In this episode of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, I sit down with Eric Ritter, CEO of Digital Neighbor, to explore how AI, shifting search behavior, and smarter digital strategy are reshaping marketing for law firms.
Eric breaks down the practical steps firms must take to stay visible, competitive, and client-ready in an answer-driven search world.
The Shift from SEO to Answer Engine Optimization (AEO)
In this clip, Eric explains how Google’s shift toward AI-generated answers is forcing firms to optimize for solutions, not just search terms.
Traditional SEO is no longer enough to win online visibility. With AI now powering tools like Google’s Search Generative Experience, law firms must optimize for answers, not just keywords.
Known as Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), this approach involves creating FAQ-style content and properly tagging it with schema markup to make it easily digestible by AI engines. Law firms that embrace AEO can appear directly in AI summaries, giving them a critical edge as search behaviors evolve.
Why Local Service Ads Beat Expensive Clicks
Local Service Ads (LSAs) offer a better ROI than traditional pay-per-click advertising by charging only for qualified leads.
For law firms, this means spending money only when someone calls or messages with intent—not just when someone clicks a link. When paired with strong, well-optimized service pages, LSAs can dramatically increase lead quality without draining the budget.
Instead of blogging endlessly, firms should invest in refining their website’s core service content to convert traffic more effectively.
Why Reviews Should Be Part of Your Closing Process
The best time to collect a client review is immediately after delivering a great result. Embedding review requests into your closing process — when satisfaction is highest — ensures stronger, more consistent feedback.
Whether you serve consumers or businesses, reviews on platforms like Google and LinkedIn boost your credibility and visibility. Lawyers who automate or systematize this process turn happy clients into long-term marketing assets that build trust and drive referrals.
“SEO gets you seen, but that answer engine optimization gets you quoted,” Eric says.
To build lasting success online, law firms need more than blog posts and SEO — they need systems that align with AI-driven search, consumer psychology, and digital behavior.
Eric emphasizes the importance of topic clusters, review requests, remarketing strategies, and thoughtful ad spend.
The firms that stay focused, adapt early, and measure their efforts will not only survive the marketing shifts — they’ll thrive.
Connect with Eric Ritter here.
Listen to the latest episode of “Be That Lawyer” here, and if you’re serious about leveling up your business development, grab a copy of my new book, now available on Amazon.
Steve Fretzin is a bestselling author, host of the “Be That Lawyer” podcast, and business development coach exclusively for attorneys. Steve has committed his career to helping lawyers learn key growth skills not currently taught in law school. His clients soon become top rainmakers and credit Steve’s program and coaching for their success. He can be reached directly by email at steve@fretzin.com. Or you can easily find him on his website at www.fretzin.com or LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevefretzin.
The post Future-Proofing Your Law Firm Marketing With AI And Smarter Digital Strategy appeared first on Above the Law.