Legal Marketing & PR

How to be in the Top 3 of the Firms under "Google Maps"

By Larry Bodine, Esq.

It's well-known that people look up phone numbers, business addresses and restaurant menus on Google Local.  Just type in the Google box "Mexican Restaurant Lisle Illinois" and you'll find my favorite local restaurant in position "D."

I highly recommend that lawyers also list themselves in Google Local, because you know that potential clients will type something like "Property Tax Appeal Chicago" in the Google search box and you'll want to be in the top 10 (A through J).  So how do you get into Google Local's Top Ten list?

I turned to Web expert Dale Tincher, CEO, Consultwebs.com, Inc. in Raleigh, NC, and he offered this advice on the LawMarketing Listserv:

1. Sign up for Google local listings at http://bit.ly/2QUU
2. Have 'category' keywords that match the phrases you anticipate potential clients will type.  Do not 'stuff' (place excessive) keywords.  You can get penalized for that.
3. Obtain links (referred to as citations) from local sources.  Unlike incoming SEO links, citations do not need to be relative (e.g., law firms, legal associations.)  Citations indicate that your client is, indeed, a local firm.  They are similar to receiving endorsements.
4. Obtain links in directories such as Superpages, infoUSA, YellowPages, Localeze, Yelp, InsiderPages, Niche Industry Sites (BBB, Vertical Directories), Acxiom, Yahoo, Citysearch, the Chamber of Commerce.  You will have to pay for some of them.  Search engine placement is not inexpensive in 2009.
5. Obtain numerous client reviews.
6. Insure that a local address and phone number are listed on the Website.

"Do not enter your Website numerous times.  This can cause penalties," Dale said. "It takes work and monitoring, but we have had great success following these steps. Note: Findlaw nor any other vendor 'owns' positioning in Google."

Dale's advice was first shared on the LawMarketing Listserv. If you like to see marketing tips like these, I invite you to join the LawMarketing Listserv and become a member at http://www.lawmarketing.biz/

Full post as published by Larry Bodine's LawMarketing Blog on August 21, 2009 (boomark / email).