SEO Basics for Attorneys

Understanding how search engines work is a necessary aspect of having successful law firm marketing.

According to lawyer marketing specialists, understanding how search engines work is a necessary aspect of having successful law firm marketing.

If you want to learn the basics of search engine optimization enough to be dangerous, then keep reading. We want to provide you with a sufficient education on SEO so that you can be more successful and generate a better ROI.

What Is a Search Engine?

In this article, we're going to cover the foundational elements of search engines. If you'd like to learn how the optimization process works, click here.

According to Wikipedia, a search engine is a feature designed to lead web searches. They systematically search the Web for information specified to a particular search query. The information is often a mix of web pages, links, images, and other types of files. Individual web directories are typically maintained by human editors. Search engines maintain current information by using an algorithm with a web crawler.

If your website content is not comprehensive or built to stand out in another way, there's a strong chance you will not penetrate any of the first few pages of results. That's why you need marketing ideas.

Some of the most common search engines include:

Many attorneys are not well versed in how to optimize their websites, but that's why we're here to help. Since your law firm website is your business card, if you don't have one, you risk missing clients. Unfortunately, a basic website isn't likely to draw much attention.

What Are Organic Search Results?

According to the Wikipedia definition, organic search results are those that are calculated through an algorithm, and are not influenced by advertisements or pay-per-click advertising. Pay per click is often used on social media and can rack up a bill fairly quickly.

Rather than being dictated by sponsored results, organic searches are determined by other results like SEO and are free.

Increasingly, users are utilizing Google with mobile devices and through voice search. These different utilizations can have an impact on the results that come back in the SERP.

Why Attorneys Should Care About Google

If you're marketing your law firm, it's essential that you utilize Google search as part of your overall strategy.

Nearly everyone uses Google as their go-to search option. Google Search has been around since the 1990s. Without a good understanding of how Google works and how it can draw clients, your firm will likely be at a disadvantage compared to competitors and may lose clients who won't know about you.

With a knowledge of SEO, or by using an advertising firm, you can win new clients — and as everyone knows, more clients leads to more revenue for your law office.