Lawyer SEO vs. Google AdWords

Lawyers are always looking for new and creative ways to ensure their services are well-advertised and reaching the general public. The two most popular methods include lawyer SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and Google AdWords. Both are very effective.

Lawyer SEO 

SEO is the process through which certain webpages are pushed higher in search engine results. SEO’s primary goal is to eventually make your website appear before any other search result. When a specific term is searched in Google and your website is the first result, you are far more likely to be approached by a client.  If your services appear on, say, the fifth page of results, you will miss out on many lead opportunities. SEO is very helpful for lawyers in the modern age. Advertising has changed with the increase of new technology.

Advantages of Lawyer SEO

SEO is incredibly useful over the long term. It helps lawyers feel secure in the knowledge that their services will be found before the competitors’. It has been statistically proven that 90% of Internet browsers will not look beyond the first page of search results. This is why it is extremely important to ensure that your website is not drowned out by the competition. Old-fashioned methods of advertising, such as print media, are being overtaken by online advertising. Lawyers who are aware of this and utilize SEO are at a great advantage.

Statistics about Lawyer SEO

90% of consumers will not look beyond the first page of online search results. 44% of potential clients visit lawyers’ webpages before making a decision. 44 million Americans sought to hire lawyers through the Internet during the 2013 business year. 58 million Americans needed a lawyer during that same span of time. Most interestingly, 110 million Americans have required legal counsel at least once in their lives. In today’s digital world, it is important to note that many of these people will seek legal consultation through a search engine.

Google AdWords

Google AdWords is a service which is also very helpful for lawyers. It is primarily useful for immediate results. Compare this to lawyer SEO, which aims for a more long-term approach and is also greatly effective. AdWords helps lawyers use certain keywords and tags that will increase their online presence. For example, lawyers practicing in a specific locality might use their city’s name as a keyword.

Advantages of Google AdWords

AdWords ensures that results will be obtained very quickly. This service allows the lawyer in question to design a custom list of keywords and tags. The tags chosen reflect their high-quality service, location, and specific skills. It also aims to target specific localities and demographics. This can be done on a large or very small scale, such as marketing directly around one specific street address.

Statistics about Google AdWords

Google takes 97% of the world’s online search advertising. Businesses make an average of $2 in revenue for every dollar they spend a week on AdWords. In the 2011 business year, AdWords and services similar to it garnered $80 billion in economic activity across the United States. Campaigns centered on making ads more noticeable to web browsers reach 80% of Internet users worldwide. 110 million Americans will seek legal consultation at least once in their lives. Most will do it online.

SEO and Google AdWords are both very useful tools for marketing your legal services. Lawyer SEO is beneficial for the long term, while AdWords provides instant visibility in search results.