Google Gives Search a Refresh

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, over the next few months, Google's search engine will begin spitting out more than a list of blue Web links. It will also present more facts and direct answers to queries at the top of the search-results page.

Is your website be ready?

Amit Singhal, a top Google search executive, said in a recent interview that "Google isn't replacing its current keyword-search system, which determines the importance of a website based on the words it contains, how often other sites link to it, and dozens of other measures. Rather, the company is aiming to provide more relevant results by incorporating technology called "semantic search," which refers to the process of understanding the actual meaning of words."

When was the last time you had an independent analysis of your website (someone other than your own computer, your employees or customers?)

How good (or great) are your website and internet exposure results?

Your internet strategy should include changes to all your internet profiles, website and 3rd party listings when significant changes in the search algorithms are introduced. The older or incorrect your internet image appears, the more out of date, unqualified or unsuccessful you appear. Make sure your online image matches your real firm image.

Wishing you awesome and continuing success.




Sumner M. Davenport
Sumner M. Davenport & Assoc.
Solutions Consultants

Why "Likes" Alone Are Not Enough

They’re only one piece of the puzzle.

Just because someone liked your business page doesn't mean they are reading your posts, or after the new Facebook algorithm update, they may not even be seeing your posts.

Page "likes" are only the beginning of the relationship. Social media and networking is about building relationships and not just advertising yourself.

When you posts are "shared", it is usually an indication that someone not only liked what you posted, but wanted to share it with their network of friends as well.

Your marketing goals should include posting interesting and relative content on your page and sharing other people's posts. When you share theirs, they become more interested to see what you are posting. If you share someone else's post, they might be motivated to come back and comment on your shared post, which then keeps your page name in front of their network, and their network's network, and so on, and so on....

Simply put:
1. Post great content that people want to tell their network about.
2. Share content that you find interesting and you want to tell your network of friends and fans about
3. Make comments with substance and invite continued interaction.
4. Comment from your business page, not your profile, if you want people to be drawn to your business page.
5. Repeat

Wishing you awesome and continuing success.

Sumner M. Davenport is a Solutions Consultant.
Best Selling Author and Keynote Speaker
Solutions, not just answers.
Solutions are not one-size-fits-all.
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Legal Directories

It seems that every day a new legal directory is created and your inbox gets flooded with emails inviting you to sign up. It's becoming more difficult to determine which sites are more than content farm and are actually are worth your effort.

I recommend my clients start with the high authority sites, the proven sites, and then include some of the newer and upcoming sites.

• Findlaw.com (fee for inclusion) #426 in top 500 websites

• Avvo.com (free, and advedrtising services)

• Justia.com - attorney listing/firm profile/blawg listing (free and fee services)

• YouTube.com (free) #4 in top 500 websites

and if you regularly get involved in discussions and groups:

• LinkedIn.com
• Google+

and if you regularly write articles, you could include these sites:

• JD Supra (free and fee services)

• HG.org (free and fee services)

• Ezinearticles.com (free) #94 in top 500 websites. Be careful not to post too much content that mirrors what is already on your website. Original content is best.

• Targetlaw.com (free, profile and articles)

• Scribd.com (free)

• Docstoc (free)

This morning my client received yet another referral from a relatively new site.

• elocallawyers.com

Wishing you awesome and continuing success

More Popular Apps for Attorneys

As more attorneys are finding apps for their mobile devices useful, more apps are hitting the market place.

In previous posts last year several popular apps were listed, including the New Tax Law app.

The following apps were also rated as being popular both in preparing your case as well as in the courtroom.

LawStack®
A legal library in your pocket. LawStack comes preloaded with the following:

US Constitution

Federal Rules of Federal of Civil Procedure

Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure

Federal Rules of Evidence

Federal Rules of Bankruptcy Procedure

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

Manual of Patent Examining Procedure.

Free

This app is intended for patent attorneys, particularly litigators. It allows you to use your device's internet connection to efficiently retrieve United States utility patent information, particularly claims, title, inventors, and priority information, if you already know the patent number. Patents can be bookmarked and associated with matter names and numbers, and an editable history of patent numbers is maintained.

GoodReader.

$4.99
The super-robust PDF reader for iPad. It handles huge PDF and TXT files, manuals, large books, magazines, and renderings of 100 mb and more with great speed. The ability to mark-up PDFs opens up new doors to GoodReader users who can now use typewriter text boxes, sticky notes, lines, arrows, and freehand drawings on top of a PDF file.

Success with QR Codes

QR codes are being used in creative ways on business cards, company brochures, signs, apparel and at fundraising events to promote instant giving.

A Chili’s fundraising campaign for childhood cancer resulted in 291,000 QR code scans that appeared on coloring sheets and table tents created specifically for the effort.

“With the ever-growing presence of technology in our guests’ daily lives, Chili’s utilized this up-and-coming trend as a unique way to reach our supporters of St. Jude,” Ms. Flowers said. “With more than 290,000 QR codes scanned throughout the campaign, this medium proved to be an effective and tech-savvy way of encouraging guests to donate.”

Read more at: Mobil Commerce Daily

Read previous blog post: QR codes or Scan tags – Using them? and how are they working for you?

Update - Apps for Attorneys - Tax Law on your iPhone or iPad

New apps for the iPhone and iPad (different apps) that contain the latest text of both the Internal Revenue Code and the Treasury Regulations for public finance and tax lawyers.

According to the developer, "This application is intended for tax professionals and was not created for those not trained in independent tax and legal research. You can search using keywords or terms plus you can create boolean expressions using "AND" or "OR". You can even specify a "hit" only if a word or term is within x number of words of another word or term."

And if being in a building with limited internet or phone access -"No internet connection needed. The apps work in a concrete basement as well as in a 40th floor conference room because the data is stored right in your iPhone or iPad."

For full details, visit LawToGo website

Be sure to visit our previous post for more Apps for Attorneys

Links to iPhone and iPad apps for Attorneys is provided as information only. Actual use of any product mentioned and benefits perceived are the responsibility of the user. This blog does not provide legal advice.

Why content is so important for SEO

Content, content, content....a word that seems like nagging to many of my clients.

The major search engines are focusing on creating the best possible user experience, which means sites that offer relevant (new, creative and unique)information stand to gain the most visibility.

This following image provides a graphic explanation of the importance of content. To see the enlarged size, click here.