This post offers 11 evergreen page topics and 10 blog topics that bankruptcy attorneys can write about on their law firm websites, along with information about how to get the most out of each proposed topic. [11-minute read]
Many potential bankruptcy clients will begin searching for information about their financial problems before they know that they need an attorney.
Attorneys offer law firm website content that’s relevant to specific bankruptcy processes themselves, but they can also capture the attention of potential clients who are gathering information by offering content about circumstances related to financial difficulty.
The topics offered in this post can be modified in many different ways to appeal to the types of potential clients your bankruptcy law firm wants to target.
When adding content to your law firm website, remember to link to other relevant pages on your site using a strategic internal linking structure.
Evergreen Topics for Bankruptcy Law Firm Websites
The evergreen pages of your site should cover information that is likely to remain static over the long term. This includes general information about your practice area and the laws relevant to it. Evergreen pages should be linked to from within your site’s main navigational structure, making it easy for your website visitors to navigate between those pages to find the information that is most interesting and relevant to them.
Blog posts, on the other hand, should not have their own links in your site’s main navigation. Blog posts should be used to cover timely content or content that will otherwise have a shorter shelf life than the material offered on your site’s evergreen pages.
After you’ve added some basic information about the laws governing your practice area to your site’s evergreen pages, drill down into specific information for each section by focusing on long tail search phrases that your potential clients or referral sources are likely to search for. In general, you will likely want to focus on fleshing out the evergreen pages of your site before transitioning to an aggressive blogging strategy.
The content of this blog post is not a complete list of topics that could be covered on your law firm website. However, the suggestions included here may prove helpful to your site’s online visibility for relevant search queries.
Debt — Your potential clients may search for information about debt relief well before they turn to an attorney to help them file for bankruptcy or find other ways to resolve their debt issues. Capture their attention early by providing information about debt relief options on your law firm website.
Get more granular — Start with general information about dealing with debt and options available to potential clients before they file for bankruptcy, then go into detail about specific debt collection proceedings and types of debt as you continue to flesh out the content on your site.
Repossessions — Your potential clients may face the repossession of certain pieces of property as their debt crises begin to mount. Offer information on individual rights and repossession processes on your website to build trust with potential clients before they decide to hire an attorney.
Get more granular — Start with general information about the legal implications of property repossession (when it happens, what rights banks and other lenders have with regard to claiming and reselling property, debtor liability, etc.), then go into detail by discussing specific types of property that can be repossessed, as well as property that cannot be reclaimed legally and circumstances under which repossession may not be a legal option for lenders.
Foreclosure defense — When facing foreclosure, your potential clients may not know that they may be able to fight the proceedings in court. Offer information on your site about how your potential clients may be able to defend against — and even put a stop to — foreclosure proceedings initiated by a bank.
Get more granular — If your potential clients are seeking information about foreclosure, there is a good chance that they have already received a foreclosure notice from the bank. Offer information about how bankruptcy proceedings might allow them to keep their home. Then add content about how potential clients may be able to negotiate with their bank(s) to avoid facing foreclosure proceedings before they are started.
Alternatives to bankruptcy — When searching for information about financial issues, your potential clients may not be aware that declaring bankruptcy could adversely affect their long-term goals such as purchasing a home, going to school, or starting a business.
Get more granular — Discuss the long-term implications of declaring bankruptcy on your law firm website, then add information about alternative methods of dealing with debt that do not include bankruptcy. Outline the benefits and drawbacks associated with each alternative option you cover and ways that your law firm can advocate for the potential client which might save them money and avoid a hassle.
Garnishments — Some of your potential clients are likely to begin looking for an attorney after their wages or other sources of income face garnishment as a result of debt. Offer information on garnishments on your site to get the attention of those potential clients when they start looking for information on the subject.
Get more granular — Talk about the different sources of income that may be legally garnished, as well as how garnishments might be mitigated or avoided by initiating processes such as bankruptcy. Discuss deadlines to be aware of, qualified exemptions to garnishments, and other legal defenses.
Define bankruptcy terms — Your potential clients may begin searching for definitions of specific terms associated with their financial situation online. Offer a bankruptcy glossary on your law firm website.
Get more granular — Begin with basic terms such as those associated with the various parties involved in bankruptcy cases (trustee, creditor, debtor, etc.), then expand to define specific processes, filings, forms, and other terms that may cause your potential clients confusion.
District bankruptcy court — Start with a general overview of your district bankruptcy court by outlining the various individuals involved and the process that takes place there.
Get more granular — Get more specific about your local court by discussing how often your clients will need to show up in person, as well as explaining how to dress, where to park, where to eat when they do need to be there, and by outlining other places of interest in the area.
The 341 meeting — Define and provide information on your website about 341 meetings — who will be there, what they can expect from the proceedings, what the purpose of such meeting is, etc.
Get more granular — After outlining basic expectations for 341 meetings, get more specific about how they tend to go in your jurisdiction. What are some of the common questions trustees will ask of your clients? Where are these meetings held? Is there anything your potential clients should bring to these meetings or possible topics of conversation they should be aware of beforehand, and so on.
Chapter 7 — Define Chapter 7 bankruptcy and what it means for those who declare it.
Get more granular — Go into detail about the types of property that can be liquidated under a Chapter 7 declaration, how it will affect a person’s credit and for how long it remains on their record. Discuss the federal and state exemptions in detail so that those searching for information related to a particular type of asset (jewelry, tool of trade, etc.) can find your articles. You can also create dedicated pages comparing Chapter 7 to other alternatives.
Chapter 11 — Define and outline Chapter 11 proceedings for businesses, organizations, and individuals on your law firm website.
Get more granular — Discuss when it might be appropriate or ideal to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and outline the specific circumstances that make such a filing possible (especially as it concerns individuals). Compare Chapter 11 to other financial alternatives and outline the advantages and disadvantages of each.
Chapter 13 — Define Chapter 13 bankruptcy, explain who might be eligible for a so-called “wage earners’ plan,” and outline circumstances under which this might be an ideal option.
Get more granular — It will likely be appealing to many potential clients to do whatever possible to prevent the liquidation of their assets. Explain how a means test works to determine an individual’s eligibility for a Chapter 13 filing, what will be included in the Chapter 13 plan, as well as circumstances which might make Chapter 13 difficult to achieve. Compare Chapter 13 filings directly to other alternatives to make clear what options your potential clients might have available to them.
Bankruptcy Law Firm Website Blog Topics
Bankruptcy myths and misunderstandings — Demystify the bankruptcy process for your potential clients by addressing some of their most common — and most unfounded — fears on your law firm’s blog.
Posts based on seasonal events and purchasing trends — Tax season, summer vacation, holidays, and the start of the academic year (among other things) will make many of your potential clients look at their financial situation. Use this time to offer relevant tips, insights, and case studies on your blog.
Creditor harassment and abuse — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has rules in place to protect debtors from abuse by creditors. Outline your potential clients’ rights and discuss how you can help if they’re being abused or harassed by creditors.
Alternatives to bankruptcy — Facing financial trouble can be stressful for your potential clients, many of whom may not be aware that certain tools might be available to them to help them prevent drastic debt solutions such as bankruptcy. Explain on your blog how negotiated solutions can help prevent long-term credit damage for your potential clients.
“Special” kinds of debt — It can benefit your law firm’s online visibility to discuss any type of debt on its blog, but covering debt that is more common — such as medical and student loan debt — may help answer specific questions that a large number of your potential clients are already asking.
Can a bank repossess my ___ to cover my debt? — Some potential clients are likely to enter search phrases similar to this into search engines. Address their concerns on your blog to maximize your chances of being found in search engine results pages.
Fair debt collection — Use your blog to address and outline what constitutes fair debt collection practices for your potential clients.
Case studies that highlight potential clients’ rights — A recent “technical error” on the part of Wells Fargo led to hundreds of “accidental” home foreclosures for the bank’s customers. Cover such instances on your blog to let your clients know about their rights as debtors and to demonstrate how you can help them protect those rights.
Credit reporting errors — Many of your potential clients may not be aware that they can dispute errors in their credit report. Cover common credit reporting errors on your blog, as well as how to go about disputing and correcting them.
High-profile / celebrity bankruptcy — Stories about celebrity bankruptcies provide an opportunity to talk about the bankruptcy process in an interesting way. For example, you could explain why 50 Cent chose to file under Chapter 11 and why Chapter 7 is more appropriate for most people.
Learn more about LawLytics websites for bankruptcy lawyers.
