Better Google Rankings for Your Legal Website - Two Important Factors

By Bob Schwartz, CRS, GRI ©2007 Promotions Unlimited all rights reserved.

This material is subject to copyright and any unauthorized use, copying or mirroring is prohibited

A large factor in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is how your website makes use of keywords. First your website must have helpful, unique and informative content that is well-written. Now, your main task is to screen your content the same way that Google’s algorithm would. If you have a website about “San Diego bankruptcy lawyers” for instance, is your written content full of keywords related to that topic?

If your page matter is written with the concept of keywords in mind, then it will have an improved chance of ranking well in Google. Again, these keywords naturally occur if articles are skillfully crafted and focused.

A useful rule to go by is to modify your content so that your keyword phrase has a density of 1 to 3% of your page’s content. Be sure not to go over the 3% upper limit, your content could be considered spam and excluded or severely penalized in the rankings.

This is another main rule the Google algorithm pays attention to: external links to your site. Luckily, this part of of Google SEO is also within your control if you take the time to set up a “link exchange” system. In all actuality, Google favors sites that have more outer links pointing to them. A link exchange is the way to build reciprocal links and keep your website from being isolated in the Internet universe.

A lot of the legal websites we have reviewed are among the lowest in number of incoming links. When lacking solid incoming links, your website will be at a great disadvantage that will keep it out of the top Google standings.

Remember, legal keyword phrases are among the most competitive on the Internet. In order to achieve a top position for your firm, basic SEO techniques must be followed. Though Google has recently lessened the value of certain incoming links, they still remain a key element in all SEO.

So how many incoming links does it take to rate well? Well, here are some of the incoming link counts for a few of our legal websites:

www.sandiegolawyerforyou.com - 3,074www.la-orange-county-lawyers-attorney-directory.com - 2,123www.san-francisco-oakland-bay-area-lawyers-attorneys-directory.com - 1,883http://www.california-attorneys-lawyers-dui-legal-advice-directory.us - 1,741www.san-jose-ca-lawyers-attorneys-directory.com - 1,266

Striving for a lot of good incoming links is what you need to go to get on page one of, say, the organic listings of Google, you must work for a lot of good incoming links. The best way to set up your linking program is through software designed to automate the entire process. Looking for suitable linking partners, communicating with them, constructing and maintaining your linking pages, and ensuring your linking partners do not remove your link, can all be done easily. If you’re interested in a linking software recommendation, just email me.

In addition, we have developed a reciprocal linking program for all our fifteen legal sites. Because of our high ranking, we have some basic guidelines for joining our free program. If all of this sounds promising to you, review our program’s details (http://www.sandiegolawyerforyou.com/partner-signup.htm ) and if you are eligible, join the program. If accepted, your firm will have fifteen high traffic and high ranking legal incoming links pointing to your site!

There are no simple solutions. However, your time will be well rewarded with higher ratings and traffic for your site, if you play by the rules. Your keyword phrase ranks directly translates into more targeted visitors. Such highly focused visitors have a high conversion into new clients.

Copyright 2007 Promotions Unlimited. All rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Schwartz runs 15 legal directory sites, a few of which are: Houston lawyers, Dallas lawyers, Riverside lawyers, Sacramento lawyers, Fresno lawyers Promotions Unlimited started out as a general search engine optimization firm but has morphed into a specialized search engine optimization service. Our attorney client’s results through our directories have proven to be far more cost effective compared to Yellow Pages advertising. What is surprising to us is the amount of skepticism still prevalent among legal practitioners about the effectiveness of the Internet to generate new business. Some times old habits die hard!

In July 2006 Bob's legal websites generated over 43,200 unique visitors.