Nearly 20 percent of law firms publish their own blog, according to a survey of law firm e-marketing practices published last week. The Survey of Law Firm E-Marketing Practices, published by the Primary Research Group, found that firms with 20 or more practice groups were the most likely to publish blogs, with nearly 40 percent of such firms having them.

The survey also found that major U.S. law firms spend a mean of $40,583 in overhauling their Web sites. More than half these firms hired a consulting firm to help them with the overhaul. Fewer than 12 percent designed their Web site inhouse.

Among other findings:

  • Nearly 60 percent of the firms published e-newsletters, as did nearly 90 percent of the firms with 200 lawyers or more.
  • Mean spending on electronic press release services was modest, at just $536.
  • Nearly 58 percent of the firms in the sample use opt-in email marketing to promote the law firm.
  • Just 12.5 percent of the firms in the sample have paid search engines for higher search engine placement, a practice that was more common among smaller than larger firms.
  • Less than 3 percent of the firms have ever done a podcast to help market the law firm.

The full report costs $295 and includes more than 120 tables describing emerging law firm policies on Web site development, use of blogs, e-newsletters, Web site sponsorships, banner ads and other Web marketing practices. The report is based on data provided by 40 law firms.

Photo of Bob Ambrogi Bob Ambrogi

Bob is a lawyer, veteran legal journalist, and award-winning blogger and podcaster. In 2011, he was named to the inaugural Fastcase 50, honoring “the law’s smartest, most courageous innovators, techies, visionaries and leaders.” Earlier in his career, he was editor-in-chief of several legal publications, including The National Law Journal, and editorial director of ALM’s Litigation Services Division.