It’s a common question for law firm owners, administrators, and attorneys: should you hire (or assign) in-house staff to manage your marketing needs and goals or work with a law firm marketing agency? Determining which is a better fit—in-house or outsourced marketing for law firms—or if a combination of the two is preferable requires considering a law firm’s current capacities and marketing goals and evaluating the pros, cons, and costs of the available options.

In-House vs. Outsourced Marketing for Law Firms: Asking the Right Questions

In any decision-making process, thoughtfulness and research on the front end are likely to produce…
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LinkedIn® Corporation provides one of the most versatile networking and marketing tools available. This business networking platform helps legal professionals showcase their experience and qualifications for potential clients and referral sources alike. Indeed, 94 percent of LinkedIn® users use the platform for research before hiring an attorney.

As legal marketers, our law firm clients often ask us, “How do lawyers use LinkedIn®?” One common use for lawyers on LinkedIn is making connections. Whether you became friends with a fellow law student at your university or met another legal professional during a conference, LinkedIn® helps you make those…
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TOPDOG Legal Marketing is excited to announce that it is now an approved partner of the State Bar of Arizona (SBA). This distinguished partnership allows the legal marketing firm to connect with more law firms and attorneys while supporting the mission of the SBA and the Arizona legal community.

The TOPDOG team is humbled to be the first legal marketing agency to be granted a partnership with the SBA. The opportunity allows the firm to offer its personalized legal marketing strategies and plans to SBA members at a discounted rate. As an SBA partner, TOPDOG plans to set a high…
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Link schemes place unnatural hyperlinks in web content to try to manipulate search engine rankings. These links can damage website credibility and result in penalties from search engines like Google, so it’s critical that attorneys and law firms know about the potential consequences of these black hat search engine optimization (SEO) methods.

Disturbingly, law firm websites can be involved in link schemes without the website owner ever knowing about them. Understanding the dangers of link schemes for lawyers and law firms, as well as how they can happen, is key to mitigating potential damage.

Link Schemes for Lawyers: What You…
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The legal marketing industry is flush with companies offering services that are either built or rely heavily on proprietary technology and platforms offered exclusively to their law firm clients. This is all fine, in theory. But for law firms, choosing a web hosting platform or content management system (CMS) built on proprietary legal marketing technology can result in problems with content ownership, integration of additional services, and more.

Like frustrated mobile phone customers trapped in unclear contracts and extended payment plans, many law firms find out too late that their practical ability to leave their current provider is difficult at…
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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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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, 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 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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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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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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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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