Blogging Tips for Newbies: What New Lawyers Need to Know About Blogging
By Adrienne on June 15, 2018 in PaperStreet
This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’ve finally graduated from law school and passed the bar on your first try. Although major law firms have been ringing your phone nonstop, you decide right away that you have no interest in working for someone else. So, you hang your own shingle, get a shiny new nameplate for your desk and get ready for all the new client calls to come pouring in.
A month or two passes, and you’ve gotten a few cases through word of mouth (thanks, Mom), but you know that you need to do more marketing to really get your firm up and running. You’ve heard from other attorneys that they’ve had great success with a number of marketing tactics –one of which is blogging.
You’ve tinkered with blogging before, so the idea seems to be a plausible one. Still, your first blog 10 years ago related to fashion accessories, not potential clients. So, what’s the difference? Here are a few tips to help you bring in the clients you need for your new firm and gain the momentum you desperately need.
Tip 1: Avoid Being Wordy
Individuals who seek the services of a lawyer are often looking for “the quick and dirty” when it comes to information related to their potential case. That said, it’s important for you to avoid using too many words when getting your point across. While the trend is moving more toward long-form content, conciseness still counts. If your point can be made in a 6-word sentence instead of a 12-word sentence, use 6 words.
Use Headings to Break Up Large Chunks of Text
A wall of words may scare off your potential clients for a variety of reasons. Readability is key when blogging, so add some headings, nice images and/or bullet points throughout and keep things interesting. And if you use images in your posts, be sure to give credit where credit is due — particularly if you’re using someone else’s photos. Always properly attribute all images.
Steer Clear of Legal Mumbo Jumbo
This is imperative. After all, you’re not writing for the Supreme Court — you’re writing to potential clients who are often in desperate need of legal guidance and assistance. Not all clients have degrees, and some may not have finished high school. Keeping that in mind, avoid using legalese in your posts. Instead, break it down in plain, simple terms while still getting your point across effectively.
Proofread, Proofread, Proofread
One thing that is often an immediate turn off to readers is when they come across typos when reading. It gives the impression that hey, you don’t really care about the image you present to your readers and potential clients; and in some cases, the readers may think that you simply do not know what you’re talking about and you’re just making it up as you go. You certainly do not want to present that image, so always read and re-read your posts prior to putting it online. If you’re not comfortable with proofing yourself, have a good friend (or your paralegal) check things out for you. Also, error-free texts will help you in your marketing efforts, since many online publishers tend to link to quality blogs (which can be invaluable when bringing in clients).
Following these simple tips will help you get well on your way to marketing success. There are many other tactics that can be used to get your name and firm out there, many of which are content-based. If you’d like to learn more about creating a complete marketing plan for your law firm, contact PaperStreet Web Design today to discuss your options.
