Niche law blogs aggregating content effective in countering information overload
Web publisher and Internet consultant, Andy Merrett suggests niche editorial is more important than ever to counter information overload.
We have access to unprecedented levels of information, but not all of it is useful, and the sheer volume leads to a complete overload of the senses.
What web users increasingly want are specialised sites that either create or aggregate quality content in one place……
Simply aggregating content is unlikely to cut it any more, but intelligent commentary and linking on niche sites will still draw an audience.
Consumers and business people, including your clients and prospective clients, are relying on, as Merrett describes it, a human touch from someone in the know to find the best information and resources.
These folks are not just looking for aggregation of content. Monkeys can do that. People looking for legal information can subscribe to LexisNexis.
Internet users are looking for insight and commentary from the man or woman on the street who is dealing with the relevant issues each day. You, as a seasoned, intelligent, and passionate lawyer practicing in a niche are that person on the street.
Don’t give me that ‘Woe is me, all the good niches are gone or are over saturated with good blogs.’ We’ve haven’t even scratched the surface on good law blogging. Wait 3 to 4 years when traditional publishing houses have collapsed and consumers are getting the majority of their information and news from blogs and the like.
Merrett concedes some niches are highly crowded. But he points out quantity often reigns over quality, leaving good bloggers an opportunity to carve out a niche for themselves.
If you have the passion and expertise in a niche subject, you can still build up an audience, if you continue to post authentic, compelling content. You don’t necessarily need all the bells and whistles that many people add these days, either, though a healthy social media presence isn’t a bad thing.
I started this blog 6 years ago aggregating everything I could find on using blogs as a means of enhancing one’s reputation as a trusted and reliable authority in their field of work. Rather than just quoting a source and telling lawyers and legal marketing professionals, via a link, to go read such and such, I provided my insight and commentary on the subject.
More importantly I explained why the information I was sharing was relevant to you as a practicing lawyer or legal marketing professional. I explained what you should take from the info and how you may want to take the information into account in your client development practices. Sometimes how to do something.
Sometimes a word of caution. But my focus always was to offer you value. Insight and commentary from an experienced lawyer who had some success in Internet marketing who was passionate about sharing what I knew to help other lawyers looking to achieve more in client development.
Lawyers with niche expertise and a passion for sharing what they know to help others can have the world by the tail via blogging. Clients, prospective clients, other lawyers, reporters, association leaders, and conference coordinators are looking for information and resources from knowledgeable sources.
You can reach all of them by sharing the information and resources you see and offering a little insight and commentary in the process.