The 5 Biggest Mistakes Expert Witnesses Make On Their Websites
Alex Babitsky, MBA
© 2007 SEAK, Inc.
www.seak.com
1) Expert witnesses not regularly updating the CV on their website.
The CV that is
listed on an experts website is frequently inconsistent with
the hard copies distributed by the expert and filed with the court. The
reason for this is simple: the person in charge of the Web page does not
update the expert’s CV as frequently or in the same fashion as the
expert does. To avoid this problem, the expert should change the hard
copy and the Website CV at the same time and in the same fashion. The
goal is to avoid having inconsistent CVs—a situation that is a fertile
area for cross-examination.
2) Expert witnesses not frequently
reviewing the copy on their website.
Expert Witnesses often have someone from their
marketing department design their website or hire someone to design it
for them, without taking the time to review what they have written.
Keep in mind that you are ultimately responsible for what is written and
posted on your website. Do not let the marketing person “fluff-up” your
credentials, as your website is often the first place opposing counsel
will go to dig up dirt on you.
3) Expert
witnesses having too much information on their site.
Expert witnesses face unique challenges in
having a website. The site must be optimized for search engines and
contain enough information so attorneys can find you on the internet.
This must be balanced with the fact that any information that you have
on your site is discoverable and can be brought up in depositions and at
trial. If you include articles that you have written, past cases you’ve
been involved with, and other such information, just be aware that
retaining counsel as well as opposing counsel will have access to
it.
4) Expert witnesses having a website that is not optimized for search engines.
Website optimization involves designing a
website (design, content, page structure, technical structure, etc.) so
that search engines like Google and Yahoo identify the site as highly
relevant and rank it higher in the search results. You should include
industry buzz words or phrases within your site that potential clients
may use to locate you. You should drill down on what your niche area is
and use those terms within the copy of your site. Use specific terms
such as “crashworthiness expert witness” or “Geriatric
Psychiatry Expert Witness”.
5)
Expert witnesses having a
website that does not print out properly.
Make sure that if someone (like a potential client) wants to print out
the information that is posted on your website, that your site is
designed so that the pages print out properly. We come across many
websites that are poorly designed and simply won't print what is shown
on the screen. Either the information runs way off the page or it
may print off blank pages. Try this with your own site and make
sure this is not occurring.
Conclusion
Expert witnesses should take time to review
their site and see if
you are making any of the above mistakes. A simple, well designed site
can often make the difference between obtaining a new case or not.
About the author
Alex Babitsky, MBA deals with expert witnesses and the attorneys who
retain them on a daily basis as the Product Manager of SEAK’s
National Directory of Expert Witnesses and SEAK’s National
Directory of Independent Medical Examiners (www.seakexperts.com).
Mr. Babitsky consults regularly with experts of all fields on the
subject of expert witness marketing. His publications include the
2004 National Guide
to Expert Witness Fees and Billing Procedures
and
The A to Z Guide to Expert Witnessing.
Alex
can be reached at
Alex@seak.com
Click here for SEAK's Expert Witness Directory