[pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_heading element_name=”Heading” heading=”h1″ text=”Instructions – How to List Your Practice” color=”” align=”left” bgcolor=”#ededed” padding=”10px,10px,10px,10px” margin=”10px,0px,10px,0px” extra_class=””][/pt_heading][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Register” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
If you would like an enhanced listing you need to first register. (If you would like to submit a free, basic listing, you may do so with by submitting the free listing form.) Registering requires you to provide a name, email address, username and password. Once registered, you can edit your listing, add listings and upgrade your listings as often as you wish. If you find a listing on the site that you did not place there you may claim it and it will be assigned to you once you register. Or, in the alternative, you can register, add a listing and ask that we delete the old one. (Better to claim the old one as it probably was already indexed by the search engines.) In order to register you will have to prove that you belong to the human race (that you are not a spam bot) by checking a box, solving a simple math problem, etc. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Login” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
Once you Register you need to login. If you forget your password, you can request a reset. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Choose and Select your Listing Package ” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
Here you choose what kind of listing plan you want. There are a number of choices and prices which allow you to select one or more specialty categories (e.g. criminal law, bankruptcy law, etc.) You may also enhance your listing by choosing to be “Featured,” or “Top of Category,” etc. “Featured” gets you in the carousel and a little “Featured” banner that helps you stand out. Every paid listing includes the Google Maps enhancement because we think that enhancement is very important. (See No. 8 below for instructions regarding the Google Maps entry.) [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Add Listing” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
The title is another important element of your listing as is your description. The title will become the title of the page that search engines display in their search results and the beginning of the description will become the blurb under the title in search engine results. Not all search engine will return results formatted this way, but most will. It is a good idea to include your practice name, practice area and city and/or state in the description for search engine optimization. Try not to duplicate descriptions used on your webpage and other listings. Google indexes these listings and they are known to frown on duplicate content, but we think they have become sophisticated enough to distinguish between duplicate blogs and listings which necessarily have to repeat information. The enhanced listings allow html coding so you can use the canonical link element if you wish. Include your address and contact information under this description. We provide a space to enter keywords, but it is not clear to what extent, if any, Google is valuing them. If you want to include keywords you may, but we suggest you not overdo it. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Add Website” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
You should definitely add your website url. There will be a button that links to your website and a direct link under the “Details” tab. These links are “no follow” right now, as preferred by Google, but we can change that if it becomes advantageous to do so. We have a place for you to enter your email address, but we are not displaying that right now until we are convinced we can do it in a way that will prevent spammers from harvesting them. You can add your email address in your description, but you are better off letting people go to your website where they can contact you using your contact form. You should definitely enter your phone number so people may call you right away if they have an immediate need. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Select Category” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
Depending on the plan you choose, you may select one or more practice categories. You should do this as we find that people search by practice area and zip code. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Upload Media” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
You MUST upload at least one image. If you upload more than one image, set one as the “featured image” so it is displayed first and in the carousel. You must upload one image not because the program requires it, (it doesn’t) but because the listings with images get much more attention than the listings without images. It is best to upload a head shot or group shot, but even a logo is better than no image. You may also upload videos, audio recordings and documents such as pamphlets in pdf format. Videos are an especially good marketing device, but they need to be well done and effective. They are not like images where any image is better than none. The video needs to be good or it will detract from your listing. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section][pt_section element_name=”Section” width=”boxed” bg_color=”” bg_image=”” padding=”10px,0px,10px,0px” margin=”,,,” extra_class=””][pt_row element_name=”Row”][pt_column width=”1/1″][pt_block_image2 element_name=”Enter Location” bgcolor=”#fafafa” bdcolor=”#dddddd” txtcolor=”#222222″ image=”” link=”http://” imgalign=”left” extra_class=””]
This entry is also very important. When you enter your location you are doing it so that you can be located on the Google map and people can obtain directions to your location. Also, you will get that neat pin on the Google map that marks your location and says your name when the cursor hovers over it. Therefore, it has to be entered in the way Google wants it. (What Google wants, Google gets.) Enter your address without including a suite number, floor, etc. Then, Google will prompt you to accept an address. Choose the address that is correct for your office’s physical location and you will be all set with Google. When you enter your practice description you can include your entire address so people know what floor, suite, etc., you are in. [/pt_block_image2][/pt_column][/pt_row][/pt_section]