Start Your Own Blog

Thinking about starting your own blog? Blogging is really quite fun. It's a great opportunity to provide (hopefully!) useful information in a less formal way. Offering helpful information can lead to more potential clients and more referrals, too. Some key items to consider to make sure it's as productive as you hope. 

Regularity

Blogging once in a while isn't really going to get you very far. The key is to write on a regular schedule. It can be daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly. We don't recommend going longer than two weeks between blogs but it's still better than nothing. Beyond a month? Consider reframing the content to a 'special feature' or something like that.

Ideally, weekly is great. For most law firms, whether a staff of one or many, weekly is pretty doable. To make sure you can uphold a regular schedule, content is key.

Content

Write what you know. I'm sure if you take a moment to review the many aspects of legal matters for your area of expertise, there are many potential topics. Blogs don't need to be very long, nor do they need to be very formal. Blogs are most often opinion pieces. As an attorney, it's critical that the content you offer is noted as opinion based and not to be used or construed as a legal agreement or legal advice. But you already know that.

Remember to think in bite size pieces. Each blog should be readable within 5 -10 minutes max. We actually recommend 3-5 minutes. With all the time people spend on their computers these days, keeping it short and sweet is a big benefit. 

Awareness

If you decide to start a blog, congrats! But just writing each entry isn't enough. For content to be seen, you need to get it in front of people where they are. Social media is a great method to spread the word. Look for hashtags to reach individuals looking for specific types of information, such as #realestate, #estateplanning, and so on. Each social media outline generally provides tools built-in to guide you in selecting the optimal hashtags.

If you have past clients' email addresses, consider putting out a newsletter. This is another great way to share your blog. And emails can be forwarded to the recipients' friends, too. You never know when a past client has a contact looking for an attorney. Staying in touch is a great way to grow that referral business. There are many options out there for sending newsletters. Look for reliable providers that keep the prices down, too.

Share the Stage

Guest bloggers are great, too! Perhaps a fellow attorney who specializes in a different area of law is interested in providing some blog entries. Are you a member of your local Bar Association? That's another great avenue to find guest bloggers. Consider looking for professionals with other areas of expertise. Data security is of growing importance. Perhaps a Bar Association article can be featured. Think about other topics relevant to your geographic area and who may be a good source to provide some insight. You get the idea. 

Make it Easy

The ultimate goal of blogging and extending the awareness of your content is to drive more potential clients to your firm. So, make it easy for people to find you. Be sure to include a link to an email or a phone number so individuals reading the content can quickly and easily contact you. Make it easy for the original recipients to share your information, too. Consider adding links for readers to share the blog with others. Emails are easily forwarded.

Ultimately, a blog is meant to engage people. Keep the tone friendly and approachable. Demonstrate your expertise. And make sure to convey the overall personality of your firm.  Making the law more approachable will surely drive more potential clients to your firm.