When two seasoned legal marketers disagree on what really drives digital marketing results, it’s more than a debate—it’s a playbook in action. Taken from a live Texas Showdown Debate, internet marketing professional Jay Berkowitz goes head-to-head with attorney Angel L. Reyes, III, Founder of Angel Reyes & Associates.  Listen as they debate over whether branding or digital performance wins in today’s legal landscape. Angel brings decades of insight into high-volume case acquisition, intake systems, and data-driven marketing. Jay brings agency experience managing 150+ Google Local Service Ads. Together, they break down exactly how LSAs, PPC, reviews, and intake speed influence client acquisition—and why even the best brand means nothing without execution.

Key Topics

[00:04:05] What sparked a heated conversation between two marketing pros—and why it matters for your strategy.

[00:07:02] How online visibility and engagement might be influenced by more than just ad dollars.

[00:09:58] What drives clicks in today’s legal market and how your firm might need to adapt.

[00:12:12] How one firm reevaluated its entire marketing approach—and what you can learn from their shift.

[00:14:24] What it looks like to scale your intake to handle thousands of leads—and the structure behind it.

[00:17:08] Which performance metrics may play a bigger role in digital rankings than your brand name.

[00:19:20] Why timing might be more powerful than reputation when it comes to converting leads.

[00:21:52] How to think differently about the long-term value of new intakes.

[00:23:47] What makes one paid ad channel stand out—and how to tell if it’s still working for your firm.

[00:27:03] How recent changes to ad platforms could impact your lead quality and what to watch out for.

[00:29:15] What goes into a high-performing ad account beyond just budget and targeting.

[00:31:08] What tracking intake speed can teach you about your own team’s performance.

[00:33:57] Why the first phone call might be your only shot—and what happens when you miss it.

[00:36:06] What tools some firms are using to turn missed opportunities into signed cases.

[00:38:12] How national competitors are approaching your market and why that could affect your results.

[00:40:10] What happens when a competitor bids on your brand—and how you can respond.

[00:43:57] What consumer behavior in the grocery store can teach you about ad positioning.

[00:46:35] Why improving one overlooked metric could significantly lower your ad costs.

[00:49:40] How to prioritize marketing investments when your budget doesn’t allow for everything.

[00:53:12] What two seasoned marketers agree all small firms should focus on first before thinking about brand.

[00:55:40] What types of marketing waste most budgets—and how to know if you’re falling into the same trap.

[00:57:30] How one firm tracks attribution beyond “last click” to better understand the full client journey.

[00:59:50] What branded search terms really show—and where the real origin of a case may begin.

[01:02:20] How multi-channel campaigns can either clarify or confuse a firm’s overall message.

[01:04:10] What often gets missed in review strategies—and how to get more out of them.

[01:06:00] Why automation is helping some firms follow up faster and more consistently than ever before.

[01:08:10] The surprising marketing tactic some firms are using to lower cost per lead—without lowering quality.

[01:10:45] How to evaluate if your intake process is really aligned with your ad spend.

[01:13:20] What the data says about speed-to-lead—and what’s considered too slow in 2025.

[01:15:40] A look at the future of LSA, PPC, and lead generation—and what law firms should prepare for next.

[01:18:05] Why staying ahead in marketing requires more than just tools—it demands mindset and execution.

[01:20:45] Final takeaways from both Angel and Jay on what they’d prioritize if they were starting over.

Resources Mentioned

Tools & Tech

• Google Local Services Ads (LSAs)
• Google Ads (PPC)
• Google Maps & Google Business Profile
• DocuSign – For immediate contract signing during intake
• TGR Boomerang – Tool by 10 Golden Rules to capture missed calls
• Voice over IP (VoIP) Telephony – For tracking call speed and missed call rate
• Invoca – Call attribution platform
• Google Reviews – One of the most influential ranking and trust factors
• UTMs & Google Tag Manager – For campaign attribution

About ourGuest:

Angel L. Reyes, III is the Founder and Managing Partner of the law firm Angel Reyes & Associates. He began his legal career on Wall Street, subsequently relocated to Dallas, Texas, and opened his law firm. Since 1993, Angel has helped over 55,000 injury victims receive over $1 Billion in compensation for their injuries.

Angel was named to the 2008-2024 Texas Monthly Super Lawyers list, the top honor issued to the best lawyers in Texas. Angel is often quoted by newspapers and periodicals throughout the country and is a frequent guest on both national and local television and radio shows.

https://www.reyeslaw.com/ 

About Jay Berkowitz:

Jay Berkowitz is a digital marketing strategist with decades of experience in the industry. As the CEO of Ten Golden Rules, he has helped countless law firms and businesses harness the power of the internet to achieve remarkable growth and visibility. Jay is also a renowned keynote speaker and author, sharing his expertise at various industry events and publications worldwide.

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