For legal representatives, Avvo is a useful platform and an interesting way to boost your online presence and become a more searchable person.
Even though advertising on a website isn’t always worth the price charged, still, it is a handy tool for increasing your popularity, especially if you combine it with other useful media sources.
What Is Avvo?
Avvo is a rich online directory for legal advice that satisfies the needs of both the general public and attorneys. Moreover, it offers general knowledge solutions and answers, as well as lawyer referrals.
Avvo covers all kinds of client reviews, disciplinary activities against an attorney, and peer attorney referrals.
How Long Has Avvo Been Around?
It was 2006 when Mark Britton, a former associate of the prominent Expedia lawsuit team, established this company. The catchy term “Avvo” means “lawyer” in Italian, and the idea for this brand arose quite unseemingly.
While Mark was vacationing in Italy, plenty of people asked him for attorney referrals while, thus, Avvo became an appropriate solution.
Through the years, the company has improved its services, and the climb for Avvo is only uphill.
What is Avvo’s Audience/Reach?
According to the site statistics, Avvo has ratings and listings for about 97% of all licensed attorneys across the US. The best part is that the results are valued by sites like Bing and Google, and if a potential customer searches for your brand or your name, your Avvo profile will be among those that will first pop up in the research and your clients will easily get a hold of you.
Avvo’s audience/reach is extensive because this site is highly listed on the internet, and customers who search for lawyer clients will easily find it through a Google search. Interestingly, Avvo is a portal to your private website, as well. You can take absolute control over your personal Avvo profile and check what you have been researching for earlier.
How Do You Use Avvo?
Avvo creates their attorney list straight from state bar associations. Before you get to fully saw the oats with Avvos, here are some things you need to do first:
- Create a résumé. You should do your best to get a “10/10 Superb” ranking on this platform, because a “Superb” Avvo ranking increases the value on paper, and it is an easy “reward” to add to your already well-written CV.
- Spruce up your personal website and print your legal materials. Avvo comes with badges that are available on the upper levels of rank. These badges will make your website more attractive, and you can also include them on a business card, leaflets, or other types of promotional materials.
- Boost your online presence. Avvo is a great searchable database, as we already pointed out. It means that using it, your Avvo profile has a solid chance to reserve a place on the top of the Google webpage. So, when a client searches for you, they will easily find you. Having an elegant and rich online appearance is an ideal tactic to gain credibility and keep your brand image engaging and good-looking.
How to Become a “Superb” Avvo Lawyer: The Rating System Explained
Avvo works uniquely, so here, unlike its rivals, you don’t need a nomination to enter the list. You will have an Avvo profile once you have passed the bar.
You need to understand precisely how can you get a roaring success and get the epithet of a “Superb” Avvo lawyer. If you see yourself as the next top-qualified lawyer on the Avvo list, learn how their rating system works:
Superb= 10–9.0
Excellent= 8.9–8.0
Good= 7.9–7.0
Fair= 6.9–6.0
Average= 5.9–5.0
Red Flag= ≤ 5.0
If your goals are to reward yourself with a higher rating than an 8.0, which is the lowest point rank from the “Excellent” level on the Avvo rating scale, you must do certain things. Here are the key aspects:
- Claim your profile. It is a vital initial step to show that your online brand is under your control. Doing it won’t take much time, and it’s advised you do it as fast as you can, having in mind that someone else can do that instead of you, as well.
- Finish your profile updates. The more you enrich your profile with a piece of adequate information, the bigger your chances of getting a higher ranking are. Never underestimate the power of the information you include in your profile.
All of your leadership positions (legally related and not), associations, awards, speaking engagements, and publications, can make a tremendous difference on your overall score.
- Secure attorney referrals. The highest number of attorney referrals you can get is 15, and the best thing is that each of them can boost your score. All reciprocating referrals don’t have the same value. Reciprocating referrals that you get from your family and friends are worth a little less, but they do have value.
What Will Not Impact Your Avvo Rating?
Except that you must be careful with every step you make, you should learn that there are a few things that will only waste your time because they can’t increase your score, at least on Avvo.
So, avoid buying advertising, giving the wisest answers to all questions on Avvo, and rejoicing on each client referral, as they won’t send you higher on the Avvo list. Cross-promoting and uploading legal guides on your website is also a waste of time because all of it won’t make your worth skyrocket, either.
Is Avvo Free?
Avvo comes with a free version and a paid version.
You can use this platform for free and enjoy all the benefits it offers. However, if you wish to have a pro account that ensures more traffic and better visibility on the Avvo search results, you need to pay a $49 fee. Choosing the best version for you is totally up to you.
You can also try buying advertising blocks, but before you start that, you must know that there is no proof that advertising blocks will increase the conversion more than the free or pro account.
Conclusion
If you have just entered the gates of your career, you probably believe that it is a brilliant idea to get your Avvo account as fast as you can.
But, instead of rushing with your decision to make your primary ad medium, think about offline and online campaigns, and paid search advertisements.
Avvo is a perfect solution that will increase your online branding significantly, and it gives better results when combined with the other popular ads options available online.
