How I Built a Seven-Figure Law Firm with My Partners, Google and the Internet

Four years ago, people said I was crazy for trying to build a law firm built exclusively on clients derived from the Internet but with a little brainpower, and some help from my friends the Internet and Google, that’s exactly what I made happen.

Traverselegal.com just happens to be located in Traverse City, Michigan.  Traverse City Michigan just happens to be paradise.  Eighty percent of our clients are outside the state of Michigan and fifty percent of those are outside the United States.  By and large, our clients find us from typing search terms into Google such as:

• cybersquatting domain trademark
• "stolen domain names"
• domain dispute lawyers
• domain arbitration attorneys
• trademark infringement lawyers
• law firms "value billing"

What I don’t know is how many other law firms have successfully built business models on top of Google.  Are you aware of any law firms that are doing significant business off the Internet?  Let me know. 

Comments

[Scott Wolfe]

Hey Enrico - Congratulations on the success with Traverse Legal. I wanted to chime in b/c you asked if any of your readers are aware of any similar businesses....and I am. It's me.

I too built a 7-figure law firm with Google and the Internet - we practice in the area of construction law in New Orleans & Seattle. http://www.wolfelaw.com.

[GAL]

There are hundreds of search terms relevant to our business that show on page 1 of Google search. How? The answer is simple. A+ content about niche practice areas. www.wolfelaw.com has figured out eh magic formula as well. Great work guys!

[Peter Olson]

I'd like to hear more. It wasn't just as simple as Google Adwords advertising was it? Curious about how you built a great business.

[GAL]

Peter:

We didn't do any Google advertising. All of our traffic came as a result of organic search results. We tend to dominate the keyword categories we're concerned about. We achieved that domination by bringing A+ content onto our blogs about niche issues (such as domain disputes , cybersquatting , trademark infringement , trade secrets , patent infringement and copyright infringement ).

So here is the deal. If you want to do big business off the Internet, start showing off your expertise by blogging it. The traffic, and then the prospects, will come.

[Brian Strahle]

I am not starting a law firm, but I am in the middle of starting a nationwide state and local taxpayer consulting firm.

My situation is that I am currently working as a senior state and local tax (SALT) manager at national commercial real estate company (not doing so hot). In the expectation that I may not have a job in the future at this corporation, I started a state and local tax blog back in January ( http://leveragesalt.blogspot.com/ ).

I am in the middle of speaking to 3 different national accounting firms about joining their firms as a Senior Manager/Director of SALT. In the meantime, I am working on a business plan and attempting to start consulting on my own.

I am very curious as to how you grew your law firm over the internet. I would prefer to start my own firm versus joining one of the accounting firms. I would appreciate any insight or tips you can provide.

By the way, I really enjoy your blog.

Thank you.

Brian Strahle, EA, MST