Does Google Ads New Clickbait Policy Affect My Law Firm?

Google has rolled out yet another update to their Google Ads policies – a way to protect consumers from click-bait tactics often used by marketers that pressure consumers to take immediate action.

In their newest update, they are cracking down on advertisers who run “ads that use clickbait tactics or sensationalist text or imagery to drive traffic” and “as that use negative life events such as death, accidents, illness, arrests, or bankruptcy to induce fear, guilt, or other strong negative emotions to pressure the viewer to take immediate action.”

While this may seem to target specific advertisers (ahem, legal), this does not in any way aim to single out any one type of advertiser, but more so, is an extension of their current non-exhaustive policies to protect consumers from questionable marketing tactics.

Still, this has a lot of our legal clients (and others) questioning, “how does this affect me”?

In general, if you are using an agency partner to manage your Google Ads, you should be in great hands. Your agency will have the expertise and knowledge to know where the line stands with Google and will ensure that your ads are compliant.

This is especially true of agencies who hold Google Premier Partnership status (like Consultwebs), as ad compliance is also a requirement to be in good standing for partnership status.

In the case that ads are disapproved, your agency will work with Google’s technical teams to either fix the ads or re-submit for review if they truly are not in violation. This can happen with Google’s sometimes ambiguous rules that are often subject to more than one interpretation.

If you are running ads on your own or you just have questions about this new policy that are keeping you up at night, read on.

We’ve reached out to our friends at Google to see if they could help address some of the more common questions. Here’s what we know.

As a Law Firm, should I be concerned, and how can I prepare for the changes?

There is no need to be overly concerned. If your ads haven’t been in violation to date, then you are likely ok to proceed with the ads you have been using.

The important thing to note is that these are extensions of pre-existing policies that are now more specifically outlined.

The new policies do outline examples of what types of content will be in violation. Of which, you can see in detail here.

Essentially, you just need to avoid showing images of real-life negative events to induce fear/guilt and avoid using phrases that scares a user into taking immediate action or that are sensationalized such as “click here to find out”, or “you won’t believe what happened.”

How will I know if I am in violation of policies? 

If you are managing your own ads accounts, you will be notified through the Policy Manager in your account. All Google Ads policy violations can be appealed.

How do I appeal violations?

If you have reviewed the policy violation and disagree that your ads are in violation, here are the steps to appeal. Again, if you are running ads through an agency partner, this is already handled by them.

Here are the steps to appeal:

1. Go to the “Ads and extensions” page and find the ad or extension you want to fix
2. Hover over the ad or extension and click Edit.
3. Edit the ad or extension so that it complies with the policy.
4. Click Save. Your ad will be automatically reviewed again. Check the ad’s status in the “Ads and extensions” page for updates.

Here is how to check the appeal status:

1. 1. Click the tool icon in the upper right corner of your account.
   2. Under “Setup,” click Policy Manager.
   3. On the “Appeal history” tab, you’ll find details for all ads you’ve appealed.The “Status” column shows whether the appeal is still in progress or complete. The “Results” column shows the results of the appeal, including how many ads had their policy approval status updated after the review.

 

Is my Ads Account at risk of suspension?

If your account continues to violate policies, there is always a possibility that accounts can become suspended. This is true of any of Google Ads’ policies and is not specific to just this new update. For more information on when and why Google suspends accounts, check out this policy resource.

Does this new policy affect just my Google Search Ads?

The policy states ‘it covers advertisements which use sensationalist or clickbait text or imagery which intend to drive traffic’, therefore we can assume that it is across all Google channels; search, display and video.

How will information be “flagged”; human checks or AI checks?

Unfortunately, this information is unknown or not able to be shared. It could be checked by either or. No matter how it is checked, the most important thing is to be mindful of the content and language you are using, to check your ad compliance regularly and to fix any ads that may be in violation of Google’s policies or to appeal ones that may incorrectly be marked as in violation.

And there you have it. The new policy explained in as much detail as is available. Google does not provide any more specifics than what is typically addressed on their policies as to avoid giving one agency advantage over another.

Ultimately, this is where marketers and ad agencies use their best judgment based on their interpretation of the policy as it is outlined. What has worked in the past will likely continue to work and that’s where the focus should be.

Happy Ads managing!

Want more advice on law firm marketing? Sign up for the Consultwebs newsletter, follow us on social media, and subscribe to the LAWsome Podcast.

Sources: 

 

July Policy Update: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/9773289?hl=en

All Ads Policies: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/topic/1626336?hl=en&ref_topic=2996750,1308156, 

Misrepresentation Ad policy: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/6020955?hl=en&ref_topic=1626336

Personalized Advertising Policy: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/143465?hl=en&ref_topic=1626336

Inappropriate Content Policy: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/6015406?hl=en&ref_topic=1626336

Google Ads Suspension Policy: https://support.google.com/adspolicy/answer/2375414?hl=en

 

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Content Marketing for Family Law Firms

When it comes to successful business development for law firms, the area of practice and legal expertise has a lot to do with efficacy. We feel that, due to the nature of the relationships between the client base and lawyers, content marketing for family law firms is a sensible, strategic choice for developing business. Let’s dig in!

Different Practice Areas, Different Marketing Strategy

As outlined in our Legal Marketing Nutrition Guide, we believe effective marketing covers a spectrum of activity that both grows a law firm’s brand, and activates sales.

The balance of these two factors is strategically determined by the law firm’s business goals and current circumstances, but the tactics that execute the plan, are more defined by the practice area, client-type, and caseload.

Mass tort and class action lawyers work off volume, so the marketing strategy focuses  advertising initiatives that broadly increase awareness of specific actions.

Other practice areas like personal injury, or criminal defense, where having repeat business from clients isn’t exactly desired, strategies focus on branded campaigns that keep their services top of mind within the marketplace.

While every law firm, regardless of speciality, will require a general marketing mix of brand and sales to be successful in the long run, family law firms that focus on content marketing, may have a unique opportunity to leverage the relationships inherent in their area of practice.

Content Marketing; What is That Again?

Content marketing is something outside your service, that provides consistent value to a specific, potentially monetizable, audience.

What does, “value outside your service” mean?

This does not mean that content is unattached from the purpose of your law firm or the law, but it does mean that whatever you choose to make, has to have inherent value and be worth the time of your audience.

This feels simple, but content marketing has become so complexified that most marketers and business owners just throw a wad of cash at the idea, do something for two weeks, and then move on. Another example of Checklist Marketing.

Here are specific examples of content marketing initiatives; a valuable newsletter, book, podcast, or video series. Got it? Good.

A newsletter about torts, a podcast about how to divide an estate and assets, a video series about deposition tactics? Maybe for your in-house marketing, but not for content marketing.

Content marketing is about value and relationships, and that is exactly why it’s a perfect fit for family law firms.

Content Marketing and “The Funnel”

All of your activities within a marketplace, content, ads, and campaigns, go into influencing a potential client’s Awareness of your firm and your specialty, Consideration of your services as solutions to their problems, and then the Decision to actually pick up the phone and call you.

It’s very important to remember that certain marketing activities, yield certain results and responses, and are better suited for specific parts of the purchase funnel, to achieve specific goals.

Marketing content that pushes people to make choices and take advantage of opportunities NOW, should be relegated to the smaller Decision parts of the funnel where intent is higher. Direct response from marketing activities at the Decision part of the purchase funnel is the goal.

Marketing content that familiarizes a potential clientbase with your brand and it’s purpose needs to be far-reaching and able to fill up the Awareness portion of the funnel, where no one knows your law firm from Adam. Direct response from marketing activities existing at the Awareness part of the funnel, is not the goal.

And right in the middle of the Awareness and Decision, is the Consideration part of the marketing funnel – and this is where relationship-building content marketing initiatives, like podcasts or rich-content newsletters, can be so effective, particularly for family law.

Direct responses to content at the Decision part of the funnel, like podcasts or newsletters, can include subscription, engagement, and other metrics which can widen the way you measure your impact and forecast where leads may come from.

Content Marketing for Family Law Firms

We’ve featured several successful law firms that have used content marketing to their advantage, to establish relationships, keep their brand awareness, and to generate leads, on our LAWsome podcast.

In her interview, family lawyer and award-winning entrepreneur Erin Levine, talked about her alternative legal service, Hello Divorce, and how understanding her audience and leaning into the relationships through tech and content, helped her succeed. LISTEN -> https://www.thelawsomepodcast.com/podcast/ep-57-legal-marketing-in-splitsville/

IP lawyer Autumn Witt Boyd discusses the power of content marketing in her firm, and how she’s using podcasts to reach her target audience and create a relationship with them before they need her services – https://www.thelawsomepodcast.com/podcast/ep-60-content-marketing-for-law-firms/

Whether it’s a newsletter or a podcast or a video series, content marketing that establishes a relationship between you and an intended audience, can work across the entire marketing funnel, helping to drive awareness of your services, create a point of consideration by offering value, and potentially tipping the scale on a decision to retain your counsel.

Should You Launch a Podcast For Your Family Law Firm?

Look, we make podcasts. Award-winning ones that have actually achieved business goals. And it is tough work. If you are interested, we’ve written extensively about the process, here. But we believe the client/lawyer relationship and dynamic within a family law firm is a perfect setting for a podcast.

Your family law podcast is an experience that potential clients can subscribe to, that continually reminds them of your value, and can be introduced into their lives again & again. No webinar does this, no ad campaign does this.

However, the positive effects from content marketing, only happen with a consistent schedule and dependable production behind your podcast.

Most marketing strategies are haphazard, intermittent, and text-based: a blog post here, a newsletter there. A branded podcast with Consultwebs commits your marketing to a schedule, regularly promotes your firm, and gives an actual voice to your brand.

Want to Learn More About Podcasting For Lawyers?

Contact Consultwebs today to discuss how we can help your firm take advantage of the opportunities podcasting presents for law firms. We would be glad to provide you with a free consultation and help you to understand the options available to you.

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Digital Marketing for Law Firms: More Vendors, More Problems

When searching for vendors to handle your law firm’s digital marketing, it is smart to interview multiple companies. After all, you’ll want to look through their web design portfolio, talk about search engine optimization (SEO) strategies, discuss their track record for return on investment, and ask for references from other clients.

While shopping around, it can be tempting to piece together different services from different vendors. Whether you are piecemealing to save money or because you liked different parts of different vendors’ proposals, beware: This fragmented approach will cause costly cracks in your online marketing campaign.

Even when vendors pledge to work together, even when they have a good relationship, even when they have the best intentions for your campaign, the disconnect will inevitably show. And your bottom line will suffer.

Understanding the Interconnections Between Design, Development & SEO

Web design and SEO are often thought of as separate services, but to be effective, they should be considered a package deal. For law firms, the intent of a website is to bring in clients, so that should be the intent of the design. A beautiful website that doesn’t attract visitors and convert is a waste of money.

Designers should be closely consulting with SEO teams on user experience (UX), functionality, site structure, and paths to conversion. As a design moves into code, developers should also be working the SEO team to address factors that will affect the site’s rankings and conversions.

Common problems that pop up when SEO is not considered during the design and development phase include:

• Poor mobile usability
• Missing functionality
• Minimal focus on conversion
• Lack of site structure optimization
• Poor site speed
• Problems with image sizes
• Improper usage of header tags
• Incomplete NAP (name, address, phone) references
• Too small font sizes (yep, that can cause a ding to your SEO!)

These are all problems that may not be immediately noticeable by looking at a beautifully designed homepage, but they can leave your new site dead in the water when it comes to bringing in business.

More Vendors, Less Efficiency & Ultimately Money Wasted 

When an SEO team from one vendor works on a site that was designed by another vendor without optimization in mind, the team has to go back and play catch-up. They must fix site structures, create workarounds for problematic coding, and address problems of missing functionality. In some cases, this can mean additional money for recoding. In every case, it is work that could have been done before the site launched to ensure success out the gate.

In addition, if a problem arises with a site, your entire online marketing campaign can come to a screeching halt as you try to get to the bottom of what happened. (For example, changes from a design vendor can severely impact your SEO.) Once you identify a problem, you may see delays as the appropriate fixes are implemented by each vendor and intertwined issues are hashed out by representatives from different companies.

Save Time and Make Money with Consultwebs

At Consultwebs, our experienced web designers and developers work hand-in-hand with our search engine optimization experts to ensure your site is set up for success. You don’t have to worry about wasted time, duplicated efforts, or miscommunication. And as you are ready to expand, our creative social media team and paid advertising experts can step in to take your campaign to the next level.

This fully integrated approach has made us a leader in law firm web marketing for 20 years. Contact us today to discuss how we can start getting you more clients from the web.

 

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How Lawyers Will Be Essential to COVID-19 Recovery

During the pandemic, “essential worker” has become a household term. Healthcare professionals, grocery store workers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, and many others have played a crucial role in keeping the country moving forward even as the majority of people were ordered to stay at home.

In some states, lawyers have been deemed essential workers, even as many law firms have shifted to offering virtual consultations with clients and work-from-home set-ups for staff. As the U.S. slowly reopens, though, one thing is for sure: Lawyers will be essential for ensuring people’s rights are protected as the country emerges from this unprecedented crisis.

As legal marketing experts, we at Consultwebs expect to see a flood of people searching for terms related to budding COVID-19 cases. Here’s what has been emerging so far:

Workers’ Compensation and COVID-19

Whether a person has been going to work through this pandemic or is just starting back to work, the fear of getting COVID-19 from workplace exposure is high. Workers want to know their rights and what benefits they may be entitled to if they get sick through occupational exposure.

Employment/Labor Law and COVID-19

Although workers are supposed to have protections under the new Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) and the Family & Medical Leave Act (FMLA), some may run into challenges and need help understanding their rights. In addition, workers who feel their employers have not taken appropriate health and safety precautions, and those who face retaliation for speaking up, will need experienced advocates. With the potential for a flood of COVID-19 lawsuits, some lawmakers and employers are already pushing for federal liability protections, a move that many argue could make conditions less safe for workers.

Medical Malpractice and COVID-19

Healthcare workers across the country are rightfully being hailed as heroes during this stressful time. However, there will still be situations where mistakes are made, and patients will suffer due to medical negligence. Although some protections have been enacted to shield healthcare workers from liability at the federal and state level, patients will be counting on medical malpractice lawyers to help them understand their rights and fight for fair compensation.

Nursing Home Negligence and COVID-19

Due to their vulnerable populations, nursing homes were inevitably going to face tough challenges in protecting the people in their care. However, facilities that failed to take proper precautions and allowed outbreaks to spread uncontrollably will be held accountable. Expect families to turn to nursing home abuse and neglect lawyers for help demanding answers and justice.

Wrongful Death and COVID-19

Walmart, Carnival Corp., JBS USA (a major meat processing company), and nursing homes in Oregon and Texas are already facing wrongful death claims over COVID-19 fatalities. As families of workers and consumers who died start seeing news of these wrongful death cases, they will be reaching out to lawyers to get a better understanding of their own legal rights.

Car Accidents and Other Personal Injury Claims During COVID-19

Many news outlets have reported a decline in the rate of crashes as people chose to stay at home as much as possible during the pandemic. However, law enforcement has also noted an increase in speeding-related crashes, as reckless drivers test their limits on near-empty roads.

In addition, healthcare professionals have reported seeing less of the typical injury patients, perhaps because people are afraid to seek help due to coronavirus exposure. Non-COVID-19 patients are also being prioritized differently. As one report indicated: “Some of the standards of practice are changing right now, so even for injuries that might otherwise be a simple fix, they might now result in lifelong effects.” This could have a serious impact on victims of car accidents, slip and falls, and other accidents in terms of exacerbating losses suffered.

Bankruptcy and COVID-19

Across the United States, businesses and consumers are struggling to find solutions to the crushing financial pressures caused by COVID-19. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) included provisions to provide some assistance to businesses and consumers who need to seek bankruptcy protections. Bankruptcy law firms are expected to see a surge in business as those who have been hardest hit financially seek to understand the best path forward.

Consumer Rights During COVID-19

It’s hard to believe that companies would try to take advantage of consumers during such a challenging time. But it’s bound to happen. Consumers will be faced with products touted as cures and preventive measures against the virus. Others will find the companies they have frequently purchased from, such as event ticket vendors and airlines, now refuse to give refunds, only credits. Across the country, states are being vigilant about squashing price gouging. Consumers who have been taken advantage of during this time will need legal guidance on how they can demand justice.

Premises Liability and COVID-19

Headlines have focused on the sickening and shocking conditions on cruise ships, where the virus has spread like wildfire and people are unsure of what legal actions they can take. As we move forward with reopening, people may find themselves to be victims of large outbreaks tied to specific businesses such as restaurants, bars, hotels, and gyms that failed to take proper precautions to protect visitors on their property.

Divorce, Child Custody, and Domestic Violence During COVID-19

Anyone who has been quarantining with a family knows what a pressure cooker this can be at times. Unfortunately, many family lawyers are predicting that cracks in marriages will turn into breaks, with both sides requiring legal help through divorce and child custody. In the worst situations, family lawyers may need to step in to help survivors of domestic violence understand their options for protecting themselves.

Business Interruption Insurance and COVID-19

Restaurants, bars, retail stores, and other businesses that were forced to shut down due to COVID-19 should be reviewing their insurance policies at this point to determine what their coverage includes. The smartest course of action will be to work with an attorney who knows how to interpret these policies and can take on insurance companies that are reluctant to make fair payouts.

Know Which COVID-19 Cases Your Firm Wants?

At Consultwebs, we get lawyers more cases from the web. In a time like this, we are seeing so many opportunities for savvy firms to take action, and we would love to help your firm bring in the cases that will shape the legal profession’s impact on this pandemic recovery.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation with a legal marketing expert.

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COVID-19: Ad Credits and Cash Grants From Facebook

Many companies are taking steps to help out business in response to the COVID-19 pandemic – recently we covered the Google Ad credits – and now Facebook is stepping up as well.

According to this post from Facebook:

“We know that your business may be experiencing disruptions resulting from the global outbreak of COVID-19. We’ve heard that a little financial support can go a long way, so we are offering $100M in cash grants and ad credits to help during this challenging time.”

Is Facebook going to make those options available to law firms? We have been asked this with increasing frequency as of late, and fortunately two of our team members, Kenneth Harris and Matt Smyers, have created this video to give you the latest information on how this program may may affect your law firm’s digital advertising and cash-on-hand.

 

Matt: Good afternoon, everyone. This is Matt Smyers with Consultwebs. And I’m joined today by Ken Harris, he is our digital advertising director and we are going to be talking today about Facebook advertising and what Facebook has to offer in terms of free advertising, advertising credits in light of the COVID-19 crisis.

We’ve talked to you already about Google’s offerings, a lot of people have been asking questions about that, but some people may not be aware that Facebook is also rolling out a similar program that law firms are going to be able to hopefully take advantage of. So, Ken, tell us what you know so far about what Facebook is offering.

Ken: Sure thing. It’s not only ad credits but it’s also cash grants for small businesses. You can find all the information about what Facebook is offering on their website. We can post the link to that along with the video when we post it up on social media.

But essentially, what they’re offering is ad credits and cash grants for businesses who qualify. And there’s a list of criteria there. You have to be a for-profit company, have between 2 and 50 employees, you have to have been in business for over a year, have experienced challenges from COVID-19, and be in or near a location where Facebook operates.

And that last one’s really the caveat because there’s a pretty finite list in the United States in particular where Facebook has operating offices.

Matt: So, when you say it’s going to be advertising or a cash grant, so do we know at this point, I mean, are they offering it as just credit towards advertising or do we have any further detail on the financials of it?

Ken: What I know, and I’ve spoken directly with my contact at Facebook about this, is that it could be cash grant to keep the lights on and/or advertising credits. So, businesses who qualify could qualify for both.

Matt: Okay. Do we know…do you have to be a current or existing Facebook advertiser in order to qualify?

Ken: I don’t think so. That wasn’t in the list of criteria.

Matt: Do we have any idea, if it is an advertising credit, is it going to be limited to a particular type of advertising on Facebook or is it going to be, you know, can you apply that across the board?

Ken: Should be wide open as long as it’s promoting your small business.

Matt: Okay. So, you know, obviously, we’re talking about this from Consultwebs in the context of law firms and law firm marketing and, you know, can we assume that law firms will qualify for this?

Ken: I would assume as long as they meet the criteria listed that they are 100% eligible.

Matt: Anything else that comes to mind that we want to share with our clients that are in law firms around the country as it pertains to this or Facebook advertising in general during this crisis?

Ken: I think what you want to keep in mind with this is that the details are still not solidified. What Facebook knows for sure they’re posting on their website and you can sign up to receive updates via email on that page. You can also check the list of locations where qualifying businesses would be. And, in general, what you should be doing on social media during this crisis is if you’re operating, remind people that you’re operating.

A lot of law firms are reminding people, “Hey, we’re working remotely. We can still serve you from a contactless point of view.” You don’t have to expose yourself to this virus in order to get legal help.

Matt: Fantastic. Great advice. So, that’s what we know at this point, folks, in regards to the Facebook advertising credits that are going to be offered. Ken and his team is in constant communication with our representatives from Facebook. As soon as we know more, we’ll be sure to let everyone know. We’ll, obviously, be in communication with our clients. But beyond that, we’ll continue to post information on our website through our blog.

We’ll also be pushing out updates on both the Facebook and the Google advertising credits through our newsletter. So, subscribe to the newsletter and we’ll continue to push out information as we get it. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us directly. 

In the meantime, stay safe and thanks so much for joining us.

If you want to get the latest updates on Facebook Ad Credits and cash grants as well as other important legal marketing news, sign up for our newsletter and we will be sure to keep you informed and up-to-date with the information you need to keep your law firm marketing effective:

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How Law Firms Are Marketing During COVID

As the story of COVID continues to unfold, and certainties and social behaviors fluctuate, law firm marketers are faced with many challenges, one of which is striking the right tone with their marketing, advertising, messaging and PR.

There are, in fact, several ways law firms can market their practices in ways that positively impact the community and serve as a reminder of the firm in a tumultuous time.

In this article, we feature real-life examples of law firms focusing their legal marketing during COVID on three themes, all related to Community; In The Real World, Online Connections, and Content Marketing.

In The Real World

While the circumstances we face seem unprecedented and new, we believe successful legal marketers are focusing on connecting with their communities.

Hermann & Hermann, a Corpus Christi PI law firm, has been giving away masks and safety kits to their community, since March, and the turn-out and results have been truly inspiring. Yes, that’s the head partner in gloves and a bandana; talk about walking the walk!

Cesar Ornelas, another personal injury lawyer based in New Mexico, is doing something similar with mask giveaways in his community, with the same positive response.

Mask giveaways aren’t just for the lay folk. Edelson PC in Chicago and Saxena White PA in Boca Raton, Florida, teamed up to send almost 6,000 masks and other pieces of Personal Protective Equipment to the Wayne County Sheriff’s Dept. in Michigan,

Briding the gap between offline and online, the Law Offices of Michael Gopin and their “Pay It Forward” campaign, highlights local businesses and individuals in their community.

With a mix of digital, offline, and TV, this law firm is bringing attention to itself for all the right reasons.

Online Connections

Another law firm that is supporting their community local businesses while getting their name out there on social media, is Joye Law Firm, out of South Carolina.

Since the first restaurant gift card giveaway was so successful, they’ve been running giveaways almost weekly to support local restaurants, and the response could not be more positive. A big win-win for everyone involved, plus, it’s marketing you can feel good about.

Donate Ad Space & Unblock COVID Keywords

One of the many negative side-effects of COVID, is that as searches and traffic on coronavirus-related topics are rising, digital advertisers are pulling back their spends and blocking COVID keywords, which has dealt a massive blow to revenue-strapped local news outlets.

Law firm marketers that have digital advertising campaigns running and are targeting keywords, should make sure they are unblocking all COVID keywords. The ad space is cheap, and you’ll be supporting local media outlets, which in turn support your clients and community with trusted content.

With food insecurity becoming a rising issue from COVID, another positive idea for digital marketers wanting to make an impact in their communities, is to donate your display ad space to a local food bank.

Luckie, an ad agency working in the southwest US, partnered with Regions bank to create this “Bank 2 Bank” campaign, where they donated all of their digital ad space to raise money for local food banks. Talk about a win-win, and a chance to do something inspiring with marketing!

Content Marketing

Advertising is good, giveaways are great, but during these chaotic times, there is a desire in the marketplace for content that is purely entertaining, something to escape into.

The St. Louis-based PI firm of Brown & Crouppen are Emmy-award winning masters at content, and their flagship series, Ed Versus, (which feature one of the partners, Ed Herman, comedically discussing mundane things like naps, airplane etiquette, cereal,) recently took COVID on in the hilarious, Ed vs Quarantine video.

We interviewed Ed on the LAWsome podcast about legal marketing and connecting with the audience, and why the law firm decided to pursue these “not-about-the-law” videos…

Another thing Brown & Crouppen have been doing is remote drops for their local TV station, plugging food banks and other local businesses that deserve highlighting, and the law firm’s social media has been chock-a-block full of legal advice and helpful videos.

Podcasts have been seeing a resurgence since COVID hit, because everyone now has time and needs a reason to escape into their closets for some “peace and quiet.” Along with new ventures from legal media companies and solos, we counted 5 new podcasts popping up on the legal landscape as of the last week of April.

As these podcasts heap themselves onto the millions-deep pile of choices for audio entertainment, one has to wonder at the odds being ever in anyone’s favor, the more people play the hunger games of attention with content.

Before you hide in your closet and record your law firm’s first podcast, read about our Podcast Production services here.

Want more advice on law firm marketing? Sign up for the Consultwebs newsletter, follow us on social media, and subscribe to the LAWsome Podcast.

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Changes Amidst COVID-19 to Google My Business Law Firms Should Know About

Over the past 4 weeks, we have seen pretty consistent changes and issues with Google My Business. Some of the features that stopped are now coming back, while other issues still persist. Let’s go through each feature and what is happening currently with them.

Google Reviews, QA, and more

New reviews were blocked a few weeks ago. They have begun to function again and people are seeing them beginning to appear on listings now. Google has updated their page to state the following:

Review replies are now available. New user reviews, new user photos, new short names, and Q&A will gradually return by country and business category.

So while we have seen reviews start-up in some business categories they have not returned to all of them within the United States but should be fully functional again soon.

This as you can see in the Google statement also applies to user photos, profile short names, and Q&A features. So if you have not seen any action on these or have had issues adding to or editing any of these areas do not worry it is to be expected currently.

Google My Business Profile Edits

At this time we recommend you do not try to do any updates or changes to your listing. We are seeing edits sit pending for weeks on end right now. Google has prioritized reviews of edits for health-related businesses currently.

They say they will also prioritize reviews for open and closed states, special hours, temporary closures, business descriptions, and business attributes edits for other verified businesses but these are some of the areas we are seeing things sit pending review for longer periods of time.

Google Posts

These were disabled for some businesses for a short period but now seem to be working again. If you have edits you wanted to apply via your profile but they are sitting in pending review as mentioned above we recommend you leverage a Google Post to publish that information out to your profile.

They have also created a new post type. COVID-19 update posts they state will be featured more prominently within your business profile. So you might try these for changes to your hours or contact details. These are staying up on the profile for 14 days currently.

New listings, claiming, and verification

If you are setting up a new listing, trying to claim one or verify a listing you should expect delays. Like many other areas, Google is prioritizing this for health-related businesses at this time. If you do not have access to a GMB profile to do hours and other updates we highly recommend you get these added prominently to your law firm website.

Hours of operation

If you are open in some capacity we recommend you input your special hours if you have access to your profile. This will remove the little alert showing up saying hours may vary due to COVID-19.

Google My Business COVID-19 Guidance

You can find updates and resources and other guidance from Google on this page

https://support.google.com/business/answer/9773423

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