Posts tagged as:

Online Legal Marketing

As I concentrate more of my time and resources on ConsumerNews.com, I’ve decided to part with some legal domain names that I bought when I thought I might use them.  Names such as AsbestosReporter.com, ConsumerLawNetwork.com, and many more. [click to continue…]

  • Share/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

A recent report from The Nielsen Company contained some interesting statistics. It found that viewers of online video increased 12.8% in May vs. last year.  Over the same time, total video streams watched increased by 34.8% and time spent per viewer increased by 48.9%.  This shows there are more users, watching more videos, more often.  The 20-page Nielsen report on The Global Online Media Landscape is available free, online.

The Pew Internet Home Broadband Adoption report found that 63% of adult Americans now have access to broadband , compared to 55% in May, 2008.  Together the two studies suggest that lawyers would be well-advised to incorporate online video into their marketing strategy.

I have found that online video can be a very effective way to communicate with potential clients.  Lawyers who use online video to communicate with clients can actually give the potential client a better “feel” for the lawyer, making the potential client more comfortable contacting the lawyer (provided that the lawyer communicates well).  Additionally, because viewers have come to expect funny and/or outrageous videos online, it may be possible to create a video that makes your point more vividly in an online video than in a television or print ad.  For example, we posted a satirical video which made a strong statement about Yamaha’s failure to adequately deal with the safety problems of the Yamaha Rhino.  The video resulted in many views, plus favorable commentary in an article published on News.com.au.

Our thanks to Mediapost’s Video Insider for pointing us toward the Nielsen and Pew studies.

  • Share/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

An interesting article in Online Media Daily discusses a report released Wednesday by The Nielsen Co.   Charles Buchwalter, SVP of research and analytics at Nielsen Online, said “In recent years, the Internet has changed dramatically as people seek more personalized relationships online.  In particular, time spent on social networks and video sites has increased astronomically.”

More from the article: ” Internet users today tend to prefer sites that contain more specialized content, according to Nielsen. This change in preferences is seen in the fact that video and social networking sites have moved to the forefront, becoming the two fastest-growing categories in 2009.

The number of U.S. consumers who frequent online video destinations has climbed 339% since 2003, while time spent on video sites has shot up almost 2,000% over the same period. In the last year alone, unique viewers of online video grew 10%, while the number of streams grew 41%, the streams per user grew 27%, and the total minutes engaged with online video grew 71%.”

With these numbers, it’s not surprising that we are seeing some lawyers turning to online video as part of their marketing efforts.

  • Share/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }

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.

  1. Advertise Online.
  2. Invest in a professionally designed and developed web site.
  3. “Consumerize” your web site.
  4. 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."]
  5. [click to continue…]

  • Share/Bookmark

{ 0 comments }