Magic can be fun. We all love an illusion that defies the laws of reality. However, when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO) for law firms, it is critical to know if you can trust what you see. Specifically, some law firm marketing agencies may lead you to believe they can pull a rabbit out of their hat by making inbound links to your law firm website magically appear. In this blog, we will discuss why law firms should avoid black hat link building techniques, focusing instead on proven strategies that boost your website’s credibility and authority over time.
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Latest from Legal Marketing Blog
TOPDOG’s Heather Kane Earns Professional Certified Marketer Credentials
Heather Banner Kane, an attorney and Legal Content Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC, has earned two of the top digital marketing certifications in the US: Certified Digital Marketing Professional (CDMP) and Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) in Digital Marketing.
These certifications are granted by two authorities in the marketing industry, the Digital Marketing Institute (DMI) and the American Marketing Association (AMA), respectively. The extensive coursework required to earn the CDMP and PCM credentials included training in online advertising, analytics, social media, content marketing, search engine optimization, email marketing, website optimization, and digital marketing strategy.
Certification as a CDMP and
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Nathan Chase of AZ Legal Marketing Team Completes Google Certifications
Nathan Chase, a member of the TOPDOG Legal Marketing team, has expanded his skills as a Google online advertising professional. Having completed the Google Ads Search Certification, Google Ads Measurement Certification, and Google Analytics Individual Qualification, the AZ legal marketing specialist continues to expand and demonstrate his proficiency in online advertising and analytics and put these skills to work on behalf of TOPDOG clients nationwide.
A resident of the greater Phoenix area, AZ paralegal Nathan Chase holds an associate degree in Applied Science in Paralegal from Rio Salado Community College. After starting with TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC as
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Law Firm Website Content: Quality Is King
Law firms and attorneys who want to attract new clients must stay competitive online. One of the essential ways to develop an effective online presence is to generate high-quality law firm website content that appeals to search engines and provides value to people. As search engines like Google continually refine and update their algorithms, knowing how to develop and present content that follows search engine optimization (SEO) best practices and meets your clients’ needs is more important than ever.
Law Firm Website Content and SEO Best Practices
As a lawyer, your focus is to help your clients by making
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Lynn Kessler Promoted to Production Specialist at TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC
TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC is thrilled to announce the promotion of Lynn Kessler to Content Production Specialist. An invaluable part of TOPDOG Legal Marketing since 2018, Lynn has excelled in not only her prior role as Editorial Associate but also as an overall team member.
A cum laude graduate of West Virginia University, Lynn has over 15 years of writing and editorial experience. Her passion for research and skill in communication help make TOPDOG an effective force in legal marketing.
“We’re so happy to announce Lynn’s promotion to Content Production Specialist,” said TOPDOG CEO Krista Duncan Black. “She is one
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Attorney Heather Kane Promoted to Legal Content Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing
Indiana attorney Heather Kane has been promoted to the position of Legal Content Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC. A 25-year attorney with experience in the publishing industry, Heather’s skill set is perfectly tailored to the position, and TOPDOG is emphatically pleased to have her in the role.
Heather received her JD from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. She has bachelor’s degrees from Purdue University in Organizational Communication and German. To her work at TOPDOG, she brings skills from her time in private practice, as a judicial clerk, and as a court staff attorney.
As a Visiting Clinical
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Paula Roberts Named Creative and Administrative Director at TOPDOG Legal Marketing
TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC is happy to announce that Paula Roberts of Nitro, WV has been promoted to the position of Creative and Administrative Director. In this role, Paula directs the company’s creative service line as well as leading the administrative team.
Paula’s team provides creative services, including law firm web design, infographics, CLEs, brochures, and social media ads. They also provide critical support and structure for internal processes such as task management, financial systems and goals, and general administration.
Paula’s previous experience as a paralegal, secretary, benefits coordinator, accounting clerk, and the owner of a small business offering crafting
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Nikki Conley Joins TOPDOG Legal Marketing Team
TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC is excited to announce the newest member of its growing legal marketing team. Nikki Conley joined the agency in January 2022 as an administrative assistant.
A graduate of West Virginia University, Nikki has a bachelor of arts in psychology. While raising four children with her husband, Brian, she has worked over the years in the mental health and social services, child care, and real estate industries. Her experience in various areas, including administration, human resources, and accounting, are an asset to TOPDOG as the company continues to thrive and carve out its niche in law firm
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Legal Marketing Agency Execs Celebrate 25th Bar Anniversary
Krista Duncan Black and Heather Banner Kane, the CEO and chief production officer of TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC, recently celebrated the milestone of 25 years as licensed attorneys. Prior to their swearing in, Black and Kane graduated from Indiana University’s Maurer School of Law, where they were roommates and Moot Court partners.
Black and Kane have maintained continuous licensure since becoming members of the bar—Kane in Indiana and Black in West Virginia and Arizona. Both worked as attorneys in private practice and government positions before Black, recognizing the value of a legal marketing agency led by lawyers, founded TOPDOG in
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Phoenix Legal Marketing CEO Completes SBA Emerging Leaders Program
Krista Duncan Black, founder and CEO of TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC, recently completed the US Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders Initiative training series as a member of the 2021 Phoenix Cohort. The intensive, award-winning program arms C-level executives of promising small businesses with tools and knowledge to accelerate business growth and improve operational strategies.
The SBA Emerging Leaders Initiative delivers the Interise StreetWise “MBA” program to selected C-level executives. The program has been found to increase revenue and contracts for participating businesses while creating more jobs at higher salaries. Each executive who completes the program drafts a three-year Strategic
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Scholarships available to students in legal studies
Arizona students pursuing a degree in the legal field may now apply for scholarships to be awarded by Phoenix-based TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC in 2022. TOPDOG will select one student in a Juris Doctor program at Arizona State University or the University of Arizona to receive a $1,000 scholarship and one student in paralegal studies, legal assisting, or a related field at an Arizona educational institution to receive a $500 scholarship.
Applicants for the 2021-2022 TOPDOG Legal Marketing Arizona Student Scholarships must be Arizona residents with a cumulative 3.0 grade point average who are enrolled in the programs noted for
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Best practices in law firm press releases
Law firm press releases can be an important part of your overall marketing strategy. However, a poorly written release that doesn’t get published is a waste of time and resources for all involved.
Effectively Writing and Publishing Law Firm Press Releases
This is the second and final blog in a short series about writing and publishing press releases. The first blog addressed why law firm press releases are still relevant and useful, when it is appropriate and effective to share news through this medium, and how to identify your target audience and media outlets. Here we’ll discuss the elements of
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Paralegal Nathan Chase Joins TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC Team
TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC is excited to announce that its team has expanded with the addition of Arizona paralegal Nathan B. Chase. Nathan began his tenure with the company as an intern and has now joined the law firm marketing company’s staff as a full-time, permanent employee providing legal and administrative support.
To his position on the TOPDOG staff, Nathan brings experience in human resources and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Paralegal from Rio Salado College in Arizona. In his time with the company, he has trained in legal marketing, research, and search engine marketing.
Nathan’s work with
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TOPDOG Legal Marketing Offers Free WV CLE Courses to WV Bar Groups
For a limited time, local and specialty bar organizations can now schedule free West Virginia continuing legal education (WV CLE) courses, presented by TOPDOG Legal Marketing, LLC, when five or more members register to attend. These free WV CLE courses are led by experienced attorneys and are WVCLE-accredited.
The WV CLE courses currently available are Google My Business for Law Firms, LinkedIn for Lawyers, and The Ethics of Attorney Internet Marketing. TOPDOG’s free CLE classes may be hosted in person or virtually and will be available in the future for individual purchase and delivery online.
“We were able to
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Law firm schema and why it matters
Using law firm schema, also known as structured data markup, can greatly improve your law firm’s visibility for potential clients. Schema markup incorporates structured data into web pages “behind the scenes,” facilitating search engines in reading, classifying, and displaying your content. This extra information helps the search engine “read” your page, making your site much more visible to anyone searching on the Internet for a law firm like yours.
One great benefit for using structured data markup for lawyers is an increased opportunity to have your law firm appear as a search engine results page (SERP) feature. Notice how some
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Why and How to Use a Law Firm Press Release (Plus the Other Four Ws)
The idea of sending a press release might feel a bit outdated. For some, it calls to mind the click and purr of a fax machine grinding out blurry text that’s bound for File 13. But the digital age, with changes in journalism and online content production, has given the humble law firm press release a new opportunity to make the right kind of noise.
Here and in a blog to follow, we’ll discuss why and how law firms and attorneys can and should use press releases to share information with the media, clients, potential clients, and their communities. And
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