1. Maximizing Your Law Firm’s Potential Through AI & Data With Christian J. Ward Ken Hardison 34:10

Welcome to episode 260 of the Grow Your Law Firm podcast, hosted by Ken Hardison. In this episode, Ken sits down with Christian J. Ward, Executive Vice President and Chief Data Officer at Yext.   Christian J. Ward is focused on expanding data and AI applications in marketing and entrepreneurship. He helps Yext clients identify, value, and structure their knowledge to maximize data value in AI and search. Ward co-authored the Amazon bestseller Data Leverage: Unlocking the Surprising Growth Potential of Data Partnerships and has executed hundreds of data partnerships worldwide. Ward has served as Chief Data Officer of Arizent, Chief Data Officer of Data Axle, and Global Head of Content Innovation at Thomson Reuters. He founded and sold two structured data companies in financial and media analytics. He has been quoted in publications like The Wall Street Journal, The Financial Times, Adweek, Fortune, and Forbes and speaks frequently on data strategy, partnerships, and AI. What you’ll learn about in this episode:   1. Why Data Accuracy and Structure Are Critical for Law Firm Growth

  • Ensuring consistent, accurate data across platforms builds trust with search engines and AI systems, making your firm more discoverable.
  • Structuring your data with schema.org enhances machine understanding and ranks your firm higher in AI-driven results.

2. How AI Is Transforming Client Search and Decision-Making

  • AI now focuses on understanding and refining client queries, shifting from keyword-based search to conversational interactions.
  • By answering AI-driven prompts with detailed firm information, lawyers can ensure their practice stands out in client decision funnels.

3. Why Embracing AI Tools Improves Law Firm Efficiency

  • AI can streamline internal processes, from summarizing briefs to automating client communication and task management.
  • Investing in AI-powered tools allows firms to respond promptly to client inquiries, enhancing client relationships and satisfaction.

4. How Shifting Focus from Ads to Knowledge Sharing Boosts Visibility

  • Providing detailed, structured knowledge about your practice such as specialties, community involvement, and case history drives AI to recommend your firm.
  • Relying on authentic data rather than ad spend ensures better positioning in AI-driven recommendations.

5. Why Law Firms Must Adapt to AI-Driven Client Journeys

  • Clients are increasingly relying on AI for personalized recommendations; ensuring your data matches their needs is essential.
  • AI transforms the traditional search process into a dialogue, emphasizing the importance of firm transparency and availability in real-time.

  Resources:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/wardchristianj/ https://www.facebook.com/YextInc?utm_source=yexthomepage&utm_medium=social_icon&utm_campaign=yext_official_facebook https://x.com/yexthttps://www.linkedin.com/company/yext/   Additional Resources:  https://www.pilmma.org/aiworkshop https://www.pilmma.org/the-mastermind-effect https://www.pilmma.org/resources https://www.pilmma.org/mastermind

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Ken Hardison Millionaire Maker

Ken Hardison, is known as the “Millionaire Maker” for a reason- having helped lawyers across the country double, triple, or quadruple their law practices and income, he brings to law firm owners the insights, knowledge, and critical strategies of Legal Marketing and Management that can only be learned in the trenches of real law firm success.

With over 30 years of legal experience, Ken has personally grown and sold two seven-figure law firms and has shared his knowledge and experience with attorneys, helping them experience exponential growth, increased profits, and ethical market preeminence.

With a passion and deep understanding of both grassroots and cutting-edged online legal marketing strategies, Ken is committed to helping lawyers experience greater levels of financial success, freedom, and personal satisfaction- the kind that comes from building an ethical and exceptional law practice. Focusing on the practical and the proven, rather than the cerebral, Ken guides lawyers through the steps needed to build the law practice many lawyers have only dreamed possible.

Ken is the Founder of PILMMA, Personal Injury Lawyer Marketing and Management Association, dedicated to helping lawyers learn the critical strategies to success. As a trusted advisor, consultant, coach, and Mastermind mentor, Ken has coached lawyers to greater success time and time again.

PILMMA’s powerful live and virtual events, such as the ever-popular Law Firm Growth Super Summits and Internet Domination Boot Camps have helped hundreds of lawyers gain the insights and strategies they need to propel their firms forward to greater success and exponential results and to stay current on the latest legal management and marketing strategies, such as leveraging SEO, PPC, PPL, Social Media, etc.

Ken is the author of numerous best-selling books such as Systematic Marketing, Under Promise, Over Deliver, and his latest book, Powerful Online Legal Marketing. He’s known for his practical and engaging style of taking the complicated world of legal marketing and management and giving clarity and step-by-step guides that any lawyer can implement to experience real results, greater profits, transformational growth, and heightened success.