Establishing An Internet Presence For Your Law Practice

Throughout the history of the legal profession, many of talented lawyers have tried their hand at entrepreneurship by "hanging a shingle." Unfortunately, the majority of these once successful attorneys found that managing a law firm was much more than they bargained for. To be a successful solo practitioner, it takes more than just legal prowess -- it takes business savvy -- a skill that is not learned in law school.

Law is a field that's probably more resistant to change than any other profession. The way law was practiced 100 years ago has changed little from today. What has changed dramatically, however, is the method in which attorneys connect with legal peers and, more importantly, prospective clients. The rapid changes in the way we market, advertise, and communicate spells trouble for attorneys who cling to the past and have become fixated on ancient precedents.

Change is happening. The good news is that it's never too late to learn and adapt. The bad news is, if you don't adjust, your law practice won't likely be around much longer. Don't worry. Here we are going to begin a series of educational posts in which you can learn to embrace the power of your website, social media, and organic traffic to strengthen your law firm's business model moving forward through the 21st century. Being an esquire is no longer enough, it's time to get esqwired!

Before making your head spin by worrying about facebook, twitter, social media, and the like, let's start simple -- with your website. Everything you do online to expand the presence of your law firm starts and ends with your web page. Therefore, it's important to establish a solid foundation there before moving forward with other online endeavors.

The key is to start with the basics. Don't worry about getting flashy graphics or writing keyword dense content to improve your organic traffic. You want to begin with a website that is clean, well-organized, to the point, and informative. Here some general guidelines to get started:

• Write briefly on informative topics respective to your area of law.
• Pick a color scheme that makes your content easy to read.
• Make sure your phone number is visible on every page.