5 Ways to Monitor Your Online Reputation as a Lawyer

You and your clients know your expertise as a lawyer. But how do outsiders perceive your value and reputation? You may have an online presence even if it’s only a short biography on your firm’s website. It is important to maintain your online reputation and ensure that prospective clients see you at you very best. Here are some tips and insights to monitor and enhance your online presence and reputation as a Lawyer.

1. Update Your Firm’s Website

Your bio and profile are most likely prominently displayed on your law firm’s website. Sometimes websites are so old and outdated, it begs the visitor to question whether or not you are still in business. Ensure that you site has the latest information about your specialities and practice areas. Also, it should be clear about how someone can contact you. Schedule a regular time to review and update your bio and profile information every six months. If you are part of Lawyers directory online, be sure it is also kept current.

2. Your Public LinkedIn Profile (indexed by Google)

Many Lawyers have a LinkedIn profile to help them be seen by potential, business-focused clients. Based on your existing profile, create a LinkedIn public profile to be sure you are found by those searching online. You can even use your public LinkedIn profile as an alternative to your own personal website and include your blog posts. An American study in 2015 found that “people with an income of more than $150,000 were more likely to choose a lawyer based on an internet search than receiving information from a friend”.

3. Your blog or law firm’s blogs

There is a lot of competition out there so more and more lawyers are turning to blogs to showcase their expertise. Monitor your blog posts for comments (if comments are allowed on your blogs) and ensure that you have a way people can get in touch with you easily. Monitor how many visitors you get or ask your IT team to see any statistics that will help you create popular topics for your next blog post.

4. Check Google alerts

In addition to “googling” your name on a regular basis, use Google Alerts to send you an email when keywords, such as your name and firm’s name are published online. Use Google Alerts to see if anyone is saying anything about you online or if you are quoted in the media. Also, add your blog titles to your alerts to see if similar topics are published or your blog is featured. This will help you reach out to journalists who share your material and you may be able to assist them or write a regular column in a larger publication.

5. Quotes in the media

Compile and save a list of publications or links where you have been quoted. You can include these links on your LinkedIn profile or monitor how you are seen as an authority in your area of expertise. Many larger firms will maintain a list of quotes on a lawyer’s behalf so if you run a smaller firm, or have your own practice, be sure to use Google Alerts to help you.

Helpful blogs, like the one you just read, are one of the ways we at Infoware help law firms succeed. Infoware specializes in legal document software designed to save time, increase accuracy, and make your law office run smoothly. We create professional, custom legal templates that integrate with your Microsoft Office programs. Find out how Infoware’s legal document software can increase efficiency at your firm.