I don't have the time and there is too much competition. Blah, blah, blah.

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Comments about blogging that drive me crazy.

“A blog in Kansas will do better than a blog in a major market.“ I have a hard time believing my blog in Kansas, with a population of 2.7 million would do better than a blog in a major market. I also have never said you should post as much as I did or do. And I don’t have any more time than any one else. I have been able to find the time to do it. And yes, I don’t like Blogger. I firmly believe there are better alternatives out there for a blogging platform. Oh, “and there are other niche blogs in my market, so why would I do one?“ “And I don’t waste my time doing links.“

I use a MacBook. I take it everywhere. And when I am waiting for court or for other things, I find a wifi and post if I have not done so recently. And I use a Treo. And I have been known to sit in a courtroom waiting on a hearing and posting to my blog. I also post early in the morning or late at night. If you want to find the time, you will find it.

A niche blog is the way to go. Even if you have a practice that does more than one area of law, don’t combine your practice areas into one blog. Do one for each practice area. I do one for family law, criminal law, and one on grandparent visitation and parent’s rights. Your readers will like it better and so will your search results.

And linking both incoming and outgoing is what drives the search engines crazy. I get the results I get because I have a lot of incoming links. I do nothing special. Linking is one of the greatest advantages of blogging over a static website. Linking provides two things. First, you are doing something the search engines like. Incoming links shows the search engines your site is relevant. Second, by providing outgoing links, you are providing your readers with a service. You are providing them with information. Even if that information is from another blog or static website.

I have never been one to allow “too much competition” to keep me from doing something. In fact, I go by the belief there is no competition. If there is, I am the competition. Is that being a bit of a smartbutt? Most likely. But, why would anyone not do a niche blog in a major market because there might be competition from others doing the same. If there is, do it better. Provide great content on a timely manner. Blog about the basic law that most lawyers won’t do. Do outbound linking and that will in turn get you incoming links. Link to other blogs in your area and do a trackback. And link to the competition. It will drive them crazy and your traffic will increase. Yes, I did in fact say that. Link to your competition. And if your competition post about something you might not agree with. Post your position. For example, in family law a hot topic right now is virtual visitation. I am against it and some are for it. I have posted my position and in addition, I have provided other post about it from other websites and blogs. What does this do, it gets traffic. And if you are not going to do a blog because there are too many other firms doing them. Than you better drop your Yellow Page ads. Open any major city’s Yellow Pages and just count the lawyers with ads. If too much competition is a reason to not do a blog, why in the Sam hell would anyone do a Yellow Page ad?

Finally, I don’t like the Blogger platform and I am not afraid to say it out loud. If you are doing a professional service firm blog, make it look professional. Customize your header. Use a font that is easy to read. Don’t use hard on the eyes colors. Provide a way to subscribe via RSS, either with a news feeder or email or better yet both. Have an about page. Provide outgoing links. Allow comments, but moderate them. If you can, provide a “request form”. Provide a link to your email address. And title it with something other than your firm name. (All items for a future post or posts).

I absolutely hate it when someone gives some lame excuse for not blogging. Just do it.

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