kdm's blog

Hearing Office Approval Ratings

kdm — Fri, 21 May 2021 18:51:23 +0000

Hearing Office Approval Ratings

As a Social Security disability attorney or representative you know that the rates for awarding benefits vary greatly depending on the Hearing Office. Therefore it is extremely helpful to know where each stands but can be difficult to find from the data that the SSA provides. Therefore, we have put together an updated list of approval rates by hearing office for 2021. These approval rates are based off of decisions made from September 26, 2020 through April 30, 2021.

The approval ratings vary significantly by hearing office. Currently the highest is 67.16% and the lowest at 25.58%. The national average of favorable decisions is 48.85%. Therefore, the hearing office where a claim is heard can affect the outcome of the case and whether or not an award is granted.

Here is a list of the 10 offices with the highest award percentages::

New York Varick, NY – 67.16%
San Rafael, CA – 66.00%
Long Island, NY – 65.95%
Ponce, PR – 65.59%
San Jose, CA – 65.44%
Honolulu, HI – 65.40%
Rochester, NY – 65.13%
Oak Park, MI – 64.44%
Sacramento, CA – 63.43%
Greensboro, NC – 60.83%

eGenerationMarketing offers geographic targeting by zip code prefix, allowing you to receive leads that report to a specific OHO. To learn more about our Social Security disability leads, give us a call today at 617.800.0089.

State	Hearing Office	% Favorable
AL	BIRMINGHAM	44.38%
AL	FLORENCE	46.64%
AL	MOBILE	54.61%
AL	MONTGOMERY	57.77%
AR	FORT SMITH	51.20%
AR	LITTLE ROCK	38.05%
AZ	PHOENIX DOWNTOWN	40.65%
AZ	PHOENIX NORTH	49.96%
AZ	TUCSON	57.29%
CA	FRESNO	54.26%
CA	LONG BEACH	53.32%
CA	LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN	47.81%
CA	LOS ANGELES WEST	49.22%
CA	MORENO VALLEY	47.64%
CA	NORWALK	52.88%
CA	OAKLAND	53.72%
CA	ORANGE	48.02%
CA	PASADENA	53.66%
CA	SACRAMENTO	63.43%
CA	SAN BERNARDINO	53.72%
CA	SAN DIEGO	42.63%
CA	SAN FRANCISCO	56.68%
CA	SAN JOSE	65.44%
CA	SAN RAFAEL	66.00%
CA	SANTA BARBARA	47.67%
CA	STOCKTON	49.77%
CO	COLORADO SPRINGS	29.97%
CO	DENVER	45.20%
CT	HARTFORD	39.82%
CT	NEW HAVEN	40.13%
DC	WASHINGTON	41.12%
DE	DOVER	45.74%
FL	FORT MYERS FL	55.36%
FL	FT LAUDERDALE	44.86%
FL	JACKSONVILLE	49.44%
FL	MIAMI OHO	49.85%
FL	ORLANDO	53.45%
FL	ST PETERSBURG	52.14%
FL	TALLAHASSEE	54.59%
FL	TAMPA OHO	56.07%
GA	ATLANTA DOWNTOWN	55.46%
GA	ATLANTA NORTH	50.00%
GA	COVINGTON GA	50.18%
GA	MACON	39.86%
GA	SAVANNAH	52.67%
HI	HONOLULU	65.40%
IA	WEST DES MOINES	52.19%
IL	CHICAGO	51.56%
IL	EVANSVILLE	45.45%
IL	NHC CHICAGO	40.85%
IL	OAK BROOK	55.63%
IL	ORLAND PARK	40.52%
IL	PEORIA	43.85%
IN	EVANSTON	49.74%
IN	FORT WAYNE	50.21%
IN	INDIANAPOLIS	50.31%
IN	VALPARAISO	50.75%
KS	TOPEKA	29.79%
KS	WICHITA	39.35%
KY	LEXINGTON	48.17%
KY	LOUISVILLE	53.44%
KY	MIDDLESBORO	34.45%
KY	PADUCAH	46.47%
LA	ALEXANDRIA	44.39%
LA	METAIRIE	49.15%
LA	NEW ORLEANS	57.26%
LA	SHREVEPORT	53.38%
MA	BOSTON	41.00%
MA	LAWRENCE MA	49.92%
MA	SPRINGFIELD	39.03%
MD	BALTIMORE	57.17%
MD	NHC BALTIMORE	45.07%
ME	PORTLAND	45.90%
MI	DETROIT	54.63%
MI	FLINT	48.06%
MI	GRAND RAPIDS	49.40%
MI	LANSING	46.38%
MI	LIVONIA MI	55.74%
MI	MT PLEASANT MI	46.69%
MI	OAK PARK	64.44%
MN	MINNEAPOLIS	40.55%
MO	COLUMBIA MO	43.80%
MO	CREVE COEUR	39.36%
MO	KANSAS CITY	35.34%
MO	NHC ST LOUIS	44.68%
MO	SPRINGFIELD	29.68%
MO	ST LOUIS	45.42%
MS	HATTIESBURG	37.04%
MS	JACKSON MS OHO	44.61%
MS	TUPELO	57.21%
MT	BILLINGS	42.57%
NC	CHARLOTTE	55.96%
NC	FAYETTEVILLE NC	59.08%
NC	GREENSBORO	60.83%
NC	RALEIGH	51.44%
ND	FARGO	47.00%
NE	OMAHA	49.02%
NH	MANCHESTER	51.16%
NJ	JERSEY CITY	60.27%
NJ	NEWARK	48.44%
NJ	SOUTH JERSEY	54.69%
NM	ALBUQUERQUE	48.76%
NM	NHC ALBUQUERQUE	37.08%
NV	LAS VEGAS	46.24%
NV	RENO	25.58%
NY	ALBANY	50.74%
NY	BRONX	57.21%
NY	BUFFALO	46.14%
NY	LONG ISLAND	65.95%
NY	NEW YORK	56.80%
NY	NEW YORK VARICK	67.16%
NY	QUEENS	57.02%
NY	ROCHESTER	65.13%
NY	SYRACUSE	42.57%
NY	WHITE PLAINS	58.00%
OH	AKRON	51.86%
OH	CINCINNATI	48.72%
OH	CLEVELAND	41.64%
OH	COLUMBUS	49.22%
OH	DAYTON	54.62%
OH	TOLEDO	45.55%
OK	MCALESTER	37.71%
OK	OKLAHOMA CITY	57.99%
OK	TULSA	57.60%
OR	EUGENE	54.39%
OR	PORTLAND	48.26%
PA	ELKINS PARK	48.19%
PA	HARRISBURG	40.83%
PA	JOHNSTOWN	49.92%
PA	PHILADELPHIA	45.98%
PA	PHILADELPHIA EAST	48.27%
PA	PITTSBURGH	40.32%
PA	SEVEN FIELDS	55.96%
PA	WILKES BARRE	41.31%
PR	PONCE	65.59%
PR	SAN JUAN	54.46%
RI	PROVIDENCE	45.86%
SC	CHARLESTON SC	44.24%
SC	COLUMBIA SC	57.86%
SC	GREENVILLE	54.52%
TN	CHATTANOOGA	55.86%
TN	FRANKLIN TN	43.64%
TN	KINGSPORT	60.06%
TN	KNOXVILLE	50.16%
TN	MEMPHIS	54.28%
TN	NASHVILLE	53.91%
TX	DALLAS DOWNTOWN	48.79%
TX	DALLAS NORTH OHO	47.63%
TX	FORT WORTH	44.26%
TX	HOUSTON NORTH	41.97%
TX	HOUSTON WEST	47.80%
TX	RIO GRANDE VALLEY TX	34.28%
TX	SAN ANTONIO	37.24%
UT	SALT LAKE CITY	38.67%
VA	CHARLOTTESVILLE	50.38%
VA	NHC FALLS CHURCH	44.91%
VA	NORFOLK	45.53%
VA	RICHMOND	37.45%
VA	ROANOKE	48.76%
WA	SEATTLE	45.65%
WA	SPOKANE	50.87%
WA	TACOMA	38.30%
WI	MADISON	56.23%
WI	MILWAUKEE	45.23%
WV	CHARLESTON WV	55.63%
WV	HUNTINGTON WV	39.57%
WV	MORGANTOWN	40.25%

*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html

kdm Fri, 05/21/2021 - 14:51

Average Hearing Office Processing Time: 2019 vs. 2020

kdm — Fri, 05 Feb 2021 17:28:03 +0000

Average Hearing Office Processing Time: 2019 vs. 2020

2020 was a difficult year for everyone and there is no doubt that as a Social Security Disability attorney you are facing the effects of the pandemic on your business. However, there is a glimmer of hope to come out of all of the chaos -- the average processing time for a Social Security disability claim decreased 25% (502 days to 390 days) from 2019 to 2020. While there were less dispositions overall, it seems that the switch from in-person to completely virtual hearings helped to speed up the process for many hearing offices across the country.*

In September of 2020, the SSA posted a press release addressing this switch and the resulting convenience to those seeking disability benefits. The press release states, "'The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of finding new ways to serve the public,' said Commissioner of Social Security Andrew Saul. 'For over a decade, the agency has used video hearings to get applicants their hearing decisions sooner. This advancement builds on that effort, making it easier and more convenient to attend a hearing remotely, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. To continue to ensure all participants' safety, we expect online video hearings and telephone hearings will be the only two hearing options for the foreseeable future.'"* Clearly the SSA has realized the increased efficiency that has resulted from a fully virtual hearing process and will likely continue offering this moving forward.

With that said, we have compiled a list of the top 20 Hearing Offices that had the quickest processing times in 2020:

Rank	Hearing Office	2018 - 2019 Average Processing Time	2019-2020 Average Processing Time	% Change
1	HOUSTON NORTH	294	257	-12.59%
2	FRANKLIN TN	418	264	-36.84%
3	EVANSVILLE	449	272	-39.42%
4	OMAHA	417	277	-33.57%
5	COLUMBIA SC	409	283	-30.81%
6	HATTIESBURG	441	284	-35.60%
6	SAN ANTONIO	335	284	-15.22%
7	CHARLOTTESVILLE	473	291	-38.48%
7	PHILADELPHIA	425	291	-31.53%
8	LOUISVILLE	528	296	-43.94%
9	FLINT	447	298	-33.33%
9	PORTLAND ME	370	298	-19.46%
10	GRAND RAPIDS	460	303	-34.13%
11	LITTLE ROCK	439	306	-30.30%
12	MADISON	496	308	-37.90%
13	TOLEDO OH	410	312	-23.90%
14	RALEIGH	512	314	-38.67%
15	CHARLESTON SC	495	315	-36.36%
16	MILWAUKEE	475	316	-33.47%
17	SEVEN FIELDS	462	317	-31.39%

Given the speed of the average processing time and the dip in overall claims filed, there has never been a better time to increase your caseload. Give us a call at 617.800.0089 to learn more about our Social Security disability leads and set your firm up for success in 2021!

*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/archive/05_FY2020/05_September_Average_Processing_Time_Report.html

*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/archive/05_FY2019/05_September_Average_Processing_Time_Report.html

*https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/releases/2020/#9-2020-1

kdm Fri, 02/05/2021 - 12:28

Using the Optimization Hierarchy to Increase Conversions

kdm — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 17:54:38 +0000

Using the Optimization Hierarchy to Increase Conversions

As an attorney, it is likely that you rely heavily on your website for attracting new clients. Because it is such an important part of your business, you should be doing everything you can to increase the conversion rate on your firm’s site. The conversion rate is the percentage of users that contact you (either by filling out the contact form or calling) as a direct result of visiting your site. The higher your conversion rate, the more clients you will have!

Increasing conversions on your firm’s site takes research and hard work, but it will almost certainly pay off in the long run. To start optimizing your website you should focus on the hierarchy of conversion. Based off the ideas behind Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, Bryan Eisenberg developed a hierarchy specific to website optimization. In both pyramids, you start from the bottom and work your way upwards, as each level builds upon the previous. You can only reach the top when all the needs below have been met. This pyramid is the key to creating a high-converting site.

Eisenberg’s web optimization pyramid.

The aspects of the pyramid mean different things depending on the main goal of a website. Therefore, I am here to tell you what they mean for you specifically as an attorney looking to attract more clients:

1. Functional

The functionality piece of your website is at the bottom of the pyramid because everything builds off of this. If your firm’s site is slow or doesn’t work properly, any optimization efforts that don’t directly solve those problems will be wasted. If your page doesn’t load within a few seconds, most users will give up on your site and continue their search for an attorney elsewhere.

There are a number of different tools that you can use to measure things like site speed and load time. Google Analytics and Google Search Console are a great place to start your search for anything that might be awry in terms of functionality. You can look for things like high bounce rates which means that people are leaving your site before interacting with it. This is often related to slow load times.

2. Accessible

This step is one of the most important for you as an attorney – especially if you specialize in helping Social Security disability claimants. You want anyone to be able to easily navigate your site and access all of the content, regardless of any disabilities or age. Ensuring high contrast between the text and background, increasing the font size and including alt text for any images can go a long way in making your site accessible for all. For more information about creating an accessible website for your firm, check out our blog.

3. Usable

Your firm’s website should be easy to use in order to eliminate confusion or frustration in your visitors. They should be able to quickly navigate to a specific page and fill out your contact form with ease. Focusing on the usability of your contact form can result in a huge increase in conversions as less users will abandon it due to frustration during the process.

Also, make sure to keep in mind that many people opt to browse on their phones rather than desktops. Therefore, ensuring that your site is just as user-friendly on mobile devices is an integral part of the optimization process.

4. Intuitive

Making a site intuitive can be challenging because it requires you to anticipate your visitors’ questions and needs. However, talking with current clients or previous users of your site can give you excellent insight. This will allow you to provide answers to some of these questions on your site before the user even has a chance to seek them out. An intuitive site provides an outstanding user experience that will make your visitors want to work with your firm.

5. Persuasive

Once you have reached this final step, you can focus on copywriting that will convince your visitor that he or she should work with you. Highlight what makes you stand out from your competition and the benefits of working with your firm. Showing the value that you can bring to your client’s life is a key part of getting them to convert into a potential client. You should also work to earn their trust by using social proof and providing testimonials.

Focusing on this optimization pyramid gives you the necessary framework to start making changes to your firm’s site that will generate you more business. A high-converting site is the key to a successful law firm, as you will always be able to count on it to bring in more clients. However, if you are looking for additional ways to increase your caseload contact us today at 617.800.0089 to learn more about our legal case leads!

kdm Fri, 10/23/2020 - 13:54

2020 Hearing Office Approval Ratings

kdm — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 15:32:12 +0000

2020 Hearing Office Approval Ratings

As a Social Security disability attorney or representative, you understand the importance of keeping track of the approval ratings for the different Office of Hearing Operations (OHOs) across the country. However, it can be difficult and time consuming to sort through the data to get to these numbers. Therefore, we have put together a list using the most recent data available as of July 2020. This includes decisions made between September 28, 2019 and May 29, 2020.*

The approval ratings vary significantly by hearing office, with the highest at 81.94% and the lowest at 29.00%. The national average of favorable decisions is 54.02%. Therefore, the hearing office where a claim is heard can affect the outcome of the case and whether or not an award is granted.

117 of the 168 OHOs/NHCs have approval ratings over 50% during the timeframe for this data. Here is a list of the 10 offices with the highest award percentages:

Ponce, PR – 81.94%
San Jose, CA – 73.64%
Honolulu, HI – 72.74%
Sacramento, CA – 70.25%
Tucson, AZ – 69.67%
Rochester, NY – 69.34%
Madison, WI – 68.76%
Long Island, NY – 68.38%
San Rafael, CA – 68.27%
New York Varick, NY – 68.26%

State	Hearing Office	% Fully Favorably	% Partially Favorable	% Favorable
AK	ANCHORAGE	22.05%	6.95%	29.00%
AL	BIRMINGHAM	47.69%	4.94%	52.63%
AL	FLORENCE	42.53%	4.73%	47.27%
AL	MOBILE	60.46%	4.34%	64.80%
AL	MONTGOMERY	61.02%	5.28%	66.30%
AR	FORT SMITH	47.01%	6.63%	53.64%
AR	LITTLE ROCK	34.83%	6.82%	41.65%
AZ	PHOENIX	35.36%	12.05%	47.41%
AZ	PHOENIX NORTH	43.25%	10.25%	53.50%
AZ	TUCSON	61.67%	8.00%	69.67%
CA	FRESNO	49.23%	16.89%	66.12%
CA	LONG BEACH	48.55%	8.39%	56.94%
CA	LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN	51.68%	6.47%	58.15%
CA	LOS ANGELES WEST	47.52%	8.06%	55.58%
CA	MORENO VALLEY	41.35%	12.00%	53.35%
CA	NORWALK	47.64%	7.72%	55.36%
CA	OAKLAND	52.88%	11.42%	64.30%
CA	ORANGE	44.96%	11.21%	56.17%
CA	PASADENA	57.71%	6.02%	63.72%
CA	SACRAMENTO	61.96%	8.29%	70.25%
CA	SAN BERNARDINO	52.45%	7.82%	60.27%
CA	SAN DIEGO	43.41%	7.33%	50.74%
CA	SAN FRANCISCO	57.28%	8.14%	65.42%
CA	SAN JOSE	63.32%	10.33%	73.64%
CA	SAN RAFAEL	52.57%	15.69%	68.27%
CA	SANTA BARBARA	43.62%	6.84%	50.46%
CA	STOCKTON	44.26%	9.08%	53.35%
CO	COLORADO SPRINGS	27.61%	8.55%	36.16%
CO	DENVER	39.31%	11.61%	50.91%
CT	HARTFORD	35.11%	12.01%	47.11%
CT	NEW HAVEN	35.51%	14.49%	50.00%
DC	WASHINGTON	39.96%	9.38%	49.34%
DE	DOVER	45.58%	7.14%	52.73%
FL	FORT MYERS	54.67%	5.85%	60.52%
FL	FT LAUDERDALE	46.30%	7.28%	53.57%
FL	JACKSONVILLE	44.83%	6.86%	51.69%
FL	MIAMI	50.32%	9.07%	59.39%
FL	ORLANDO	47.44%	8.48%	55.91%
FL	ST PETERSBURG	54.34%	4.57%	58.91%
FL	TALLAHASSEE	46.17%	13.01%	59.18%
FL	TAMPA	56.50%	5.47%	61.97%
GA	ATLANTA DOWNTOWN	51.36%	7.92%	59.28%
GA	ATLANTA NORTH	53.20%	6.61%	59.82%
GA	COVINGTON	49.81%	8.54%	58.35%
GA	MACON	38.62%	8.84%	47.46%
GA	SAVANNAH	52.16%	6.33%	58.49%
HI	HONOLULU	60.94%	11.81%	72.74%
IA	WEST DES MOINES	46.56%	13.48%	60.04%
IL	CHICAGO	46.24%	10.93%	57.16%
IL	EVANSVILLE	42.56%	7.93%	50.49%
IL	NHC CHICAGO	34.56%	11.53%	46.09%
IL	OAK BROOK	49.23%	8.69%	57.93%
IL	ORLAND PARK	38.37%	9.83%	48.20%
IL	PEORIA	36.47%	10.14%	46.61%
IN	EVANSTON	43.80%	10.94%	54.73%
IN	FORT WAYNE	44.05%	7.56%	51.62%
IN	INDIANAPOLIS	54.81%	5.68%	60.49%
IN	VALPARAISO	41.65%	10.98%	52.63%
KS	TOPEKA KS	22.43%	7.45%	29.88%
KS	WICHITA	35.71%	8.54%	44.25%
KY	LEXINGTON	46.12%	5.25%	51.37%
KY	LOUISVILLE	46.31%	7.93%	54.24%
KY	MIDDLESBORO	39.39%	4.52%	43.91%
KY	PADUCAH	39.91%	8.74%	48.65%
LA	ALEXANDRIA	35.99%	9.14%	45.13%
LA	METAIRIE	39.55%	8.55%	48.10%
LA	NEW ORLEANS	48.60%	8.53%	57.13%
LA	SHREVEPORT	51.12%	9.63%	60.75%
MA	BOSTON	45.66%	9.54%	55.20%
MA	LAWRENCE	44.62%	15.66%	60.27%
MA	SPRINGFIELD	37.05%	12.64%	49.69%
MD	BALTIMORE	53.97%	9.75%	63.72%
MD	NHC BALTIMORE	42.32%	8.73%	51.04%
ME	PORTLAND	41.28%	5.92%	47.20%
MI	DETROIT	44.64%	8.64%	53.28%
MI	FLINT	35.57%	14.36%	49.93%
MI	GRAND RAPIDS	46.62%	8.71%	55.33%
MI	LANSING	45.00%	8.03%	53.03%
MI	LIVONIA	58.66%	8.59%	67.25%
MI	MT PLEASANT	46.21%	10.11%	56.32%
MI	OAK PARK	59.17%	8.88%	68.04%
MN	MINNEAPOLIS	39.64%	9.48%	49.12%
MO	COLUMBIA	37.44%	11.54%	48.98%
MO	CREVE COEUR	38.08%	6.85%	44.92%
MO	KANSAS CITY	36.47%	7.79%	44.26%
MO	NHC ST LOUIS	38.21%	10.43%	48.65%
MO	SPRINGFIELD	31.24%	5.48%	36.72%
MO	ST LOUIS	40.54%	11.30%	51.84%
MS	HATTIESBURG	38.44%	4.74%	43.19%
MS	JACKSON	43.08%	4.42%	47.50%
MS	TUPELO	51.56%	8.77%	60.33%
MT	BILLINGS	33.92%	11.56%	45.48%
NC	CHARLOTTE	53.08%	8.22%	61.30%
NC	FAYETTEVILLE	57.70%	6.57%	64.26%
NC	GREENSBORO	57.85%	9.86%	67.71%
NC	RALEIGH	47.78%	6.20%	53.97%
ND	FARGO	45.42%	11.15%	56.57%
NE	OMAHA	45.05%	7.21%	52.25%
NH	MANCHESTER	49.23%	6.77%	56.00%
NJ	JERSEY CITY	50.71%	9.81%	60.52%
NJ	NEWARK	44.89%	10.15%	55.04%
NJ	SOUTH JERSEY	48.15%	12.99%	61.14%
NM	ALBUQUERQUE	48.40%	6.97%	55.36%
NM	NHC ALBUQUERQUE	31.26%	6.37%	37.63%
NV	LAS VEGAS	45.56%	7.91%	53.47%
NV	RENO	43.18%	9.78%	52.95%
NY	ALBANY	48.18%	7.91%	56.09%
NY	BRONX	48.49%	8.85%	57.33%
NY	BUFFALO	38.52%	10.96%	49.48%
NY	LONG ISLAND	59.65%	8.74%	68.38%
NY	NEW YORK	55.27%	8.92%	64.19%
NY	NEW YORK VARICK	59.04%	9.22%	68.26%
NY	QUEENS	49.38%	9.69%	59.07%
NY	ROCHESTER	61.78%	7.55%	69.34%
NY	SYRACUSE	42.71%	8.30%	51.00%
NY	WHITE PLAINS	54.57%	6.63%	61.20%
OH	AKRON	50.21%	9.35%	59.55%
OH	CINCINNATI	49.52%	6.62%	56.15%
OH	CLEVELAND	37.98%	8.43%	46.41%
OH	COLUMBUS	51.25%	7.24%	58.48%
OH	DAYTON	46.29%	9.27%	55.56%
OH	TOLEDO	35.64%	10.48%	46.12%
OK	MCALESTER	30.12%	10.29%	40.41%
OK	OKLAHOMA CITY	59.70%	4.53%	64.24%
OK	TULSA	49.98%	10.27%	60.25%
OR	EUGENE	51.37%	6.38%	57.74%
OR	PORTLAND	46.55%	7.06%	53.61%
PA	ELKINS PARK	46.07%	7.09%	53.16%
PA	HARRISBURG	36.70%	5.36%	42.07%
PA	JOHNSTOWN	46.20%	3.50%	49.70%
PA	PHILADELPHIA	46.01%	7.30%	53.31%
PA	PHILADELPHIA EAST	41.89%	9.62%	51.51%
PA	PITTSBURGH	36.36%	8.03%	44.39%
PA	SEVEN FIELDS	50.69%	9.17%	59.86%
PA	WILKES BARRE	35.11%	7.33%	42.44%
PR	PONCE	74.72%	7.22%	81.94%
PR	SAN JUAN	52.34%	8.40%	60.74%
RI	PROVIDENCE	43.36%	6.12%	49.48%
SC	CHARLESTON	38.08%	8.25%	46.32%
SC	COLUMBIA	58.33%	7.45%	65.78%
SC	GREENVILLE	46.49%	5.31%	51.80%
TN	CHATTANOOGA	52.81%	7.29%	60.10%
TN	FRANKLIN	43.02%	6.65%	49.66%
TN	KINGSPORT	59.51%	5.90%	65.41%
TN	KNOXVILLE	50.71%	5.90%	56.61%
TN	MEMPHIS	52.49%	7.96%	60.45%
TN	NASHVILLE	55.22%	9.23%	64.45%
TX	DALLAS DOWNTOWN	53.83%	6.07%	59.90%
TX	DALLAS NORTH	52.05%	6.54%	58.59%
TX	FORT WORTH	41.51%	6.34%	47.85%
TX	HOUSTON NORTH	41.51%	4.81%	46.32%
TX	HOUSTON-BISSONNET	45.38%	6.99%	52.37%
TX	RIO GRANDE VALLEY	34.43%	8.07%	42.50%
TX	SAN ANTONIO	34.39%	5.98%	40.37%
UT	SALT LAKE CITY	40.70%	10.07%	50.77%
VA	CHARLOTTESVILLE	44.03%	9.95%	53.98%
VA	NHC FALLS CHURCH	40.71%	10.51%	51.22%
VA	RICHMOND	31.71%	7.93%	39.63%
VA	ROANOKE	50.19%	6.99%	57.18%
WA	SEATTLE	47.88%	9.44%	57.31%
WA	SPOKANE	54.82%	5.85%	60.67%
WA	TACOMA	38.93%	8.84%	47.77%
WI	MADISON	59.79%	8.97%	68.76%
WI	MILWAUKEE	38.96%	9.27%	48.23%
WV	CHARLESTON	59.96%	4.55%	64.51%
WV	HUNTINGTON	32.33%	5.71%	38.03%
WV	MORGANTOWN	36.57%	8.32%	44.88%

*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html

kdm Thu, 07/09/2020 - 11:32

Always Be Testing – Basics of Conversion Optimization

kdm — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 17:29:23 +0000

Always Be Testing – Basics of Conversion Optimization

As an attorney you realize the important role that your website plays in getting you new clients. For this reason, you have likely invested quite a bit of time and capital into creating an informative, easy-to-navigate, and modern site. What if I told you that it could be even better and you could get more clients from it than you currently are? By testing different changes you can increase your website's conversions and ROI. Here is how you can get started with optimizing your conversion rate:

1. Research

The research stage is the most important part of conversion rate optimization. CRO is not just testing whatever pops into your head one day and hoping it works – it is about taking the time to do both qualitative and quantitative research and crafting hypotheses based on your findings.

Qualitative research can take the form of interviewing current clients or adding an exit poll or survey on your site, among a number of different methods. The goal of this research is to understand your customer base and how they are using your site. You can also use things like screen recordings and heat maps to identify any specific points of friction or functionalities that are not working correctly.

If you are an SSD attorney, you might find that some of your users are having trouble navigating your site or facing other accessibility issues. These are extremely important to identify and correct as users with disabilities likely make up the bulk of your website visitors.

Quantitative research is usually done using your analytics software to take a deep dive into the data. You want to take a look at things like bounce rate, pages per session, average session duration and so on. For the bounce rate, anything over 90% should be cause for concern and it is definitely worth figuring out what is causing this. Once you've gathered as many insights as possible from the data, it's time to move onto the next step.

2. Develop Hypotheses

Based on your research, you should be able to identify some issues on your site. Did you find that some users were missing your call to action due to a lack of contrast or that they were having usability issues with your contact form? No matter the issue consider the best way to fix it. Always make sure that any change you make will enhance the user experience. Craft your hypothesis to explain what you are going to change and the effect that you think it will have.

3. Test

Depending on what you are testing, determine the best way to implement the change and what resources you need to do so. You will likely want to run an A/B test, which allows you to test your original page against a variation. This allows you to determine with confidence whether or not the change increases your conversion rate since the only difference between the pages will be that one change.

Some testing software offer a visual editor so that you can make changes to colors or text without the need for a developer. Once the variation looks the way you want, you can start the test. Best practice for A/B testing is to keep the experiment running for at least 2 weeks. However, you should aim to keep it running until you have reached a statistical significance level of at least 90%. How long this takes will depend on the overall conversion rate and amount of traffic to your site.

Once your test is complete evaluate the data. If the test had your desired result and you were able to increase your conversion rate, that's great! If not, don't worry! Take another look at your research and anything you learned from the previous experiment and come up with another hypothesis. Whether your test is successful or not, the key to conversion rate optimization is to always be testing. While these tips will hopefully help you to generate more leads from your website, if you are looking to further increase your caseload contact us today about our legal case leads!

kdm Fri, 02/28/2020 - 12:29

Optimizing your Contact Form to Increase Conversions

kdm — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 19:39:11 +0000

Optimizing your Contact Form to Increase Conversions

While there are many changes you can make to your site to help increase your conversions increase your conversions, focusing on your contact form is especially important for generating leads. By nature, people do not like filling out forms. However, you can work to combat this by making yours as simple and easy-to-use as possible.

Here are some tips for optimizing your form to increase the conversion rate:

1. Keep it as simple as possible

A form with 10 fields is going to appear way more daunting then one with 4, even if not all of them are required. Only ask for information that you really need and if you do have an optional field or two, be sure they are clearly marked. Also, use a large, easy-to-read font for your field labels and don’t be afraid of white space. Having adequate space between fields and even more space between different sections of the form makes it easier to digest visually and will increase the likelihood that someone will take the time to complete it.

2. Design for ease of use

Make sure that anyone can easily fill out your form, regardless of age or impairments. If you are a disability attorney or advocate, it is especially important that your form is accessible to all. Avoid using icons as form labels, as these can be difficult to distinguish for those with impaired vision. Take care that when using the "tab" button to navigate, the fields are selected in the correct order. This is important to make sure your form is easily read and completed with the use of a screen reader. Additionally, make sure any error messages are descriptive and appear by the field containing the invalid input. For example, for a phone number entered with only 7 digits, the error message should be "Please enter 10-digit phone number (including 3-digit area code)" rather than "Invalid number".

3. Have clear field labels

While the exact placement of field labels is not that important (except on mobile where they should always be above the field) you always want to avoid in-field labels. While these are great space savers since the labels are replaced when the information is entered into the field, this is also the root of their problem. In-field labels disappear as soon as you start entering information, so it is easy to forget what the field was asking for in the first place. Therefore, make sure your field labels are permanent so anyone filling out your form can quickly see the information that each is asking for.

4. Anticipate points of friction and anxiety

People are hesitant to give out personal information online, especially more private pieces such as date of birth. For a Social Security disability attorney or advocate, it is obviously very important to know the age of a lead. Therefore, consider adding a tooltip letting the person filling out the form know why you need their DOB.

5. Effective call-to-action button

Your call-to-action should be descriptive and look like a button. Rather than having the button say "Submit" try something like "Contact Our Firm". Your CTA should be short and to the point, but should let the person completing the form know exactly what they are doing. Also, make sure that the button is easily noticeable by choosing a color with a high contrast to the background. You can also try using a drop shadow effect or an outline so the button really stands out.

These are all relatively easy changes that you can make to optimize your contact form and increase the conversion rate of your website. However, if you are looking for a higher volume of leads or just need to supplement your current case load, give us a call today at 617.800.0089 to learn more about our legal case leads.

kdm Fri, 11/08/2019 - 14:39

Tips for a Successful Client Meeting

kdm — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 17:51:54 +0000

Tips for a Successful Client Meeting

Meeting clients in person is a great way to connect and better understand their needs, which will help you to provide the best representation possible. While exchanging phone calls and emails is efficient, actually getting to know someone face to face can help deepen your professional relationship. It will also help your client feel more comfortable and confident in your representation. Therefore, if your client ever needs an attorney again in the future, or has a friend or family member looking for help, you will likely be the first choice.

Here are a few tips to ensure a smooth and effective client meeting:

1. Plan the meeting well in advance and make sure that it is convenient for the client. It is always good to volunteer to travel to the client, and if he or she is disabled you should also offer to meet in his or her home. Once the meeting date, time and location have been established, follow up a few days before to confirm. You want to make sure you are both on the same page so that neither of you miss the meeting!

2. If you are bringing a case manager or another attorney, be sure to let the client know ahead of time so he or she knows what to expect. You can also offer to have a family member or close friend of the client join. While the goal is to form or further solidify a current business relationship, you also want to establish a good rapport with the client. Therefore, it is especially important to make sure that your client feels as comfortable as possible. Additionally, if your meeting is at a coffee shop or restaurant, make it clear that you will take care of the bill.

3. Have an agenda for the meeting. Make sure you know what you want to discuss going into the meeting, but also keep it casual enough so that the client can speak freely and enjoys your time together. Allow the conversation to flow normally, but have an idea of how to bring it back to business when the time is right. Go to the meeting prepared with a list of important questions to ask the client. It’s helpful when the questions are conversational rather than "Yes" or 'No" questions or ones that they could easily fill out on a form.

4. After your meeting, follow up with a thank you note or email to let the client know how much you appreciated their time. Provide him or her with a brief summary of your discussion and let him or her know of any next steps for the case. Also, if you promised the client any information that you did not have on hand at the time, be sure to get this to him or her promptly.

Having an in person meeting is a great opportunity to get to know your client better than via phone or email and can help to establish a long-term relationship. Additionally, with referrals being a key part of a successful law firm, having a good rapport with your clients can help increase the chances that they will recommend you to a family member or friend. However, if you are still looking for more clients and are interested in trying our legal case leads, give us a call today at 617.800.0089.

kdm Fri, 08/09/2019 - 13:51

2019 Hearing Office Approval Ratings

kdm — Thu, 16 May 2019 15:37:30 +0000

2019 Hearing Office Approval Ratings

With over 650,000 decisions made in Social Security disability cases each year, the SSA has two main offices, the Office of Hearings Operations (OHO) and the Office of Analytics, Review, and Oversight (OARO), that oversee the hearing, decision, and appeal processes in more than 160 local offices.* There are over 1,500 administrative law judges (ALJs) who preside over the hearings and give either a denial, a fully favorable or partially favorable decision.

The approval ratings vary significantly by hearing office, with the highest at 77.10% favorable and the lowest at 22.98%. The national average is 52.60%. Therefore, the hearing office where a claim is heard can affect the outcome of the case and whether or not an award is granted.

However, the approval rates for each hearing office fluctuate over time and it can be difficult to keep track of these. Therefore, we have compiled a list of the percentage of claims receiving both fully favorable and partially favorable decisions by hearing office. This data is from September 29, 2018 through April 26, 2019.**

Of the 168 OHOs/NHCs that have heard cases in the last 7 months, 103 of these offices have approval ratings over 50%. Here is a list of the 10 offices with the highest award percentages:

Greensboro, NC – 77.10%
Madison, WI – 74.95%
Long Island, NY – 74.87%
Rochester, NY – 74.72%
Honolulu, HI – 69.62%
Baltimore, MD – 69.56%
Kingsport, TN – 68.26%
Tucson, AZ – 67.87%
New York, NY – 66.78%
San Rafael, CA – 66.57%

eGenerationMarketing offers geographic targeting by zip code prefix, allowing you to receive leads that report to a specific hearing office. To learn more about our Social Security disability leads, give us a call today at 617.800.0089.

State	Hearing Office	% Fully Favorably	% Partially Favorable	% Favorable
AK	ANCHORAGE	15.32%	7.66%	22.98%
AL	BIRMINGHAM	40.55%	6.32%	46.87%
AL	FLORENCE	40.95%	7.32%	48.27%
AL	MOBILE	59.59%	4.34%	63.93%
AL	MONTGOMERY	56.15%	6.42%	62.57%
AR	FORT SMITH	46.00%	7.06%	53.06%
AR	LITTLE ROCK	36.38%	7.49%	43.87%
AZ	PHOENIX	29.90%	11.93%	41.84%
AZ	PHOENIX NORTH	45.44%	8.83%	54.27%
AZ	TUCSON	58.36%	9.51%	67.87%
CA	FRESNO	35.65%	19.31%	54.96%
CA	LONG BEACH	44.41%	8.64%	53.05%
CA	LOS ANGELES DOWNTOWN	48.04%	6.46%	54.50%
CA	LOS ANGELES WEST	40.14%	9.62%	49.77%
CA	MORENO VALLEY	41.81%	11.17%	52.98%
CA	NORWALK	49.48%	6.29%	55.77%
CA	OAKLAND	50.12%	10.47%	60.59%
CA	ORANGE	38.86%	12.56%	51.42%
CA	PASADENA	52.64%	7.80%	60.44%
CA	SACRAMENTO	57.12%	8.25%	65.37%
CA	SAN BERNARDINO	47.86%	9.69%	57.55%
CA	SAN DIEGO	41.30%	9.91%	51.21%
CA	SAN FRANCISCO	52.25%	8.82%	61.06%
CA	SAN JOSE	48.51%	11.93%	60.44%
CA	SAN RAFAEL	52.61%	13.96%	66.57%
CA	SANTA BARBARA	43.28%	5.28%	48.56%
CA	STOCKTON	39.36%	8.37%	47.73%
CO	COLORADO SPRINGS	27.97%	9.69%	37.65%
CO	DENVER	42.75%	7.28%	50.03%
CT	HARTFORD	34.78%	7.89%	42.67%
CT	NEW HAVEN	37.07%	12.21%	49.28%
DC	WASHINGTON	35.82%	9.17%	44.99%
DE	DOVER	48.40%	7.07%	55.48%
FL	FORT MYERS FL	52.94%	7.25%	60.18%
FL	FT LAUDERDALE	51.78%	5.96%	57.74%
FL	JACKSONVILLE	44.02%	7.33%	51.35%
FL	MIAMI	41.96%	6.57%	48.53%
FL	ORLANDO	49.11%	8.60%	57.71%
FL	ST PETERSBURG	50.20%	4.91%	55.11%
FL	TALLAHASSEE	43.96%	10.87%	54.83%
FL	TAMPA	50.69%	6.78%	57.48%
GA	ATLANTA DOWNTOWN	55.97%	6.95%	62.92%
GA	ATLANTA NORTH	52.03%	5.59%	57.62%
GA	COVINGTON	39.90%	9.76%	49.66%
GA	MACON	36.94%	6.36%	43.30%
GA	SAVANNAH	45.13%	8.69%	53.82%
HI	HONOLULU	56.24%	13.38%	69.62%
IA	WEST DES MOINES	45.96%	12.75%	58.71%
IL	CHICAGO	40.12%	11.54%	51.66%
IL	EVANSTON	49.01%	8.52%	57.53%
IL	NHC CHICAGO	35.98%	9.94%	45.92%
IL	OAK BROOK	47.39%	8.43%	55.82%
IL	ORLAND PARK	40.54%	9.67%	50.22%
IL	PEORIA	26.73%	10.65%	37.38%
IN	EVANSVILLE	38.81%	7.35%	46.15%
IN	FORT WAYNE	38.41%	8.10%	46.52%
IN	INDIANAPOLIS	53.51%	5.10%	58.61%
IN	VALPARAISO IN	37.97%	10.60%	48.56%
KS	TOPEKA	27.01%	8.04%	35.05%
KS	WICHITA	43.18%	3.79%	46.96%
KY	LEXINGTON	43.25%	6.95%	50.20%
KY	LOUISVILLE	45.72%	9.75%	55.48%
KY	MIDDLESBORO	35.36%	2.40%	37.77%
KY	PADUCAH	42.55%	10.30%	52.86%
LA	ALEXANDRIA	35.90%	8.82%	44.72%
LA	METAIRIE	38.21%	8.93%	47.14%
LA	NEW ORLEANS	48.87%	6.55%	55.42%
LA	SHREVEPORT	35.75%	8.54%	44.29%
MA	BOSTON	47.26%	7.94%	55.21%
MA	LAWRENCE	45.58%	15.29%	60.87%
MA	SPRINGFIELD	37.52%	10.18%	47.70%
MD	BALTIMORE	60.79%	8.78%	69.56%
MD	NHC BALTIMORE	47.60%	7.13%	54.73%
ME	PORTLAND	50.60%	5.11%	55.71%
MI	DETROIT	43.31%	8.54%	51.85%
MI	FLINT	34.53%	15.80%	50.33%
MI	GRAND RAPIDS	41.19%	9.47%	50.66%
MI	LANSING	44.06%	7.06%	51.13%
MI	LIVONIA	56.10%	7.20%	63.30%
MI	MT PLEASANT	39.50%	10.60%	50.10%
MI	OAK PARK	53.95%	9.11%	63.06%
MN	MINNEAPOLIS	43.67%	9.73%	53.40%
MO	COLUMBIA MO	35.65%	9.98%	45.63%
MO	CREVE COEUR	39.60%	7.13%	46.73%
MO	KANSAS CITY	42.45%	6.92%	49.37%
MO	NHC ST LOUIS	38.02%	8.66%	46.68%
MO	SPRINGFIELD	32.92%	4.97%	37.89%
MO	ST LOUIS	39.04%	11.11%	50.15%
MS	HATTIESBURG	38.17%	5.54%	43.71%
MS	JACKSON	38.88%	4.77%	43.64%
MS	TUPELO	55.00%	10.00%	65.01%
MT	BILLINGS	36.02%	8.71%	44.73%
NC	CHARLOTTE	52.82%	8.06%	60.88%
NC	FAYETTEVILLE	52.27%	6.61%	58.88%
NC	GREENSBORO	68.93%	8.18%	77.10%
NC	RALEIGH	47.33%	7.38%	54.70%
ND	FARGO	48.39%	9.98%	58.37%
NE	OMAHA	40.56%	8.35%	48.91%
NH	MANCHESTER	50.86%	5.52%	56.38%
NJ	JERSEY CITY	51.31%	11.45%	62.76%
NJ	NEWARK	46.43%	11.27%	57.69%
NJ	SOUTH JERSEY	40.23%	13.90%	54.12%
NM	ALBUQUERQUE	41.76%	8.46%	50.22%
NM	NHC ALBUQUERQUE	30.76%	6.70%	37.47%
NV	LAS VEGAS	34.57%	9.22%	43.79%
NV	RENO NV	27.93%	10.45%	38.38%
NY	ALBANY	49.27%	7.92%	57.19%
NY	BRONX	51.43%	8.20%	59.63%
NY	BUFFALO	39.80%	10.77%	50.57%
NY	LONG ISLAND	66.44%	8.43%	74.87%
NY	NEW YORK	58.25%	8.53%	66.78%
NY	NEW YORK VARICK	55.08%	10.60%	65.68%
NY	QUEENS	52.84%	9.58%	62.42%
NY	ROCHESTER	66.40%	8.32%	74.72%
NY	SYRACUSE	42.31%	9.26%	51.57%
NY	WHITE PLAINS	50.28%	9.23%	59.51%
OH	AKRON OH	47.58%	9.67%	57.25%
OH	CINCINNATI	46.04%	6.31%	52.35%
OH	CLEVELAND	32.47%	7.21%	39.68%
OH	COLUMBUS	38.50%	5.70%	44.20%
OH	DAYTON	33.99%	15.16%	49.15%
OH	TOLEDO OH	33.20%	10.84%	44.05%
OK	MCALESTER	31.19%	7.58%	38.77%
OK	OKLAHOMA CITY	53.45%	4.72%	58.17%
OK	TULSA	55.00%	10.00%	65.01%
OR	EUGENE	40.84%	8.37%	49.22%
OR	PORTLAND OR	40.68%	8.84%	49.52%
PA	ELKINS PARK	52.94%	6.49%	59.42%
PA	HARRISBURG	42.52%	5.00%	47.52%
PA	JOHNSTOWN	39.26%	5.19%	44.44%
PA	PHILADELPHIA	41.43%	8.71%	50.14%
PA	PHILADELPHIA EAST	41.09%	9.32%	50.41%
PA	PITTSBURGH	38.79%	8.44%	47.23%
PA	SEVEN FIELDS	39.44%	12.01%	51.45%
PA	WILKES BARRE	35.18%	10.25%	45.43%
PR	PONCE	38.79%	8.44%	47.23%
PR	SAN JUAN	54.87%	6.22%	61.10%
RI	PROVIDENCE	45.41%	4.96%	50.37%
SC	CHARLESTON	36.78%	7.60%	44.38%
SC	COLUMBIA	53.23%	6.11%	59.34%
SC	GREENVILLE	51.41%	4.82%	56.23%
TN	CHATTANOOGA	48.83%	5.11%	53.94%
TN	FRANKLIN	46.13%	5.96%	52.09%
TN	KINGSPORT	64.32%	3.95%	68.26%
TN	KNOXVILLE	46.17%	4.80%	50.97%
TN	MEMPHIS	47.83%	9.19%	57.02%
TN	NASHVILLE	46.55%	8.78%	55.33%
TX	DALLAS DOWNTOWN	50.39%	6.97%	57.36%
TX	DALLAS NORTH	54.43%	8.02%	62.45%
TX	FORT WORTH	40.67%	7.92%	48.60%
TX	HOUSTON NORTH	37.47%	6.28%	43.75%
TX	HOUSTON-BISSONNET	41.74%	7.92%	49.67%
TX	RIO GRANDE VALLEY	34.10%	7.97%	42.07%
TX	SAN ANTONIO	28.49%	6.85%	35.34%
UT	SALT LAKE CITY	43.52%	9.45%	52.97%
VA	CHARLOTTESVILLE	24.07%	10.98%	35.05%
VA	NHC FALLS CHURCH	40.14%	9.67%	49.81%
VA	NORFOLK	42.64%	8.46%	51.09%
VA	RICHMOND	33.33%	9.46%	42.80%
VA	ROANOKE	45.79%	9.62%	55.41%
WA	SEATTLE	37.11%	9.47%	46.58%
WA	SPOKANE	58.09%	6.33%	64.43%
WA	TACOMA	33.08%	9.34%	42.42%
WI	MADISON	66.15%	8.80%	74.95%
WI	MILWAUKEE	32.42%	10.97%	43.38%
WV	CHARLESTON	54.25%	7.05%	61.31%
WV	HUNTINGTON	36.69%	5.19%	41.88%
WV	MORGANTOWN	36.07%	7.83%	43.91%

*https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/about_us.html

**https://www.ssa.gov/appeals/DataSets/03_ALJ_Disposition_Data.html

kdm Thu, 05/16/2019 - 11:37

Client Welcome Packets

kdm — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 19:23:35 +0000

Client Welcome Packets

When new clients sign up to work with your firm, it is important to let them know right away that they are valued. Thanking new clients for choosing your firm and sending them some useful resources is a great place to start. However, an email or letter is not always sufficient and instead, you may want to consider sending out a thoughtfully crafted welcome packet.

A welcome packet to new clients doesn't have to be elaborate – it will be greatly appreciated even if you just include the most important information they need regarding their case and a few small, useful gifts. You should send different packets based on the clients' type of case, whether it is Social Security disability, personal injury, workers' comp, or employment law, so that you can provide relevant information for every client. Here are some ideas for items to include in your packet:

1. Handwritten Note

Just a few quick lines welcoming the client to your firm can go a long way towards making him or her feel appreciated and valued. Even a small handwritten message at the bottom of your standard, typed welcome letter can feel special.

2. What to expect with your PI/SSD/WC/EMP case

Include a short brochure outlining the steps of filing the claim and a general timeline of the process. Make sure to also highlight any important information the claimant should keep track of, or changes that he or she should let you know about. Keep your brochure short, to the point and easy to read. You can include info graphics to make it even more straightforward and digestible.

3. Contact Information

Make sure that your client knows the best person to get in touch with at your firm and where to direct any questions or concerns. It would be a great idea to include a contact sheet in your packet so that your client feels familiar with the people handling his or her case and never has to worry about feeling ignored or forgotten.

4. Firm branded gifts

Surprise your clients with a few small gifts. When they receive an envelope from your law firm in the mail, they will likely expect it to be filled with paperwork and contracts. Therefore, it will surely bring a smile to their faces when they open it and find a brand new flash drive or a card holder to put on the back of their phone. You can include anything from a reusable straw to a small flashlight that they can carry around in their bag. The items don't have to be expensive – just thoughtful gifts that you think would be useful to your clients. Of course you can also include your firm’s branding on anything that you send, just be sure to do so in a tasteful manner where it won't prevent clients from actually using the items.

Sending out welcome packets to new clients is a relatively quick and easy way to show your clients that you care right from the get go. This is the key to fostering positive relationships, which will help both of you in the long run.. Welcome packets help you foster long-term relationships so that your clients will be more likely to work with you again should they need additional legal help, and will refer your firm to friends. By spending a little extra effort on welcome packets for new clients, you could generate huge profit for your law firm for years to come.

kdm Fri, 01/25/2019 - 14:23

Holiday Gifts for Your Firm's Clients

kdm — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:23:56 +0000

Holiday Gifts for Your Firm's Clients

The holiday season is upon us and as an attorney, there is no better time to show your clients how much you care. Letting them know that you are thinking of them – even just by sending handwritten note – can go a long way. Without loyal clients, it would be very difficult to have a successful law practice, so it is certainly worth your time to wish them well around the holidays.

You don't need to spend a ton of money to give a thoughtful gift to your client. Here are some ideas for gifts that will be appreciated by your clients, but won't break the bank:

1. Handwritten Note

Sending your client a handwritten note is always a good idea. In a time where most communication is via email or text, it feels especially thoughtful when you receive a note that someone took the time to write out and mail. Also, you don't have to write them an essay – just a few simple lines thanking them for their support is enough to let your clients know you are thinking of them. Handwritten notes are perfect for Social Security disability firms, where older clients will appreciate letters even more than younger generations.

2. Coffee Shop Gift Card

Who doesn't love a free coffee? A $5 gift card to a local coffee shop is a great way to send your clients warm wishes – literally. It is a universally appreciated gift by coffee and tea lovers alike and your client will be sure to think of you as he or she is enjoying the delicious drink. If you want, you can even take this a step further and send your clients two gift cards – one for themselves and one to treat a friend (perhaps a friend who needs a lawyer?). The coffee shop will appreciate your firm's business and may even let you leave a few business cards behind for customers!

3. Custom Calendar

It makes sense that you might want to use a gift as a marketing tool by including your logo and firm information. However, I would urge you to be cautious – you want your clients to know that you put some thought and time into the gift and didn't just slap your logo on a calendar filled with stock photos. Tacky presents won’t even be used, so you’ll waste your marketing dollars on an ineffective product. Work with a local photographer or graphic designer to create a calendar your clients will love and actually use. Your firm name is likely to be brought up to friends and family if they ask your client where he or she got such a unique calendar!

4. Reusable Bag

With more and more cities across America banning plastic bags, reusable bags are something that everyone can use. With this gift, you can show your clients that you not only care about them, but also care about protecting the planet. As with the calendars, be cautious when weighing the pros and cons of including your logo on the bag. It might make sense to instead pick out a color or pattern you think your client might really like and therefore increase the chances that he or she uses it. There are many options available for reusable bags, including ones that come in small pouches so they can easily be carried in a purse or pocket.

Sending clients gifts around the holidays shows you care, which is what clients want most from an attorney. For this reason, a thoughtful gift can help to ensure that your firm is the first one mentioned when a friend or family member comes to your client looking for help.

With that said, if your practice is running slow this holiday season and you are looking for a boost in new cases, give us a call at 617.800.0089 to learn about our legal case leads.

kdm Tue, 12/04/2018 - 16:23