Online lawyer directories are now some of the most popular resources for those searching for legal representation. While there are many websites that feature attorney listings, Avvo.com is the largest of them and one of the most trusted, hosting more than 6 million visitors each month.

Law firms are increasingly turning to Avvo for a simple way to generate more business, as the platform enables them to post informative profiles, answer questions, and receive reviews and endorsements. Many lawyers, however, are still not taking advantage of this valuable tool, and that could be costing them a significant number of potential clients.

How Does Avvo Work?

Avvo currently lists about 97 percent of all U.S. lawyers on its platform. The site culls public information on attorneys licensed by state bars and automatically creates a profile for almost any lawyer not yet listed in its directory. An attorney can register for free on the website to claim their profile, which is then theirs to manage.

Avvo scores attorney profiles on a 10-point scale. The more complete the profile, the higher a rating it will receive, which in turn can improve where it ranks in the directory’s listings. There is a wide range of information a lawyer can include in their profile to help increase their score:

• Profile photo
• Biography
• Website video
• Client reviews
• Peer endorsements
• Awards and accolades
• Published works
• Memberships in professional associations
• CLE courses and certifications

How Will Avvo Help Me?

Arguably the biggest advantage of Avvo is free marketing. Even with minimal effort—just filling out basic profile information, for example—a lawyer can outrank numerous competitors who are not active on the site.

The website additionally provides attorneys with an enormous user base with which to interact. Many lawyers have used the platform to establish themselves as thought leaders by answering legal questions in forums or offering a free legal guide for download.

Avvo also features a couple of paid services for attorneys:

• Avvo Pro is a monthly subscription that includes a suite of tools designed to help lawyers maximize their prominence on the website. In addition to removing competitors’ ads on your profile, the service provides enhanced visibility and conversion tracking and allows you to create a personalized headline and spotlight your top reviews.
• Avvo Advertising promotes profiles through targeted sponsor listings and display ads. Advertising lawyers can receive up to 70 times more contacts than non-advertisers.

Stop Losing Clients to Competitors

The legal industry is more competitive than ever, requiring attorneys to continue increasing their visibility and availability online. At Client Chat Live, we help law firms turn website visitors into clients by providing live chat operators 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. To find out more, contact our team at (808) 495-0231 or send an email to intake@clientchatlive.com.