Step 1 - High Google Ranking. Step 2 - Getting the Phone to Ring

So, a funny thing has happened since the last time I wrote on here. My law firm internet marketing plan has actually been working to perfection. I now rank number 3 on Google for Seattle DUI attorney, my targeted keyword and the most searched term in that category on a daily basis. So, how much has my business picked up? None at all.

Before I get there though, I want to let you know a little bit about what I've found to be successful from a law firm internet marketing perspective. First, I have no on site optimization at all. It stinks. I don't know it well, so I simply haven't paid much attention to it. And my mentors in this business have always preached that it doesn't really matter that much. I had no reason not to trust them, so I went for it.

Bottom line, although the on site optimization will work, and you need it in the most basic sense (your keywords and links between your sites), using metatags and all of that stuff will only help you so much. If you want to get your law firm ranking high in Google you need links. And you need a lot of them. It can be done. And it does work extremely effectively.

So, back to the point of the article, getting people from website to phone. This might be the hardest part of all (much to my chagrin). See, when I was designing my site, I'd done it with an almost sick concentration on making Google like it. The text I used was decent but not necessarily compelling. I didn't have anything on there that would necessarily make people want to pick up the phone and call. But, just being on top of the Google search rankings for Seattle DUI attorney isn't worth squat if people aren't calling.

So, we are now on to part two of the law firm search engine optimization blog - getting people from the internet to your door. It all boils down to a term that is widely used by marketers everywhere - call to action. This is basically the thing that says "Call us today at 555-555-5555." It is what lets people know what the next step is.

And to get to the call to action, people have to want to call you. This is where compelling text and an overload of information come into play. People won't read it all, but it makes them feel secure in knowing that you know what you are talking about. The more pages the better for your potential clients and for Google.

One last thing before I wrap this up for today. Part of the on site law firm website optimization is a meta description. This is what Google uses as the little teaser when your website is displayed in the search engines. For example, these are the four at the top of "Seattle DUI attorney."

1. DUI defense lawyer Peter J. Peaquin provides aggressive and experienced legal defense for people charged with DUI or other drunk driving charges in the ...

2. You deserve a Seattle DUI attorney that values your reputation as much as you do. Call us today to speak with a Seattle DUI lawyer that will work to keep ...

3. Find, research and rate 68 DUI lawyers in Seattle, Washington. Free attorney background profiles, disciplinary sanctions, and client reviews.

4. If you or someone you care about was arrested for DUI, it is essential to hire a motivated and extremely trained Seattle DUI attorney to defend your case ...

Now, admittedly, none of these are very strong. But to get people to click on your site, you need that teaser to say something of meaning. You need to get people to click through to your site and then pick up the phone to call you. Oh, and by the way, since I've started writing this article I've moved up to number two.

Bottom line, this is something you can do. You can get your law firm to the top of the Google search engines, and you can do it fast. You just have to decide how much work you want to do.