting more of the cases that you want,” is high on the list, you must focus on your attorney Web marketing campaign. Below are some of the key components you will need to grow your practice:

Educational website: It all starts with your website. You need to have a website that is constantly updated with information that is relevant to your prospects. That means you need to create interesting articles, blog posts, FAQs and news updates. For content advice, read our article, Lawyer Content Writing Tip - Use a Theme.
Marketing hook: Why should someone contact your law firm instead of the one down the street? You need to give your prospects a reason to contact you. One of the best ways to increase the number of contacts you receive through your website is to have a free book or report that they can order. Read more about the importance of having a book in our article, Top Reasons Why You Need to Become a Published Author.
Follow up campaign: You have to be prepared to follow up with the contacts you receive through your website. There are many great programs out there that will handle your follow up marketing automatically. Don’t make the mistake of letting leads slip through your fingers!

If you want help from a team of lawyer Internet marketing experts, contact us today calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

The Gap Between Web Video and Television is Closing

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)44551 — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

Saying that online video is the next big thing is no longer an accurate statement. It is the big thing – right now. Businesses across the country have recognized the significance of online video and have already used it to grow their bottom lines. Our clients are no different. They have taken the time to create powerful attorney Web videos that are increasing the number of contacts coming through their websites. Isn’t it time you did the same?

Video is Changing
An article posted on ClickZ.com entitled, 4 Ways Video is Fundamentally Changing, had a great line that sums up the progression of Web video: “there is no online video, just video.” According to the article, “the days of the battle between online video and TV are coming to a close.” With the launch of Google TV and other similar services, people are now able to combine the best of both worlds. They can watch their favorite TV shows and view clips on YouTube.

Advertisers Must Keep Up
People of all ages are watching Web video – from the 4-year-old boy who wants to view Thomas the Tank Engine clips on YouTube to the 35-year-old man who was in a car accident and is looking for information about personal injury claims. If you want to stay competitive and attract more cases, jump on the video bandwagon.

We Can Help
We know what it takes to create effective Web videos that grab the attention of potential clients. To find out more about our video services, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a copy of the must-read book, How Really Smart Lawyers Are Using Video on the Web to Get More Cases!

YouTube Feature Could Make Optimizing Attorney Videos Even More Important

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)44130 — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 08:00:00 EST

YouTube, the largest video sharing website around, is testing out a new search feature called Topics on Search. This new search function is currently only available in YouTube’s TestTube, but if it becomes permanent, it could make optimizing your attorney Web videos even more important.

How Topics on Search Works
The new search feature brings up results based on an algorithm that evaluates video tags, comments, shares and other factors. When someone searches a generic term, Topics on Search will look for videos that it believes he or she might be interested in viewing.

YouTube gives the following example of how Topics on Search works:

“When you search -- for example, let’s say for “obama” -- we suggest other related topics tied to videos that you might want to explore, such as “michelle obama” or “john mccain.” You can click to get to videos on these topics or you can find videos that contain both topics by clicking on the (+) next to the topic.”

Video SEO is Crucial
Video optimization is already important, as it helps your potential clients find your videos. Video SEO will become even more relevant if Topics on Search becomes a regular feature on YouTube. To optimize your videos, you need to create video titles, summaries and tags that contain your targeted keywords. You can learn more by reading our article, Optimizing Web Video is Easy With These 3 Steps!

To find out how we can help you create powerful Web video, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Order this Book!
Be sure to order a copy of the book, How Really Smart Lawyers Are Using Video on the Web to Get More Cases.

Facebook Messages Has Drawn A Lot of Attention – Good & Bad

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)43748 — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

“Facebook Messages: the worst thing that ever happen.” This statement is pretty extreme and is actually the title of a recent article posted on PCWorld.com.

Facebook always seems to be up to something new, just take the unveiling of Facebook Groups and Pages as examples. So, the most recent announcement isn’t shocking. The social networking giant has rolled out an enhanced messaging system that is supposed to make communicating with your friends and family members easier than ever.

Here is a brief description of the new feature, Messages, from Facebook’s website:

“You decide how you want to talk to your friends: via SMS, chat, email or Messages. They will receive your message through whatever medium or device is convenient for them, and you can both have a conversation in real time. You shouldn't have to remember who prefers IM over email or worry about which technology to use. Simply choose their name and type a message.”

According to Facebook, you can also get an email address, “@facebook.com.” However, the article posted on PCWorld.com mentioned some issues you might face if you decide to use Facebook for emails:

You can’t copy anyone on your messages.
There are no subject lines.
If you send someone an email using your Facebook account, that person will be able to view your profile.

To learn more how you can use social media to take your law practice to the next level, order a FREE copy of our report, Twitter For Attorneys: A Quick Start Guide.

Social Media & Text Messaging Have Killed the Phone Call

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)43401 — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

A handwritten letter is considered by many to be an ancient form of communication. Could a good old-fashioned phone call be next?

Our Society Relies on Text-Based Communication

A recent article posted on Techcrunch.com, The Phone Call is Dead, brought up a very interesting point. We live in a world that is dominated by text-based communication, including social media. Consequently, the phone call is becoming a less popular mode of communication. The article referenced a Nielsen study that showed that voice usage has dropped in every age group with the exception of individuals aged 54+.

Even though smart phones, such as the iPhone and Android, have been in high demand, many people are using these devices for other purposes, besides making calls. Consumers use these phones to send and receive text messages, access social media websites, watch videos and utilize other applications.

As a savvy attorney and/or business owner, you have to be able to embrace this type of change. If the phone call is indeed “dying,” then it is time you took advantage of social media. Make sure your potential clients can find you on Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Learn More

For more information on how to use social media to boost your practice, read the following articles:

Need help with your Internet marketing campaign? Give us a call at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, Twitter for Attorneys.

Can Live Chat Really Help My Website?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)43400 — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

What’s the main goal of an attorney website? The answer is not complicated. It is to convert website visitors into contacts. That means you must have the right tools in place to make this happen.

Utilize a Proven Marketing Tactic

Live chat may be a fairly new marketing tool, but the basic concept has been around for a long time. To boost conversion, you have to be able to interact with your prospects. Think about when you walk into a retail store. Generally, at some point during your store visit, a salesclerk will ask if you need assistance. Live chat does the same thing.

Start the Conversation

Live chat software takes the first step in initiating a transaction with a potential client. It gives you the opportunity to reach every prospect who visits your website. Your Web visitors are able to communicate with your firm, in a non-threatening environment. Live chat is ideal for prospects, because they are able to quickly find answers to their questions.

Monitor Your Results

Recently, Foster Web Marketing partnered with Ngage to help our clients get a better gauge on the success of their marketing campaigns. Our clients, who are using Ngage’s live chat software, can see their campaign results in DSS, which helps in monitoring the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.

Get More Information

For more information about live chat software and how you can use it to increase your conversion rate, simply give us a call at 888.886.0939. Also, read our article, Three Ways to Engage Your Website Visitors, to learn how you can capture the attention of your potential clients.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of the report, The 5 Biggest Mistakes 99% of Lawyers Make With Their Websites.

What Keywords Should I Use When Optimizing My Web Videos?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)42213 — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

This question is one that we frequently hear from lawyers who have recognized the advantages of Web video. They know that online video captures the attention of their prospects, and if optimized correctly, can also rank high in search engine results.

You can learn more about video search engine optimization by reading our article, Optimizing Web Video is Easy With These 3 Steps!

So, back to the question – what keywords should be used when optimizing videos? You should use the keywords that not only correspond to the video’s message, but also incorporate your target market. For example, if you represent car accident cases in Phoenix and have created a video about the top 5 things to avoid after a crash, you would include keywords, such as Phoenix car accident attorney or car accident in Phoenix. You should mention your keywords in the title of the video and in the summary.

Keyword Research Tools
There are also keyword research tools that will help you determine how many people are searching a particular term or phrase. The following are two free research tools that you should check out:

Need Help?
If you are looking to create high quality, conversion-focused videos, we can help. We also can assist you with optimizing your videos. For more information, give us a call at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a copy of the book, How Really Smart Lawyers Are Using Video on the Web to Get More Cases.

The Keys to Twitter Success

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41944 — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

If you're not Lady Gaga or Bill Gates, how do you go about attracting Twitter followers? According to a recent article posted on Mashable.com, there are a few things that you can do.

The article, HOW TO: Gain Twitter Influence, featured advice from two Web experts – Guy Kawasaki (co-founder of Alltop) and Robert Scoble (a notorious blogger). Here are some of their tips for attracting Twitter followers:

Spend some time on Twitter. If you want to attract and keep followers, then you need to create interesting Twitter messages, known as tweets. That could mean that you create 2 tweets a day or 20 tweets. The important thing is that you produce relevant information for your followers.
Engage your followers. Communication goes both ways. If one of your Twitter followers asks you a question, be sure to respond.
Choose a niche. According to Scoble, you should start off by thinking about your passions. If you want to be viewed as an expert on a particular topic, you need to pick a very specific topic.

When using Twitter to grow your practice, keep in mind that it isn’t an overnight process. It takes time and consistency. For more information, be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, Twitter for Attorneys.

To find out how we can help you with your Internet marketing campaign, contact us today by calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Read our other articles to learn more about social media:

You Have the Tools to Create a Powerful PR Campaign

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41940 — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 08:00:00 EST

People spend thousands of dollars each month to generate publicity about themselves and their businesses. What if you found out that you have the tools to create a powerful PR campaign at your fingertips?

Your website can become an online PR machine.

You need to be all over the Internet, because that is where your potential clients are going to be looking. If they were referred to you by another person, guess what? They will “google” your name to learn more about you. Make sure that you have control over what they see. You also want your website to appear when anyone searches for information relating to your practice.

The following are the components needed to generate buzz about your law firm:

Content (and a lot of it). The more content you have on your website the better. Not only will content help with SEO, it also gives you the chance to show your expertise.
Testimonials. Why tell people how great you are when your clients can do it for you?
Web video. If you are able to present a clear message on camera, not only will prospects be drawn to you, but the media might be as well.
Link building. There are two major factors involved in SEO, content and link building. Link building will help your website appear at the top of search engine results, which will boost your visibility.
Book. Become an author and you have instant credibility. You also become more marketable. When you advertise a book on your website, it helps you stand out from your competitors.

Don’t waste the opportunity to use your website as a PR powerhouse. For more information, contact us today by calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

Google Instant – Should You Panic?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41367 — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Google Instant has caused uproar in the SEO world. Recently, Tom Foster and George Murphy attended a conference where they heard firsthand from Google about this new feature.

Google Instant is supposed to be an enhancement to the search process. It anticipates what you are searching for as you type. For example, if you are looking for a Virginia car accident attorney, as soon as you type “Virginia” Google will start to auto populate the search results. Initially, you might see Virginia state government websites, but as you type in more words, your search will be revised. One of the concerns many SEO experts have is the impact it will have on long tail keywords.

What you need to understand is that Internet marketing is constantly changing and it is important to adapt to the “new rules.” Google Instant may impact the entire industry as a whole, but there will be ways in which you can take advantage of this search feature. We are currently working on new strategies to help our clients benefit from Google Instant.

We will keep you updated on new developments regarding Google Instant and other Internet marketing news. Be sure to check our website often for the latest information.

Learn more about Google Instant in our blog post, Google Instant: SEO Killer or Wake-Up Call?

Wondering how you can improve your Web marketing campaign? Be sure to order a copy of Tom’s book, Explode Your Practice Through Internet Marketing! It is a book EVERY attorney needs to read.

What's Our Tie to ESPN?

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41366 — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

We live in a society where people want information fast. Many aren’t willing to even read an article or Web page to find the information they are looking for. So instead, they gravitate to video to discover the solutions to their problems.

Video is what will push your website to a whole different level.

The thing you need to understand, though, is that there’s video and then there’s AMAZING video. Our very own cinematographer, Jim Folliard, has gained a reputation in various circles as the go-to person when it comes to anything video-related. He knows what it takes to create captivating Web video and he knows how to bring out the best of his video subjects.

Now, the entire nation has been exposed to Jim’s great work!

Recently, one of Jim’s notorious video clips, featuring Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals, made its way to ESPN Sports Center. The video clip has been on YouTube for nearly a year and has already attracted a quarter of a million views! The video was shot for Eastern Motors and it shows Alexander singing the company’s jingle. During the ESPN interview, he reacted to his debut as a “singer” on the infamous video.

If you are thinking about adding video to your website, you have a few options. You can create grainy, homemade videos yourself. You can hire a random company to produce it for you. Or, you can hire someone who has been recognized by ESPN. It’s up to you.

For more information about our video services for attorneys, give us a call at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a free copy of Jim’s eye-opening report, Nine Nifty Tips for Effective Video Clips.

Link Popularity? I Don't Get It

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41006 — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

There are two basic components to search engine optimization (SEO) – content and link building. We have written extensively on content writing, so it is time to dive into the mystical world of link building.

When it comes to link building, you need to understand the concept of “link popularity.” Just like popularity matters when you are in high school, it also makes a difference in terms of SEO. Link popularity refers to the quality and quantity of links pointing to your website. It is a major factor in determining how a page ranks.

The following are some of the elements involved in link popularity:

Quantity of links: How many websites are linking to yours?
Quality of links: Is the website pointing to your site considered an authority?
Anchor text: What keyword phrases are being used for the linked page?
Relevance: Is the website linking to your site related somehow?

With all of these elements in mind, the objective of link building is to attract a high number of quality links from websites using keyword phrases. These websites should also be relevant to yours.

Link building is a time-intensive task, but it is crucial to your website’s success. At Foster Web Marketing, we have experts who will help you with your link building campaign. For more information, contact us today at 888.886.0939.

Be sure to order a copy of Tom Foster’s must-read book, Explode Your Practice Through Internet Marketing!

We've Heard YOUR Excuses for Not Having Web Video, Now We Have YOUR Solutions

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)41005 — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

We have heard just about every excuse imaginable regarding Web video:

“I don’t have time.”
“I’m not good on camera.”
“I have a face for radio, not video.”
“There is no way I can get into the studio.”

Well, we have addressed each of these excuses. We have video spokesmodels and we are more than willing to come to your location. Now, we have yet another product to offer you. So, really, there is no reason you shouldn’t have video on your website.

Why do we make such a big deal about video? Online video has proven to be an effective way to covert website visitors into contacts. People will stop what they are doing to listen to your message and watch your video. By the time your prospects walk into your office, they already trust you. In their eyes, you are a credible source of information who cares about their needs. Why wouldn’t you want to take advantage of these amazing benefits?

Let’s get back to our new service, which we refer to as the FVS-5-PAK.

Lawyers who don’t have time to shoot their videos at the Fairfax Video Studio can purchase professional, custom-designed videos featuring one of our spokesmodels. We have many topics to choose from, including:

Bankruptcy
Divorce
Motorcycle accidents
Auto accidents
Medical malpractice
Slip & fall
Many others…

Encourage People to Read Your Website Articles by Following These 3 Tips

blog@www.fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)40571 — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Encouraging someone to click on your article or Web page is a science. There are certain factors involved that will improve the odds of your content being read. The whole purpose of your website content is to convert visitors into contacts. However, if no one is reading your content, you’re not going to be attracting cases.

An article posted in a recent EzineArticles.com Newsletter, “Increasing Article Views – Ramp Up Your Writing Efforts,” had great advice on article writing, many of which you have heard us preach. Below is a summary of some of these tips:

Create a meaningful title. The truth is, people will “judge a book by its cover” and they will judge an article based on its title. According to EzineArticles.com, the first three to five words in the title are the most important. Not only should your titles have keywords, they should also be compelling.
Write an interesting summary (a.k.a. meta description). You need to write a short and accurate description of your article that contains your keywords. Think in terms of marketing when you are writing your summary. It needs to grab the attention of the reader and encourage him or her to click on your article.
Mention your articles on Facebook and Twitter. If you have added a new article to your website, create an interesting caption about it on Twitter and Facebook. By doing so, you will be able to create buzz about your article and drive traffic back to your website.

To find out how we can help you with your website content, contact us today by calling 888.886.0939 or filling out our online form.

Be sure to order a FREE copy of our report, 5 Reasons Why You Should Have A Blog BY NOW!

Search Engine Marketing Expo (SMX) East Recap

danielle@fosterwebmarketing.com (Blog Author)40469 — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 08:00:00 EST

Tom Foster and George Murphy of Foster Web Marketing attended the Search Marketing Expo (SMX) East Expo earlier this week in Manhattan, New York.

The conference, hosted by Danny Sullivan and Chris Sherman of Search Engine Land, featured presenters from experts in a number of different areas of search engine optimization and search engine marketing, ranging anywhere from link building and SEO-friendly website design, to Adwords management and social media marketing tools and techniques.

Search engine giants Google had a strong presence at the conference, between a variety of company representatives presenting at multiple sessions, and a vendor booth with reps that were equipped to become bombarded with customer service questions and requests for free Google keychains.

Google Instant was a hot topic all week with many wondering how the new Search Engine upgrade will affect SEO and search engine ranking positions (SERPs). There were two sessions dedicated to Google Instant: one that shared a survey conducted by a third-party research company that concluded that Google Instant is "just okay", and another where the Google representative answered questions... no let me rephrase that.... criticisms.... from audience members who pointed out multiple flaws in the way Google Instant performs and displays results, both organically and on the paid side.

While many assumed that "it's too early to tell" whether or not Google Instant will have any affect on search engine results (specifically long-tail search results), I would say that everyone has had enough time to reach this conclusion: Google Instant is likely an unecessary upgrade that users are simply content with, versus an enhancement that improves user experience. In other words: "if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it".

Google was also thrown head-first into the fryin pan when their presentation on their Keyword Research tool started off as a presentation and quickly turned into a roasting. The Keyword Tool has underwent some major changes which can can read more about at AimClear's blog post recapping the session.

And yes, in case you were wondering...

Tom was paying plenty of attention.

Another hot topic at the conference and over the past year or so is social media marketing and how Facebook and Twitter can be used as lead generation tools and PR resources. Once again, if you're an attorney who is not maintaining a presence on Facebook and/or Twitter, you're probably way behind your competition and not doing a very good job "keeping up with the Joneses".

In addition to the presentations, there were also some vendors that offered some excellent products and services. There were SEO software companies like Raven Tools and SEO Clarity, each search engine had a booth there... well, instead of naming everyone, you can take a look of the vendors who had booths set up here.

Tom and George also had a chance to meet Vanessa Fox, author of Marketing in the Age of Google

who was nice enough to sign her book for us.

All in all, it was an informative event that everyone came away from with plenty of new web marketing ideas and confirmation that Foster Web Marketing is (and will continue) practicing the best and most effective SEO techniques to maximize our clients' exposure on the Web.