“Did you know that in the past three months, more than 81,000 attorneys and consumers searched more than a million pages of the SBM Member Directory?” Lance asked as he walked into the conference room of L&L Law.
Linda looked up at her brother. “Really?" she said. “That is a lot of people. I did have one new client last week who said she found us in the directory.”
“I’m going to review our profile,” Lance said. “I want to make sure we are using all the features the directory has to offer.”
Back in his office, he pulled up the SBM Member Directory to research the available features. He found the expanded profile had the following:
Expanded & Searchable Profile
Create an expanded profile by adding professional photos, a biography, employment history, education, contact information, licensing information—particularly if you’re licensed in more than one state or country—and community activities such as board memberships or places you volunteer.
Include current links to your Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts to give clients another way to get in touch with you. If you speak more than one language, identify them. Your fluency in Spanish or French may bring in your next big client.
Define your practice areas for other lawyers, consumers, and referral sources. If you’ve added a new practice area, explain what it is, why you added it, and how it benefits your clients. For example, L&L Law added an attorney specializing in stockbroker fraud to help elder law clients concerned about their investments. They explained stockbroker misconduct and how the new service can benefit clients.
Consumer Conveniences
Links to an appointment scheduler 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
Connecting with like-minded lawyers or creating a new group has a twofold purpose. It allows attorneys to share ideas and meet possible referral sources.
Blog or Post Publications & Videos
You can add blog posts, articles you’ve written, or links to published items and videos from speaking events, interviews, or television ads.
Paid 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 listing box and a box for a small advertisement. For example, you might list your practice area as appeals. That designation and your contact information would fill the box on the left. Adding premium services allows you to include up to five practice advertisements in boxes on the right.
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 along with a record of when and where it was used. The SBM Member 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 three years.
The State Bar of Michigan 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. Get started here.
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.
Read More Clear & Convincing Articles
Using the New Enhanced Member Directory
How to Login and Edit Your Profile
Zeekbeek For Lawyers Page—learn about all the new directory features
How to Contact ZeekBeek Support