Why lawyers should start a SECOND blog

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“Blog” is a scary word for some lawyers. They think it takes too much time relative to the rewards, and/or that they don’t have anything to write about that anybody (i.e., prospective clients) would want to read.

This isn’t true. But let’s put that aside for now and talk about why you should start your second blog. (If you don’t have your first blog, you can come back and start that later.)

And by the way, don’t call it a blog if that word makes you nervous. Call it a “website with mostly non-promotional content,” because that’s what it is.

Anyway, why should lawyers start a second blog? To attract prospective clients, of course. And the people who can refer them.

Here’s the idea: you choose a subject that is of interest to your target market (or the people who can refer them) and that also interests you. You write about that subject and post it on a blog, er, website. Interested people find your content and read it. They sign up for your list to get more of your awesomeness. They promote your content to their friends and followers, colleagues and business associates. Your list grows and grows.

You briefly mention your day job to everyone who visits the site and signs up for your list. You tell them what you do and provide a link to your legal website. Every so often, you remind them about what you do.

So, now you have a list of people who share an interest with you. They know, like, and trust you, and while their trust is not directly related to your legal services, when they need a lawyer who does what you do, it won’t be difficult for them to make that leap.

You create this website, promote it, and have fun with it. You write about things that interest your visitors and subscribers and yourself. Or, if “writing” is a scary word for you, think of it as “curating” other people’s content that you append with your brief comments.

Do you see how this could be easy and how it could also bring you a lot of business? Basically, you are expanding your “warm market” (people who know you). When those people need a lawyer, or when someone they know needs a lawyer, you’ll be at or near the top of their list.

What do you write about (or curate)? Well, what interests you?

If you love sports and lots of your prospective clients do too, bada bing, there’s your subject.

You could write about classic cars, photography, food, exercise, or travel. Whatever floats your boat. Hey, how about boating?

What about referral sources? Well, for other lawyers, you could write trial tips, law office management, or marketing (!) Tell them how you do what you do.

You could write about personal development, productivity, or your favorite technology.

In other words, you could write about anything, so long as there are enough people in your target market who share your interest. And if there aren’t, you could always start your third blog.

For help in creating and growing your second blog (or your first), click here.

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Do prospective clients read lawyers’ blogs?

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Of course they do.

They may not know that your web site is a blog or that what you wrote is a blog post. They may not know what RSS is or care about Google Reader’s impending demise. But when they have questions, they go searching for answers and when they find your blog post via Uncle Google or Auntie Facebook, they read it. If you answer their question, they’ll go read more of your content and about what you have to offer.

When they’re ready, they’ll call.

Prospective clients have questions. About their rights, about the law, about their options. They know how to use a search engine to find restaurant reviews and oil change coupons and movie times and they know how to use it to find answers to legal questions.

Give them something to find.

Answer their questions. Tell them about the law and their options. Tell them about other people like them who had the same problem and how it got resolved. You know what they want to know. What do prospects and new clients ask you when you speak to them? Write about that.

It’s true, they may never before had any interest in reading anything you wrote, and they may never again. But when they have a legal problem and they want a solution, they will read everything you have to say on the subject.

So yes, prospective clients read blogs. So do your existing clients, former clients, and others who may not need your services but know people who do. So if you don’t have a blog, now you know why you need one. And if you do, you know why you need to keep writing.

Marketing for attorneys made simple: Click here.

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