Yes, Regional Practice Area Pages Can Help Your Law Firm’s SEO (or Hurt it)

Yes, Regional Practice Area Pages Can Help Your Law Firm’s SEO (or Hurt it)

Among the SEO community, there is a debate about whether or not regional pages - that is, content that is created to focus on the different cities or states where your law firm practices - is an effective SEO strategy. Regional pages can actually be incredibly powerful lead-generating pages. They can also destroy your website's authority if not done properly.

What is a regional practice area page?

Regional pages for law firms are basically practice area pages that are optimized around...

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Google's Review System Was Updated in April. How Your Law Firm Might Be Affected.

Google’s Review System Was Updated in April. How Your Law Firm Might Be Affected.

Google's review system underwent a significant update in April 2023. The new system evaluates reviews about services, media, and other topics, beyond just product reviews. Google has also changed the name of its "product reviews system" to "reviews system" and altered its guidance documentation to apply to all types of reviews.

As a law firm, you probably don't have product reviews on your website but you might format your client reviews in a way that would be affected by...

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We just won a W3 Award for Steinberg Law Firm's Website

We just won a W3 Award for Steinberg Law Firm’s Website

We're very excited to announce that we've won another W3 Award, this time for the Steinberg Law Firm website.

Steinberg Law Firm is a great client of ours that has been fighting for the rights of South Carolinians for almost a century and the hundreds of five-star reviews they've earned show how much their clients appreciate the firm's hard work and dedication.

We've been working with Steinberg Law Firm for several years and have increased their monthly organic leads by 1,100%...

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Multi-lingual Law Firm SEO – Finding Ranking Success in Any Language

Multi-lingual Law Firm SEO – Finding Ranking Success in Any Language

Recently, I contributed an article to Forbes, titled “Bilingual Law Firms May Be Missing Out On A Huge SEO Benefit.” I was inspired to write the piece because of how often I see multi-lingual law firms doing all the wrong things and leaving valuable leads on the table.

While my article focuses on Spanish, which is the second most dominant language in the United States, you can apply the principles to any language.

Here are some key takeaways from the...

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Google Local Service Ads Are Available to Law Firms (Maybe)

Google Local Service Ads Are Available to Law Firms (Maybe)

Google Local Service Ads are now available for law firms. This is exciting news as there has been a lot of anticipation around this offering. With Google Local Service Ads, the advertiser (your law firm) pays per lead instead of paying per click like you would in a PPC campaign.

What are Google Local Service Ads?
A Local Service Ad (or LSA) is an advertisement that appears above the sponsored search results on Google. Someone can select a service provider and book them directly through the LSA page. Unlike pay-per-click, you the advertiser are charged per-lead and not every time someone clicks on your ad.

Here is how a Google Local Service Ad Works

  1. A user searches for a local service. For example, I searched for an electrician in San Francisco. At the top of the search results are several electricians with "Google Guaranteed" underneath.

Example of a Google Local Service Ad

2. Click on the ad. Out of respect for the advertiser, I would normally not click on an ad while writing a blog. But in this case, who cares? The advertiser isn't paying per click, they're paying per lead. When clicking on the LSA ad, you're taken to the LSA landing page, not the advertiser's website.

Google Local Service Ad Landing Page

You will notice that there is no other way to contact this advertiser except for the phone number (which we crossed out). Some advertisers may allow you to make an appointment directly from their LSA page. Whenever the advertiser is contacted through this page, that's when they're charged. When I clicked on the ad, this electrician wasn't charged anything.

How to find out how much it costs.

1. Google has a cost estimator at https://ads.google.com/local-services-ads/cost/

2. Type in your zip code, the number of leads you want each month, and select your law firm's area of practice and then click on "Estimate Budget". 

Google Local Service Ad Cost Estimator

3. If you're like most law firms in most cities you will either:

a) Not see your practice area listed.
or
b) You will see this message: "We're not available in your area yet."

What we found for most industry categories was a cost per lead of $15-$40. If Google LSA can deliver leads for $15-$40 to lawyers, this will be an awesome addition to your law firm marketing efforts! Realistically, you can expect higher rates in competitive markets for competitive practice areas. Since lawyers are a new addition to the offering, there isn't a lot of data to work with.

What does Google Local Service Ads Mean for Lawyers?

Once it's available in your market, Google Local Service Ads will be a great compliment to your existing pay-per-click campaign. Plus, you will get a Google Guaranteed badge for $50/month after Google verifies your license, insurance, and legal status. That Google Guaranteed badge doesn't just apply to your Local Service Ads, that badge will get associated with your Google My Business listing which could help you earn more clicks from your organic map placement.

Want to get notified when Google Local Service Ads are available in your area?

Give us a few details about your law firm, location, and practice areas and we will contact you when LSA's are available in your market.

Google Local Service Ads - Notify Me


Jason Bland, co-founder of Custom Legal Marketing
Jason Bland is a Co-Founder of Custom Legal Marketing. He focuses on strategies for law firms in highly competitive markets. He's a contributor on Forbes.com, is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, Young Entrepreneurs Council, and has been quoted in Inc. Magazine, Business Journals, Above the Law, and many other publications.

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Google My Business Has a New Attribute for Lawyers

Google My Business Has a New Attribute for Lawyers

Last week, Google quietly released a few new attributes that will help you communicate your meeting options while social distancing.

Four attributes were released but only one applies to most law firms; Online Appointments.

Since the COVID-19 measures went into place in March, many law firms started offering online consultations and appointments. With the new Online Appointments attribute, prospects don't have to visit your website to know that you're available for virtual appointments. They are able to see it...

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Google My Business Is Publishing Reviews Again

Google My Business Is Publishing Reviews Again

Google had shifted most of their Google My Business Resources to ensuring that listings had up-to-date resources to help businesses communicate with their clients during COVID-19 shutdowns. During this time, we advised our clients to not reach out to their clients and request reviews since there was no certainty that those reviews would be posted.

Over the last 3 weeks, we have seen pre-shutdown reviews get posted to law firms’ Google My Business listings and...

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Keep your phones ringing during the COVID-19 crisis with these 9 tips

Keep your phones ringing during the COVID-19 crisis with these 9 tips

While people across the country are adjusting their lives to the COVID-19 crisis, we’re monitoring how those changes affect the legal landscape. With people spending a lot more time at home and online, lawyers need to be prepared to respond to new behaviors. How can you make sure the right clients find you? By following these tips:

1. Make sure people know you are currently available and handling cases.

Now is a good time to Read More