Need an Online Presence? The SBM Has You Covered

Need an Online Presence? SBM Has You Covered

Your SBM Member Directory powered by Zeekbeek is much more than a legal directory. It is an online marketplace where lawyers can increase their visibility and consumers can find lawyers. The directory provides you with both free and paid-for products and services.

The Free Services

Enhanced and searchable profile. To create your enhanced profile, add professional photos, a biography, your employment history, education, contact information, licensing information—particularly if you’re licensed in more than one state or U.S. territory, committees you work on, links to your social media including Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, your blog, and Skype. And remember to indicate that you are accepting clients.

If you speak more than one language, identify which languages you speak. The fact you are fluent in Spanish or French may bring in your next big client. Define your practice areas for other lawyers, consumers, and referral sources. Add your activities in the community such as board positions you hold or places you volunteer.

Consumer conveniences. Consumers can quickly and easily see that you are available and ready to take their call. There are links on the site to an appointment scheduler that encourages clients to contact you to schedule an appointment or request a phone conference. If you authorize clients to write reviews, there is a form for them to use and submit for your consideration.

Join or create groups. Connect with like-minded lawyers or create a new group. Share ideas and meet possible referral sources.

Blog or post publications and videos. You can add your blog posts, articles you’ve written, or links to published items and videos from speaking events, interviews, or TV ads.

Badges. There are a number of new badges that you can add to your digital resources. There is a profile badge, a book-an-appointment badge, and text links that lead to your profile page. To access this new feature, log in to Zeekbeek, select “edit profile,” and scroll down the list of navigation options to select “Share Your Profile.” Copy and paste the code onto your webpage, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter pages to easily share your member directory profile and to make it easy for consumers to book an appointment with you. The badge library will continue to grow, so check back often for updates.

Paid-For Products & Services

Lawyer2Lawyer Referral Directory. With this service, you can advertise your niche practice area to fellow lawyers. The listings consist of two parts: a business card listing and a listing for a small advertisement. For example, you might list your practice area as appeals. That designation, along with your contact information, would fill the box on the left. Add the premium services and you can include up to five practice area advertisements in boxes on the right. Use the directory to search for lawyers who practice in a particular area or to advertise your specific niche skills to other attorneys. The directory is now fully launched in Michigan and is expanding to Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois in the next few months. Be a part of something big and join the new lawyer-to-lawyer referral network.

ZB Web Archiver. Michigan Rule of Professional Conduct 7.2(b) provides that an advertisement or communication shall be kept for two years after its last dissemination with a record of when and where it was used. Your SBM Directory makes this easy. Zeekbeek has designed ZB Web Archiver, a screen capture tool that automatically preserves the online content of your Zeekbeek profile and any external websites you select and archives the data electronically for least three years. The price is unbeatable! $5.99 per month will archive all of your Zeekbeek profile pages, and you can add in external website archiving for $5-$20 per month, based on the number of web pages you need to keep track of.

Profile Builder Plus. No time to create your profile? Zeekbeek will do it for you. The service includes a personalized walk-through of all Zeekbeek site features.

Profile Builder. Not sure how to get started? Zeekbeek staff can answer your questions.

Your State Bar and Zeekbeek have created a site you can use as your only online presence or as an addition to your website. Setting it up is quick and easy. Log in using your SBM username and password to get started.

Roberta Gubbins has served as the editor of the Ingham County Legal News. Since leaving the paper, she provides services as a ghostwriter editing articles, blogs, and e-blasts for lawyers and law firms. She is the editor of Briefs, the Ingham County Bar Association e-newsletter, and The Mentor, SBM Master Lawyers Section newsletter.