Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy Blog

— by Victoria Ring

I first hooked up to the internet (bulletin board service) back in 1992. Back then there were no websites you could visit or photographs and visuals you could view. Instead, a BBS (bulletin board service) was similar to what we now refer to as chatting.

I was not impressed with the internet at this stage of its development. I also did not enjoy paying $100 for an internet service provider to come out to my home and install a modem on my computer which made a bunch of noise. So, I had the service discontinued and did not hook back up to the internet until it became visual (circa 1997.)

Back then, software was not as sophisticated as it is today. At that time, web programmers and designers used keywords in the META-tags to enable people to locate the website. Unfortunately, it did not take long for fraudulent minds to trick the META-tags into accessing web pages that had nothing to do with the search words. Naturally, this made it impossible for people to locate information on the internet, which made it impossible for the internet to grow and be utilized by the public.

One of the methods used by fraudulent people was to use common words in their META-tags, such as free, news, love, etc. When a person typed in a common word like these, they would be taken to the fraudulent website, find it had nothing to do with what they were searching for, click the [back] button and move to another site.

How was this beneficial to the fraudulent website owner? He or she could care less if the person viewed the information on their website or not. They simply wanted to get a recorded click so this would add to their unique visitor statistics. Then, the company would sell ad space (like banners) based upon the number of visitors they received.

I remember one company that sold banner space at the top of their web page for $2,500 per month. They also published their website statistics, which verified they received 1 million unique visitors per month to the website. Of course they never revealed how these visitors were obtained. Unfortunately, the only one who received benefit from this arrangement was the web site owner, not the advertiser.

Of course this is just one common example of how META-tags were used for fraudulent purposes in the past. And this is why the search engines had to develop advanced software programs to minimize the fraud and keep the internet a useful tool for society.  Unfortunately, there are still web design companies out there who still promote the concept of META-tags; but that is only old-school news, especially for major search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN.

SINCE 2009 MAJOR SEARCH ENGINES RARELY USE KEYWORDS FOR INDEXING

The new technology that major search engines use today is to scan the content of the web page and index the actual text, not just the keywords in the META-Tags.

For example, lets say that I used the following keywords in my META-tags: legal, bankruptcy, chapter 7, chapter 13, etc. However, the text appearing on my actual web page was a photo with a name of: photo101.jpg.  I also had an ENTER button; but nothing else was on the web page.

When the major search engines sent out its spidering software (an automated program that visits and categorizes web pages) the software would determine that the META-tags did not match the content of the web page itself. This causes the web page to be dropped and not indexed at all; resulting in poor or non-existent search engine optimization.

Of course this is just one example of the huge changes going on inside the internet today. Most people do not have the time or knowledge to follow the trends of the internet world. They are only interested in getting a web site on the internet and to be visited by visitors.

WEB TIPS FOR LAW FIRMS

The best advantage that law firms have in providing a web site on the internet is that they do not need to spend very much time marketing. For a law firm, their clients are only in their local area; they are not nationwide.  Therefore, attorneys can utilize their websites also as a time saving device.

With the proper web design and content, a web site can provide an attorney with:

- Time saved answering questions over and over again. Just send the client to the website to get their answers.

- Time saved in client intake interviews since clients can visit the website, download PDF forms to complete and bring to the office at the time of their appointment.

- Time saved in pre-qualifying clients. For example, if someone is unemployed and just filed a Chapter 7, they may be ineligible to file a Chapter 13. The interactive form on your website would allow visitors to send this information to you for evaluation instead of spending time making the appointment, filling out forms and meeting with the client; just to find out this has all been a waste of time for you as well as the client.

- Clients have the ability to virtually visit the law firm and view videos of the attorney and staff before deciding to make an appointment.  Videos sell services for law firms by developing trust and familiarity before hiring.

- Plus many more.

A SOLUTION FOR LAW FIRMS

Colorado Bankruptcy Training has recently added a unique web design service for attorneys. The major difference between this service and others is that after development of your web site, you will watch an online video that will teach you how to maintain your own website and save a great deal of money.

This is done so that you can login to your administration panel, add pages, update information and correct errors. There is no need to pay a designer to do this for you when the process is simple, quick and only takes seconds.

To find out more about this service which is available for as low as $375, visit: http://www.coloradobankruptcytraining.com/legal_webdesign.html

Many of you may remember the day when web designers charged thousands of dollars to design your website and submit it to search engines.  In fact, some companies still charge thousands of dollars and there are still people who pay it.  But after reading this article you will be much wiser.

When we set up a new business or law firm practice it is common procedure for us to develop the website also.  Besides, a website goes hand in hand with the initial development of any new business or law firm because it establishes an internet presence to project stability and trust for clients and customers.  However, for many people, just the thought of designing a web site is a daunting task.  Therefore, they delay in the website development and miss a very important opportunity in marketing and growing the business.

WORDPRESS FOR WEB PAGES

Many people are familiar with www.wordpress.com where you can go and start a free blog.  But most people are not aware of the www.wordpress.org website where you can download WordPress free and use it to build web pages.

And even less people know that because WordPress was originally designed to be a blogging software (not a web design software), search engine optimization is built right in.  This means that when your website is developed in WordPress software, your website immediately gets recognition in the search engines. Give it a try. Design a web page with WordPress; set up a Google alert and you will discover how fast (often within 24 hours) that your website is indexed and appears in Google.  And this is only the beginning; WordPress will literally transform your business once your website is set up properly and functions well.

ONE SOLUTION: WATCH THE VIDEO

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8355qaOKXC8

ANOTHER SOLUTION

http://www.coloradobankruptcytraining.com/free-ebook/wordpress

CONTACT

If you have any questions, call our web designer directly at 719-783-3797 or reply to myparalegalteam@gmail.com

I receive many phone calls and emails from attorneys who ask:

1.  Who can I get to design my web site?

2.  How can I market my website?

Most attorneys still believe they need to pay a web designer thousands of dollars to design their website or spend thousands of hours doing the job themselves.   This scenario naturally would have any attorney afraid to believe they can actually design and control their own website; so they relinquish control to other companies who claim to do the job for them; often resulting in very poor responses from potential clients.

But there is a solution to this dilemma.  Within the past year, WordPress (originally intended to be blogging software) has become a very popular software to build a web site.  And building a website in blogging software also enhances and greatly improves your search engine traffic, resulting in more awareness from your clients than the national law firm directory websites can normally offer.

DO BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEYS NEED TO MARKET THEIR WEBSITE?

If your law firm serves primarily consumers seeking to file Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy, you may be wasting advertising dollars if you think you can find clients by solely marketing your website.  Many attorneys have invested thousands of dollars into designing a website, hoping it will bring them a lot of business, only to be extremely disappointed.

Another disappointment is for attorneys who pay web designers to design overly corporate-looking websites with moving Flash elements, convinced by the web designer that this would be the best way to attract new clients.  But unless the web designer has experience working in Chapter 7 and 13 bankruptcy law, they know nothing about who your client is and what attracts them.  So, how can the web designer build you an effective website specifically for your audience?  They cannot.

HOW CAN ATTORNEYS ATTRACT CLIENTS?

First of all, attorneys need to identify with a very important fact they already know:  Attorneys do not need national advertising of their websites.  Instead, a law firm serves the local residents of the state; therefore, your potential clients exist all around you.  There are actually a billion ways for an attorney like you to attract clients in your state and local area; but this article will not focus on this broad issue.  Right now we need to focus on developing a bankruptcy law firm website and marketing it.

Secondly, potential clients do not need to visit a website filled with a lot of bells and whistles and moving animations.  All Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy clients need to know are:

1.  Where your office is located. 2.  Your contact information plus a photo to know who you are. 3.  A list of the documents they need to bring with them to your office. 4.  Some basic information about filing bankruptcy. 5.  How much you charge for filing their bankruptcy petition.

This means that a bankruptcy attorney seeking to find clients in their state or immediate area, normally only needs a five page (or less) website.  A five page website like the one detailed above should not take longer than three or four hours using WordPress.  In fact, if designing websites is not your thing, your daughter, son or other relative may be thrilled to design one for you and save you the time.

Don’t believe you can have a professional website designed in a few hours by a non-professional?  Watch this YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8355qaOKXC8

But before you get started, below are a few bankruptcy attorney websites you may want to research for ideas:

Cox Law Group, Lynchburg VA http://www.coxlawgroup.com/tutorials/index.html This law firm shows how effective video marketing is.  You can do the same; just sit in front of your computer with a web cam and start talking about your law firm.  Even a two or three minute video is sufficient and it will add a nice personal touch for your clients.  They will feel like they know you before they meet you.  This is an example of excellent PR and you have not spent a penny.

Don’t have time to produce videos right now?  No problem, the US Courts website has done the job for you.  In fact, some attorneys copy these videos onto DVD and use them to educate their clients while they are completing the Client Intake Forms.  Simply visit the link below and embed the video into your website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU5UDYBAFSQ See a sample of how these videos are used on the front page of this bankruptcy attorneys website: http://www.lloydcohen.com/

Joseph C McDaniel, Phoenix AZ http://www.josephmcdaniel.com/ This bankruptcy attorney has a very nice website designed for consumers.  The movement you see on the front page is the result of Flash programming, which can be expensive if you do not know how to do it for yourself.

Walter Metzen, Detroit MI http://www.detroitbankruptcylawyer.com/ This attorney has a simple looking website with only a few pages; however, if you scroll down to the bottom of the page there is a link for Law Info.  If you click on this link you are taken to the website of Law Info.  Search engines like this normally charge a very high price to design a website and host it for attorneys.  Many of them claim that by hosting on their server the attorney will get more traffic.  Again, an attorney only needs traffic from clients in the state they are licensed in, not the entire United States; which is what most internet marketers base their advertising on.

Carrie Sue Genisio, Kansas City KS http://www.lawinkc.com/serivcesBankruptcy.htm This is a very simple web page.  Notice the link titled:  Getting Ready for Your First Appointment.  Unfortunately the link to:  FORMS, does not work’ which is one reason it is important to always test your website so that you do not lose potential clients.

Marshall Cohen, Columbus OH http://www.columbusbankruptcylaw.com/ This is a website filled with content directed toward the client.  Notice how the attorney never mentions fees on the internet.  Instead, he asks clients to come in so that he can assess their situation.  All attorneys need a low fee and a high fee, depending on the complexity of the bankruptcy case.

Find More Bankruptcy Related Websites: http://chapter7and13bankruptcyblog.com/business-directory Click on the DEBTOR BANKRUPTCY ATTORNEY category

MORE TOOLS TO HELP YOU

New Video:  A preview of How to Design Your Website with WordPress http://chapter7and13bankruptcyblog.com/archives/411 For only $35, you can watch this 1 hour and 16 minute training video online.  Buy it for your spouse, son, daughter, relative for yourself to design you own web site quickly and easily at NO COST.

Free and Low Cost Marketing Links for Attorneys http://www.bankruptcylinks.info/about/marketing-links

Other Free Bankruptcy Training Videos: http://www.youtube.com/user/MsVictoriaRing

If the video does not automatically appear in the area above, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8355qaOKXC8

This training course is designed to teach total BEGINNERS how to develop their own website at NO COST. We use WordPress software and the instructor will walk you through the various settings within WordPress so you can design your own law firm or company website within a few hours after viewing this online video, produced and directed by Victoria Ring.

To view the entire 1 hour and 16 minute video, register at: http://www.bankruptcytrainingproducts.com/home/web-and-teleconference-training/web-site-design-course

DO YOU ENJOY MY VIDEOS?

If you enjoy my short videos specifically designed for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MsVictoriaRing Click on SUBSCRIBE at the top of page

Course Number: 06262001 Duration: 2 hours Price Per Student: $35.00 Format: Instructor Led Online Classes CLICK HERE to Register

This 2 hour training course is designed to teach you how to develop your own bankruptcy related website at NO COST. We will use WordPress software and I will walk you through the various settings within WordPress so you can design your own company website within a few hours after attending this one class – guaranteed.

TOPICS COVERED:

Installing WordPress (free) Installing a theme (free) Making your own customized WordPress theme (Artisteer software costs $49) Customizing widgets and sidebars Installing plugins and activating them (free) Other tricks and techniques for personalizing your website

This is an INTERACTIVE web training seminar. This means that you are encouraged to develop your website right along with the class so that you can ask questions and get on-the-spot answers.

I look forward to helping you reduce your web design costs to zero and put the power in your hands so you can better control your legal business website.

CERTIFICATE ISSUED

After you attend this training course you will be issued a Certificate of Introduction to WordPress Web Design, personalized with your name. Print on your color printer and frame for your office. For low cost frames, we recommend purchasing from Office Max or Staples for $5.00 or less.

http://www.bankruptcytrainingproducts.com/home/web-and-teleconference-training/web-site-design-course

This is the perfect tool for bankruptcy attorneys to use in developing their own website.  There is no cost or overhead expenses and you control the look, feel and the content.

If the video does not automatically appear in the area above, click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkAy4UC9ANI

DO YOU LIKE MY VIDEOS?

If you enjoy my short videos specifically designed for Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy attorneys, you can subscribe to my YouTube channel at: http://www.youtube.com/user/MsVictoriaRing Click on SUBSCRIBE at top of page