You want to show up at the top of the search engine result page when someone in your area searches for a lawyer. But ever wondered how is that possible, well the answer is through local SEO. According to research conducted by Martindale-Avvo, up to 46.5% of prospective clients use Google search when they are looking for a law firm or lawyer. If you are wondering why local SEO is so important and how you can leverage local SEO. Let’s explore more about its future in the blog.
What is local SEO for lawyers?
Local SEO is the practice of search engine optimization that focuses on a particular area’s search queries. Queries here refer to what individuals are searching into engines like Google, Bing, and others when they are looking for an answer or solution to their problems. Local people use searches to find a product, service, or solution that is available locally in their area.
Think of it like this many times you might have searched for something like “restaurant near me” or “grocery store near me.” Queries like these are referred to as local search engine searches. If you optimize your product and service in this way, you will be able to rank higher on search engines locally in your area.
Local searchers can trigger specific local results on local maps. This can be crucial for lawyers and law firms who are practicing in a particular geographic area. For example, in the case of local SEO for lawyers, searchers can be similar to “family lawyer near me” or “ immigration lawyer in Seattle” and more.
Why does local SEO for law firms matter?
If you are wondering why local SEO for law firms is so important, here are some of the reasons for that:
Target Traffic: Local SEO for attorneys can help them get targeted traffic from search engines. You get more potential clients who are searching for services that you offer when they are searching with specific local keywords.
Build Trust & Credibility: With local SEO, you will be able to rank in local search results. As a result, it will enhance your firm’s credibility and trustworthiness in your local area. If more and more people from your area will trust you, you can build credibility.
High Conversion Rate: The best part about the local search is that they come from users who are ready to take action. For instance, they might book a call/consultation or hire a lawyer. So if you are able to provide your users with what they are looking for, the chances of conversions are high.
Key Components of Local SEO for Attorneys
There are different key components of local SEO that play a major role in improving local searches and helping you get visible locally.
Google My Business (GMB)
Google Business Profile (GBP) is the most important tool that you need when you are trying to get visible locally. Law firms can simply provide information about their firm and get themself featured in Google Maps and Google Search.
GMY is a listing that includes information about the business name, phone number, and timings so that Google can display that information when someone is searching for it locally.
When it comes to local SEO for law firms, Google uses information that is present in your GBP listing for Google Maps and its local park. Add accurate information so that people who are searching for you can actually reach you.
Reviews & Testimonials
Reviews are one of the major factors that will define whether you will rank higher in SERP or whether people can actually find you. Not only reviews are useful because they act as deciding factors for users, but it is often one of the things that people look for when they are searching for reviews, and the more positive experiences they see the higher the chance of conversion. Having positive reviews on platforms such as Google, Yelp, and Avvo can give a boost to local SEO. Additionally, it is also important to address negative reviews professionally and address their concern. This will demonstrate your dedication towards clients.
Local Keywords
Conduct thorough keyword research to identify local terms and phrases that your potential customers are using. Especially when they are searching for your legal services. Tools such as Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, and Ahrefs.
Incorporate all these keywords naturally into your content so that you can include title tags, meta descriptions, content headers, and body text.
Optimize your website
Your law firm website content also influences SEO rankings so it becomes crucial to optimize your website accordingly. A website that is informative and engaging can attract more visitors and improve user experience. A law firm website that mentions information such as the practice area, optimized with local content, can inform search engine bots as to how to rank the website.
Optimize local and legal directories
Listing your law firm in a legal directory such as Yelp, Avvo, and FindLaw. Listing in these directories can improve the visibility and credibility of your law firm. Sometimes when individuals search locally these directories rank and they can boost local results.
Make sure to cover all major local directories. This will make your website as much visible as possible. Add your law firm address, phone number, email address, and other relevant information that can help people reach out to you. Stay consistent with the information across all directories.
Mobile Optimization
Ensure that your website is mobile optimized, more users prefer using mobile devices for search queries. Creating a user-friendly website can help you improve the experience of users who are browsing with mobile devices. Optimize your website in such a way that the load of time is not much.
Final Thought on Local SEO for Lawyers
Local SEO for lawyers and firms is not just a marketing practice, but a necessity that can help boost conversion rates and visibility. By using the right keywords, content marketing, and website optimization, you can give the right start to your law firm. Use more local keywords and be visible to individuals who are actually looking for it.