It’s no secret that lawyers looking to increase their prospective client reach need to be on social media. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and of course, Google+ (G+). While not the most popular social network, G+ has about 29 million unique monthly users on its website and 41 million users on smartphones. In comparison, Facebook has 128 million monthly users on its website and 108 million on phones.
But perhaps more important than the number of monthly users is the machine that is behind Google+: Google.The most popular search engine in the US, Google has the ability to drive (or not drive) business to a lawyer’s website.
Why is Google+ is important for lawyers looking to strengthen their online presence, increase search engine rankings, and bring in new business? Read on…
1. Search/SEO
Most online searches are performed on Google and Google+ plays an important role in terms of SEO and Google search, particularly when it comes to ‘long tail’ key word searches. Generally speaking, a long tail search is a detailed, specific query, such as “does FMLA leave apply to a pregnant employee?” whereas a short tail key word search is broader, i.e. “employment lawyer in Los Angeles.”
Therefore, if your law firm has blogged on the FMLA applying to pregnancy leave, your blog post on the subject (which you have also shared on your G+ profile) could be one of the top results.
2. User Profile
If you have properly set up your Google+ Profile, it will display on a search of your name (or your law firm’s) and will be visible across any Google products (Maps, Places…). Ideally, your profile will include business info (and any personal info you decide to share), your social networks, and links to where you have contributed content, including your law firm blog.
The goal? The next time a potential client performs a Google search for the legal services you provide and have blogged about on your website, a link to your G+ user profile (which includes your picture) will show up in the search results, right next to your blog posts. Search results with pictures of the author, especially pictures that users recognize, get clicked on more often than those without pictures.
3. Google Authorship (AuthorRank)
Google Authorship connects content with the Google+ profile of its author. After creating your Google+ profile, it’s time to connect what you publish on your blog to your Google+ profile. This allows people to read content (in this case, legal information), from a lawyer they can ‘see’ online.
Thanks to Authorship, or AuthorRank, the social media influence and reach of content creators has a major impact on their search rankings.
The Wrap Up
In terms of SEO and online visibility, Google+ is a must for a lawyers looking to increase their referral network and bring in more business.
For more information on G+, or any of the other social networks, contact the experienced legal marketing team at WebPresence, Esq. com. We can work with you and on your behalf to create a customized, effective social media marketing campaign for lawyers that designed to increase your practice and bring you new business opportunities.
