| Above: example of Google Search Results "In-depth articles" |
Well, over at the Unofficial Google Blog yesterday, there was news about a further development with Google's "in depth articles" selection. Now, if you click on the "in-depth articles" section, you'll get even more of these longer pieces to read and review.
Read that post, "More In-Depth Articles in Google Search," here.
My Suggestion: Build a Law Firm In-Depth Article Section on the Firm Web Site
Here's what I'm pondering right now -- I think that law firms should be considering this new Google Search categorization as a great opportunity for them to use some of their longer word count stuff -- articles, maybe even briefing or memoranda -- here.
Lawyers have lots of writing that is too long for a blog post and too cumbersome for a web site page -- but it's work that is quality and worth the read.
Why not create a section on the law firm web site entitled "Long Articles" or "In Depth Articles" and place a few of these longer works online? Perhaps next to the FAQ page? or the Publications section?
Two considerations right off the bat:
1. copyright -- if the item has been published already, say in the local Bar's trade magazine or in a Law Journal somewhere, then you may need to get permission from that publisher to publish the article online on your firm's site; and
2. coding -- the publication itself will need to be coded for Google with the appropriate code to alert Google that an in-depth article exists on this portion of the firm's site.
Why do this?
I think that lawyers who do this may see their longer writings hitting the coveted first page of Google Search Results in the "In Depth Article" section if they follow my suggestions here. That's their benefit.
The bigger benefit is providing this writing -- the research and the analysis -- to readers who can benefit from work that may well be gathering dust in credenza drawers or setting on thumb drives right now.
Could this include briefing filed of record, saying winning appellate briefs? I think that would be great to have online, especially in instances where there's a hurdle to get access to the public record filing (sure, I'm thinking PACER).
Yes, I'm a geek that reads the briefs, not just the opinions. Just typing that makes me realize I may need to get out more, think I'll hit the publish button now and go take the dogs for a walk. Sigh.