7 Simple Steps To Getting Started With A Law Firm Blog

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You’re convinced that you need to incorporate blogging into your law firm marketing efforts. But there’s a problem: you have no idea where to start. If only there were a roadmap to help you get on your way.

Well, there is now. And here it is:

1. Buy A Domain Name: I am partial to purchasing your name as a domain name (i.e., johnsmith.com) or some variation on a theme.  By locking up your name and using it as your home base, you establish yourself as a brand and can use the platform as you see fit.  If you put all your eggs into a geo-targeted domain (www.MyTownBankruptcyLawyer.com or something like that) you run the risk of losing your identity if you ever move or change practice areas.  Whatever your choice, just make it – every day, more “good” domain names are snapped off the market.  Check out www.GoDaddy.com to buy your domain names.
2. Set Up Hosting: I used to host my sites at GoDaddy until I realized just how slow their servers are.  That, and someone alerted me to the fact that if you keep your eggs all in one basket then your risk is higher.  By splitting up the domain registration and the hosting you are protected in case the host yanks your site for any reason – all you need to do is open a new hosting account and keep the domain name intact.  My host of choice is www.HostGator.com.  Fast servers, excellent pricing, fantastic customer service.
3. Install WordPress: I’m talking about www.WordPress.org, not the hosted version at www.WordPress.com.  Many hosting companies, including HostGator, will install WordPress using a one-click installation that takes about 2 minutes and requires no technical skill whatsoever.
4. Write Your “About” Page: This is one of the most important pages on your blog because it tells visitors who you are and why they should listen to what you have to say.  Without a strong “About” page, your visitors may not get a full vision of your reason for blogging.
5. Create Your Categories: Most bloggers recommend keeping the category list to 5-6 at most.  Categories are the “big picture” topics that you’re going to cover on your blog, and you should choose them wisely.
6. Start Writing: Having a content marketing strategy is important to ensure long-term blogging success, no doubt about it.  But if you spend weeks on formulating a strategy before your blog gets off the ground then you’ll likely never get it off the ground at all.  For the first few posts, get your feet wet by simply writing – without any regard for keywords, search engine optimization, or anything like that.  Write as if you’re talking with a client, answering a question in your office.  Once you get comfortable you’ll be better able to map out where you want the blog to go, and the topics you’d like to discuss on a going-forward basis.
7. Have Fun: Blogging is a lot of work, and don’t let anyone tell you anything different.  But it’s also liberating, giving you the chance to flex your creativity and provide useful information to your audience.  You’ll eventually get good at it, but the only way to stay motivated is to have some fun with it.  Add some pictures to your posts, put up a funny YouTube video from time to time, relay a funny story.  All work and no play … well, you know the end of that one.

One final point – don’t panic!  There’s nothing you can do to break the Internet, so if you screw up you can always start over with a fresh piece of electronic paper.  Most successful bloggers tried at least once before they got it right, and others keep their mistakes buried in the deepest recesses of their existing blogs.

Photo courtesy of Jim Linwood.

Related posts:

1. Why Using Blogger For A Law Office Blog Is A Huge Mistake
2. Your First Law Firm Blog Is Just A Baby Step
3. Finding The Right Platform For Your Legal Blog
4. 7 Simple Tips To Improving Your Law Firm Website
5. Marketing Your Law Firm Online With A Domain Name