Lunch Hour Legal Marketing

Chewy’s eating your marketing lunch straight outta the bowl, and Supreme Court rulings may seem removed from legal marketing, but this could be the moment to serve your community with empathy and a bit of humanity. ----- You want to see great customer service? Take a look in your pet’s food bowl. Gyi and Conrad discuss the recent virality of Chewy’s exceptional customer service and highlight, comparatively, how maybe—just maybe—your clients should expect more humanity from their lawyer than from a dog food company. Can adding a touch of empathy (hard for lawyers, we know) to your customer service make you go viral? Maybe not, but this is the genesis of referral marketing at its finest. And, yeah, it’s been talked about a lot lately, but the elephant in the room is the end of Roe v. Wade. The guys talk about what this means not only to the country, but for cause marketing in the legal world. Don’t worry, the show’s not shifting into political punditry, nor advocating for cheap or showy opportunism; this is about lawyers being humans. Lawyers have to stand for something, so the guys discuss why it is OK to wear your cause, whatever it may be, on your marketing sleeve. The News: Bob Ambrogi spotlights Mighty’s unique approach to serving victims of personal injury. A look at Aira’s “State of Link Building 2022” about building connections on the web. LeadFerno’s chat and texting capability now connects to your Google Business Profile. Mentioned in This Episode: Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube:  Bob Ambrogi, “Uneasy About Billboard Lawyers?”  Mighty.com State of Link Building 2022, from Aira Chewy Tweet  Agencies for Reproductive Rights Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Supreme Court Clio Legal Trends 2021 Report

There’s no way around it, prospective clients want to talk to a lawyer, so get into your intake! Then the guys go LARPing—a little role play to quickly up your SEO game. Also, the return or Dear State Bar Regulator. As a lawyer, how involved should you be in the intake process? You’ve got people to handle that, right? After all, you’ve got better things to do. Gyi and Conrad discuss intake best practices and what really turns phone calls to clients. In the return of a fan favorite segment, Dear State Bar Regulator, Gyi pens a letter to those weirdly nitpicky South Carolina regulators. Let’s be honest, how much can a potential client really infer from a 3rd-party’s URL? And then, it’s time for some legal marketing LARPing! No, the guys aren’t donning wizard gowns and medieval attire; rather, they take on their respective roles as lawyer and marketer and dive deeper into the realm of SEO expectations. With a few quick tweaks, you can unlock the quick wins that will level up your magical powers, or at least your internet footprint. The News: LawPay acquires MyCase: Case management meets payment services. Good for the consumer? We’ll find out. Mentioned in this Episode: Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Joe Patrice, “MyCase Acquired by LawPay Parent,” LawNext: Conversation with LawPay and MyCase Law Firm Intake Fundamentals, Facebook Group (Private) South Carolina State Bar Regulators 22-02 MyCase LawPay Clio Legal Trends 2021 Report

There’s no way around it, prospective clients want to talk to a lawyer, so get into your intake! Then the guys go LARPing—a little role play to quickly up your SEO game. Also, the return or Dear State Bar Regulator. As a lawyer, how involved should you be in the intake process? You’ve got people to handle that, right? After all, you’ve got better things to do. Gyi and Conrad discuss intake best practices and what really turns phone calls to clients. In the return of a fan favorite segment, Dear State Bar Regulator, Gyi pens a letter to those weirdly nitpicky South Carolina regulators. Let’s be honest, how much can a potential client really infer from a 3rd-party’s URL? And then, it’s time for some legal marketing LARPing! No, the guys aren’t donning wizard gowns and medieval attire; rather, they take on their respective roles as lawyer and marketer and dive deeper into the realm of SEO expectations. With a few quick tweaks, you can unlock the quick wins that will level up your magical powers, or at least your internet footprint. The News: LawPay acquires MyCase: Case management meets payment services. Good for the consumer? We’ll find out. Mentioned in this Episode: Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Joe Patrice, “MyCase Acquired by LawPay Parent,” LawNext: Conversation with LawPay and MyCase Law Firm Intake Fundamentals, Facebook Group (Private) South Carolina State Bar Regulators 22-02 MyCase LawPay Clio Legal Trends 2021 Report

Why you shouldn’t just play the SEO long-game. Plus, a law firm’s surprising (and sketchy) use of Google review numbers. ----- Most marketing agencies tell you that SEO is going to take time. Well yeah, maybe, but it doesn’t ALWAYS have to. Gyi and Conrad reevaluate traditional “tempered” expectations and discuss how long SEO should take and whether marketers are just using SEO to lock you into long-term contracts.  Then the guys dig into one of the cringiest law firm slogans, “Size Matters,” Morgan & Morgan’s new Google reviews marketing campaign. Is it legit, is it ethical, and does it breach Google’s rules? The News: Legal marketing podcast ranks own podcast #1. I guess that’s settled then.  Big news: Google core update, get on it. Wordpress Update: a speed and security change that may affect your plugins. Mentioned in this Episode: Lunch Hour Legal Marketing now on YouTube Everest Legal Marketing Doug Bradley, how long should SEO take?  Gyi: SEO Expectations for Law Firms  Size matters, Morgan & Morgan Google Structured Data Guidelines Clio Legal Trends 2021 Report

Conrad and Gyi tackle an (ahem) unusual marketing move by an attorney using TikTok video streaming. Plus, five big referral tips. ----- Wouldn’t it be great if your clients left you a good review online? Why wait? Why not just videotape them as you’re coming out of the courtroom? It’s “Marketing vs the Client’s Best Interest” in the bizarre case of a lawyer using the video streaming platform TikTok. The attorney in question is getting lots of views and attention, but is he using his client? The guys vigorously debate whether these short videos might cross an ethical line. But, even if kind of skeezy, maybe it’s generating a referral network of sorts, so…worth it? Plus, five big tips on building business through referrals. Still waiting for new clients to be breaking down your door? Sometimes you need to give to get, so start putting yourself out there and reap the rewards of good business karma. The News: MyCase buys Docketwise. Google Analytics 4 is coming soon—update your analytics now! How’s that Johnny Depp and Amber Heard trial going?

You want to boost your conversions but only have so much bandwidth doing it all yourself. Stop thinking that tech equals cold and impersonal. Simple technologies like auto-response emails and text messages (done right!) can afford a personal touch for your clients, bring more prospects into your funnel, and convert those opportunities you’re currently missing out on. And has Google ended the era of the ad agency? The guys explore Google's new Performance Max campaigns and whether they’re really the biggest change to Google in 10 years. PLUS: IMPORTANT NEWS! Conrad adopts a puppy! A desperate play for social media attention, of course, because Lunch Hour Legal Marketing is now on YouTube (and puppies are cute). And In Less Puppy-Filled News: Google is offering certification for SEO.  In a new survey of how people find lawyers, surprise, the answers are Google, “the internet,” and referrals.   Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.

Dark Social — it just sounds nefarious, right? But there’s no need to break out a Tor browser and dive into the depths of the dark web; this stuff is legit. And once you understand and leverage it, it can be the difference between your marketing just “working” and blowing up. Gyi and Conrad explain what Dark Social is, why it can be difficult—nay, impossible—to track through your traditional attribution channels, and why it is nonetheless one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal you may not have even known you had. Also, CallRail’s marketing outlook for law firms in 2022 is out. In the latest edition of By the Numbers, the guys dig into the findings and share not only the most important takeaways but also highlight what these findings mean for you and your practice. In the Clio Legal Trends Report, it turns out law firms with growing revenue are twice as likely to use financial reporting tools. Understanding your firm’s financial performance helps you boost revenue. More at the Clio Legal Trends Report. The News: Sterling Sky and “Review Spam” - Lawyers are among the top spammers of review spaces, and law firms could be liable for this kind of behavior Search Ads Soaring - Search ad revenue hits $78 billion. Inflation and how it impacts our industry - Are you pulling back on your ads? Should you? And what about adjusting pricing? Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.

Dark Social — it just sounds nefarious, right? But there’s no need to break out a Tor browser and dive into the depths of the dark web; this stuff is legit. And once you understand and leverage it, it can be the difference between your marketing just “working” and blowing up. Gyi and Conrad explain what Dark Social is, why it can be difficult—nay, impossible—to track through your traditional attribution channels, and why it is nonetheless one of the most powerful weapons in your arsenal you may not have even known you had. Also, CallRail’s marketing outlook for law firms in 2022 is out. In the latest edition of By the Numbers, the guys dig into the findings and share not only the most important takeaways but also highlight what these findings mean for you and your practice. In the Clio Legal Trends Report, it turns out law firms with growing revenue are twice as likely to use financial reporting tools. Understanding your firm’s financial performance helps you boost revenue. More at the Clio Legal Trends Report. The News: Sterling Sky and “Review Spam” - Lawyers are among the top spammers of review spaces, and law firms could be liable for this kind of behavior Search Ads Soaring - Search ad revenue hits $78 billion. Inflation and how it impacts our industry - Are you pulling back on your ads? Should you? And what about adjusting pricing? Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.

Marketing’s not free. Is yours working? Conrad and Gyi dig into marketing attribution and how to ensure you’re spending wisely. Rand Fishkin’s new article claims “attribution is a boondoggle” and you should trust your gut, not a fancy attribution system (especially if you’re a smaller office). So, what’s going on? Can software track your marketing end-to-end process, from Google Ads to paying client? So, how do you avoid throwing your marketing money into a black hole? Learn the 6-ish best tips for measuring marketing effectiveness. Tracking client journeys, client acquisition costs, and your marketing performance matters; do it like a marketing professional does. Plus: they get into the specter of “Dark Social” — driving demand by leveraging social media and the “network effect” to build your brand. In the Legal Trends Report by Clio, did you know law firms with increasing revenue are 46% more likely to use client intake and client relationship management (CRM) solutions. How do online forms and intake processes figure in? The News There’s new investment into LinkSquares and the recent acquisition of WealthCounsel and ElderCounsel Scorpion brings back its founder as CEO CallRail’s take on Google Analytics 4 (psst, if you use an agency, ask if it’s keeping up with the new Google Analytics and preparing for the changes)   Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.

Should you be hiring a SEO specialist for your firm, or is SEO dead?  Also, millions of people are suffering as a result of the war in Ukraine. Is this an opportunity to market your law firm? Spoiler Alert: No. No, it is not — but the right answer for you may be more nuanced.  The guys tackle these big subjects as well as answer questions from ABA TECHSHOW and the impending change to Google Analytics. Special thanks to our sponsors Alert Communications, LawYaw, Posh Virtual Receptionists, and Clio.