From Freelance Burnout to AEO Mastery: Skyrocketing Attorney Leads
Seven years ago, I dove into SEO freelancing with big dreams but hit a wall fast. Undercharging, working around the clock, no mentor, no systems—clients ignored my policies, filed false chargebacks, and blamed me for things outside my scope. I felt unready. Two years ago, I joined an agency, discovered my talent matched my team’s, and realized poor operations had stretched me thin. With tools like GA4, Semrush, Google Search Console (GSC), and Screaming Frog, I honed my craft, becoming the agency’s top SEO expert. My 36 mid-sized clients—across automotive, healthcare, and home services—saw rankings soar, with one healthcare blog on foot pain going viral, tripling results. AEO became my superpower, landing a client in ChatGPT’s “urgent care near me” response. Now, I’m ready to freelance again, focusing on SEO and AEO for attorneys. Why? Lean, organic strategies let small law firms outshine big competitors without massive ad budgets. Here’s my journey and how I can help your law firm dominate search.
From Chaos to Clarity: Building My SEO Expertise
Freelancing taught me hard lessons. I was talented but overwhelmed, lacking structure. Joining an agency changed everything. I was already using top tools—GA4 for analytics, Semrush for keyword insights, GSC for search performance, and Screaming Frog for content audits—but the agency’s systems let me shine. I manage 36 mid-sized accounts, driving wins like ranking a home services client for local roofing searches and boosting a healthcare client’s foot traffic via ChatGPT’s “urgent care near me” response. My YouTube channel, focused on book reviews, is my testing lab. Using GSC and Semrush, I’ve ranked videos for “best business books 2025,” perfecting tactics before applying them to clients.
Authenticity is my edge—clients trust genuine content. I leverage existing video libraries to turn them into lead generators, keeping your voice real, and avoid AI avatars, as inauthentic content risks losing trust. My custom AI agent analyzes competitors’ regional strategies, like spotting gaps in Cincinnati’s urgent care market. Screaming Frog, paired with ChatGPT, catches issues like long titles, generating alternatives that boosted an automotive client’s CTR by 12%. I’ve championed omni-presence—being on Google, YouTube, social media, and AI platforms—as a recommended strategy, proven by my AEO wins and a viral foot pain blog that tripled rankings. I understand and apply marketing rules, including superlatives and compliance guidelines, to ensure your content meets advertising standards—meaning less time revising work and more time with your clients.
Why AEO and SEO for Attorneys?
Attorneys, this is your moment. Big law firms rely on massive ad budgets, but small firms can win with lean, organic SEO and AEO. Large language models don’t run ads—they recommend organic content. My strategies get you mentioned locally for lead services like “best personal injury lawyer near Chicago,” saving thousands while outranking legacy competitors. Here’s how I make it happen:
1. Lean Operations, Big Impact
Managing 36 accounts, I’ve mastered lean workflows. My AI agent outperforms a full team, analyzing competitors’ messaging to find gaps, like in Cincinnati’s urgent care market. Using Semrush, I uncover high-value keywords to boost your local rankings fast.
2. Affordable AI, Real Results
Tools like ChatGPT and Screaming Frog let me audit content and generate click-friendly meta descriptions, like boosting a home services client’s clicks by 10%. I’m exploring Copy.ai for AEO snippets, targeting attorney queries like “best personal injury lawyer near Chicago.”
3. Omni-Presence Is the Future
My omni-presence philosophy—being on Google, LinkedIn, Google Business Profile (GBP), and AI platforms—drives results. My AEO work landed a client in ChatGPT’s “urgent care near me” response, and I can do the same for you. Check out my AEO guide for law firms to learn how to get mentioned in AI answers for queries like “best personal injury lawyer near Chicago.” I’m optimizing for Perplexity and Claude to keep you ahead.
4. Leverage Existing Videos for Leads
I don’t create new video campaigns—I repurpose your existing video library to generate leads, using GA4 to track engagement and optimize for local searches like “best personal injury lawyer near Chicago.”
5. Authenticity Over AI Avatars
I prioritize real voices—yours in repurposed videos, client testimonials for your firm. Inauthentic AI avatars risk losing trust, so I use them sparingly, ensuring your firm’s message resonates while complying with advertising rules.
6. AI Agents and Automation
My AI agent spots competitors’ weaknesses, like gaps in urgent care campaigns. I’m testing Zapier to automate tag generation, streamlining your site’s SEO while keeping it authentic and compliant.
7. Marketing as a Multi-Platform Game
I’m on Google, LinkedIn, and GBP, ensuring your firm is everywhere your clients are. This agility gets you local mentions and leads without ad spend.
Why Attorneys Should Hire Me
My track record—tripling rankings, going viral with a foot pain blog, boosting urgent care traffic—shows I deliver. My YouTube channel proves I test tactics risk-free, ensuring client success. With GA4, Semrush, GSC, and Screaming Frog, I drive authentic, lean results that comply with marketing rules. Small law firms can compete with big players using organic SEO and AEO, saving thousands while getting mentioned for “best personal injury lawyer near Chicago.” Ready to dominate search? Let’s talk.
Final Thoughts
Burnout as a freelancer taught me I needed systems, not just talent. At the agency, I became an SEO/AEO master, tripling client rankings and driving viral wins. Now, I’m ready to freelance again, helping attorneys leverage lean, organic strategies to outshine competitors. My AI agent, Screaming Frog integration, and omni-presence approach keep me efficient, authentic, and compliant. Want your law firm to rank higher, faster, and smarter? Drop a comment or reach out—let’s make your firm the go-to choice!
