When you’re just starting as a lawyer, it can be difficult to know the best way to get your name and face out there. One way to do that is to start a blog. Blogging can help you establish yourself as an expert in your field, which will make other lawyers more likely to refer clients to you.
It also helps establish your credibility and authority within the legal community both of which are crucial if you want people calling on your services for jury duty, personal injury cases, and other matters that require an attorney’s expertise.
But how should you go about starting a law blog? This guide will show you everything from picking the right domain name to choosing a design theme (or building one yourself) so that before long, people will come knocking at your door asking how they can hire someone like me!
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Launching a law blog can enhance your online presence and showcase your legal expertise. |
| Identifying your target audience and their needs is crucial for creating relevant and engaging content. |
| Choose a niche or specific legal area to focus your blog on, demonstrating your specialization. |
| Select a user-friendly blogging platform and design a visually appealing blog layout. |
| Consistent posting schedules help keep your audience engaged and build a loyal readership. |
| Promote your blog through social media, networking, and collaboration with other legal professionals. |
| Incorporate SEO strategies to improve your blog’s visibility in search engine results. |
| Engaging with readers through comments and discussions fosters a sense of community and trust. |
| Monitor and analyze your blog’s performance to refine your content strategy over time. |
| Stay updated on legal trends and news to provide timely and relevant insights to your audience. |
When Can You Get Started?
You can get started right now, with no experience and no money.
To do so, you need a few things:
A domain name (or subdomain)
A hosting provider
An editor that allows you to create pages and write posts
You can usually get all of this for free by using one of the best free blog hosting services available WordPress.com or Blogger.com. Both platforms let you use a custom domain name and host your site without having to pay anything upfront or monthly charges thereafter (though they have premium features that do cost money).
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What Type Of Content Should You Create?
The content you create will have a tremendous impact on the success of your law blog. It’s one of the most important things you can do when starting a law blog. The purpose of this section is to teach you how to make sure that your content is as engaging and valuable as possible.
We’ll Start By Exploring Some Different Types Of Content
How can you make your content more relatable?
How can you make your content more useful?
How can you make your content more engaging?
What type of information should I include in my posts?
How Often Should You Post?
Posting frequency is something you should look at carefully. If you are creating content that requires a lot of research and time, it might be best to post once or twice a week, or even less frequently than that. When I started my law blog, I chose to post daily because I didn’t have the time or energy to consistently produce new material every day.
I reasoned that if people got used to seeing new posts from me daily, they would continue checking back for updates even when there wasn’t anything new happening in my life!
The downside of this approach is that it takes up more of your time since each post needs its thought and planning before posting it online. But as long as you can manage your schedule accordingly (which is what we’ll cover next), then reading this guide won’t take too much effort from you either 🙂
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How Can You Juggle Your Workload?
There’s no magic answer to this question. It depends on how much free time you have and what your priorities are. If you want to start a law blog, you need to set aside time each day so that it doesn’t become another thing on top of your already busy schedule.
You can start with a small amount of time and build up from there as long as you plan out the duration well in advance so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by it all at once.
The best way to manage your workload is by using an app like Google Calendar or Apple Calendar which allows users to create schedules for different areas of their lives such as work or personal commitments, hobbies etcetera.
Another way would be using Microsoft Excel spreadsheets which are great tools if used properly but may take some getting used to before one gets accustomed to this method
Who Will Be Your Audience?
You’ve got a great idea for a law blog, and you think it could be the next big thing. But before you go public with the idea, it’s important to consider who your audience is. Who are they? Why do they need your product or service? How can you reach them? What can you offer them that others cannot? These are all questions that will shape how successful your blog becomes.
For example, let’s say that you’re an attorney who specializes in personal injury law and has been practicing for 20 years. You have built up a large client base over those 20 years and now need somewhere to house all of this valuable content – so why not start a law blog where people can learn about personal injury law without having to pay an arm and leg?
But just because people want something doesn’t mean they’re willing to spend money on it (especially if there’s no hard evidence that what gets offered is any better than what exists already).
For clients/customers/users/people-with-money (however you want to refer)**The reader reads this sentence as if there must be some other way I would refer but doesn’t know what it might be
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Get The Best Blogging Platform
Once you’ve chosen the right blogging platform, it’s time to get started.
Some of the most popular blogging platforms include:
WordPress – The most popular and user-friendly of all platforms, WordPress is free and easy to use. Its simplicity makes it easy for a beginner to get started quickly and easily. It’s also quite customizable with plenty of themes and plug-ins available from which to choose. The downside? It’s not completely secure so if your site gets hacked…yikes!
Blogger – Another free option (run by Google), Blogger is another option that is widely used by beginners because it requires little technical knowledge or skill set for one to set up their blog on this platform.
However, as with WordPress, there are not as many themes or plug-ins available when compared with other more advanced options like Squarespace.
Wix which can make customization difficult depending on what kind of look you’re going for in terms of design elements such as fonts or colors which may require some coding knowledge beyond just some basic HTML/CSS knowledge which unfortunately isn’t taught during law school (shame).
Additionally, Blogger has been known for its security issues so if hacked…uh oh!
Choose A Catchy Domain Name
Choosing a catchy domain name for your law blog is a great way to make sure it sticks in the minds of potential readers. A domain name should be memorable, easy to spell and pronounce, and easy to type out.
It should also reflect your brand and mission statement. If you are passionate about animal rights then use that as inspiration for your blog’s name.
Don’t limit yourself though if no word fits with what you do but you still want it in the title then think outside the box! For example: “The Lawyer” or “Legal Matters” could both work well as titles because they are easy to remember yet also stand out from other blogs on similar topics.
Secure The Necessary Hosting
When it comes to hosting, you want to make sure that the provider has good uptime and speed. The best hosting providers offer a 99.99% uptime guarantee (meaning their servers are available for use 99.99% of the time).
This is important because if your site goes down, people will be unable to access it and won’t be able to read your content or purchase your services. You also want a company with fast server speeds so that visitors aren’t waiting around for pages to load.
While there are many other factors involved in determining how well a website performs, these two are among the most important ones when considering which host should provide your law blog’s infrastructure needs.
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Go Self-Hosted If Possible
If you can afford it, I recommend going self-hosted. Self-hosted sites are more secure than hosted ones because they’re not relying on someone else’s servers and technical skills. They also give you the freedom to make changes when necessary—or if you just feel like making a change (I know I do).
Self-hosting is also more flexible because you can change your theme whenever the mood strikes you (or once a year if that sounds more realistic). OK, maybe not every time, but at least once in a while! And with most themes available as GPL or MIT licensed open source code, there are plenty of options for customization within the WordPress ecosystem itself.
Finally, whether or not your site ever moves beyond its humble beginnings as a personal blog about law school life into something bigger and better (aka: “content marketing”).
Self-hosting will provide an infrastructure that allows for growth and scalability over time without having to worry about losing access to crucial services like blogging software updates or security patches from third-party providers hosting companies tend to provide less support than self-managed solutions like WordPress do anyway.”
Pick The Right Theme And Design
When choosing a theme, there are certain things you should look for. Themes should be easy to read and navigate. They should also be flexible in terms of customization so that you can change the color scheme, fonts, and other elements on your blog without having to deal with complicated code.
I’ve Tried A Lot Of Different Themes And I Would Recommend These Two
Genesis Framework by StudioPress (you can find it here: https://studiopress.com/themes/) – This is the most popular theme framework for WordPress blogs and has tons of great features like custom post types, taxonomies, and much more!
Thesis Theme by MyThemeShop (you can find it here-This is another popular theme framework with lots of features but is less complicated than Genesis
Customize As You Need
Customize your blog as you need. Your site should fit your brand, goals, and audience.
For example: If your goal is to be a law blogger for the general public, then you’ll want to customize your blog so that people outside the law profession can understand it easily. (See this post for more tips on writing for non-lawyers.)
On the other hand, if your goal is to become a legal expert who writes about tax law or intellectual property rights in poetry form something like what was once done here at Legal Writing Solutions then by all means customize that!
In any case, customization includes making sure that:
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The Font Is Easy To Read
Images complement rather than distract from the message * Text is organized in an easy-to-read format
Install The Right Plugins
One of the best things you can do is install a plugin. Plugins are little bits of code that add functionality to your site. They can be used to add features like contact forms, social media integration, eCommerce, and more. You can also get plugins for SEO and web design purposes.
Some plugins are free while others may cost a fee but there are plenty that doesn’t cost anything at all!
There are many different types of plugins available and they range in complexity from easy to install right up to those that require some technical knowledge or assistance from someone who knows how they work (or even better – hire someone who specializes in WordPress and plugin development).
Start Creating Useful Content Right Away
Your first step should be to get started writing. You don’t need a lot of time, money or experience to do this just start by writing about what you know best: yourself and your interests.
When I was starting as a lawyer, I didn’t have much insight into the profession, so I wrote about what I knew best: myself! My blog was mostly about my life, my family, and our pets (I had three Siamese cats at that time).
At first, it felt awkward writing about these personal topics to strangers on the internet.
But once I got used to it and started seeing regular readership numbers climb up from zero to over 100 per month within a year of starting my law blog (and beyond), then eventually thousands per day after several more years of blogging experience under my belt… well then all those early concerns faded away completely!
Create Content That Addresses A Pain Point Or Problem, Then Provides A Solution
You’ve got to be relatable. Your readers want to know that you’re someone they can trust and rely on. You need to show your expertise, but make sure it’s not overbearing or condescending.
You also want to showcase your skills and experience with the law, so that people will see what an asset you’ll be in their time of need when they are looking for a lawyer!
Showcase Your Expertise While Also Creating Relatable Content
Showcase your expertise while also creating relatable content. When it comes to building a blog, the best way to do this is by focusing on your strengths and interests.
For example, if you’re an immigration attorney who specializes in H-1-B visas and has a strong interest in education policy reform, then writing about these topics will create relatable content that readers can relate to while also showcasing what makes you an expert in those areas.
Creating relatable content is important because most people don’t want someone else coming in from anywhere and telling them everything they need to know about something – especially when it’s something as complex as law or politics!
So instead of trying too hard with this step (you don’t want people thinking that all lawyers are just money-hungry sharks), focus on writing about subjects that matter personally or professionally – like immigration issues related specifically to H1B Visas for instance!
Takeaway
If you’re considering starting a blog about law, here are some steps to keep in mind:
Set a clear goal for your blog. What do you want readers to get out of it? Are you hoping to provide them with information that will help them make better decisions as consumers or in their personal lives?
Do you want them to gain an understanding of the legal system and how it works? Are there specific topics that interest or frustrate you, and do they relate to your profession or interests outside of work?
Once you’ve identified the core purpose behind starting this particular blog, then consider the audience who might benefit most from the information and advice that could be published on it and make sure this audience is big enough!
Plan how best to reach your goal (or goals) with your law blog(s). If necessary, consult an expert on how blogging works best so that
you can create an effective strategy for connecting with readers. For example, if there are certain demographics such as Millennials who have high rates of adoption when it comes to new technologies such as apps but don’t necessarily read traditional news outlets like newspapers or magazines often enough for those publications’ content providers
Conclusion
If you can answer these questions, you’ll be on your way to creating a successful law blog. Now that you know all the steps, it may seem like a lot of work but it’s worth it!
You’re not only building your brand and business but also helping other lawyers like yourself who are looking for answers. So don’t let anything hold you back from becoming an expert in your field and helping others do the same!
Further Reading
Explore these additional resources to enhance your knowledge about starting a law blog and improving your legal writing skills:
DRI Blog: Start a Legal Blog: Gain insights into the essential steps and strategies for launching a successful legal blog.
Clio: Lawyer Blogging for Digital Marketing: Learn how lawyer blogging can be a powerful tool for digital marketing, enhancing your online presence and attracting clients.
On The Map: Blogging for Lawyers: Discover tips and tricks for effective blogging tailored to the legal profession, helping you connect with your audience and establish authority.
FAQs
What are the benefits of starting a legal blog?
Starting a legal blog offers numerous benefits, including showcasing your expertise, engaging with your audience, and attracting potential clients who are seeking legal information.
How can lawyer blogging contribute to digital marketing efforts?
Lawyer blogging can significantly enhance your digital marketing efforts by improving your website’s search engine visibility, building a reputation as a thought leader, and providing valuable content that resonates with your target audience.
What strategies can I use to create compelling blog content?
To create compelling blog content, focus on addressing common legal questions, sharing case studies, providing practical advice, and staying updated on recent legal developments to offer valuable insights to your readers.
How can I effectively engage with my audience through my legal blog?
Engaging with your audience involves responding to comments, encouraging discussions, and inviting readers to share their thoughts and questions. This interaction can help build a loyal readership and establish your credibility.
What role does SEO play in the success of a legal blog?
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is crucial for a legal blog’s success as it helps your content rank higher in search engine results, making it easier for potential clients to find your blog when searching for relevant legal topics.
Costantine Edward is a digital marketing expert, freelance writer, and entrepreneur who helps people attain financial freedom. I’ve been working in marketing since I was 18 years old and have managed to build a successful career doing what I love.