PInow.com Investigator Center

Investigator Training at 2012 PAWLI Conference

2012-02-23T00:00:00-07:00

On March 29th, private investigators in Wisconsin and surrounding states will head to Green Bay for the Professional Association of Wisconsin Licensed Investigators (PAWLI) Annual Training Conference. The conference, which runs through the 31st, will focus on current issues, education and a return to the basics of investigations. To get more details on what attending private investigators can expect, PInow spoke with PAWLI Vice President Bill Lundy.

2012 PAWLI
Annual Training Conference

March 29 - 31, 2012
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Radisson Hotel & Conference Center

"We have attendees from Wisconsin, of course, but also Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and, from time-to-time other states,” Lundy explains. He notes that the training, education and networking opportunities have been a big draw for out-of-state investigators in the past. This year's conference will include a banquet on Friday evening with Assistant Attorney General Dave Perlman covering legal updates for private investigators. A vendor fair and reception will precede the banquet.

Highlights from last year

“We concentrate on providing the latest in education and training for our attendees,” Lundy states, “We had numerous comments and accolades on [the 2011 conference] and other past conferences.” Last year’s conference focused on Internet profiling and intelligence gathering, cellular forensics, polygraph resources, threat investigations, ethics, databases and investigating law enforcement misconduct. Michelle Stuart’s presentation on using the Internet as an investigative tool received excellent feedback.

Hot topics at this year’s conference

One of the major issues the conference will address is the passing of Concealed Carry legislation last year. With permits now available, Tom Sipin will present a lecture series on the new law as well as a workshop to ensure Wisconsin investigators understand the laws

“Wisconsin was the 48th state to pass a law permitting citizens to carry concealed weapons,” Lundy says, “Carrying weapons also carries obligations and a need for training.” The PAWLI conference will address some of the major concerns private investigators have with carrying weapons. “We need to teach attendees the ins and outs of the new laws,” Lundy stresses, “There are major issues all the time. We can’t address them all every year, but we do put a dent in several.”

Speakers and topics

With a strong focus on training and education, this year’s PAWLI conference will host an array of speakers who will discuss important topics. Stuart returns to discuss using the Internet as an investigative tool. “We have had experience finding some of the best speakers in the country on the subjects that are of most interest to our attendees and on the latest information available,” Lundy says, “This year is no exception.”

For topics and speakers, check out the following schedule:

Thursday

License and Insurance for the Professional Investigator
12:00 - 12:15 p.m.
Criminal Defense
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. with Scott Brehm
Working with the Public Defender’s Office
1:15 - 1:45 p.m. with Cindy Papka
Concealed Weapons Introduction
2:00 - 2:30 p.m. with Tom Sipin
Executive Protection Introduction
2:30 - 3:00 p.m. with Tom Herbert
Surveillance Gear
3:00 - 3:30 with Jim Greenwold
Process Service
3:45 - 4:15 p.m. with Ray Lawler
Certified Legal Investigator: How to Become One and Function of CLI
4:15 - 5:00 p.m. with Rikki Glenn

Friday

Internet Searching
8:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. with Michelle Stuart
E-Myth: How to Grow Your Business
1:30 - 3:30 p.m. with Bob Clements
Website Development
3:45 - 5:15 p.m. with Candee Gulick

Saturday

Interviews and Interrogations
8:00 - 10:00 a.m. with Robert Simmons
Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW)
10:15 - 11:45 a.m. with Tom Sipin
How to Obtain Discovery that the Government Doesn’t Want You To Have
1:15 - 2:30 p.m. with Steve Odenthal
CCW Workshop
1:15 - 5:00 p.m. with Tom Sipin
Courtroom Demeanor and Trial Preparation Workshop
2:45 - 4:00 p.m. with Karen and Tom Herbert

Why investigators should attend

“Attending the seminars gives us an opportunity to meet and greet other investigators, communicate, learn new skills and adapt to new techniques.” Lundy explains. Association events also offer a platform for both members and non-members to meet other specialists in their fields and get the latest information that will keep them in business. Association meetings can help educate private investigators on how they can generate more business and become a better investigator.

The conference will also feature the annual pizza and conversation evening, and a Back to Basics program will focus on educating the growing number of people who are joining the profession. "[Private investigation] is a profession that requires training, education and experienced professionals showing newcomers the ropes," Lundy explains, "We need to provide a solid, quality program that will invite members and non-members to come to Green Bay and spend the time and money it takes to stay on the cutting edge of their fields."

PAWLI is also looking to grow the association this year, and considers the needs of members when organizing association meetings. “PAWLI is all about training, communication among members and providing services to those members," Lundy concludes.

For more information or to register for the conference, click here to visit the PAWLI website

If your association would like to feature their monthly or annual meetings, board meetings or any other event on PInow, send an email to marketing@pinow.com with your association name, event dates, description, and meeting itinerary.

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Signs of a Cheating Spouse

2012-02-13T00:00:00-07:00

What do private investigators say are the most common signs of a cheating spouse?

When you suspect infidelity in your relationship it can be difficult to determine whether or not your suspicions are valid and if so, what to do next. At PInow, we surveyed our network of trusted infidelity investigators to find out what, in their experience, are the common indications of infidelity in a relationship. The following graphic displays the six major signs of a cheating spouse, what to expect in an infidelity investigation and other statistics on infidelity and marriage.

And the 6 common signs of a cheating spouse are ...

1. Changes in Intimacy	2. Suspicious Phone Habits	3. Changes in Appearance

4. Suspicious Internet Use	5. Changes in Work Routine	6. Changes in Bathing Habits

Other signs included concealing credit card statements or having bills mailed to a P.O. box, finding strange receipts, going out or running long errands without the spouse, flirting with friends of the opposite sex and a change in overall attitude. Infidelity investigations can cost anywhere from $500 to $5,000 and last anywhere from 4 hours to 6 months. Most investigators said their investigations verify infidelity 75-100% of the time. Other statistics show that when spouses cheat, 55% of the time it's the husband while 45% of the time it's the wife. 30-60% of married people will cheat on their spouse according to a range that compensates for dishonesty among study participants. 74% of husbands and 68% of wives say they would have an affair if they knew they wouldn't get caught. 85% of wives who suspect their husbands are cheating are correct 85% of the time, while husbands who suspect their wives are cheating are correct 50% of the time. Marriage statistics were provided by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Indiana University, Business Week, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. If you have further questions or are concerned that your spouse may be cheating, contact a PInow investigator in your area.

Share and Embed this!

If you found any of this information helpful, share the link with anyone who might benefit or find it interesting. This infographic was created as a quick reference for individuals considering an infidelity investigation. We encourage you to post this to your investigations, infidelity or relationship blog and include it in your association newsletter. If you need a different size for your website, blog, or newsletter, need an accompanying article, have different printing requirements, or have any other requests regarding this piece, send us an email.

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Top Private Investigator Blogs

2012-02-12T00:00:00-07:00

With changing legislation, licensing, laws and crazy stories there's a lot for investigators to keep up with. Many investigators use blogs to share their experiences, provide updates and reviews on products and to discuss experiences with databases. A blog is also a great way to market your business, connect with potential clients and become a leader in your industry. There's a wide array of investigations blogs out there, and since maintaining a blog is no easy feat PInow decided to compile a list of the top investigation blogs.

There was no specific, formulaic ranking used when creating the list, but we did take into account industry relevancy, consistency and recency of posts, variety of content and professionalism. Please keep this in mind if you disagree with the rankings.

There's a pretty big variety on the list this year. Some range from strictly informational to play-by-play recaps of investigations and interviews. Others focus on paranormal investigations while some discuss products and recent legal developments. If you have an investigation blog that's not featured, please contact us to be considered for our "Up and Coming" list.

#1 PIbuzz

Edited by Tamara Thompson, PIbuzz discusses databases, geneology, records research and research links.

#2 Diligentia Group Blog

Diligentia Group's blog covers topics like background checks, technology tips, case studies, internet searches and noteworthy lists.

#3 The Confidential Resource

The Confidential Resource blog provides sources and methods for investigations and research. Topics include file handling, security and privacy settings, internet investigations, exercise, image searches and much more.

#4 AFX Search Blog

Thorough posts discuss electronically stored information, vehicle observation tips, hidden assets and internal theft.

#5 P.I. Stories

The P.I. Stories blog covers news, stories, and private investigator interest. Recent posts discuss illegal affairs, private investigator employment growth, research for murder cases and financial infidelity.

#6 PI Telegraph

PI Telegraph is an online magazine for private investigation and professional security in the UK. Topics include technology and equipment, investigation methods, ethics and industry news.

#7 7 Day Detective

Focused on adultery, infidelity, affairs, cheating spouse and divorce investigations the 7 Day Detective Blog is focused on infidelity. Other topics include tips for people seeking private investigators, investigation tips from professionals and products.

#8 Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes

Guns, Gams, and Gumshoes is written by a couple who are private investigators and writers. Recent topics include hiring other investigators, winter surveillance, iPhone apps, skip tracing and literary reviews.

#9 Davis Investigations Blog

Recent posts in the Davis Investigations blog include password strategy, counter surveillance, infidelity and video surveillance.

#10 Kevin's Security Scrapbook

Kevin's Security Scrapbook discusses spygear, industry and legislation news, security and investigations tips. Recurring SpyCam Stories cover stories on covert video camera discovery.

#11 ICORP Investigations Blog

#12 Fraud Magazine

#13 International Background Checks and Private Investigators Blog

#14 Orange County Private Investigator Blog

#15 Sherlock's Case Files

#16 Denver Private Investigator Blog

#17 Private Eye Confidential

#18 BPI Security Blog

#19 Key North Group Blog

#20 Handcuffed To The Ocean

#21 Official Investigations & Security Services Blog

#22 Mass Private I

#23 Gulf Coast Private Investigator Blog

#24 Skip Ease Blog

#25 PI Newswire

#26 The Background Investigator

#27 JFA Brisbane Blog

#28 Gary Houldsworth, CFE Blog

#29 Bosco Legal Services Blog

#30 Verdict Resources, Inc. Blog

Up and Coming . . .

#31 Tales of a Public Defender Investigator

#32 Title Search Blog

#33 Private Investigator Blog

#34 Third Echelon Investigations Blog

#35 The Daily Caveat

#36 Be A Private Eye Blog

#37 The Curbside Investigator

#38 The Wolf Howl

#39 Federal Criminal Defense Investigation Blog

#40 Bill Warner Private Investigator Crime Blog

#41 The Paperless PI

#42 Ghost Investigator Blog

#43 Marcone Investigations, Inc. Blog

#44 Colorado Private Investigator's Legal Information Access Blog

People's Choice . . .

#45 Pursuit Magazine

Made the List!

If you made the list, you may add the following badge to your company web site and blog to show your clients your influence in the private investigation industry. And while you're at it, why not tweet this story to your faithful followers?

Copy the following code to display the badge on your site:

Tweet it Loud!

If you make the list, please click the tweet button below to share the following message with your followers: "I made the PInow list of top investigator blogs!"

Didn't make the List?

We tried our best to find all relevant industry blogs, but we may have overlooked a few. Please contact us and let us know if we missed you and we will add you to our "Up and Coming" List.

Request a Quote and Quick Quotes Now Simplified for Private Investigators

2012-02-12T00:00:00-07:00

Quick Quotes and request a quote are used often by people who search for private investigators on PInow. In the past, quote requests would be sent to your email and you would reply with pricing and contact information. Now there is a simpler way to manage requests, deliver quotes, and communicate with your clients.

When someone selects Quick Quotes for an area you serve or from your firm, you will see it logged as a new quote request in your Lawgical account center dashboard. An alert will also be sent to your email, which you can respond to if you are mobile. From the dashboard you will be able to review multiple requests, send quotes and communicate with clients.

What you can do:

Manage quotes, leads and jobs
Communicate with your clients
Favorite and recommend other companies
Log quote, acceptance and job closing dates (automatic)

What you cannot do:

Upload a file or document

Within each quote you can communicate with potential clients through a comment thread. The quote number, job details and important dates including request date, quote acceptance date and job closing date are automatically recorded.

From the dashboard you can view all jobs and quotes and their individual statuses for your PInow and ServeNow profiles. As an additional tool, if you defer or forward work to other private investigators and process servers you can select them as favorites or recommend them to other members.

For a quick walk-through, check out this video (the process will be the same for PInow as in ServeNow):

PInow members now have a dashboard that presents a clean and organized interface for quote and lead management. The comment thread provides a professional-looking communication format. This development was made to simplify the quote request and lead management process. If you have further questions, visit our frequently asked questions page.

Join PInow

Looking to grow your investigation firm? Get in front of potential customers by joining PInow’s trusted network of local, pre-screened private investigators.
Join Today

February Facebook Activities for Private Investigators

2012-01-31T00:00:00-07:00

We have a busy month planned for private investigators who are fans of the Offical PInow Facebook Fanpage. We’re devoting the entire month of February to sharing information and getting opinions from the professionals who know the industry best: You! We’ll be hosting a variety of activities including questions, polls, articles, news and some Q&A sessions. If you’re not already a fan of the PInow Facebook Fanpage, make sure you like us to get involved in the conversation.

If you’ve never visited the page before, keep reading for more information on what you can find on the Facebook page and a preview of what’s coming up in February. Join the conversation on Facebook

What’s happening in February

Some of the February topics will include:

Top Private Investigator Bloggers: Check out our list of Top Private Investigator Bloggers and let us know which list-makers you will follow and what posts you found most interesting.
Infidelity Investigations: We’ll be asking for input on infidelity investigations, including advice for handling unfortunate situations, professional tips and crazy stories. Stay tuned, because later in the month we’ll be releasing some surprising information and statistics about infidelity investigations.
Local Search Optimization: Get ready to discuss Local Search Optimization and how it can get you more business. If you don’t understand what local search is and why you need it, or if you have a general marketing question, post it to the page. Client Concierge Dom Delisle will be on-hand to answer every question, even if it’s only specific to your company. We’ve already posted some informative articles and video, so check them out to learn more.

We’ll be posting questions of the day, polls, news and interesting information throughout the month, so keep checking in to share your opinion and find out what your colleagues have to say.

What you will find on the Official PInow Facebook Fanpage

The PInow Facebook page hosts a variety of content, including:

Industry news: The PInow staff closely monitors various news channels and posts the most relevant and interesting pieces to the page. Some of our favorite topics include legislation changes, high profile cases, tips from investigators and profiles on firms that focus on niche markets like elderly abuse.
Informative articles: Informative content is sourced from the PInow Investigator Center and other websites. These articles generally focus on marketing, efficiency and safety tips. They also provide tips for setting business goals, hiring and utilizing free business tools.
Questions of the day: To get input from industry professionals, we often ask questions. Questions are usually about recent news, upcoming events, technology and on the job experience.
Investigator professionals: The PInow Facebook page interacts with over 460 fans who like and share posts, offer their opinions and share their industry tips and experiences. If you’re a new fan, feel free to introduce yourself to the community.
Previews and call-outs: We’ll call it the insider scoop, because we usually preview new projects, technology and studies with our Facebook fans. Whether we’re compiling a list of top investigators on Twitter or releasing an infographic we always make sure our fans are some of the first people we tell.

Why be a fan?

Facebook is a great place to connect with your peers and receive the most up-to-date industry information. It’s also a great place to offer feedback, so if there’s an article you’d like to see in the PI News Roundup or an activity you enjoyed, let us know. This month is going to be filled with information and fun, so make sure you like the Official PInow Facebook Fanpage to participate.
Join the conversation on Facebook

Grow Your Investigations Business in 2012

2012-01-29T00:00:00-07:00

As 2011 has now passed, it’s time to take advantage of opportunities to grow your private investigation business in 2012. You may have already targeted improvement areas or even set some business resolutions, but it's important to make sure you're not missing other opportunities to expand your business.

Here are 13 ways to grow your investigations business in 2012:

1. Focus on local search marketing
This aspect of your Internet presence is crucial for growing your business in 2012. Local search marketing is becoming a very large part of a successful online strategy. As a business offering location-specific services, it’s important to adapt to the way people search. Make sure that you claim your local listing, submit your company to multiple directories and networks, and utilize available tools to help your business show up in local search results. Not sure you need to show up in local search? Check out this article for 10 reasons you need local search.

This month, we're discussing local search on the PInow Facebook Fanpage, and will be releasing articles, tips, and other information about local search.

2. Get directory and trusted network listings
Submitting to multiple directory and network listings will support your local search marketing. Think of each listing as a recommendation for your services. If ten of your friends recommended the same mechanic, you would probably try his or her services first. Directory listings tie into local search the same way. If your friends didn’t know a mechanic in your area, just as people search for Los Angeles Private Investigator you would search for your city and mechanic. Though it’s an Internet search, people approach the situation with the same mentality. If the same company is listed three separate times, that’s usually the first person they call. Multiple directory listings will get you leads, but make sure you’re included in trusted networks to help turn those leads into clients.

3. Join state and national associations
Joining a national or state association will never hinder your business growth. The main role of associations is to preserve the industry and make sure all private investigators have the best opportunities to generate income. Association meetings are a great place connect with out-of-state professionals and get business tips from experienced, successful investigators. Consider joining out-of-state associations to expand your network.

4. Network with other investigators
Networking with private investigators across the country can help you generate a referral network. With nation-wide contacts, you can work with investigators that are out of your area and hopefully assist with investigations in other states. If you prove to be a reliable and diligent contact, your network can become a great source of income for your business.

5. Utilize free resources
A resource can be anything from an industry group to an article you’ve found helpful or even a smartphone app or computer program. Use whatever you can to get connected with your clients and job opportunities, and always have an eye out for programs and services you might find helpful. Sharing your resources with your colleagues will also help you get established as a leading industry professional.

Social media is an excellent source for free marketing and networking, so make sure you set up a Facebook page and Twitter account for your business. Utilize social media to join industry groups, network with other professionals, and share related information and news. PInow hosts the Investigator Marketing LinkedIn group and Private Investigators PInow on Yahoo. Each groups allows members to share tips and refer jobs, and PInow posts Request For Proposal (RFP) notifications in the Yahoo groups.

Join the conversation on Facebook
Join the conversation on Yahoo
Join the conversation on LinkedIn

6. Build a website or revamp your existing site
Without a website, or even with a dated website, you might be stunting your growth potential. Even with referrals, trusted network listings, and a spot in local search results your potential clients will likely check your website before contacting you. Music, animation, and broken links may lead them to continue searching, so clean up your existing site and decide if it’s time for a new one. Remember, your website can affect some of your search result rankings, so if it’s time for a complete renovation make sure you explore your options. There are many alternatives to building a search engine optimized professional-looking investigator website on your own.

7. Expand your services
One sure-fire way to experience business growth is to expand your services. Offer process service, pre-employment screening, or find partners for specialized fields like polygraph or arson investigations. There are always opportunities to provide additional services. Make sure you find creative ways to let your clients know you’ve expanded, and give them the opportunity to utilize your new services.

8. Target major clients with creative marketing
A crucial step in growing your business is to get your name out there. Take it one step further by targeting major clients with the potential for consistent work. Brainstorm creative ways to target these clients, like hosting educational seminars at law firms and insurance firms, and find ways to network or get on the vendor list. Just make sure you distribute your business information!

9. Do the unexpected for your clients
Before you expand, check in with your repeat clients. Be sure to thank them for their business, and contact them to find out if there’s anything you can do to improve service. Ask specific questions, like what more you can be do to help and what problems you can help them solve. It’s also a good idea to have your calls forwarded to your cell phone when you’re out of the office. Repeat clients might leave a message, but most new clients will work with the first person who answers the phone.

10. Do your job to the best of your ability
One of the key tools for doing your job well is communication, especially when there is an issue. Clear communication is the best ways to build trust and lets your clients know they can count on you. Make sure you are handling complaints, staying organized, maintaining professional reports, and keeping your turn-around times reasonable. If you continually exceed expectations you are more likely to get repeat business and referrals.

11. Reinforce your brand
Display your company contact information, including your logo, prominently on all correspondence - envelopes, letterhead, faxes, reports, and the signature file of your email.

This is a simple and inexpensive way to repeatedly expose your business to clients and colleagues. Include your company name, toll free number, fax, web address, email, etc. Reinforce your services, and include a tagline specific to the services you offer – “Private Investigations throughout Texas" or “For all your Investigative and Process Serving Needs”.

12. Invest in effective business tools
Growing your business is not exclusive to expanding your services and getting more clients. Look for opportunities for improvement within your business. Invest in tools, technology and marketing that will help streamline operations, enhance business-client relationships, and help get you in front of your clients. Remember, it takes money to make money, so make sure you invest in effective marketing that will generate a return.

13. Set Reasonable Business Goals
All successful companies have annual, monthly and sometimes even weekly and daily goals. Write down your goals and share them with your staff and anyone who will hold you accountable. Studies have shown that by writing your goals down and sharing them with other people you are more likely to achieve them. It's also important that your goals are clear, measurable and realistic as well as ambitious.

Growing your investigations business takes time, but with persistence and the right tools you should find yourself with more business by the end of 2012. If you adapt to changes in marketing and advertising and constantly look for opportunities for improvement, you will likely experience significant business growth and become a leader in your industry.

Market your business in 2012

To help kickstart your 2012 marketing plan, contact your PInow marketing consultant at (888) 997-4669.

Contact PInow Today

SEO Benefits of Listing Your Investigations Business in Multiple Directories

2012-01-15T00:00:00-07:00

With terms like hyperlocalization and local search optimization flying around it can be hard to understand what the best online marketing strategy for your investigations busines is. This year, local search optimization is going to be very important for all companies that offer location-based services. What does this mean? If people search for your company by service type and location, you need to be showing up in local search results. With so much going into local search optimization, it can be difficult to understand exactly what you need to do and why. To help you get more familiar with local search, here is a summary of directory listings and why you need to submit to them.

Benefits of Directories

There are three main reasons to submit your company to or pay for listings on directories:

Targeted Leads
Vertical directories tend to rank well for the keywords in your profession, and larger directories like Yelp and Online Yellow Pages generate a lot of traffic. It may take some marketing effectiveness or diving into your analytics to determine the return on paid directories.
Relevant Links
Any good SEO strategy focuses on links. Listing your business on directories that allow "follow" links to your web site will help you rank for the industry-specific keywords you are targeting.
Citations
Many SEO's believe that citations are the new link when it comes to ranking. This is especially true for localized business - a DUI attorney in Los Angeles, for example. Several citations of your business name, address and phone on directories are going to help with your local ranking. See my post on local citations, as well as 50 must-have citations for local businesses. (p.s. - Before you start submitting by hand, contact us. We can save you time and money.)

Types of Directories

Not all directories are created equal. You should prioritize the directories you are submitting to or spending money on by value. It's also important to have a good mix of places your company or firm is listed.

Vertical Directories

Whether you are a notary or a mergers and acquisitions attorney, there is a probably an online directory that exists for your profession. Directories in your specific field are a great way to to get inexpensive, relevant traffic and links. PInow.comand ServeNow.com are all examples of vertical directories.

Associations

Like vertical directories, associations for your profession and your client's profession are also a good source of targeted traffic and leads. Not only are associations often seen as authority domains on a topic, but most association membership dues are reasonable and members tend to source business to other members. Identify who your most common buyer is, chances are they have an association. As an investigator, it makes sense to identify relevant associations in your state and join as a vendor member or sponsor.

Local Web Sites, BBB's and Chambers of Commerce

Do a Google search for your city + businesses directory (i.e. denver business directory). Typical results will be chambers of commerce, local business directories and other business groups. These are great citations and links for your business to help rank for local keywords. Better Business Bureaus will also offer the same benefits.

Online YP's and Localized Directories

Online Yellow Page sites and localized directories (like Manta, 411.com, Brownbook, Merchantcirlce, etc) are good places to get citations. These are also sites you will occasionally see ranking for your localized searches. There are dozens of these sites though, and submitting them by hand is not efficient. Your best bet here is to find a local optimization company who can submit you to the datafeeds that seed these directories.

Include your NAP Data

NAP stands for Name, Address and Phone. For a directory, or any site for that matter, to give you a citation your NAP data needs to be present. In addition to that, your NAP data needs to match exactly to your Google Places profile.

How to Tell if a Directory Provides Ranking Value

While you aren't guaranteed a citation or SEO value just because you list your company on a directory, there are ways to determine when a directory will offer you no value. I see this most frequently on sites where the URL for directory results are not unique and is probably best explained by the video below.

A quick way to tell if the page you will be listed on is indexed by a search engine is to go to google and put "site:" in front of the URL in question. So, if you want to see if Google is indexing the Colorado page on the National Board of Collection Attorneys site, you would type in:

"site:http://www.nationalboardofcollectionattorneys.com/colorado_collection_attorneys.htm"

If the URL shows up in the search results, it means the page is indexed.

List of Freebies to Get You Started...

Even if you are working with an SEO or Local Optimization firm, you should constantly be looking for new places to submit your business. Below are a couple of freebies that you should take a moment to submit to. Remember to keep your NAP data consistent.

Almost free...

CollectionAssociation.org ($9.95 per year)

And, Here's the Pitch...

LAWgical has a product called LAWgical Local. The goal with this product is to help you rank better in Google Places and other local platforms. Whether you are working with us on your local optimization or another company, it's something that you need to be paying attention to. In addition, we'd love to talk to you about getting you listed on our trusted networks.
Get Local Today

About Trent Carlyle
Trent Carlyle is the CTO and co-founder of Lawgical, the parent company of PInow. Trent works alongside the technology and marketing teams at Lawgical, developing products that help our clients grow their business and operate more efficiently. He has a passion for SEM (search engine marketing) and is very involved in the local search community in Denver.
Read More from Trent

Market Your Investigations Firm to Attorneys With Introduction Letters

2012-01-03T10:00:00-07:00

Private investigations who want to enhance their marketing strategy or have recently entered the field may not know what direction to take. Consider marketing your investigations firm directly to attorneys through introduction letters. Introductory letters are a great opportunity to present yourself and your services to potential clients. Because attorneys can be a source of repeat business, it is critical that your letter be properly formatted, well written, and specific.

The following is a short guide for writing an introduction letter:

The greeting

Though you may be tempted to address the letter to the firm’s name, it’s important that you target the specific attorney. This will ensure the letter gets to the right individual. Begin with a professional salutation, and make sure you include the person’s credentials.

Example:
Dear Mrs. Johnson, ATT:

The first paragraph

The first paragraph is considered the most important section of the entire letter. What you write in this paragraph should encourage the attorney to keep reading, but should also contain the bulk of your information.

This paragraph should always include:

Your name
The name of your investigations firm
Years of experiences
Areas of related expertise
Where your company is based
Location your firm services

Example:
My name is John Smith and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and XYZ Investigations should you ever require the services of a private investigator. I am a licensed professional and have been in the industry for X numbers of years. I specialize in computer forensics and background investigations. My company is based in Newark and services the entire state of New Jersey.

The second and third paragraph

The second paragraph should explain to the attorney why you’ve chosen to write them. Acknowledge the attorney’s area of concentration, and, if possible, reference recent cases as a lead-in for how your services will be helpful. But avoid being presumptuous, as it will always be received as distasteful.

The third paragraph will be a short list of specific services you provide. They should directly pertain to the types of cases the attorney usually handles. If the attorney focuses on divorce cases, highlight services like asset searches and digital forensics rather than pre-employment background checks. Remember to always include service of process, if you offer it, in your list.

Example:
I’ve decided to reach out to you as many of your recent cases have involved copyright infringement. You may find my services of use in future cases as I have extensive experience in many areas, concentrating on the following:

Service of Process Asset searches
Electronic data recovery Background checks
Digital forensics Skip tracing
Cell phone data recovery

The fourth paragraph

The fourth paragraph should serve as a conclusion and support the information you have provided. Include experience as an expert witness and association memberships to help establish legitimacy. Close with a statement that encourages the attorney to take action.

Example:
Additionally, I have testified as an expert witness and I am an active member of the New Jersey Licensed Private Investigators Association (NJLPIA). I hope that if any of your clients ever require these services you will keep XYZ Investigations in mind. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Your signature

Make sure you close the letter with a respectful and positive note. Consider using Sincerely or Kind Regards before your full signature block, as they are more professional than a simple thank you. Make sure you include your name, company name, phone number, and email.

Example:
Sincerely,

John P. Smith
XYZ Investigations
Phone: 555-555-5555
Email: jsmith@xyzinvestigations.com

Here’s what your completed letter might look like:

Dear Mrs Johnson, ATT:

My name is John Smith and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself and XYZ Investigations should you ever require the services of a private investigator. I am a licensed professional and have been in the industry for X numbers of years. I specialize in computer forensics and background investigations. My company is based in Newark and services the entire state of New Jersey.

I’ve decided to reach out to you as many of your recent cases have involved copyright infringement. You may find my services of use in future cases, as I have extensive experience in many areas, concentrating on the following:

Service of Process Asset searches
Electronic data recovery Background checks
Digital forensics Skip tracing
Cell phone data recovery

Additionally, I have testified as an expert witness and I am an active member of the New Jersey Licensed Private Investigators Association (NJLPIA). I hope that if any of your clients ever require these services you will keep XYZ Investigations in mind. I look forward to working with you in the future.

Sincerely,

John P. Smith
XYZ Investigations
Phone: 555-555-5555
Email: jsmith@xyzinvestigations.com

Conclusion

Because attorneys, like private investigators, often specialize in a specific area, a letter that showcases related experience will get the best results, so you should write each letter individually. Keep your letters concise, and have someone proofread for errors before you send or deliver it. Be completely honest and omit any unnecessary or irrelevant information.

It is unlikely that you will use the exact same letter for any two attorneys, but once you have a template you can easily adapt it. Hopefully, this guide has been helpful, and with your letters in the hands of potential clients you’ll bring in more repeat business.

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LinkedIn vs. Yahoo: Which Investigator Group Should You Join?

2012-01-03T06:00:00-07:00

There are numerous online communities for investigators to network and collaborate with colleagues, and PInow hosts two major online groups: Investigator Marketing on LinkedIn and Private Investigators PInow on Yahoo. Each group offers a unique community feel with different posting methods, discussion topics, and alerts. So which one is right for you? To help you decide, we've put together a comparison of the two groups.

Investigator Marketing vs. Private Investigators PInow: the basics

LinkedIn: Investigator Marketing
What’s required: A LinkedIn Account
Founded on: April 11, 2009
Members: 1,143

Yahoo: Private Investigators PInow
What’s required: A Yahoo! Account
Founded on: November 16, 2005
Members: 3,190

Topics

LinkedIn:
Although the group is rooted in marketing strategies for private investigators, the topics vary substantially. Members often discuss marketing strategies, listings, and the use of social media, but also provide input on current events, technology developments, databases, and networking.

Yahoo:
From RFP (Request for Proposal) notifications and job opportunities to dead phone number searches the Yahoo group is packed with information. The bulk of the posts are requests for assistance for specialty services or for specific areas not covered by the posting investigator.

Alerts

The LinkedIn group consolidates the full day's comments and activity within one email preview. If you start your own discussion, however, you are sent an individual email each time someone comments on your discussion.

As opposed to the LinkedIn's summary alerts, Yahoo creates an email thread. Every time an investigator comments on or creates a new discussion, the full message is sent to your email. Yahoo does have the potential to clog your inbox, but this is a default setting. You can edit your membership settings to receive a Daily Digest, Special Notices, or Web Only if individual emails are not your preference.

Interface

LinkedIn features a modern, graphic-savvy interface, while Yahoo’s display is more text heavy and informative. On LinkedIn, each discussion exists on it own page. In order to see full comments, you must click on the topic from the main page. You can, however, hover over three comments and see the preview of three selected comments. Making a post is simple, as a top banner allows you to type in your discussion or set up your poll and click share. From a usability standpoint, LinkedIn is more interactive than Yahoo, partially because you are required to visit the page in order to view comments and discussions.

The Yahoo Group home page features a text-centric description of the group and links to recent messages. A sidebar includes links to polls, photos, messages, and post options. Creating a new post is an easy process of clicking post and adding your message in email format. Because default alerts come in individual emails, you can use the reply function to respond to a group message. With this setup you can be a very active member of the group without having to regularly visit the group page.

Rules and Regulations

In order to join either group, you must be a professional related to the investigations industry. A moderator must approve membership requests and all posts for both groups. Of course, all posts and membership requests are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The Yahoo group is more closely monitored than the LinkedIn group, and has strict rules regarding posting methods and content. All posts must be relevant and useful to the industry. The groups moderators require you to include your signature block in your initial post in a conversation, only allow links to original posts, and do not approve posts of a promotional nature, including products and services.

The LinkedIn group is moderated less than the Yahoo group, and posts are generally declined if they are negative or the post is objected by another member.

Conclusion

Because each community offers a different interface, set of information, and community of members, it is likely in your best interest to join both groups. As LinkedIn focuses on marketing, strategies, products, and current news, you may find it to be the more informative of the two. However, Yahoo provides RFP notifications and job prospects that LinkedIn does not. If you're leaning heavily toward one or the other, consider joining both. Both groups are filled with good-humored professionals, so you may find two communities to share your stories and have a laugh with while getting the most up-to-date industry tips.

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Most Popular Private Investigator News of 2011

2012-01-03T05:00:00-07:00

Editor's Note: This list was compiled based on PInow's social media and website. Stories were chosen based on clicks, views, shares, and comments, and reflect popular private investigator news within PInow's community.

It’s been a busy year for private investigators, and with scandals, surprises, rumored book deals, and more we decided to put together the Most Popular Private Investigator News of 2011. To bring you our list, we researched what Facebook posts and tweets our fans and Twitter followers interacted with most. As an added bonus, we've also included our most frequently read articles from the PInow Investigator Center.

Top 5 Tweets of 2011

The top five tweets showcase a lot of variety. Bribery in the United Kingdom and an off-duty private investigator's trouble with his weapon were notable news stories. When we revealed Bruce Willis' history with private investigation many followers were compelled to find out more, but that number one spot was stolen in a landslide by a simple list of professionals.

5. Off-Duty Investigator Trouble
A Chicago-based private investigator received various charges, including unlawful use of a weapon and illegal transportation of alcohol after being pulled over for speeding.

Off-Duty #PrivateInvestigator encounters trouble while carrying weapon. bit.ly/sHMWrL via @evergreenpatch
— PInow.com (@investigator_pi) October 26, 2011

4. PI tours the home of Lisa Irwin
Along with a string of other cases, the case of missing baby Lisa Irwin got the attention of a private investigator who was hired and allowed to tour the home.

#PrivateInvestigator Tours Home of Missing Baby Lisa wtlvwjxx.com/v4jRrs
— PInow.com (@investigator_pi) November 1, 2011

3. Bruce Willis: Private Investigator?
This little dose of pop-culture was big news to our followers.

Did you know that #BruceWillis was a #PrivateInvestigator before he was an actor? bit.ly/tPJ5Zl
— PInow.com (@investigator_pi) November 4, 2011

2. Scotland Yard officers bribed by Private Investigators
Officers reportedly received £20,000 in bribes from private investigators working for a politician.

#ScotlandYard investigating claims that officers bribed for leaking info to #PI's bit.ly/tE6k0O via @standardnews
— PInow.com (@investigator_pi) November 3, 2011

1. 75 Private Investigators to Follow on Twitter
No surprise here! Our first list of must-follow investigators received plenty of retweets.

IT'S OUT! See if you made the #list of 76 #PrivateInvestigators you should follow on #Twitter bit.ly/ocUISx
— PInow.com (@investigator_pi) October 4, 2011

Top Facebook Story of 2011

On Facebook, most of the chatter surrounded the rumor that Dominic Casey, the private investigator who worked on the Casey Anthony trial, was getting a book deal. Although there has been a lot of speculation, he has only admitted to discussing the opportunity with a few publishers. No word yet on whether or not he will publish, but there are still rumors that it's in the works and will answer many questions about the trial.

PInow Staff Choice for Top News Story of 2011

Among all of the industry buzz at PInow headquarters, the News of The World scandal was our most talked about story of 2011. Full of notoriety, celebrity, bribery and controversey it seemed like we couldn't go one week without a new development or celebrity name attached to the scandal. The phone hacking, which targeted various celebrities, a 13-year-old murder victim and deceased soldiers were at the center of the scandal and played a significant role in the decision to end 168 years of active publication. The British tabloid and pop-culture phenomenon printed its last issue in July of this year.

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PInow CEO Adam Camras Featured on The Paralegal Voice

2011-12-19T07:30:00-07:00

Last week PInow CEO Adam Camras had the opportunity to sit down with Vicki Voisin of Legal Talk Network's The Paralegal Voice for an interview about process servers and paralegals. PInow wanted to share this information since many professionals involved in private investigations are also process servers. The podcast provides paralegals with tips and advice for hiring process servers, and touched on a variety of topics including bulk serves, electronic service, and questions to ask before hiring.

The podcast touches on:

Locating a trusted professional
Questions to ask before hiring
Bulk serves
Fee structure
Process serving software
Electronic service
Red Flags paralegals should look for

The Paralegal Voice: Paralegals & Process Servers

For the study Camras discusses, check out the Process Server vs. Sheriff Infographic.

Paralegals often handle service for law firms, so they represent a large business opportunity for private investigators who also work as process servers. If you market any of your services to paralegals or attorneys, listen to the podcast for more insight on what they look for when hiring. It's a good idea to make sure you have prepared answers to common questions a paralegal might ask, have proper software to provide updates, and understand what they will look for in the future.

The Paralegal Voice is a monthly podcast co-hosted by Lynne DeVenny and Vicki Voisin, paralegals with a combined twenty years of experience. The podcast focuses on paralegal and legal assistant trends and issues. Vicki Voisin is a NALA Advanced Certified Paralegal and publishes the weekly e-zine Paralegal Strategies. Lynne DeVenny runs the Practical Paralegalism blog and is a North Carolina State Bar Certified Paralegal who works for a civil rights firm.

To visit The Paralegal Voice: click here

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6 Resolutions Tips for Your Investigations Firm

2011-12-19T00:00:00-07:00

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner it’s time to set business resolutions for your investigations firm, or even for yourself. Starting a new year is symbolic of starting over and making changes. Have you ever noticed that the gym is a lot busier for the first few months of the year? Unfortunately, resolutions often transform into unfulfilled goals and empty promises, usually as a result of very high expectations. Most people let go of their resolutions after just a few months, and come March that same gym is back down to familiar faces. Fortunately, having a plan and setting reasonable goals can help you keep your resolutions this year.

Here are 6 steps to help you keep your investigation firm’s resolutions

Prepare: The first step in making future changes is to look into your past and learn from it. Whether you want to change your marketing strategy, get more clients or network with other professionals, look at what's prevented you from doing so in the past. Maybe you want to get more involved in missing persons investigations but you need to learn more about it, or you want to get more repeat business but aren’t sure how to market yourself to attorneys. Even if you already have an idea for a resolution it’s important to look at how you will incorporate your resolution into your business plan.
Commit to a reasonable, measurable resolution: It’s important that your goals are clear and achievable. 'Double my business’ and ‘make more money’ might seem like great resolutions, but because one is overly ambitious and one can’t be directly measured they are almost impossible to fulfill. ‘Increase leads by 40% over the next year,’ ‘Establish myself as a surveillance expert’ or ‘Upgrade equipment and integrate more technology’ are specific, achievable goals that can be broken down into smaller goals within a strategy.
Set smaller goals that support your resolution: One way to ensure you meet your resolutions is to set a timeline with smaller goals that support your resolution and tie in with your strategy. If your resolution is to increase leads by 40% next year, your goals might be to increase by 10% each quarter. To achieve this goal you can purchase an advertisement in a local paper for the first three months, send introductory letters to attorneys for your second quarter, and focus on referrals and social media through the last half of the year. Smaller, isolated trials also make it easier to measure what is and is not effective. If your advertisement increases your leads by 8% over the first quarter, you know it was effective marketing and can look for ways to support that increase and get the extra 2%.
Have a strategy: Having a strategy is a crucial element of keeping a resolution. If your resolution is to establish yourself as a surveillance expert, create opportunities to consult on local news or write an article. You can write a letter to the editor about a recent surveillance controversy, or contact websites, magazines, and newspapers with an article idea. Reach out to local news and radio stations and offer to consult on news related to surveillance and investigations, or contact associations and offer to speak at industry events. Even if this strategy doesn’t lead to a regular consultation, column, or public speaking slot, any time you publish or provide your comments you are keeping your resolution.
Make backup plans: If your strategy isn’t successful after the first few months, don’t scrap the resolution completely. You have nine more months to work on meeting your goals. With prepared backup strategies you can always try something else. Trial-and-error is an unfortunate part of the process, but persistence can result in success. Keep in mind that your goals and overall resolution may evolve over time.
Create checkpoints: Though your plans may excite you through the first few weeks of January, you might get distracted as the year goes on. Creating checkpoints is an important key to achieving your goals. You can devote one day of each month to taking a critical look at your goals, or divide your year into quarters and revisit your resolutions every three months. Regardless of how you structure your checkpoints it's important to look at where you need to focus more energy and whether or not you are on track to meet your goals. This is a great opportunity to keep yourself excited about your goals, reward yourself for any successes, and rework your goals based on what you've achieved.

Resolutions can be intimidating because they are open-ended. If you prepare, have a plan, and set measurable goals rather than an over-arching resolution you may find more success in 2012. You don’t need a new year to set goals and make changes, so if you need more time to prepare, plan to implement new strategies in February or March. You may even find that you have more success choosing a random day rather than a holiday!

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Process Server vs. Sheriff: the ServeNow Infographic

2011-12-06T09:00:00-07:00

Who should I hire: process server or sheriff?

Recently, ServeNow set out to find a clear, legitimate answer to the question, "Should I hire a process server of sheriff to serve my legal papers?" Data was collected from surveys of 100 paralegals, legal assistants, and legal administrators who have papers served regularly. The results were based on speed of service, customer service, knowledge of laws, success rate, and average cost.

What were the results?

In all areas except for cost, the results were overwhelmingly in the favor of process servers. Process servers ranked higher in speed of service and customer satisfaction, and also achieve a higher success rate. More than half of the people surveyed say that process servers are more knowledgeable about the laws, and most people are willing to pay extra to have their papers served by a process server instead of a sheriff.

To better illustrate the results, we created an infographic.

What is an infographic?

An infographic is a visual representation of statistics, data, and information through charts, images, and other visual comparisons.

Why did we create the infographic?

When presented in a visually dynamic way, statistics and information are easier to comprehend than when reading through traditional written data. The infographic helps people understand that turning to a professional is the best way to ensure their papers get served, and it also provides a resource to process servers, who can link to it or embed it on their own websites.

Notable statistics

78% of legal professionals surveyed prefer process servers over sheriffs
90% of the time process servers completed the serve faster than sheriffs
Process servers received an average customer satisfaction rating of 4.28 out of 5 stars vs. the sheriff’s 2.55 stars
Only 13% of those surveyed believe sheriffs know the laws better
Process servers were rated more likely to successfully serve the documents
The difference in average cost was less than $1

And the winner is ...

Process server. Whether you rely on statistics or direct advice from industry professionals, the process server is the preferred choice. The process server prevailed in the important areas of customer satisfaction, rules of civil procedure, speed of service, and success rate. A difference in cost of less than $15, an average that drops significantly for high-volume serves, can get your papers served quickly, legally, and with customer service in mind.

Share this!

To share the full-sized post or for embeding options, check out the full article on ServeNow. We encourage you to post this to your legal blog or include it in your association newsletter. If you need a different size for your website, blog, or newsletter, need an accompanying article, have different printing requirements, or have any other requests regarding this piece, send us an email.

10 Symptoms of an Unsuccessful Investigations Marketing Strategy

2011-12-06T00:00:00-07:00

As the marketing world shifts from print to internet advertising, it can be hard to predict what will bring your investigations firm success. Maybe you’re not sure if your social media, newspaper ad, or direct mailing is worth the effort and cost, or you're ready to rework your strategy for the coming year. Fortunately, when your company’s marketing efforts aren’t working, there are usually some pretty clear signs.

Here are 10 common symptoms of an unsuccessful marketing strategy:

Your clients only come from one source. You should always ask new clients how they heard about you--it's one of the most straightforward ways of measuring your marketing efforts. If they all come from one source you need to look into that success. Once you figure out what’s caused the response, incorporate that into the rest of your marketing strategy.
No one’s sister’s friend’s cousin is coming to you. Even against digital marketing, social media, and online advertising, word-of-mouth is the fastest and most effective way to get new clients. If your customers aren’t recommending you or you're having trouble getting referrals, it might be time to hone in on your customer service techniques.
You don’t show up in a location-specific web search. Take a moment to search for your current city and ‘private investigator’. People usually search for services by location, so if you’re not in the results for ‘New York Private Investigator’ thousands of potential customers don’t know you exist. If you’re not sure how to improve your web presence, or have questions about how to show up in a location search, contact PInow and ask about Lawgical Local.
Your website is dated. An old website usually lacks the search engine optimization (SEO) needed to get organic search rankings. It also makes people more likely to wonder if you’re still in business.
You’re profits haven’t increased. Marketing is all about gaining exposure, clients, and income. If your profits haven’t increased or have taken a dip it’s time to rework your strategy.
You’re investing outweighs your profit. If you’re advertising on a billboard, that ad alone should bring in enough clients to more than offset the cost.
You’re not meeting your goals. It’s important to set goals that are realistic and measurable, but if you’re not meeting these goals you may need to take some time to analyze why your plan isn’t working.
You’re not setting goals. If you don’t have a plan for how you would like your business to grow, then your marketing plan is not effective. You need to have standards to measure success over a reasonable time period. An example of a marketing goal would be to increase sales by 10% over a six month period, or increase your Facebook business page likes by 25% during the holiday season.
You don't know your competition. In order to be effective, you need to know what your competition is putting out there and what's working for them. You can also look at competitors to see what their marketing campaign is missing, or take note of things they've tried that haven't worked.
Your plan doesn’t evolve. If your current marketing plan has increased your profits and brought in more clients, you have a great base, but you can always improve your strategy. Whether it’s resubmitting your company to a local search engine, updating your website, or running a food drive, you should always look for new ways to get your name out. If you’re not looking for the next way to increase your profits, you’re marketing efforts might stall in the future.

You don't necessarily need to scrap your ideas if your marketing efforts aren't working. If you’re not getting social media interaction, refine your posts. If you have an ad in the local paper, move it to a section that might get more results. Remember, getting results can take time, and trial and error is part of the process. Successful marketing can take a lot of effort, but when a steady stream of clients is coming through the door it can be worthwhile.

If you have questions about how to better market your investigations firm, want more information on how our products can help, or just want to bounce an idea off of a professional, contact PInow at (888) 997-4669.

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Private Investigator Referrals and reviews

2011-12-06T00:00:00-07:00

It’s a well-known fact that word-of-mouth advertising is one of the most effective forms of advertising. Whether you want powerful testimonials, referrals or social media followers, it’s important to have a word-of-mouth marketing plan. The most powerful aspect of that strategy can be private investigator referrals and reviews.

Helpful hints for getting reviews and referrals

Unhappy clients are more likely to write online reviews than satisfied clients, so it's important to encourage satisfied customers to submit reviews. Happy clients aren't always active about giving positive feedback, so here are a few tips for getting the most out of your reviews.

Under-promise and over-deliver. If you meet expectations, your client should walk out the door happy. If you exceed those expectations, your client might leave ready to spread the word.
When your client has a problem, fix it. If a client has an issue with your service, solving it is an opportunity to leave the client with good feelings toward your company. A client that walks away satisfied and had no issues might not share their experience, but if you cleared up a major problem that could have been disastrous, that client might be more vocal about their experience.
Ask for a letter of recommendation. If a client tells you they are happy with your services, ask them for a recommendation. You can then post parts of it as a testimonial, or even supply it to potential clients. You can also ask repeat clients if they know anyone else who uses investigative services on a regular basis.
Ask for specific reviews. If you encourage a satisfied client to write a review, ask them to be specific about how you helped them. ‘Great service and very personable’ isn’t quite as powerful as "XYZ Private Investigators found the information I needed, and handled the situation with discretion and empathy. I’d recommend their services to anyone."
Ask your Facebook fans for feedback. Post a question asking past clients how you’ve been most helpful and how your business can improve. Negative feedback is just as important as positive feedback, and something potential clients actively look for. This way you can show that you care about your clients, get controlled negative feedback, and show how you interact with your clients. It might also give you the opportunity to help clients that weren’t completely satisfied.
Create a channel for feedback. A follow-up email or online poll can be a place for clients to share their likes and dislikes about your service. Most people don’t complain in person, even if they're asked. With this approach you can get some insight to what problems you need to fix. And if anyone gives a great review you can always ask to use it as a testimonial.
Network with friends and family. Although your friends and family probably haven't used your services, they can still recommend you to people they know. Often enough, people choose to go with someone who is connected to someone they know and trust.
Get involved with your community. It's hard to get referrals from people who have never used your services and don't know you very well, but if you interact and network with your community you might be remembered the next time someone needs an investigator. Most people are fascinated with your profession, so it should be an easy talking point.

Remember, getting referrals and good reviews s about making sure your customers are satisfied. Make sure your customer service skills are polished and that you aren't promising unrealistic results.

Places where reviews can function as referrals

Ideally, your satisfied customers will be sending new clients your way, but if you aren't getting enough traditional referrals here are a few places where reviews can function as referrals.

Local Search Listing. Once you submit your business to local search, encourage clients to rate your service and write a review on that listing. This way, people who are searching for a private investigator online can get a feel for your customer satisfaction rate.
Facebook Page. Facebook is one of the most important places to showcase your reviews. If a satisfied customer leaves a positive comment on your business page, not only does it boost confidence in your page visitors, but that comment is also visible to the commenter’s friends.
Website. When a potential client visits your website, they are checking for signs that your business is legitimate. Testimonials and reviews from recent clients can turn those page visitors into clients.

Keep in mind that your online presence is how many potential clients will find you, so it's important to put your best image forward.

Conclusion

Having a constant stream of clients takes a great deal of effort and balancing. It's important to manage your online identity and do your best to get positive reviews, and also make the most of your relationships with previous and repeat clients. Whenever you find out a new client is a referral, be sure to thank the person who sent them to you. It's a simple gesture that could send even more clients your direction.

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CEO Adam Camras's Hiring Tips For Your Private Investigation Company

2011-11-20T09:00:00-07:00

Adam Camras is the CEO of Lawgical, the parent company of PInow, AboutBail, ServeNow.

Hiring is a time-consuming and expensive process for everyone, and investigators can adapt our process of careful testing and elimination to weed out potential candidates that aren’t a fit for your vacant position. Our approach to hiring is this: just because we have a job to offer in this challenging economic climate doesn’t mean that we treat our candidates any differently. We think we have a great company, great products and a great culture, but we only want to work with people who want to work here.

There’s nothing more important than having the right people in the right role, and we take hiring very seriously; therefore we want to do everything we can to get the right candidate. Our process is extremely involved, but it gives us a concrete understanding of who we should hire.

Here’s what we do:

Run an ad: The first thing we do is run an ad with detailed, specific descriptions about the company, the culture, specific details that are important to the role, and a compensation range. In this ad we’re also setting the foundation for testing, which helps us filter out applicants who are sending resumes to as many places as possible and find the ones who are applying specifically for our opening. To test this, we ask for them to complete three specific tasks to measure their qualifications and ability to follow directions. If they don't complete these tasks then they don't move on to the next step in the hiring process:
1. A description of why they would be a good fit for the role.
2. Their current or past compensation.
3. A phone message.
We want to see if they can follow directions, if they sound professional, and whether or not their compensation is in line with what we’re able to offer.
Digest the resume: There are a lot of red flags in resumes: typos, bad formatting, incomplete resumes, but if there's no cover letter we don't even look at the resume. If they don't take the time to write a response that is tailored to our ad then we don't even consider them. There have been so many times when I couldn’t believe a candidate submitted what they did, but we’re so focused on finding the right candidate that those candidates who make mistakes fall to the side.
10-15 minute introductory phone call: If they pass the initial tests, I schedule a phone call. The first question I ask is, “What do you know about our company?” because I want to test their preparation. If they haven’t taken the time to understand who we are and what we do on their own, then my assumption is that they’re going to take that same approach when they’re assigned projects or tasks. If they haven’t, the call is over. If they have, then I ask them very high-level questions about their experience as it applies to the position. For example, investigators should make sure potential candidates have a similar ethical approach, are familiar with technology, and are a good investment for your firm.
30-60 minute phone interview: This is where I get into background, values, and more details about their career history. I ask very, very specific questions and score their answers from 1 to 5, 5 being the highest. The scoring is important because you may talk to 30 or 40 candidates and it’s very easy to forget them. That’s why they’re all scored based on these important elements of the role.
Face-to-face interview: I like to bring them to the office because I want them to see the culture, meet their potential colleagues, and also see if they are on time and prepared. It seems basic but if they can’t get it right in the interview process when they’re on their best behavior it can be indicative of how they will behave as a member of the company. In the interview I ask some of the same questions over again to make sure their answers are consistent. It’s a little more digging to find out what they can do for us. I also ask hypothetical questions like, “What will you do in this situation?” We’re looking at body language and listening to tone along with the words. That’s why the face-to-face interview is so important.
Check references: We technically only want references from prior managers, but I’ve found that sometimes personal reference can give you the best information. It’s about validating how long they were employed, what their compensation was, and getting some insight into the person’s strengths and weaknesses.
Make an offer: If we make an offer, it’s always contingent upon reference checks and a pre-employment screening. We also make sure our paperwork is drafted carefully so there’s no chance an employee can leave with equipment or sensitive information. We’ve had some great candidates until we checked their references and discovered that the information was inconsistent. Someone we were ready to hire was providing false information, and these aren’t the only instances where our process has saved us from training someone who probably wouldn’t have worked out.

The whole hiring process is about saving time and weeding out the wrong candidates. The great thing is that in the past we would get 500-plus applications and we would have to look at every resume. Now, I only look at the ones who leave a phone message, which is a fraction. Testing is the single most important part of screening a candidate. It’s absolutely crucial that you invest time in finding the right candidate for your investigations firm. It’s an extensive interview process, but there’s nothing more important that I can be doing with my time than talking to new candidates to see if they are a fit for our company and culture.

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PI Customer Service: Email Etiquette

2011-11-20T00:00:00-07:00

Even if you haven’t heard any complaints about your emailing style, there’s still a chance that you are violating an email etiquette rule or two. It might not seem like a big deal, but sometimes potential customers or other industry professionals judge a private investigator by his or her sent messages.

The best way to avoid making a bad impression is to ensure that you and your staff are on the same page about your policies for business-related emails. To help you recognize and correct any email errors you or your colleagues may be making, we have compiled this list of 10 common email etiquette violations. Don’t feel bad - most of us have been guilty of these at some point!

Unprofessional email address
Using freddiewatchesyou@isp.com as your address probably won’t leave a favorable impression with your email’s recipient. Your best option is to have a business email address with the same extension as your private investigator website (e.g., fsmith@xyzinvestigations.com). At the very least, choose a professional address such as xyzinvestigations@isp.com.
Cluttered signature block
Some people clutter their signature block with images, quotes, wild fonts and other unnecessary items. Make it easy for people to find your contact information in your email signature by sticking to a format similar to this:

NAME
COMPANY NAME
ADDRESS
CITY, STATE, ZIP

PHONE
FAX
EMAIL
WEBSITE
Hitting reply-to-all more than necessary
If someone sends you and a group of others an email, only hit “reply to all” if your response truly needs to be seen by everyone. If you want your response to be private or you are only replying with a few words, spare everyone else the hassle of checking their inbox and only reply to the sender.
Writing a novel
Your email should be fairly short and to the point. You will lose the recipient’s attention if you don’t clearly state your objective right away, or if you stray from your objective. If your message includes many different thoughts or involves coordinating a group of people, you might be better off using a phone call to convey your message.
Error-filled messages
Spelling or grammar errors look unprofessional, and wording your thoughts incorrectly can lead to confusion or even bigger problems. Take a couple of minutes to self-edit your email before you hit “send.”
Sharing too much
Keep in mind that the email you send can be saved, forwarded and generally shared with people who you might not want seeing it. Think twice before sending sensitive information, angry messages, off-color jokes or anything else that might be detrimental if it fell into the wrong hands. Also, if you don’t want everyone on the email chain to see each other’s addresses, use the “Bcc” function to keep this information hidden.
Delayed responses
If someone sends you an email and needs a quick response, don’t leave them hanging. Even if you just send them a sentence or two saying you will respond later, at least the other person will know you received their message.
Indiscriminate forwarding
Almost all of us have that one friend, relative or co-worker who forwards every single email to us - whether it’s an important message or a video of a cat hanging from a ceiling fan. This practice eats away at people’s time and elevates their stress level when they see a full inbox waiting for them. Make sure you only forward important messages.
Vague or misleading subject line
If your subject line says something like “Hi John” as opposed to “Request for XYZ forms,” chances are that your message might not be read as quickly. Your subject line should state exactly what you’ll be discussing in the email.
Additional email mistakes
- Writing in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS or no capital letters
- Using emoticons such as :-) and :-*
- Using internet slang such as LOL, TTYL, ROFL, OMG
- Excessive punctuation!!!?!!!
- Crazy colors and fonts
- Animated images

If any of these mistakes sound familiar to you, you can run through this checklist with each message you send for a while. And if you know anyone who has email problems, we encourage you to email the link to this article to them.

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8 Easy Topics for Your Private Investigator Blog

2011-11-19T00:00:00-07:00

One of the hardest aspects of maintaining a blog is getting people to read it. In a career that historically has been surrounded by mystique, private investigators might have an advantage over the average blogger. But the question remains: What should I blog about?

Here are 8 topics to get your blog started:

Myths and misconceptions. Maybe it’s the deerstalker hat that Sherlock Holmes used to wear or the unrealistic gadgets of Inspector Gadget. Your blog is a great place to clear up and highlight misconceptions like the belief that private eyes get in high-speed chases, break the law, and listen in on phone conversations illegally.
The reality of your profession. In the past decade, people have become increasingly obsessed with reality television. As a blogger, you can use this to your advantage and share the realities of your profession. You can even point out recent books, movies, or television series that have portrayed your profession unrealistically.
Infidelity. Infidelity makes up a significant portion of the investigation industry. For every person who is being cheated on, many others think their spouse may be having an affair. Your blog can be a place for you to share your personal warning signs that a significant other is probably cheating, reference past infidelity investigations, and possibly even hook potential clients.
Your areas of expertise. If you focus on elderly abuse, or have extensive experience with locating birth-parents, you can provide advice to other industry professionals or even walk readers through gathering information that might help an investigator get answers faster.
Gadgets. Whether it’s reviewing a new piece of equipment or raving about your favorite smartphone apps, your blog is the perfect place to show your readers just how tech savvy you are.
How you became an investigator. People search the Internet every day wondering how they can become a private investigator. Imagine if all of those searches led to your blog. Because there are so many different paths that can lead to a career in investigations, blogging about how you got there can tap into a very specific market of readers.
Breaking news and scandals. When the News of the World scandal first hit, the response was nearly maniacal. People were shocked about the hacking, investigators were outraged at the breach of ethics, and celebrities everywhere were being branded as hacking victims. A blog is a tremendous opportunity to clear up some of the bad publicity situations like this can stir up.
Your legal and ethical boundaries. Tying in with news and scandals, clearly explaining the lines you can’t cross as a professional will help educate your potential clients. When setting up an initial interview, you can even direct the client to your blog to help them get a better understanding of what you can and can't do.

These are eight simple topics you can blog about to help grow your readership, market your business, and maybe even gain clients. Are there any topics you think a private investigator should or should not blog about? Let us know.

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12 Free Business Tools for Private Investigators

2011-11-08T00:00:00-07:00

Navigating the fast-paced world of apps, programs, tweets, and status updates can be overwhelming, but as technology advances many free tools have become available to help businesses run more efficiently. Here is our list of 12 free tools to help you run your private investigation firm.

1. Twitter, Facebook , and LinkedIn : The ‘Big Three’ of the social media sites allow you to network with other professionals, share news, and connect with clients. As a free tool, social media offers the easiest way to market your business.

2. Google Apps: With email, chat, a calendar, and docs, Google has created the basic business package at no cost. You can access your email, send out calendar invitations to set up appointments, and complete all of your word processing on this online service. For an on-the-go private investigator there is the added benefit of being able to access these tools from any device, and with everything stored online all of your records will survive a computer crash.

3. OpenOffice.org: OpenOffice.org provides word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, graphics, and databases in many languages and compatible on all computer formats.

4. Dropbox: Compatible with all formats and available in mobile versions, Dropbox provides a place to add and store your files from any device. Any time you update or add a file, it is added to each of your devices as well.

5. Evernote: For the ultimate note-taker, Evernote allows you to save web pages, take notes, collaborate on projects, and share photos.

6. eHour: For a profession with a varying workweek and always-changing schedule, eHour provides an online-based timesheet solution. With eHour you can log how much time you've spent on a specific project and create detailed reports with multiple employees.

7. PeaZip : An alternative to WinZip, PeaZip is a file and archive manager. With this tool you can extract, compress, convert, or encrypt your files, and even use their portable version for on-the-go archives.

8. Google Maps: Street views, directions, maps, and even interior views of businesses make Google Maps a tool for scouting the best place to observe, planning your route, and identifying where you are.

9. Skype : Make free calls to anywhere in the world, so long as both people have Skype accounts. You can host conference calls, connect with overseas clients or collaborators, and provide face-to-face updates.

10. Areca Backup : Although there are many web-based options for storing your files, Areca Backup is a simple and straightforward way to back up your computer’s files. Simple copy-paste formats as well as email, zip archive, and post-backup options make this backup software easy to use.

11. AVG Antivirus : With options for PC, internet, and mobile device protection, AVG offers comprehensive products comparable to other anti-virus software but with no cost. You can also download a link scanner, or just run a PC tuneup to clean up your computer and get it running at its most efficient.

12. Prey Project : Prey is an innovative tool in protecting your devices that can be installed on your laptop or mobile device, and remotely activated if your device is stolen. Through an internet or text message you can activate Prey, which will snap photos, lock your computer, or even report the theft to authorities. You can also choose to have passwords wiped and other information protected.

We hope you found this list helpful, and let us know if any other programs have made your business day a little easier.

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7 Holiday Marketing Tips for Private Investigators

2011-11-07T00:00:00-07:00

The holiday season presents a great opportunity for private investigators to connect with their clients on a different level than other times of the year. The holidays are generally a period where goodwill and expressions of thanks are abundant, and any gestures you make are likely to be received in good spirits.

To help you market your private investigation firm this holiday season and set the stage for increased business in 2012, PInow put together this list of easy and inexpensive (or free) holiday marketing ideas.

1. Give away gift cards
Gift cards are great because they make things easy for the gift giver and the recipient. You can distribute gift cards as holiday presents for current clients or as incentives for potential clients, and it allows them to either treat themselves or to use the cards as gifts for loved ones.

2. Send holiday greetings
This is a perfect time to remind your clients that you are thinking of them and appreciate their business. You can send out holiday e-mails, postcards, e-cards or other messages, but just remember that you might not want to mention specific holidays if you don’t know which ones your clients celebrate.

3. Use social media
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are all highly useful social media platforms for holiday greetings. Using any of these sites, you can send out quick but friendly messages to your professional network.

4. Write holiday blog posts
If you haven’t started a private investigator blog yet, now is a good time to start. You can create holiday-themed blog posts and let everyone know what your investigation firm is up to during the season. Feel free to include photos of you and your team at the annual ugly sweater party.

5. Volunteer
Volunteering for a food drive, homeless shelter, or other organization helps your community and gets your firm’s name out there. Volunteering is also great material for a blog post.

6. Donate to charity
You can run a holiday-season promotion where you let clients know that a certain portion of their fees will go toward a charity. This gesture gives clients a heartwarming feeling and helps the charity of your choice in the process. You can also run a community food or toy drive, which is a great way to give back to the community.

7. Decorate your company with a new website
Our final holiday marketing tip involves you giving a gift to your investigation firm: a new website. A cornerstone of your marketing campaign throughout the year should be a strong website that attracts new clients. Visit our selection of private investigator websites to find the one that will have people flocking to use your services.

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5 Ways to Boost Your Private Investigator Website Ranking

2011-11-07T00:00:00-07:00

When it comes to a website, every word counts, sometimes for and sometimes against your ranking, and everything from your page title to visual layout and design affects your website’s ranking. As a private investigator, creating a website may not be your forte, but it is important to know why your website should be ranked and how you can achieve better search engine results.

Website ranking refers to where a website shows up in the search engine results pages under specific keyword searches. To ensure potential clients find you, and that you are not losing income and clients, you need to show up near the top of search engine results. While search engines like Google and Yahoo! aren’t giving away secrets to achieving high rankings, we have five tips to get you started.

Make sure your website is search engine-optimized. A search engine-optimized website is designed to the standards search engines use when determining ranking. This means a crisp layout, relevant content, proper meta tags and descriptions, and that every word is written to increase ranking. It can be an overwhelming and confusing process, but an expertly designed website can be expensive. Lawgical Sites offers professionally designed websites with a variety of templates to choose from, all built with search engine optimization and affordability in mind. To learn more, read our article on private investigator websites.
Boost your local search results. When people are searching for a private investigator, they generally search for investigators in a specific area. Search engines have become extremely selective in what websites come up in local search, and in what order. The ultimate goal is to provide the most relevant results to the searcher. Because most of your potential clients are location-specific, it’s absolutely crucial to claim and set up your local search listings, a process that involves providing your business information to hundreds of local search engines, social media outlets, GPS providers, and directories. If you’re unsure about how to get the best local search results, contact PInow and ask about our Lawgical Local services that can drastically improve your local search ranking.
Build links. When one website links to another website, search engines view it as a vote of confidence. With more votes a page gains importance and ranking. There are other determining factors, but if a high-ranking site known as an industry authority links to your site, it can increase your ranking potential. A good example of this is the link to your website from your PInow profile, which can positively affect your rankings. It’s also important to link your social media, so be sure that your Twitter, Facebook, and private investigator blog link back to your website.
Write original and relevant content. One of the major ways a search engine determines ranking is through relevant, well-written content. In order for people to link to your website, there must be something that sticks with them and inspires them to share it with others on their own websites. Great content is fact-based, aimed at your website’s end user and brings repeat visitors.
Get your company and name on other sites. Whether it’s starting your private investigator blog, interviewing with a local newspaper, or working as a guest writer for well-established companies, sharing your opinions and experience can help get your name and website link onto other sites. This can build links, and even if the site doesn’t directly link to you, it can result in more people searching for you. If you are interested in being a guest writer for PInow, send an email to marketing@pinow.com.

Your website is an important tool for your clients to find you on the web, and taking the time to try these tips could yield positive results. There is a lot that goes into search engine optimization and creating a successful website, but with the right tools and strategy you can increase your website’s ranking and your investigation firm’s potential.

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How Private Investigators Can Use Testimonials as a Marketing Tool

2011-10-25T08:00:00-06:00

Word of mouth is a powerful marketing tool. How many times have you had someone tell you to use their dentist, or to buy your car from a certain dealer because they’ll take care of you? These unsolicited testimonials are extremely effective, which is why you should have potential clients hearing and reading glowing recommendations about your services.

In an ideal world, people would stand on rooftops and shout their praises about your investigative prowess, but in reality sometimes it takes a bit of prompting to get people to share their opinions. It may seem a bit odd to ask clients for testimonials because you’d prefer to let your work speak for itself, but trust us, having someone else speak for you is amazingly effective.

To take full advantage of the power of word of mouth, we have put together some tips for private investigators to collect and display effective testimonials that will bring in new clients.

1. Identify Your Testimonial Subjects
To get started, you will need to put together a list of clients for whom you have successfully investigated. For your list, try to recall cases that had a noteworthy outcome, and clients who were quick to praise you for quality work. Also target people or companies you’ve worked for who have recognizable names, as these will make your testimonials stand out even more.

2. Collect the Right Information
Once you have identified the people you want to collect testimonials from, you should send them an e-mail or give them a quick phone call asking them for a few minutes of their time. Whether you have them write answers to questions you’ve typed up, or if you record them via a tape recorder or video camera, make sure that you’re not hogging their time. Try to make the entire process take 15 minutes at the most because they are likely very busy.

Know in advance what you hope to get from this interview so you can ask the right questions that gently guide the person in the desired direction. In order to get enough information for a well-rounded testimonial, you should ask them to discuss details including:

A general description of the problem they were having that needed investigative work
Their experience working with you, including your customer service and professionalism
The reasons why they were satisfied with how you helped to resolve the case

3. Edit Testimonials to Fit Your Needs
Once you have collected written material or video footage, you need to edit it into the concise and compelling testimonial you will show off to potential clients. Usually, you will want to edit testimonials into very short paragraphs or video clips because people tend to have short attention spans. This means you will have to be extremely selective about which details and language to include. An exception to the brevity rule is if you decide to use a particularly successful investigation as a case study, and publish it in longer form.

After you are finished editing, get the person’s approval for what you have done. Make sure they are okay with how you have shaped their words and with the way in which you are planning to display the testimonial.

4. Display Testimonials in the Right Places
Now that you have your testimonials, how will you make them visible to potential clients? Think about your existing marketing collateral or marketing materials that you want to create, and consider how you can fit a testimonial on them. Ideas for places to display testimonials include:

Brochures, business cards and other printed marketing collateral
E-mail newsletter if you send one out
On your private investigator website
Get people to post their testimonials on your local search profiles.
Case studies can be displayed in PDF form if you’d like people to be able to print them

Conclusion
Now that you know why and how you should collect testimonials from your clients, it’s up to you to go out and get them. You’ve done the hard work, so now let your satisfied clients talk you up!

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Investigator LinkedIn Tip: How to Add a Video to Your Profile

2011-10-25T07:00:00-06:00

Private investigators can liven up their LinkedIn profiles by adding a video that showcases their investigation firm. A video gives prospective clients a more visually stimulating description of your services than they would get from a typical text-heavy profile. To add this element to your LinkedIn profile, just follow the simple steps below.

1. Create a video for your investigation firm that highlights your services and company culture, and that lends personality to your company. You can even include a testimonial in the video, as well as a call to action at the end encouraging people to contact you. The video doesn't have to be long, and it is actually better if it is three minutes or less.

2. Upload the video to YouTube. After the video is on YouTube, you will get a link (URL) to the video that you will use in the following steps.

3. Log in to your company profile on LinkedIn (or create a company page if you haven't already). Once logged in, head to the "Products & Services" tab.

4. You will see a box labeled "Add a product or service." Click on this box.

5. Scroll down the page until you see "Step 10. Add a YouTube video about this product or service." Add a title for your video here, which you can optimize for search engines by including keywords such as "Los Angeles private investigator."

6. Below that area is "Step 11. Add your YouTube video URL." This is where you will paste the URL from the YouTube video you created earlier. You also have the opportunity to optimize the description of the video by using keywords.

So there you have it! In just a few easy steps, you can give your LinkedIn profile an extra boost that may catch the eyes of potential clients.

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Private Investigators Monitoring "Do Not Track" Legislation

2011-10-25T00:00:00-06:00

According to a Stanford University study by the Law School’s Center for Internet and Society, as reported by the Washington Post, most “anonymous” third-party Web tracking is not anonymous.

There apparently are a number of ways in which a user’s identity "can be associated with data that are supposed to be collected without linking to personally identifiable information." Privacy advocates are pointing to this study, led by graduate student and computer scientist Jonathan Mayer, as evidence that the industry needs Do Not Track legislation. The American Civil Liberties Union legislative counsel Chris Calabrese, in a statement, is quoted: “The sharing of detailed Internet records with the government is certain to have a chilling effect on Americans’ First Amendment rights to speak and pursue unpopular subjects online. These practices must be brought in line with the Constitution." A Federal Trade Commission report contends that self-regulatory efforts "have been too slow, and up to now have failed to provide adequate and meaningful protection."

Senior Analyst Daniel Castro of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation called Mayer's study as alarmist. "Internet users have more tools to protect their online privacy today than they had a decade ago, and the private sector is working diligently to strengthen and improve online advertising self-regulation."

The ACLU has an ongoing congressional lobbying effort underway stating “In the same way that other industries are bound by basic privacy principles to protect consumer information, it is time for Congress to require that similar principles be followed with regard to Internet privacy.” They want Internet users to be able to have clear notice about the data collection practices involving their information, and data collectors explaining why particular information is needed and be held accountable for how the information will be used. Users should be able to control what is shared and what is kept private. Their solution is a "Do Not Track" option, which would give consumers a universal way to opt-out of tracking, much like the popular "Do Not Call" registry that allows consumers to opt out of receiving telemarketing calls.

Websites are widely sharing one’s log in name and personal information (i.e., first and last name and birthday). The ACLU cited for example, when one views a local advertisement on the Home Depot website, the user’s “first name and email address is sent to 13 additional companies. The site okcupid.com packages gender, zip code and date of birth especially for advertisers.” Advertisers then combine such information into profiles on individual consumers.

Personally identifiable information is almost completely unregulated on the Internet which raises some fundamental privacy questions. Advertisers sell this information to third parties, called data aggregators, who in turn sell it to other marketers, employers and, the government. Since 2001 data aggregation companies have had contracts with the federal government and states to collect and share personal information about millions of Americans, including unlisted cell phone numbers, insurance claims, driver's license photographs, and credit reports.

As reported by ISPLA earlier this year, Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., has introduced legislation that would require websites to respect consumer choices about online tracking, although the committee's senior counsel, Christian Fjeld, said it was doubtful that the measure would pass.

"I wouldn't be counting on us passing privacy legislation in this difficult political environment," Fjeld said. "Having said that, my boss, Senator Rockefeller, is still committed to working in a bipartisan manner to see how far we can move forward. And if it's not actually passing legislation, than it certainly [will] still entail conducting oversight and having public hearings on this subject.”

Bruce Hulme
ISPLA Director of Government Affairs
www.ISPLA.org
Resource to the Profession, Government, and the Media on Critical Issues

10 Ways to Establish Yourself as an Expert Investigator

2011-10-12T08:00:00-06:00

You might be an expert in your daily investigations work, but your expertise isn’t quite as valuable to you if people don’t know that you’re the go-to person for information about a particular subject. Establishing yourself as an expert private investigator in the public eye is something you might need to work at, but once you have obtained that recognition, it has several advantages that can propel your business to new heights.

If you’re ready to let the world know that you’re an industry leader, keep reading to find out why and how to establish yourself as an expert.

Benefits of being an expert
Even the word “expert” inspires confidence. It tells the media that they should interview you for a breaking story. It gives your peers the feeling that you’d be a good person to collaborate with on a case. Most importantly, perhaps, it tells potential clients that they should hire you over all others.

Think of establishing credibility and expert status as not only a way to gain respect, but as one of the better marketing methods to use for your investigation firm. People tend to flock to experts, and you can use that added attention to your competitive advantage.

10 Ways to Become an Investigative Expert

As mentioned before, gaining recognition can take some work. If you combine several of the following measures and stay diligent about it, you should see your reputation grow exponentially.

1. Choose a niche to showcase your expertise
Do you have a particular area of expertise, one where you feel like you have in-depth knowledge that places you among the best in the business? Focus on that niche and try to become well-known for it. Whether it’s intellectual property investigations, background checks, missing persons investigations or one of the thousands of other areas, find your niche and make yourself visible.

2. Get published
Ever hear the phrase, “He wrote the book on the subject”? That’s because people who get published instantly gain credibility in many people’s eyes. You have several publishing options: magazines, newsletters, podcasts, videos - even authoring your own book. If you would like to write a book or article but lack confidence in your writing skills, you can always hire a ghost writer.

One of the first places you can look to get published is the PI News Round-Up, which is distributed to thousands of investigators around the world. Contact us at info@pinow.com if you’re interested in writing for us.

3. Present at industry events
To stand out in your industry, you have to get in front of people. Look for speaking opportunities at association conferences, attorney conferences and any other relevant event you come across. This is a good chance to show what you know to peers and potential clients.

4. Make yourself available to the media
Getting interviewed and quoted in local and national publications is a great way to put yourself on the map. These interviews will live online and in print for a long time and be viewed by people who are trying to find out more about your services. Once you start doing interviews, it may serve you well to keep a record of all your media appearances.

5. Teach or create online courses
If you know something well enough to teach it to others, that gives people a good idea of your capability. You could teach a continuing education class for your state association, create an online course or conduct a webinar.

6. Become an expert consultant
Give yourself another source of revenue by branding yourself as a consultant. The idea of bringing in an expert consultant to evaluate and repair any deficiencies appeals to many corporations and other organizations. If your specialty is security, for example, make it known that you offer security consulting for clients.

7. Issue press releases
Press releases are a proven method of alerting the media whenever you have something to announce. There are many free press release distribution websites, or you can spend a little more money on a paid site that gets your press release out to hundreds of media outlets nationwide. The next time you help to shut down a huge counterfeit operation or find a high-profile missing person, let the media know by sending out a press release.

8. Get involved with politics and legislation
The investigation industry regularly has to rally against legislation that could make it harder for private investigators to do their jobs. By staying informed and leading the charge against harmful proposed legislation, you will make it clear to others that you are an important figure in the investigative world.

9. Stay ahead of the pack
Paying attention to new trends and technology gives you an advantage because you can remain at the forefront of your industry, as well as offer improved services to clients.

10. Use your imagination
If you have come up with innovative ways to showcase your expertise, we’d like to hear about them. Tell your fellow investigators about how you’ve established yourself as an expert by posting on PInow’s Investigator LinkedIn Group or Yahoo! Group.

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Facebook for Private Investigators: Market Your Firm in 9 Easy Steps

2011-10-12T07:59:00-06:00

No matter your opinion about Facebook as a personal social networking tool, it’s unavoidably useful as marketing tool for private investigators. One out of every 14 people on the planet has a Facebook account, which means the odds of your clients and potential clients being Facebook users are stacked in your favor.

Need more reasons to consider setting up a Facebook page for your investigations firm? How about generating leads, keeping in contact with existing and prospective clients, and giving your firm greater online visibility so that people can find you more easily? Keep reading, and we’ll give you some ideas about how you can use Facebook to boost your business.

Step 1: Create a fan page for your investigations firm
Facebook offers you the option of creating a personal page for you or a fan page for your firm. To take full advantage of the platform’s marketing tools, you’ll want to create a fan page by going to http://www.facebook.com/pages/create.php. This is your opportunity to create an intriguing page that showcases your firm’s personality and purpose. Be sure to keep your personal and business pages separate from one another, and only interact professionally when using your business page.

When filling out your profile, you can creatively personalize it and give people a reason to become your fan. Consider including:

1) Your investigation firm’s logo
2) Photo albums showing your staff at work, engaged in community activities or otherwise exemplifying the agency’s culture and personality
3) A professional-looking video explaining what makes your business great
4) Your website URL
5) A description of your firm and services

Step 2: Find your fanbase
Now that you have a Facebook Fan Page, who do you want to become fans of your firm? A good start is using Facebook’s search features to find former clients, former and current colleagues, potential clients and anyone else who you’d like to connect with online. Compiling a well-rounded group of fans over time will be the foundation for networking and generating leads.

If you know people who would be good Facebook “fans” but they don’t already have profiles, you can send them invitations to create a profile and become your fan. And as you meet potentially valuable contacts on the job or in everyday life, you can invite them to connect with you on Facebook.

Step 3: Let others know you like them
Facebook’s “Like” feature allows you to like the Facebook pages for law firms, other investigators and more. The benefit to you is that not only will these groups see that you have liked their page, but they may like yours in return. Having people like your page means that their fans also see that you are liked, which could encourage them to visit your page. Visit this Facebook page on how to add the Like Button for more information.

Step 4: Integrate with other marketing collateral
Now that you’re a Facebook user, it’s time to let people know. If you regularly hand out business cards, brochures, flyers or other marketing collateral, it’s easy to include: “Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/examplefirminvestigators.” If you have a private investigator website, you can add a link somewhere that invites people to become your fan on Facebook. You can also include a link to your Facebook page in your e-mail signature.

Step 5: Spread the news
The key to keeping people interested in being your Facebook fan is informing them and encouraging interactivity. If there’s an interesting news item that is relevant to the industry or your business, post the link on your wall. If your investigations firm is going to be represented at a community event, post information and send a Facebook invitation to your fans. If you notice that one of your fans has a birthday coming up, send them a quick note. These communications keep people interested and will encourage them to regularly visit your profile.

Encouraging interaction on your own Facebook page is only half of the equation. Pay attention to other pages within your industry and don’t be afraid to chime in on their discussions if you have something relevant to add. Contributing useful information on other pages can make other people more inclined to visit your own page and become your fans. Be sure to post information using your business Facebook page, as it helps to establish your firm’s online identity.

One last tip: to truly maximize your ability to spread news and information with social media, you can tie your Facebook and Twitter accounts together. Find out more about linking the two social networks together at the Twitter on Facebook page.

Step 6: Let the games begin
Having fun with your fan page is a great way to interact with fans and attract new ones. Facebook offers many easy-to-install apps that allow you to hold contests, surveys or quizzes, and you can even have fans vote on the winner. The prize that you give to the winner of a contest doesn’t have to be expensive - perhaps a gift card or a shirt with your company logo - but your prize out of this effort is that your Facebook fans have your firm in mind as they participate in these contests.

Step 7: Promote your blog
Writing a blog is another free marketing strategy, and you can use Facebook to promote your blog. For example, if you write a blog entry covering what people will need to know about GPS laws in California, you can post a link to that entry on your Facebook page.

To automate the process of promoting your blog on Facebook, many blog platforms let you set up an RSS feed that automatically posts your blog entries to Facebook.

Step 8: Keep it fresh
One of the most important keys to rewarding your Facebook fans is to keep your page fresh. By this, we mean making sure to continuously post new updates, write comments on others’ posts, hold contests, add new photos and more. Try to make each visit to your profile a new and interesting experience. One word of warning: The number one cause of losing fans is posting updates and other messages too often. In order to keep your fans, keep your posting to a reasonable amount (maybe once per day).

Step 9: Consider advertising on Facebook
If you have the budget for it, Facebook allows you to combine your fan page with highly targeted advertising. Somewhere around 750 million people worldwide are on Facebook, and the site allows you to advertise exclusively to the demographics who are most likely to require your services.

Conclusion
The companies that pay attention to new technology and devise innovative ways to use it are typically a step ahead of the competition. There are still many ways to use Facebook for marketing that haven’t even been considered yet, and that’s where the challenge is issued to you: establish your Facebook presence and then put your own innovative twist on it. You might even find that you have fun creating and testing different strategies.

Once you have created your Facebook page, feel free to interact with us and "like" the PInow Facebook page. We look forward to becoming your biggest fan and finding out more about more business!

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Investigators: Win a New Website During Servetober

2011-10-12T00:00:00-06:00

If you are a private investigator who also offers process serving, now is your chance to win a new website and other prizes during Servetober, a contest on ServeNow's Facebook Fanpage held throughout October! You can still participate in weekly drawings, and at the end of the month a grand prize winner will be selected.

What is the contest?

Every Monday we will release the week’s contest, and all you have to do to enter is participate. We’ll be asking questions, looking for submissions, and asking you to share some of your experiences. So conjure up some of your best serve memories, dust off your camera lenses, and pay close attention to what’s in your CD player, because you never know what will come in handy.

Prizes

Each week, five randomly selected winners will receive a $5 gift card to Starbucks, except for a surprise week when we’ll be giving away iTunes gift cards for the same amount. On the final day of the contest, five more winners will receive gift cards and we will select a grand prize winner. Did we mention the grand prize is a free process server website for one year? That’s a value of over $600.

How do I enter?

To enter the contest, visit the ServeNow.com Facebook Fanpage and participate in the weekly contests. Every time you comment, like a post, participate in a question or post a submission you will be entered into that week’s drawing as well as the grand prize drawing. There is no limit to the amount of times you can enter, and if you participate in the Grand Prize Day contest your name will be entered twice for each submission you make. If you win, we’ll get in touch with you and get you your prize. Winners must respond within 72 business hours or a new winner will be selected.

If you're also interested in a site for your investigations firm, check out our Private Investigator Websites.

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76 Private Investigation Professionals You Should Follow on Twitter

2011-10-09T06:00:00-06:00

Private investigators rely on real-time information and the latest forms of communication, so it makes sense that they would embrace Twitter. Twitter enables private investigators to share breaking news, network and even have a little fun - all with short messages of 140 characters or fewer.

PInow decided to compile a list of the top tweeting private investigators because there are many people who deserve to be recognized for using Twitter as another tool to keep the industry informed. While there is no specific formulaic ranking that was used here, we did reference influence as measured by WeFollow, number of followers, most recent activity and tweet relevance to the industry. This list will continue to grow and evolve each year, so please keep that in mind if you disagree with the rankings.

If you are a private investigator and you actively tweet, please contact us to get added to our "Up and Coming" list at the bottom of this post.

#1 PInow | follow: @investigator_pi

PInow.com is a network of trusted, pre-screened private investigators. We connect thousands of legal professionals with qualified investigators all over the U.S. and internationally on a daily basis. Use our quick quotes feature to quickly send your request a quote from investigator firms that cover a specific region.

#2 J. Ryan Winter | follow: @CanadianPI

Canadian private investigator, entrepreneur, blackberry addict, single father of 3 and believer in karma with a love of soccer, flying, technology, Lego & Dogs

#3 Tamara Thompson | follow: @PIBuzz

Tamara Thompson - San Francisco Bay Area - blogger/speaker/investigator - Internet search, public records.

#4 Central Legal PI| follow: @AlliedDetective

Private Investigator, Commercial Detective, People Tracer, Enquiry Agent. Surveillance, Process & Legal Services Northamptonshire, Warwickshire border UK.

#5 Jorge Salgado-Reyes | follow: @AlliedCentral

I am part of the Allied Detectives Network with an office in Croydon and Santiago. Also writing a Sci-Fi novel set in a London of the future.

#6 Eagle Investigative | follow: @EaglePiServices

Private Detective and Investigative Service helping individuals, corporations and attorneys solve any problem creatively, effectively and affordably.

#7 Seagal Investigations| follow: @UK_PI

Seagal Investigations Ltd. Professional International Private Investigation Agency.

#8 Pursuit Magazine | follow: @PursuitMag

Online magazine for Private Investigators, Bail Enforcement Agents (Bounty Hunters), Process Servers, Repossession and other Investigation / Law Professionals.

#9 Chris Maklary | follow: @RCInvestigation

Process Service, Skip Tracing, Video Services in Northeast Alabama

#10 Official Investigations | follow: @offinvest

Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana licensed private investigation & security company. Notary Public: Ohio & Kentucky.

#11 Pi Jobs | follow: @GetPriInvestJobs

Private Investigator jobs, careers and community site.

#12 Freelance Security | follow: @freesec

Project marketplace for private investigators, bodyguards, security consultants, detectives and more.

#13 British Agents | follow: @BritishAgents

Britain’s Private Investigators solving cases from around the world - Tell no one where I am.

#14 Michael West | follow: @ArkInv

Professional investigator in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana.

#15 Investigations Direct | follow: @InvestigationsD

Private Investigator agency in London .

#16 Executive Investigations | follow: @OZ_Private_Eye

Canberra ACT based Private Investigation agency servicing Australia Wide.

#17 John J. Kearney | follow: @celebprotect

Celebrity Protection Services A Division of U.S.R. Corporate Offering High Risk International Protection Operatives, Sub Rosa Investigations and Intel.

#18 Sherlock Investigations | follow: @Number1PI

Skipp Porteous: Electronic eavesdropping detection specialist. Owns Sherlock Investigations, New York. If one door closes, pick the lock.

#19 NYC Private Investigators, Inc. | follow: @NYCprivateEYE

Private Investigators, ICORP Investigations. Toll Free 866-984-2677. Infidelity,Family Law, Insurance Investigations, Competitive Intelligence, VIP Protection.

#20 Constantia Private Security | follow: @949GoGuardCom

Constantia Private Security.

#21 Scott Harrell | follow: @lscottharrell

Private Investigator, Bounty Hunter, Author and Trainer. Entrepreneurial Animal.

#22 ELPS Private Detective Agency | follow: @ELPSPDA

A licensed Private Investigator in PA with a BS in criminal justice. Owner of ELPS Private Detective Agency.

#23 CMP Protective & Investigative Group | follow: @tomruskin

Our office has been paperless now for over five years. “Going green” was around but no one was taking it seriously.

#24 Philip Becnel | follow: @PhilipBecnel

I'm a private investigator and the author of an investigative textbook. I get excited about technologies and theories that change how people do investigations.

#25 Clark Dickenscheidt | follow: @katytexaspi

Licensed Private Investigator with 20+ years in the industry investigating insurance fraud, civil litigation, criminal defense and corporate due diligence.

26. Navigator Research @navigatorinc

27. Bob Rahn @nysleuth

28. Davis Investigations @davisinvest

29. Justin Hibbard, CFE @hibbard

30. Spencer Elrod @SpencerPI

31. UK Private Investigators @UKDetective

32. HSI Private Investigations @hsipi

33. Roy Cox @GWSecurity

34. Nigel Parsons @AnswersPI

35. Rock Legal Services @rocklegal

36. Jeremiah Jones @boscolegal

37. [Truth] Investigations @RVAinvestigator

38. Eric Konohia @BPISecurity

39. Association of Certified Fraud Examiners @theACFE

40. Colleen Collins and Shaun Kaufman @Writingpis

41. Catherine Flowers @catseyepi

42. Right Path Investigations @rightpi

43. D. Wayne Patterson @NighthawkPI

44. Fred Archer @archerPI

45. Martinelli Investigations @GAprivateEYE

46. ICORP Investigations, Inc. @PrivateEyeLI

47. Melissa Jones @AristocratPI

48. FC Research @frenchPI

49. Lawrence W. Daly @LawrenceWDaly

50. Barbara Baughman @oregonpi

51. Phil Johnson @philjjassociate

52. J.G. Adams, Jr. @SecureServices

53. Steve Handlin @BoltPI

54. Pacific Northwest Association of Investigators @PacNWAssocInvst

55. Big Horn Investigations @wyinvestigator

56. Hewett & Associates @hewettpi

57. JMP Investigations @JMPInvestigator

58. CA Investigators @CaDetectives

59. California Association of Private Investigators @calipiorg

60. Brian Diggs @oicgroupusa

61. Centennial Investigations @CentennialInv

62. Kevin D. Murray @Spybusters

63. BPS @bps_security

64. Front Range Surveillance @frlps

65. Crane Investigations @melbournepi

66. T.J. Altman @ThaiSpy

67. David Matheson @bulletcatcher1

68. Millennium Group @milgrp2001

69. Unified Investigations & Sciences @dadamsuisusa

70. COVERT INTELLIGENCE, LLC @CovertIntell

71. M Wishart Investigations @mwishartpi

72. Hawaii P.I. @cybersherlock

73. Silvania Investigative Services @jsilvania

74. Fred Schroeder, 6th @Schroeder6th

75. United States Association of Professional Investigators @USAPI

76. Shannon Tulloss @ShannonTulloss

Up and coming...

John Scrivner @jscrivnerpi
Paperless P.I. @paperlesspi
Sulivant & Sulivant Investigations @statewidepi
Eagle Office Private Detective @SorinMatei1
BJH Hamel @bjhPI
Francisco J. Marques @HorusDetectives
Scott Stys @thecurbsidepi
Catherine Olen @kateolen
Michael Evans @Mevans251
Gray & Gray Investigations @thesiu
Wendy Shepherd @wyshepherd
Marcone Investigations, Inc. @naplespi
DRM, Inc. @drm_inc
Harris Investigations @harrisinv
MJB Group @MJBGROUP_PI
Mission Possible Investigations @mpinvestigation
Kelly Townsend @childrescue
Accurate Investigations @Glad4JC
Dragon Private Investigations @dpi92231
Assets International @AssetsIntl
Ohio Special Services Group @OhioSSG
Sue Martinez @Doveinflight1
Heather Thompson @hthompsondpi
Citywide Investigations @citywide_PI
Security Specialists LLC @OffDutyCops
Wayne Edwards @harjanpi
Curtis Burkett @KnoxvilleTN_PI
Brett Lund @RMTNCC

Made the List!

If you made the list, you may add the following badge to your company web site to show your clients your influence in the private investigation industry. And while you're at it, why not tweet this story to your faithful followers?

Copy the following code to display the badge on your site:

Tweet it Loud!

If you make the list, please click the tweet button below to share the following message with your followers: "I made the PInow list of top private investigators to follow!"

Didn't make the List?

We tried our best to find all the active Twitter users in the industry, but I'm sure we overlooked many. Please contact us and let us know if we missed you and we will add you to our "Up and Coming" List.

Domain Registration for Private Investigators

2011-09-27T00:00:00-06:00

Registering your domain name is as important as choosing a relevant name for your business. Not only is it an asset, but also a very important first step when building a website to support your business. Selecting a domain should be a process that is carefully considered and well thought through. We’ve put together a list of guidelines to help you choose your domain name.

Generic but Meaningful
Many businesses choose to register their business name as their domain name, but sometimes a shortened or more generic version is more appropriate. Within the investigations industry, using the word “investigations” in your URL can be beneficial in a number of ways:

Search engines will recognize the word and properly categorize your website in those searches. If you want to rank on search engines, this is step in the right direction.

It easily explains your business to potential clients.

They are easy to remember and spell.

Keep it Short and Simple
The shorter and easier your URL, the more likely clients are to remember and re-visit. Many times companies run into trouble registering their first preference because it has already been purchased. In this scenario, do not simply add more words onto your original preference, but re-think from the beginning. It is good to approach this process with a number of options that would make you happy and represent your company before you sit down to register your domain.

The shorter and easier your URL, the better.

Make it easy to spell and remember.

Try to include the word “investigations” for search engine optimization (to rank within Google) if you can.

Do not include “inc”, “corp”, “corporation” or “LLC” in your domain.

Do not use acronyms as there are a number of meanings.

Do not use all or part of a competitor’s name as it may be a trademark infringement.

Do not use hyphens (even though we’ve broken this rule ourselves), numbers or misspelled words.

The URL www.billsdenvercoloradoprocessservingandinvestigations.com might be descriptive of your business, but it is way too long and wordy. Think of www.billsinvestigations.com or www.denverinvestigationsfirm.com instead.

Your Domain Extension: .com, .net, .biz, .org?
We cannot stress this enough: .com, .com, .com. There is temptation among people registering domain names to register .net or .info if their first choice has already been registered with .com, but our recommendation would be to modify your URL so you can choose a .com extension. Not only is it preferable, but it makes your business more legitimate in the eyes of the consumer.

Protect Your Business & Domain
There are a few more things you should consider when registering a domain name.

If you register a generic URL, you should also register your business name and have that URL pointed to your website. It might be an added expense to register additional domains, but doing so allows you to maintain control of your business entity; you wouldn’t want your competition to purchase and sit on that domain would you?
Register all extensions of your domain. If your domain is www.nyprocess.com, you should also own the .net, .info, .org and .biz versions.
Register your domain for the maximum allowed time. This helps you in two ways: 1).Search engines look kindly on people who have long contracts on their domains. 2). It will help you maintain control over the domain.

To get started registering your domain, visit Red Hat Domains.

Need a Website?
Lawgical Sites for private investigators could be the perfect solution for your web woes. Lawgical Sites provides professional, affordable designs for private investigators (and also process servers). Check out the available private investigator websites, or call (888) 997-4669 to talk with one of our marketing consultants about getting set up with a site. Follow these suggestions if you can, but our marketing consultants are always here to help guide you through the process. Give us a call at (888) 997-4669 if you’d like some help.

9 Elements of a Better Private Investigation Website

2011-09-27T00:00:00-06:00

If making one change to your business could pay tremendous dividends for your private investigation business, wouldn’t you do it? Taking your company’s website from just okay to great – or creating a website if you don’t have one – could be the single smartest investment you can make to have your phones ringing off the hook. In this article, we’ll look at what a solid website can do for your business, then list nine elements your website requires.

Why do you need a well-designed website?
Websites have in many cases replaced business cards, in-person visits and printed marketing collateral as people’s first impression of your company. A website displays your professionalism, tells people why they should work with you, attracts new business leads and gives them a way to contact you. It’s basically your company’s 24/7 marketing director. You probably wouldn’t hire a sloppily dressed and disorganized person to be your marketing director, so why would you want a sloppy website to represent your company?

Read on to discover 9 essential website elements that will have potential clients halting their search for a private investigator when they visit you online.

Dressing your website for success
Just as a sharply dressed man or woman can grab the attention of an entire room, so can your website if it’s visually appealing. You might think your sense of style translates to a sexy website, but most web designers will disagree if your site doesn’t have the following fundamentals.

1) Simple layout – When it comes to the layout of your website, sometimes less is more. A jumble of flashing images, gobs of text, unnecessary background music and links scattered everywhere is distracting and can cause people to abandon your site. Stick to concise-yet-informative content, minimal-but-appealing images, and an uncluttered layout, and that should be more than enough for your site’s visitors.

2) Compelling imagery – Question: What do photos of your dog, a tree and a Roman gladiator have in common? Answer: Nothing, and it probably doesn’t make sense to feature them all on a private investigation website. Too many images, especially if they don’t fit together, can take people’s attention away from the vital information on the page. If you use images, choose one or two that convey your company’s personality, work ethic and business philosophy. Stock photography sites such as www.istockphoto.com have hundreds of thousands of images you can browse to find the one that belongs on your site.

3) Color coordination – Colors, much like images, should be used sparingly on your site. Instead of using every color in the rainbow, pick 2-5 colors that go together. People visiting your site will thank you for not assaulting their eyes with a combination of neon green and mustard yellow.

4) Convincing content – You have probably heard of the 5 W’s (Who, What, Where, When and Why). Your website should answer those questions about your business before potential clients ask them. Who are you as a company? What can you do for clients? Where are you located and where do you provide service? When can you have the job completed? Why should people choose your company? Make this information easy to find and easy to read so people can quickly learn about your business. Make sure the content is copy edited and spell-checked because errors often scream “unprofessional” to professionals. Finally, make sure your contact information is correct and easily located.

Turning your site into a high-performance marketing tool
Most people are similar in that certain aspects turn them off when visiting websites. Make sure your website is strong in the following areas to give your site visitors a user-friendly experience.

5) Quality URL – The URL, or domain name, of your site should be uncomplicated and fairly easy to remember. A person might have trouble keeping www.the-best-private-investigators-ever.com in their memory bank, but www.nyprivateinvestigator.com is much easier to remember. Try to keep the URL fairly short, memorable and relevant to your business. Click here to read a full article guiding you through choosing a domain name.

6) Search engine optimization – Now that you’ve chosen your domain name, it’s time to make sure people can find the site. Search engine optimization (SEO) helps search engines such as Google and Yahoo! find you, which means that potential clients can find you when they search for investigators.

There is a lot that goes into SEO – too much to fit into this paragraph – but essentially it’s a comprehensive effort involving site structure, targeted keywords, meta tags, content strategy and more. There are hundreds of books and thousands of online articles about SEO, but in the end your best option might be to consult someone who knows how search engines operate and how to build a search engine-friendly site.

7) Fast load time – Have you ever typed in the URL of a website and then spent 30 seconds waiting for the site to load? You don’t want people waiting that long for your site to load because they might just say “forget it” and move on to the next website that Google suggested. One way to prevent slow load times is to minimize large graphics and icons. Slow load times can also be caused by more complicated back-end issues that likely require professional attention unless you are skilled in computer coding.

8) Simple navigation – People should be able to jump from your home page, to the contact page, to a page that lists your services, and back to your home page without breaking a sweat. Website users get frustrated if they have to do detective work to figure out how to find the information they need on your site. Make sure the site is structured in a way that makes sense to visitors, with a clearly defined path that leads people to their desired destination.

9) Working links – Broken links not only frustrate site visitors, but they can lower your search engine ranking. You should test your site links regularly (some companies offer online tools that automatically test your links) to make sure nobody receives a message saying “Oops, this page could not be found” while on your site.

Building a better website might seem overwhelming, but working with someone who is experienced and knowledgeable should make the process painless for you. Click here to read about the website services PInow.com offers private investigators. And once you have an attractive, effective website to show off, all that’s left to do is satisfy the many new customers who request your services.

Need a Website? Lawgical Sites for provides and out-of-the-box website solution for private investigators which are professional and affordable. Call us at (888) 997-4669 to talk with one of our marketing consultants about getting set-up.

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Looking to grow your investigation firm? Get in front of potential customers by joining PInow’s trusted network of local, pre-screened private investigators.
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PInow.com Investigator Center

Investigator Training at 2012 PAWLI Conference

2012 PAWLIAnnual Training Conference

Highlights from last year

Hot topics at this year’s conference

Speakers and topics

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Friday

Saturday

Why investigators should attend

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Signs of a Cheating Spouse

What do private investigators say are the most common signs of a cheating spouse?

And the 6 common signs of a cheating spouse are ...

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#1 PIbuzz

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Up and Coming . . .

People's Choice . . .

#45 Pursuit Magazine

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February Facebook Activities for Private Investigators

What’s happening in February

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Grow Your Investigations Business in 2012

Market your business in 2012

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List of Freebies to Get You Started...

And, Here's the Pitch...

Market Your Investigations Firm to Attorneys With Introduction Letters

The greeting

The first paragraph

The second and third paragraph

The fourth paragraph

Your signature

Here’s what your completed letter might look like:

Conclusion

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LinkedIn vs. Yahoo: Which Investigator Group Should You Join?

Investigator Marketing vs. Private Investigators PInow: the basics

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