You Program Your Smartphone – Have You Programmed Your Staff?
If you want something done right…
“Showing them will take too long – I’ll just do it myself.”
If you’ve ever thought or said something similar, you’re not alone. As an attorney, you know how every piece of the puzzle works and how they all fit together. Being the expert, it often feels like you are the only person qualified to make every single decision, from the trivial to the critical. But, when your case load is so overwhelming that it’s too much for one person to handle, what can you do?
Little things can take up a huge part of your day, so having someone else take care of them is a great solution. After all, paralegals and support staff are there to help you, and assistants are meant to do just that – assist. All you need to do is hire someone qualified, with experience in your practice area, and all your problems will be solved. Right?
Wrong.
Odds are, you rely on a smartphone – and probably a few other gadgets – on a daily basis. But no device arrives from the manufacturer pre-programmed. Read the rest »
MozCast Google Algorithm Review – March 2018
What is MozCast, and why do we at SLS Consulting write a new blog installment on it almost every month? Well, it has to do with search engine rankings. One day, your website might be on page one of Google, and you’re feeling just fine. The next, you’ve dropped down to spot 20—what’s going on?
The answer is usually that Google is tweaking its search engine algorithm…and that’s why we go to our friends over at MozCast, who put together a set of 1,000 hand-picked keywords that helps track when Google makes changes. Moz then assigns a temperature to reflect how much fluctuation is taking place in Google’s search results, and we bring that forecast straight to you!
The higher the temperature, the more likely that changes are taking place behind the scenes of Hummingbird (that’s the name of Google’s algorithm as of 2013). For example, 70° is a fair day, where your website ranking should stay put. The hotter the temperature, the more likely your website may move up or down. So. Let’s get to it… Read the rest »
MozCast Google Algorithm Review – February 2018
“What IS MozCast?” you might be asking yourself. Well, it’s a handy metric put together by our friends over at Moz. Every 24 hours, a set of hand-picked keywords are tracked and notated to determine how volatile Google search results are from one day to the next. Moz then assigns a “temperature” to reflect how much fluctuation is taking place within Google search results.
How “hot” was it in February 2018, according to MozCast?
Perhaps Google’s algorithm took a cue from the real world’s weather, and chilled out the month of February. Things seem to finally be cooling off a little…for now. The average for the month was 87.85°, which is by no means “cool” in terms of temperature, but it was a noticeable difference from January’s RankBrain heat wave of 93.89°. There were only five days above 90°, and the only drastic spike was seen on February 20th at 113° (which is a definite signal of a possible update). However, even though the heat died down slightly, the climate was still an indication of changes. Read the rest »
True Exclusivity in SEO Marketing
In the age of the internet, a robust web presence is essential for business. Building and maintaining a healthy presence requires a strong search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to drive potential customers to your website, and help convert them into paying clients.
In a little over a quarter century, SEO marketing has evolved at a breakneck pace. Gone are the Wild West days of keyword stuffing, excess tagging, spamming, and other black-hat SEO tactics. Today’s search engines use sophisticated algorithms that favor quality content and penalize unethical SEO techniques.
And because SEO is so important for business, SEO marketing companies have been popping up all over the place in the last few decades. But are all SEO marketing companies the same? Why would you choose one over another? Read the rest »
MozCast Google Algorithm Review – January 2018
“What IS MozCast?” you might be asking yourself. Well, it’s a handy metric put together by our friends over at Moz. Every 24 hours, a set of hand-picked keywords are tracked and notated to determine how volatile Google search results are from one day to the next. Moz then assigns a “temperature” to reflect how much fluctuation is taking place within Google search results.
How “hot” was it in January 2018, according to MozCast?
January was a scorcher! Even hotter than last month’s average of 88.32° (which is considered sweltering), January’s average temperature was 93.89° and showed clear evidence of a heat wave! For the first week of the month, the MozCast range pretty much stayed in the 80s, but had a severe spike of 93° on the 8th, and a jump all the way to 106° and “stormy” on the 11th. The entire rest of January endured “stormy” weather after the 11th, and stayed in the 90s or above. There was even another intense spike of 108° on 25th, ensuring a volatile end to the month. MozCast definitely picked up on some major algorithm changes and updates that went into effect during that time. Since Google isn’t airing out its laundry anymore, it’s important to stay up-to-date in 2018. Read the rest »
Our Writing Team Says “Yes!” to the Oxford Comma
We at SLS Consulting take a strong line when it comes to punctuation—specifically, when it comes to the serial or “Oxford” comma. We like it; we use it in all our writing; and we encourage all our clients to use it as well.
What is the Oxford comma? It’s the last comma used in a list of three or more items, right before a conjunction like “and” or “or.” Some examples would be:
- Daniel is bringing a green salad, paper plates, and his winning smile to the law firm’s Christmas party.
- Pamela’s attention to detail, talent for thinking like the opposition, and former experience as a judge’s clerk make her the most popular paralegal to draft complaints.
- Jorge and his wife are wavering between taking a vacation in Fiji, the Cayman Islands, or her home country of Kazakhstan.
We believe that the Oxford comma leaves no room for mistakes or misinterpretations—and in legal internet marketing, you really can’t afford those! Read the rest »
MozCast Google Algorithm Review – December 2017
“What IS MozCast?” you might be asking yourself. Well, it’s a handy metric put together by our friends over at Moz. Every 24 hours, a set of hand-picked keywords are tracked and notated to determine how volatile Google search results are from one day to the next. Moz then assigns a “temperature” to reflect how much fluctuation is taking place within Google search results.
These temperatures and conditions give us a gauge for tracking Google’s algorithm turbulence, and model the common sense of real weather patterns. A high in the 70s (and sunny) means any variations are pretty tame in the search world, and there are no major algorithm changes to be aware of or panic about. However, a temperature of 101° accompanied by stormy conditions indicates change. In other words, the hotter and stormier your MozCast, the more has changed in Google’s rankings. Read the rest »
The Five Scariest Marketing Companies to Run Away from This Halloween
It’s that time of year again! Doorbells will be rung, doors will be knocked on, and your home will be visited by ghosts, ghouls, and other spooky characters. Adults will attend parties dressed up in make-believe, all in honor of a holiday that’s about tricks and treats. But while trick-or-treaters only knock on your door one night per year, scary spammers in reputable marketing company costumes flood you with offers 365 days per year. If you aren’t careful, you could find yourself tricked into some scary SEO strategies, and that is certainly no treat. This Halloween and beyond, be sure to be on the lookout for the Top 5 Scariest Types of Marketing Solicitations and Scams.
Google Security Update: The Big Switch to https
It’s all over the Internet: Google is making a big change that affects every single website it browses. By October 2017, all sites with input fields, including contact forms and search fields, must have a security certificate—or risk dropping dramatically in Google’s estimation. Though Google has been set on enforcing “certificate transparency” for quite some time, this marks a tangible change in the company’s approach to insecure websites.
And isn’t Google the only search engine that matters?
So let’s talk about why you need to switch to https by October. Read the rest »
Michael Guisti Website Named Best of 2017
The legal marketing blog Inbound Law has once again included one of our designs in their yearly 50 Best Law Firm Websites list! Attorney Michael S. Guisti’s new site was ranked 13th out of 50 for 2017. This marks the second year in a row that Inbound has included us in their rankings, with another client redesign making the top 50 in 2016.
As before, we are incredibly grateful for the recognition and proud to be included in such a strong group of designs. Our design department takes great care in providing our clients with not only the most effective site architecture – including a full complement of targeted SEO strategies – but also the most up to date design elements for a clean and modern look.
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