The most important part of your Avvo profile is the portfolio section. The portfolio section also tends to be the most neglected part of a profile. It takes the most time and effort, and is a portion you should be contributing to on a daily basis. This section includes: contribution, cases, publications and speaking engagements.
Contributing to the site helps you build your reputation and also earn a higher ranking on Avvo. It will also increase your searchability with the search engines – they really like to see relevant activity. There are various ways to contribute: answering questions, publishing helpful guides, and evaluating the contribution of your peers. Overall, the more actively you participate the more opportunity you have to engage with potential clients.
Avvo ranks contribution on a scale from 1-20. There are three different types of points that all count towards your contribution score, Contribution, Quality, and Showcase.
Contribution Points
Contribution points are earned by answering questions in the Q&A Forum, writing helpful guides, and agreeing and commenting on other lawyers answers.
Quality Points
Quality Points encourage users to publish quality content on Avvo. Users are able to acknowledge when content is helpful, making these some of the easiest points to earn.
Showcase Points
Showcase Points are earned when users share helpful content outside of Avvo. There are various outlets you can share content on to earn showcase points.
Make it a habit to start spending 10 minutes a week contributing to the site. Download the Avvo application on your phone and contribute while you are waiting for an appointment, or with your morning coffee. Contributing by reviewing questions, answering them, or agreeing with others feedback will increase your rating drastically. Making this part of your weekly routine will be beneficial in the long run.
Publications
Include at least one or two publications complete with the article, title, and year. If you have never been published before, take a look at what your local bar wants and start by getting published through them. Industry publications, Attorney at Law Magazine, or local newspapers are other options. Remember, you can’t publish online yourself.
Speaking Engagements
Speaking engagements can be for local trade organization, a local networking events, or even at your state bar. Include any speaking events as it relates to the legal industry. Provide the presentation name, conference or event, and the date.
To achieve a 10.0 profile, you need information in every section relevant to your practice areas. Having a consistent, complete Avvo profile with quality reviews and contribution points will guarantee you a good ranking. Don’t neglect the portfolio section, instead make it a habit to contribute to the site, answer client questions and offer your knowledge. Potential clients are searching for lawyers on Avvo, make this an opportunity for you to capture new business.
