Karasma Media Legal Marketing Blog by Kara Smith » Legal Marketing Tips

Harlem Book Fair’s Social Media Marketing Presentations Are Available

Kara — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 19:47:22 +0000

After our presentations on Social Media Marketing at the Harlem Book Fair this year, AALBC.com’s Troy Johnson and I received quite a few requests for hard copies of the slides, so we uploaded them to Slide share.

I highly recommend using Slide Share to legal marketers, because the platform interacts with online data in a similar manner to YouTube, and can enable the information you provide to go viral very quickly.

The 4 slide presentations we shared with our participants were fairly high-level in nature, simply because we only had an hour to cover the content of each section. If you’re a legal marketer or business owner just getting started in social media, they’re designed to provide you with an initial “look-see”.

Harlem Book Fair – How to Use Your Website to Generate Business – Workshop I

View more presentations from Karasma Media Public Relations.

How to use Facebook to Build Your Personal and Professional Brand – Workshop II

View more presentations from Karasma Media Public Relations.

Harlem Book Fair – What is Twitter All About – Workshop III

View more presentations from Karasma Media Public Relations.

Harlem Book Fair – Social Media Beyond Facebook and Twitter – Workshop IV

View more presentations from Karasma Media Public Relations.

I look forward to your thoughts!

Creativity and the Legal Marketing Mindset

Kara — Fri, 21 May 2010 11:40:36 +0000

Thinking about being a leader in legal marketing community, in New York City, in my my life — is daunting at times to say the least.

For the last few days, I’ve been in the midst of being overwhelmed by “the thinking about” of the responsibilities I’ve taken on in my community, my family and myself… There were days when I can hardly breath, let alone write!

It’s all occurring to me like — There’s no time to feel like this. This is Horrible!

But what if that’s not “The Truth”. What if occasionally I just need a “pick-me-up”? What if all that I’m going through is simply a human phenomena, rather than there being something wrong. Ahhhh — I just exhaled…

For the next year, I’m in Landmark’s Wisdom Course, and incorporating fun into my life.

This is a photo of my “Community Circle” as a work in progress, illustrating the groups of people or “Communities” I interact with on a daily basis.

With all of the pressure I constantly put on myself, no wonder I’m so exhausted some days that I don’t want to get up and moving, let alone write…

There are times when the thoughts I have about hearing a “No”, or not getting a response, or getting negative feedback — keep me from being very enthusiastic about taking any more actions at all that could actually be positive or result in an affirmative.

You know the craziest thing… I always feel awful when I get “bogged down” . Inevitably, inactivity for self business generation will show up in my Google Analytics and the results I produce at the end of the week. See, I’m a terrible person! And Oh! Let’s not forget — People are watching!

No wonder I’m so tired all the time!!!

All this being said, I think it’s time to shift my daily writing and morning routine from a “Have To” to a reward I give myself? I’m also shifting what I call my daily exercise from “Working out” to “Going Out to Play.”

No wonder life was so much fun as a kid! Look what us adults end-up calling the things we need to do!

Writing for me is extremely therapeutic, as is the completion of most things I frequently avoid responsibility for. So I have some catch-up to do, but only because I made up that there’s somewhere else I’m supposed to be.

The goals we set for ourselves are great inspirational / motivational tools, but when they start to take the joy out of living — It’s definitely time for some reinvention!

I’ll keep you posted about the results of my Self Generation of Business is Fun — and playing more.

Should European in-house lawyers be allowed to be members of the bar – Legal pros using social connect internationally

Kara — Tue, 11 May 2010 16:59:34 +0000

I am excited and enthusiastic about a conversation happening among barristers practicing international law.

European Parliment; Strasbourg, France

On the Martindale-Hubbell Connected German Law Group Blog, a London based journalist who specializes on the European legal market commented,

“There is no privilege for in-house lawyers in Europe. As it stands now, any lawyer who wants to benefit from legal privilege has to be completely independent of the client they are taking instructions from…

Attorneys need to… re-focus their efforts on trying to persuade their local bar associations to allow them to join their organizations on equal term with private practice lawyers. Only once a significant minority of European countries treat in-house lawyers as just as “independent” as their private practice colleagues is the ECJ ever likely to change its opinion on corporate counsel privilege.

A scenaro which makes this situation worse, is often in-house counsel based in the United States is granted privilege by a European judge due to their US origin, in accordance with the standard practice here.

See the Poll on Martindale Hubbell Connected’s German Law Group Forum asking:
Should (German) in-house lawyers be allowed to be members of their bar?

It occurred to me that this situation is exemplary of the kinds of imbalances within the international legal community that attorneys using social media platforms designed specifically for them, will have the ability to bring to light and alleviate. Martindale Hubbell Connected’s closed community on is ideal for this, due to the scrutiny, reputation, and expertise of the firm; while other newer platforms may not be as oriented in the needs the international legal service provider.

Many law firms and individual practitioners alike work to resolve their areas of concern and skepticism about social media, from a strictly theoretical perspective. However, those who are actively embracing the nuances online social media interaction are going to be far out in front in there ROI as a result of using it masterfully over time. Legal organizations working globally are going to more subject to this than any other practitioners.

Log -in here to read and contribute to this discussion on Martindale Hubbell Connected
Joining Martindale Hubbell Connected is free of charge, the only requirement is that you are a legal professional.

Creativity and Play Intertwined in Legal Marketing and in Life

Kara — Sun, 09 May 2010 15:43:51 +0000

If you’ve ever been to Pearl Paint on Canal Street in China Town New York, then you know what it’s like to be surrounded by every conceivable artist tool necessary to stimulate your creative muse. I went there yesterday, and hadn’t been there since I was an undergrad at Pratt Institute almost 15-years ago.

I went shopping to pick up some supplies for a display of my “Originating Circle”, ie: the people I have regular interactions with, either via conversation or exchanges of goods and services. (I’m sure I’ll have some of the people reading this blog pictured, which is just way too much fun)

I’ll have to post a photo of it when it’s complete, which will be in the next week or so. Why am I doing all this extra work for you may ask…

I was clear that I wasn’t having much fun, and needed a “boost” to push myself to the next level professionally and personally. So, I enrolled in Landmark Education’s Wisdom Unlimited, a year long program, spread over 5-weekends. The participants are professionals from all over the world, and a very exciting group of folk.

The cornerstone of the Wisdom Course is Play — the sheer enjoyment of “being” I the give and take of daily life — with no other motive or agenda…

The course is available to people who are seasoned in the work of Landmark Education and have a fully developed grasp of what it is t to create new possibilities for themselves and others. It is designed for those who value growth and development as a way of living, rather than as a particular experience or one time phenomenon.
The Landmark Education Wisdom Course Brochure

After attending our first weekend last week I realized that somehow, over the last few years of having my own company, I’d gotten slightly resigned, cynical and sarcastic. How’d that happen I wonder?

What I already see is much I love having my own business, working with lawyers and the legal marketing community; joining you in your commitments and aligning with what you believe in. I absolutely adore waking up each morning and interacting with and learning from you , all day — every day and am completely committed your and my success.

The joy I get from working with Alain L. Locke Elementary couldn’t be clearer, and how much I love my family is stronger than ever, and I’m getting more exercise daily and having a good time doing it. ; ie; there’s no “Burden of Have to” present, and needless to say, I’m feeling … LIGHTER…

More progress is to come as I work on my display and continue to play. I’ll keep you posted to creative developments happening with Karasma Media and my life.

The Virtual Law Office Debate on Twitter

Kara — Fri, 07 May 2010 20:56:23 +0000

Once again, @Lisa Solomon has proven herself to be an invaluable information resource…

This afternoon she sent out an note regarding Lance Goddard of 22Tweets moderation of a Twitter debate hosted by ABA Journal about virtual law offices.

It was featuring VLO (Virtual Law Office) expert Stephanie Kimbro and Legal Rebel Richard Granat (in favor) and outspoken Florida Lawyer Brian Tannebaum in opposition; with of course a litany of comments provided by all those tuning in.

You can see and add to the Tweetstream here:

Watch this space for the link to the archive of today’s debate (at @ABAJournal), then add your thoughts to the ongoing conversation #22TwDbless than a minute ago via TweetDeckLance Godard
22twts

In the event you’re not on Twitter, and you should be… You can view the debate at http://tinyurl.com/2csdtm6. (The Tweets are in reverse chronological order, keep clicking “older” to get to the beginning.)

Update to Legal Marketers – Tweets are Embeddable as of May 4th 2010

Kara — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:36:20 +0000

The use of real tweets helps “chunk” the piece both visually and logically; we think it makes it easier to read.

There are some folk who felt that a pasted-in image of a tweet was a bit “tacky”. Personally, I never really minded it, since it illustrated a point. Either way, there’s now an easy to use alternative!

With just a small bit of code you can generate simple, selectable flat-HTML tweets like the one I used here.

Blogged Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Influence of Legal Marketers: http://tinyurl.com/26d3kjhless than a minute ago via APIKara Smith
karasmamedia

You’ll need to capture a Tweet’s URL and paste it in, so you may want to take a look at Ben Sparks’ directions on how to do so first.

Here’s the link! Blackbird Pie

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Influence of Legal Marketers

Kara — Wed, 05 May 2010 17:59:52 +0000

As legal marketers, we play an extremely important role in spearheading the development of corporate strategy for our organizations and in the responding to the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) agenda in play.

Yesterday, I attended Good Business 2010 in New York City, hosted by the Better Business Bureau. Speakers included Michael Holland, Edelman; Exec. VP and Group Head, Corporate Social Responsibility, NY; Deborah Holmes Ernst & Young, LLP, Global Corporate Responsibility Leader; and Robin Reibel, of the Macy’s Group V.P, Media Relations Cause Marketing, and Visitors Services.

One of the highlights of the conference was a front-of-the-room conversation between NY Times Advertising Columnist, Stuart Elliott,
and Christopher Graves, the CEO of Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, who I had the opportunity to speak with briefly afterward.

For me, one of the most important points Chris emphasized was,

“Never forget, the emotional human being on the other side”.

Some of my key takeaways:

In order to be sustainable, the social concerns of a firm and the human beings behind a legal organization need to be demonstrated, particularly since we see the strong influence that that “the company behind the product” has on the brands all of us consumers purchase.

CSR has been one of the key themes of the new Millennium and involves companies operating their businesses in ways that meet their stakeholders’ expectations about economic, legal, ethical and environmental and social performance.

People are more likely to buy and rate the products from a company that they perceive as having a good reputation.

Social Media plays an important role in delivering CSR for legal brands, particularly through :

Information: Address both the services your legal marketing organization offers and the concerns of its audience

Blog Content: Needs to be appropriately targeted, ethical, accurate and culturally enriching and acceptable;

Pricing: Be sensitive to client needs ie: moving away from hourly billing, and value, as well as operating your firm as a profitable business;

Selling: Avoid perceptions of misleading and pressuring customers and staying within compliance of ABA and jurisdiction regulations

Customer Service: Stay cognizant of your audience’s needs and concerns is key, as well as effective with resolving disputes.

Chris also mentioned this scenario I thought you might get a kick out of. Nestle’s grossly mishandled Greenpeace’s outrage via Facbook ver their supporting companies that destroy rainforests in order to produce the palm oil that Nestle purchases from them.

While it’s highly unlikely that any orangutans will be attacking your legal marketing org any time soon, keeping the “Beasts at-Bay” with CSR in mind is sound business advice.

A bleak higher education forecast & how legal marketer’s can cause a shift

Kara — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:36:45 +0000

Seth Godin, is pretty pessimistic about the future of higher education in the United States. On of the key factors he holds responsible for it’s demise is Accredation:

Accreditation isn’t the solution, it’s the problem. A lot of these ills are the result of uniform accreditation programs that have pushed high-cost, low-reward policies on institutions and rewarded schools that churn out young wanna-be professors instead of experiences that turn out leaders and problem-solvers…

…The solutions are obvious… there are tons of ways to get a cheap, liberal education, one that exposes you to the world, permits you to have significant interactions with people who matter and to learn to make a difference.

Seth’s Blog: The coming melt-down in higher education as seen by a marketer

Fortunately, The City College of New York is one of those schools staffed with many college professors who are committed to putting a shift in this vicious cycle. One of the ways they do that is with guest lectures and I’m extremely happy to say that I’ll be speaking there this evening.

I will be a guest lecturer in the Black Studies Program – Entrepreneur class at City College of New York, CUNY. Using the business model the class is currently working with for the semester, I’ll be reviewing: How social media works, the platforms available, expense involved, and how to generate new business by using these tools effectively.

Dr. Charles Townsend, the professor, also requested that I include a section on ethics and emphasize the importance of ethical business practices to his students, which I’m only too happy to do.

The American Bar Association has also taken on an active roll in shifting the path of American education. They’ve started the development of the American Bar Academy, with a faculty consisting of the organizations 400,000 bar members. Conceptually, they’re going to go into every high school and provide a curriculum that teaches Civics. They’ll be working with 11th graders (50% women & minorities), in turn they’ll be taking that knowledge back to classrooms.

Facebook’s “LIKE” Button – Are you a pro or con legal pro?

Kara — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:21:29 +0000

Several days ago, I wrote a post that linked to a NY Times article detailing how to disable Facebook’s new “like” buttons and “Open Graph API” applications on your pages.

With with open web advocates both in the legal community and outside, questioning the true “openness” of the new platform, and Facebook arguing that the move is good for the web.

For a bit more clarity - here’s a 10-point guide compiled by Mashable’s Pete Cashmore, reviewing the debate and giving his take on who’s right:

Shocker: Facebook Does What’s Best For Facebook

Just as an “FYI” — Want to see scary? Go to this URL, which uses the facebook graph api:

http://zesty.ca/facebook/

If you enter the ID or Alias of yourself or a loved one, or someone you are stalking, whatever…

You can see how much of YOUR DATA is being released in the FB Graph API to a 3rd party YOU DIDNT APPROVE OF (namely, zesty.ca who are providing this as maybe-a-public-service, because really, you don’t know…).

I’ve changed my FB settings so nothing comes up, but it’s pretty scary if you enter an ID of someone who hasn’t. Food for thought…

A Real-Time Social Web Clock Watcher for Curious Legal Marketers

Kara — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 01:08:47 +0000

If you’re curious about how many Twitter users are signing up per second or how much money is being spent on Facebook gifts, or iPhone apps have been downloaded — Then this is the site for you!

When Gary Hayes became curious, he created the Social Media Counts application to track just how prolific social media is – in real time.

I’m not including this information on the Karasma Media Legal Marketing Blog simply to satiate your need for “interesting trivia”.

Five years ago, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, JD Supra and the iPhone didn’t exist. Today Facebook has 350 million members; Twitter - 30 million; and Hulu having surpassed Time Warner Cable, is the second largest “channel” in America.

We all know technology has profoundly impacted consumer behavior. Awareness of this information is all part of my stressing the need to master the social media tools you can use to grow your legal business!

Read the full article to see exactly where he is getting his stats for the application.

The Count

Karasma Media Legal Marketing Blog by Kara Smith » Legal Marketing Tips

Harlem Book Fair’s Social Media Marketing Presentations Are Available

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Creativity and the Legal Marketing Mindset

Other articles you may be interested in…

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Should European in-house lawyers be allowed to be members of the bar – Legal pros using social connect internationally

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Creativity and Play Intertwined in Legal Marketing and in Life

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

The Virtual Law Office Debate on Twitter

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Update to Legal Marketers – Tweets are Embeddable as of May 4th 2010

Here’s the link! Blackbird Pie

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Influence of Legal Marketers

Social Media plays an important role in delivering CSR for legal brands, particularly through :

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

A bleak higher education forecast & how legal marketer’s can cause a shift

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

Facebook’s “LIKE” Button – Are you a pro or con legal pro?

Shocker: Facebook Does What’s Best For Facebook

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410

A Real-Time Social Web Clock Watcher for Curious Legal Marketers

Other articles you may be interested in:

You can reach her at 917-856-5410