Take a look at our December newsletter!
For The Ambitious Advocate BRIEF RECESS
DECEMBER 2023
FROM THE LAW OFFICES OF J. PRICE MCNAMARA
SEO Might Be Done For Rethinking Legal Marketing in a Post-Google Era
As a law firm owner, I found this quote kind of scary: “Forget about Google and the high price of SEO …”
If all of that’s true, and nothing we can do or pay someone to do will affect whether we show up on Page 1 or 253 in Google results, it’s time to hedge against the nonexistence of SEO-based marketing and move some SEO budget elsewhere. I’m tired of thinking about Google anyway. The end of SEO may be a good thing.
You might find that idea scary if your client acquisition is highly dependent on SEO-based website traffic. Most attorneys know what SEO is by now. But if you don’t, it stands for search engine optimization. Basically, you pay someone with SEO expertise a lot of money to make your website come up high on Google’s search result list when a potential client Googles things like “Attorney for (your practice area).” And the competition for high ranking is stiff. I’ve been paying for SEO services for over 12 years. It’s expensive, and I’ve changed providers six times. But next to referrals from past clients and others, including attorneys outside of my practice area, a well-ranked website has played a big role in our client development. This is exactly why I found the “forget about Google and SEO” idea so scary. I came across the idea in an article on the current state and future of SEO by the Verge called “The People Who Ruined the Internet.” The article made a strong case that trends and patterns in SEO expose a dying industry that, soon, no SEO expert will be capable of affecting a website’s ranking for given search terms. It also revealed a huge trend of consumers no longer trusting Google’s results. The article provided these insights: • When an SEO professional was asked how he would find an attorney, accountant, or contractor, he did not say he would search Google. He replied, “I would ask a friend.” • Even today, while SEO strategies can still “work,” true SEO experts estimate that 80% of the people “doing SEO” don’t know what they’re doing or are outright scammers. I’ve experienced this without a doubt. • Experts are uncertain that Google can combat the onslaught of AI content.
What do you think? I’m always curious about other attorneys’ thoughts on new and evolving things like SEO, AI, digital marketing,
and how they affect our profession. I’d love to hear your thoughts, and my inbox is always open at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com .
(225) 201-8311 1
We were in the middle of appealing a denied long-term disability insurance claim for our client “Jane,” a hospice nurse, when her husband “Tim” received this letter: “Dear [Husband Tim]: Please accept our sincerest condolences regarding the death of [Jane]. We received notification that they passed away … This letter is regarding his/her outstanding overpayment with Lincoln National Life, in the amount of $2,576.64 … Please remit payment of $2,576.64, payable to Lincoln National Life.” Denied, Declared Dead The Roller Coaster Ride of a Ho
Anyone robbing a house must know they’re getting into a dangerous situation. But the teenager who burgled Adam Pearl’s Meridian, Idaho, home had no idea what consequences were in store. Many homeowners have a guard dog, but Pearl got his home security from Joey, his pet squirrel. One day in 2017, Pearl came home and saw that something seemed amiss. Joey was excited, and the doors he’d left closed were now open. After finding scratches on the lock of his gun safe, Pearl knew there’d been a robbery and called the police. Officer Ashley Turner couldn’t help but notice Joey’s presence in the house but didn’t believe he was connected with the case — at first. A few hours later, Turner returned to Pearl’s house with his missing belongings and a story to tell. She’d partially identified the perpetrator by the suspicious scratches on his hands. During questioning, Turner said the burglar confessed to the home invasion and explained why he’d left sooner than intended: Joey attacked while he was attempting to break into the gun safe. Unsurprisingly, the rodent’s violence was frightening. “He wasn’t expecting to have, you know, a squirrel come flying out of nowhere at him,” Officer Turner said. The thief reported that leaving was the only way to stop Joey’s aggression. After learning of his bravery, Pearl rewarded Joey with his favorite candy, Whoppers. But he then had a difficult choice ahead. When Joey was still a tiny baby, Pearl and his wife had taken in the abandoned squirrel. They had intended to release Joey back into the wild when spring came, but they were no longer sure. Ultimately, they let Joey decide. After he started playing with other squirrels through the home’s sliding glass door, the Pearls installed a cat door so he could come and go as he pleased. Joey spent several weeks outdoors with other squirrels by day and returned to the Pearls by night. Eventually, he requested one final scratch behind the ears before disappearing into an apple tree and leaving the Pearls’ house behind forever. THE GUARD SQUIRREL WHO WENT NUTS ON A BURGLAR
R
?
To which we replied:
“This is to advise that [Jane] is NOT DECEASED. Accordingly, we ask that all communications regarding this claim be directed through our office. Additionally, we would ask that you please provide the source of the erroneous death notice as well as confirmation that [Jane’s] appeal review has not been interrupted.”
Lincoln never gave us an explanation. We continued building her appeal.
Jane worked with horrible pain for years until her fibromyalgia, Type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and other ailments made it impossible to continue. She loved her work helping terminal patients and their families and hated to give it up.
Jane’s treating physicians told her she was unable to continue working. But Lincoln ignored their opinions and denied her claim for
Does your office turn away calls about “long-term disability insurance” claim denials because you don’t handle administrative appeals or “ERISA litigation” in federal court? We want to hear from you! We happily share fees on referred ERISA long- term disability, life insurance, and accidental death insurance denial cases. Send us an email at BriefRecess@jpricemcnamara.com or call (225) 201-8311 to start the referral process! ERISA is all we do! WE VALUE YOUR REFERRALS!
Though Joey returned to the great outdoors to live with his kind, his legend is a warning to humans. When you break into someone’s home, you never know what you might find. WinMyBenefits.com 2
disability benefits, claiming that Jane could still perform her job duties and was therefore not disabled nor entitled to benefits under the policy. Lincoln further claimed the evidence she presented was insufficient to prove her case, despite her treating physicians’ unwavering opinions. We worked closely with Jane to help her build her claim carefully and systematically with new, undeniable evidence far beyond what was presented to Lincoln before they denied the claim. With Jane’s help, we worked with her treating physician to create a more detailed expert opinion beyond what was in her medical chart. These were made into formal, signed statements. Jane’s husband also completed an affidavit of his observations of Jane’s difficulties. Jane’s new description of how many ways her symptoms affected her life was compelling. She described how some of the medications she had to take caused her to experience dizziness and brain fog, affecting the quality of her work. Thankfully, when presented with undeniable new evidence in Jane’s appeal and copies of court opinions, and our case law research finding where judges had awarded benefits under fact scenarios similar to our client’s case, Lincoln finally did the right thing. They paid her for all past- due benefits and reinstated her benefits under the policy going forward. d, and Finally Delivered ospice Nurse’s Insurance Appeal
BONFIRES, BREWS, AND BRILLIANT LIGHTS! Check Out Louisiana’s December Delights
Check out these three events that make it feel like Christmas!
Bonfires on the Levee, Dec. 24 This tradition dates back to the 1700s! Drive along the Mississippi River levee to view this Louisiana Christmas Eve tradition — log pyramids as large as 20 feet are lit on fire along the levee between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Those who build the fires say they light the way for Papa Noel, Cajun Santa, so he can guide his reindeer and sleigh to the children. The display is just stunning, with families and friends building towering blazing pyramids and even small homes, boats, and alligators! You’ll find bonfires all along the levee but concentrated in areas close to Gramercy, Lutcher, and Paulina. It’s a must-see!
We thank our Referral Counsel (you know who you are) for the opportunity to help this wonderful family!
Abita Brew Pub, Abita Springs The Abita Brew Pub is known for its craft beers and is located on a long biking trail we used to ride with our kids. But you may not have known it’s a hidden gem of holiday light displays. The whole restaurant is covered with colorful lights. The brew pub has also put on various small shows, and visitors can even tune in to a radio station featuring music synced up to the flashing lights. Though Abita Springs is a small town, this display makes it a great place to pass through for the holidays. Check out AbitaBrewPub.com to learn more. Natchitoches Christmas Festival, Nov. 20–Jan. 6 Dating back to 1927, the Natchitoches’ Christmas lights are legendary — definitely some of the best in Louisiana! It features more than 100 lighted sets and over 300,000 individual twinkling bulbs. The display runs along the Cane River and illuminates the water’s surface, where there’s also a lighted boat parade. The Natchitoches decorations have won countless awards, and if you visit on a Saturday, you’ll also see a fireworks show. Check the festival’s schedule for parades, music, and other festivities at NatchitochesChristmas.com .
(225) 201-8311 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
ERISA INSURANCE J. PRICE MCNAMARA Claim Attorney
10455 Jefferson Hwy. Suite 130 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 201-8311 WinMyBenefits.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 2
Is the Age of Google and SEO Over?
Guard Squirrel on Duty: The Rodent Who Sent a Burglar Running
Does This True Story Shake Your Confidence in Insurance Company Intelligence?
3 4
3 Louisiana Day Trips for the Holidays
The Unbelievable Story of WWI’s Christmas Truce
A Brief Pause in the Trenches THE HEARTWARMING TALE OF THE CHRISTMAS TRUCE IN WWI
Christmas is a time for kindness, yet for those in the trenches during World War I, no one expected mercy. It was Christmas Eve 1914 when British soldiers huddled in the mud- filled trenches, trying their best to ignore the harsh winter winds. Well, that was when peace broke out all along the Western Front. It became known to the world as the Christmas Truce after countless men wrote about their experiences amid the ceasefire. Records reveal the Germans called over to the British at around 10 p.m. to share some wine. At first, the British soldiers were skeptical, yet as they met halfway along the battlefield, amiable chatter and merriment began.
All along the trenches on various battlefields, French, German, Belgian, and British soldiers followed the Christmas Truce. Men who were shooting at one another the day before began to share cigarettes, sip wine, and joke around. One account even recalled a soccer match between the British and German soldiers. A German lieutenant named Kurt Zehmisch wrote of the match in his diary. He wrote, “Eventually, the English brought a soccer ball from their trenches, and pretty soon a lively game ensued.” Zehmisch added, “How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus, Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.”
4
WinMyBenefits.com
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator