What's In a Name?

I wish I could say that it doesn't matter what your domain name is when it comes to search results, but I can't.

Sure, it's possible to get to the first page of the Google search results with your name, your firm's name or some combination of random numbers and letters, but the task is more difficult.  Typically--but not always--you'll find the top sites have practice and location specific names. It works in your favor with the search engines and when customers come across your site in the results.

What if I already have a domain name?

If you already have a domain name such as TheSmithFirm.com, you can and should keep using it. If it's getting you some results that you think you can improve on it then give that a try first. If you're NOT getting any traffic (and why would you be here if you were?) then you should consider creating a new practice and location specific domain name and having the old "firm name" domain point to the new one, once it's running.  That way you can continue to use it on business cards, stationary and other printed materials or when you speak to someone over the phone.  You should also be able to move any existing content over to the new domain easily (don't create duplicate sites with the same content!)

But the domain name I wanted is already taken?

At this date, I wouldn't be surprised if most of the practice and location specific .com domain names in most major markets are taken.  So, if you're a DUI lawyer in Lansing, Michigan, it is likely that LansingDUILawyer.com is taken. Does that mean you should buy a .net, .org, .info, .whatever variation of that name.

Probably not.

The .com extension is still the gold standard and the one most people will use, even if you tell them it's a .org or .info site. Also, Google appears to rank .info and .biz sites lower because of past abuses of those domains by spammers. So what should you do?

Put some thought into. No, seriously, there are always ways to come up with creative domain names if you take your time. Remember, we are focusing on how your site comes across in the search results. So, using our example above could you go with FindALansingDUILawyer.com? That gets the practice information AND the location in the name and it's likely to be available.

So, basically what I'm saying is take a few minutes, or hours, or days to actually put some thought into your domain name. The one you're going to be stuck with for years to come. A good one will pay dividends. A bad one will have you swimming in the bottom of the search results pool forever.

Do I need other sites linking to me?

In a word: yes.

But it's important (from a search engine perspective) that you don't just get links from any site. Beware of "link farms" which are little more than a collection of outgoing links disguised as a website. Also sites that have a bad reputation with Google (we think you will know who those are) don't help and may actual hurt you.

Sites that no one is linking to do not do well in search rankings, no matter how well designed they are. We suggest getting links from lawyers in other markets who do the same type of work that you do (say criminal defense) or from other businesses in your market area. The simplest way to do that is to create a links page, add the other firms link first and then email them asking for one in return. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.

Also, the text that is used to link back to you is very important as well. And the text you use to link to other sites can also have an impact.

Drop us an email and we can explain that in more detail to you.

What Does a Web Auditor Do?

A web auditor is a lot like an accounting auditor, only instead of examining your books, we take a very close look at your website. VERY CLOSE.

We look at such things as the site structure, page code, META tags, how the content is written, how well your rank for certain key words or phrases and the overall appeal of the site to your intended audience. (You do have a specific audience in mind, don't you?)

Something as simple as a phone number buried down several clicks can hurt your exposure. If you want potential clients to call, why not put your phone number in big, bold letters on your main page? Additionally, you want them to stop in, make it easy for them by linking to a Google map and directions. Yes, these things sound simple, but you would be surprised how few legal websites do this well. Most want to drone on and on about how great they are. Sleepy web surfers get bored and go to someplace else.

We can do a quick web audit to tell you if we think our services would help your site or not, and we will do it for free. Once the audit is complete, we can give you a basic list of what we would suggest that you change and our charges for making those for you, if you decide to hire us.

Will you update my website for me?

We would love to . . . within reason. If you have a very complicated, database-driven site that was created specifically for you by someone who developed their own web coding language, you might be better off having them take care of it. (You people know who you are.)

However, if you have a basic site, created using HTML or a common content management program, we can generally make simple updates for you. Rates start at $25 an hour, or five hours for $100.

We can do simple text updates, change or edit graphics or add new pages. We can also work on the site to improve your SEO (search engine optimization).

If you have a bigger project (like a complete site re-design) drop us an email and we can give you a quote to complete the project. Contact us at LegalWebMakeover at badjocks.com.

What Should I Do If My Site's Rankings Drop 10 Pages in the Search Engines?

First off: take a deep breath.

Having done this nearly ten years, this kind of stuff happens (especially with Google) on what seems like a quarterly basis, which is when Google updates their servers. Part of the results depends on how long you had your previous rankings, how competitive the rankings were (were there 10,000 results for your key words or 10,000,000). It also may be that you’ve done something either on purpose (or accidentally) in an attempt to deceive the search engines. If you did something like that, then you might be screwed. (This is one reason to avoid the fly-by-night companies that promise you the #1 ranking overnight without much effort.)

If the site was not changed, in most cases, if you had your results for more than a year and there hasn't been a surge in your competition, we suggest you wait a few weeks and in most cased they will come back on their own like a lost puppy.

The problem is, if you start making a bunch of changes to the site, you might further delay that return. However, after several months you may want to consider making some changes.

How long will it take to see results?

Anyone who promises you overnight jumps in your search rankings is lying.

Typically, we tell clients it will take two to three weeks to see results, although we have see it happen in a week or less or as long as a month . . . or never.

Seriously, sometimes despite your best efforts, the search engine gods just will not give out any love to certain websites. Sometimes you are better off starting all over again with a new domain on a new hosting service . . . but that's very rare.

The main point is if you are expecting top search results to happen tomorrow so you will start seeing new clients coming in the next day, it's not likely to happen. Not from SEO. Maybe if you spend a ton of money advertising, but then you wouldn't be here reading this if you had that kind of money, right?

Should we use Google Adwords?

If you have the money and know how to use them, you may want to consider using Google Adwords to promote your site. It is certainly the popular thing to do.

BUT, one of the first questions they will ask you (which most people don't know until they start shelling out money) is what KEY WORDS do you want to focus on? That is, what words, when people type them into the search box, do you want to be associated with? "Chicago-car-accident-lawyer" perhaps? How about "Memphis personal injury lawyer/" or whatever you want. To which we ask: If you know those key words and have built your website properly, why aren't you already ranking for them? Because if you built your site properly and use good search engine optimization techniques (unless you are in an extremely competitive market) you should be able to get some results without having to pay Google some big bucks for every click you get.

Just something to think about.