If you’re an attorney, chances are you’ve heard of Avvo. Avvo aims to make it easy for people to find all the information they need to make an informed decision about the best lawyer to fit their needs.
Simply put, Avvo has to be in your arsenal of marketing tools as an attorney.
Why? There are 2 main reasons:
Establishing a presence on Avvo can help your firm get more cases. The key to success is to spend time making sure your profile is a complete and accurate representation of who you are as an attorney.
Here are 10 tips to help maximize your success on Avvo:
For Avvo, any .jpg or .png image is acceptable as long as it’s under 5mb. Spending time making sure your photo is professional and cropped to maximize the available space can make your headshot stand out.
In the example below, attorney Michael Gertner makes the best use of space. The photo is professional and cropped appropriately, without any unneccessary blank space.
There is also an “Additional Links” section where you can add up to 4 additional links to your profile. This is a great way to highlight your blog, send users directly to a Contact page or highlight pages on your website that are especially important.
Lastly, you have the option to link your social media profiles to Avvo. This is actually done in the “Account Settings” section rather than the profile update section, so it’s often missed. Link any social media profile that you maintain an active presence on.
Avvo will periodically update the practice areas that are available, so it’s worth checking back every 6 months to make sure you’re not missing any practice areas.
You also have the option to display how many years you have been practicing in that area and how many cases your firm has handled.
However, there’s another added benefit to remaining active with contributions to Avvo. The Legal Answers section of Avvo’s website ranks extremely well in Google. This is an additional opportunity for exposure.
The key is looking for questions that are relevant to both your practice area and state. Avvo will automatically sort questions for the best match for you (based on your profile.) Set aside time weekly or monthly to browse recent questions and provide answers.
These awards, accomplishments and publications will also boost your Avvo rating, so it’s important to make sure you are regularly updating your profile.
Avvo makes it easy to request client reviews. You can also add a link in your e-mail signature to your profile to make this easier for your clients to find and post a review.
Take the time to leave comments on all reviews, both positive and negative. It shows that you’re actively engaged and responsive, and this will resonate with potential clients viewing your profile.
You have the option to select which Fee Type you offer and which payment types you accept. Being transparent about your fees is the best way to ensure the calls you receive from Avvo are qualified and can add efficiences to your intake process. If you provide detailed information on your Avvo profile about your cost structure, you will spend less time fielding phone calls from potential clients who are unable to afford your services.
One effective way to do this is to create a document outlining steps to building and maintaining an Avvo profile and distributing it to the attorneys upon hire. This ensures your law firm maximum exposure on Avvo.
Out of all the law firm directories, Avvo is one of the most successful at driving new business for attorneys who make it a priority. There is no cost to edit your profile, and a little maintenance can go a long way in increasing your exposure on Avvo. Depending on your budget, location and practice areas, paid opportunities with Avvo may be worth exploring.
If you’re interested in maximizing your firm’s exposure through high-quality directories like Avvo, let’s talk.