SearchEngineWatch.com is reporting that Google is sponsoring a contest with a grand prize of $25,000 of cable television advertising. Contestants create a 30 second or 60 second spot and upload it to the YouTube channel “TV for all contest.” You can even make the ad for free using SpotMixer.com. The deadline for submission is October 5, 2009. Viewers will vote, and 3 winners will be announced October 30, 2009.
This appears to be a good way for Google to call attention to the TV ad service it now offers through its AdWords program. A MediaPost article reports that Google has teamed with SpotMixer to allow advertisers to create video ads to be displayed on the Google Content Network. SpotMixer’s platform automatically converts an advertiser’s existing AdWords text ad into a tailored video ad within the advertiser’s AdWords account. Earlier this year, SpotMixer launched a self-serve video ad creation service for Google AdWords customers to produce and distribute cable TV ads via Google TV Ads.
Lawyers who have been tempted to dip their toes into the TV advertising pool now have a way of giving it a try on a limited budget. But the chance of a lawyer ad winning the $25,000 grand prize? I’m pretty skeptical about that.
Tagged as:
Attorney advertising,
Google TV ads,
Spotmixer,
TV ads
Plaintiffs’ attorneys are spending more on TV ads in 2009 than they spent during the same period in 2008, according to Harlan Schillinger, vice-president and director of marketing for Network Affiliates, the nation’s largest lawyer advertising agency. Schillinger, in an interview with legalnewsline.com, said plaintiffs’ lawyers are spending significantly more so far this year on marketing and advertising.
Network Affiliates’ clients, which include such big name firms as Jacoby & Meyers, The Cochran Firm and the offices of Fleming & Associates of Houston, are spending about 11 percent more than they did last year on TV spots, according to Schillinger.
Securities litigation a growth industry for lawyers?
The legalnewsline.com article also quotes Richard Samp of the Washington Legal Foundation, who says he expects securities class action filings to soar amid the Wall Street meltdown. “Certainly, all of the major banks and security houses are being sued already in a number of well-publicized suits,” Samp said.
But Samp has a word of caution based upon the recent meltdown and criminal charges involving some former members of the plaintiffs’ securties class action firm known as Milberg Weiss LLP. “It’s well known that many firms keep a stable of clients who own small numbers of shares in lots of companies, and that is what got all of the leaders of Milberg Weiss thrown in jail because they were in a sense bribing stockholders to serve as their clients,” Samp said.
The article also quotes a couple of pro-tort reform lawyers. If you want to read what they said, you can click here.
Tagged as:
Attorney advertising,
Attorney TV ads,
Securities litigation
The Wisconsin Bar recently published an interesting article with 10 Internet marketing tips for new, small law firms. While the article is sometimes short on specifics about implementing its suggestions, it is a very good beginning point for lawyers without experience in online legal marketing. I’m just going to list the 10 headings here without the full text of the article; you can read the full article here. I’m going to add some explanations/suggestions based on my own experience.
- Advertise Online.
- Invest in a professionally designed and developed web site.
- “Consumerize” your web site.
- Incorporate video on your site. [The articles suggests that you "Develop an introductory video of the managing partner that showcases personality as well as expertise. Post the video on the web (and YouTube) and even consider a TV spot down the road." My caveat, if the managing partner doesn't come across well on video, do not use the managing partner. Use the lawyer who looks best and comes across as most genuine on video. If you have to, and your bar regs permit it, hire a professional before you put up a video with a white-faced, stuttering managing partner. Also, if you can afford it, spend the money to shoot a professional video. You don't have to spend a fortune to hire a pro, and the results will be worth the money. For ideas about using video that aren't limited to interviews with your managing partner, see my post "Use online video to do things you can't do on TV."]
[click to continue…]
Tagged as:
Attorney advertising,
Google AdWords,
Internet for lawyers,
Law firm websites,
Online Legal Marketing,
Search Engine Optimization (SEO),
SEO
