These days everyone is talking about social media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn. The list of social networks seems to grow each day, and it can be hard to keep up with all of them. Many law firms see social media as an extra — something they pursue if they have time between getting ready for cases, meeting with clients and doing all the other things busy attorneys cram into their daily schedules.

They could not be more wrong. Social media is a vital part of a legal marketing package. Not only is it an effective way to increase search engine optimization, but it helps your firm connect with potential new clients and build your online reputation. If you’re not active on social media, you could be missing out on a lot of lucrative opportunities.

Why Social Media for Law Firms?

There are a number of reasons your firm should implement a social media strategy. The first is that active social media accounts can help in SEO. Think of social media as an election of sorts. The more people follow you and share your content, the more “votes” you’re getting. Search engines see those votes, note that people like your firm, and boost your page rankings — after all, they view it as anyone getting that much social media action has to be providing a valued service.

But there are other important reasons to use social media for your law firm. These include:

• Improving your firm’s reputation: Social media lets you control the conversation about your office, and you can answer any questions or criticisms you might receive.
• Connecting with new clients: Especially when hiring a lawyer, people like to feel like they “know” the person they’re hiring. Social media gives your office a personal feel.
• Creating the appearance of a modern practice: Let’s face it — if you don’t at least have a Facebook page and a Twitter account, you look pretty dated. No one wants to hire a lawyer who isn’t staying up with cultural trends.  

Giving Social Media for Lawyers Proper Attention

If you’re convinced social media is important for your law firm, that doesn’t change the fact that you might not have the time or resources to update your Twitter or Facebook accounts.

That’s a common refrain among law firms. While there’s a large need for social media for legal marketing, many firms simply don’t have the resources. This is one reason many firms choose to hire a freelancer to do their social outreach for them. The freelancer can devote much more time to developing a social media identity and presence, and they should also know much more about social media — including best practices that can get your firm better results.

At Lawyers Writing for Lawyers, we can help with your legal marketing social media needs. Contact us today to get help managing content for your social media accounts! 

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