This touches on some of the topics in a small guide I have on business identity for legal firms. Much of it is of particular relevance to the smaller practitioner, but it's equally valid for the larger firm.

1. Every practice needs to put up a simple but clear website. Martindale-Hubbell has a package, but inmotionhosting.com is a great deal less expensive and considerably easier and faster to use. Since a legal practice is usually a commercial enterprise make every effort to obtain a .com domain. Do not at this time attempt to get a .law domain. An approved registrar has not been assigned by ICANN and any registrars offering these are doing it by means of what is known as a pseudo-domain, which are notorious for virus and trojan infections. Additionally, once the .law domains are legitimately offered, you could lose the rights to your domain. So wait.

2. Don't expect your website to be a rainmaker. It can help and if it does generate revenue, that's great. But to a certain extent, it is now become like a telephone. If you don't have one, potential clients may question your most basic ability to run a business.

3. Keep it up to date. It doesn't have to be chock full of new data, but it's shocking how many law firm websites have old copyright years, list attorneys who are gone (one firm in town is notorious for this) or don't list new attorneys right away. Also if your practice areas change, update right away.

4. Your practice needs to have an e-mail address that matches your website domain; this shows continuity and integration; please note I also advise that you (and any staff you have) use your full name in your e-mail address such as john.doe@doelegal.com. This helps to reinforce your name in the memory of others. Also decide if you want to use your full formal first name or not, (I recommend that you do) i.e., william.doe instead of bill.doe.

5. If you have no partners, consider changing the name of your practice to something like Doe Legal, rather than John Doe, Attorney at Law or The Law Offices of John Doe. This helps to establish your practice as an institution that is more than just yourself but represents you, your staff, your reputation, your skill set, and your clients.

I hope this is of some small help.

I agree with Jordan Ross. Seeing an attorney with @gmail.com = eye rolling; @yahoo.com = snickering; @aol.com = guffaw.

Frankly, I cannot afford the $3,000 / month for seo optimization to get on google's first page. So the way I view our webpage is for potential clients to confirm we are legitimate by seeing we have a professional, current webpage.

However I do blog, usually whenI draft a motion on an interesting topic, or prepare to teach a cle, I will convert the material to a blog article. That generates random traffic to our site.