Google rules on local search for lawyers
The days when the majority of people went to the yellow pages and then over the past 6 or 7 years, Martindale's lawyers.com or Thomson's FindLaw are numbered. Google, like it dominates on other Internet search, will rule on local searches for lawyers.
Do a Google search for Austin divorce lawyer. Google provides names and a map with a listing of organic search results below it. The Lawyers.com and FindLaw directories are no where to be found.
Like Scoble, who was impressed with his Palo Alto Notary search, says "Google is so far ahead of the others it isn’t even funny."
As Google delivers better and better results, the number of people using Google is only going to increase. And do we really think my kids, who use Google to find everything (taught this in school), are going to look in the Yellow pages or lawyers.com when looking for a lawyer?
and, of course, the "hidden" problem with the mega lawyer directory websites (besides the fact that consumers don't even know they exist) is that it's another 3-5 mouse clicks to get to your site..with google, one click...
Which do you think consumers will go for? 1 - click or 5?
I agree with you.. Lawyers must learn to be effective in Google..(but it's a lot easier to just hand a big check over to the YP rep or the mega law firm directory "vulture.")
I'm guessing that at some point, "looking it up in the yellow pages" will be slang for doing things the old fashioned way.