Before I get started, I want to thank those people that have left comments on here recently. They are very much appreciated and always welcome. As I think you will soon learn, every person's journey to solo law practice is a little bit different, but the twists and turns are much more easily dealt with if they are anticipated. Now, on to what I've been doing.
I've actually meant to post on here for the last couple days (and respond and post your comments - sorry!) but have just been busy trying to get everything sorted out. But, because I haven't been posting on here, I actually have gotten some work done.
For starters, I've doing a ton of work with my law firm blogs. I haven't discussed it much yet on my legal marketing blog, but the key to getting number one on Google for any of your search terms (Seattle DUI Lawyer, for example) is getting as many links to your sites as possible. This means that you have to create many of the links you want. So, I wrote this article about Seattle DUI law that was approved by ezine articles. It gives my DUI Law blog a great, keyword rich, link. Google loves these.
I also, looking for a way to get Seattle metro specific search traffic, secured almost all of the neighboring towns in blogger web addresses. For example, I just set up bellevueduilawyer.com. The name of the site can give you some immediate Google juice. I think I put together 11 of those. Next is to start getting links to them, and eventually link them all to my firm website. That has actually taken up quite a bit of my time.
UPDATE - 10/07/09 - I actually switched all of these local blogs around to Seattle keyword rich blogs. What I found was that I was simply diversifying too much, and that most people in this area don't search for a lawyer in their particular town or neighborhood - they search for Seattle DUI attorney. But I have seen great results using this method, and I'd encourage you to do the same.
I also had the opportunity to speak with a colleague of mine from Kansas, a great Kansas City personal injury attorney, who relayed his experiences getting started with his partner to me. I learned two great lessons from this conversation: (1) get out there in the community, talk to people that might be able to give you business, and ask for that business; and (2) IT CAN BE DONE. He told me of some long days when he first started out, but said over and over again if he had the chance he'd do exactly the same thing again. He also said his worst day as the owner of his law firm is better than his best day as an associate.
Don't be afraid to get out there and talk to some people and ask them how they did it, and what advice they have to offer. Often it will be followed up with an offer to throw you some business when you get up and running. Believe it or not, most law firms turn away some business, and all law firms get calls for work they don't do. Why can't you be the one they send those additional people to?
And, to end this post, I got an email from a gentleman that wanted to know what other blogs I read, since I mentioned that there are a lot of other people out there talking about their experiences. Instead of emailing him back I thought I'd do a mini-blog review here and just send you to them. Because I've been reading them for so long they deserve a little link love. So, without further adieu, these are the people in my blog reader.
Eminent Domain Watch
Gideon's Trumpet - eminent domain
Golden Practices
Grand Theft Property - eminent domain
Inverse Condemnation
Jim Calloway's Law Practice Tips
Law of the Land
Make Money Online - online marketing (great resource for working up Google quickly)
My Shingle
Build a Solo Practice, LLC
Criminal Defense
Duct Tape Marketing
DUI Blog
How to Make it Rain
Law Firm Management
Law for Profit
Law21
Legal Living
Legal Marketing
New Jersey Eminent Domain Law Blog
Palm Beach Criminal Lawyer
PLF on Eminent Domain
Practical Lawyering
Shaun's Real Estate Adventures
Simple Justice
Solo in Chicago
South Carolina Trial Law Blog
The Attorney Marketing Blog
The Eminent Domain Blog
Illinois Trial Practice
The Inspired Solo
The Marcus Perspective - legal marketing blog
The Matlock Blog - criminal law blog
the (non)billable hour - legal technology blog
Party of the First Part - a language blog
Washington Criminal Defense
West Virginia Criminal Law Blog
I gave short a short synopsis when the title of the blog wasn't clear. Please check all of these out if you have time (and they interest you of course). And there are a lot of other resources out there that I haven't even found yet. Take a little time and search for what interests you. You won't be disappointed.
Okay, enough for tonight. See you later. And please comment or ask a question if you have one!
No comments:
Post a Comment