Lawyers, Forget About “Quitting Facebook” – Expanding Your Comfort Zone to Communicate is Key
While I was at the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Business meeting in Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to meet with large-firm general counsel, communications directors and small firm members from across the country.
I really enjoy talking to lawyers in person about social media, mostly because it gives me an opportunity to discuss the importance of on-line networking tools and how they can directly impact their business, face-to-face.
One attorney I spoke with said, “One of the reasons lawyers aren’t really going for social media like Facebook, is because it started with young people using it, kids really kind of playing with it.” Unfortunately, she’s right. Many legal professionals have antiquated ideas about how to generate business and technology has always been a challenge.
So, they’re really suffering when it comes to understanding and developing new online tools for business development. That makes the fast moving development of online communication all the more challenging for many in the industry.
During the NAMWOLF business meeting, the importance of staying in communication was an ongoing theme for the panelists. We all know that for generations, lawyers have built their business through personal relationships.
It’s time to expand your “Comfort Zone” and learn new communications tools!
Facebook is the perfect tool to help lawyers have deeper conversations and relationships with acquaintances so they can become friends, and potential business contacts.
Blogs, Facebook, Twitter, JD Supra, Martindale.com and Avvo are fast becoming primary tools for generating new business for legal marketers going forward.
An article in the Lawyerist elaborates on the usage of Facebook and it’s intense growth among users between 35 and 55 years old. The precise demographic legal marketers are targeting…
If you are not actively using social media in your marketing efforts, your firm’s business is missing out on some incredible opportunities.
Other articles you may be interested in:
Legal Marketers – Now is NOT the time to give up on Twitter
Legal Professionals Who Are Not Social Media Savvy Can Jeopardize Their Cases
Kara works with legal marketers to create a more clearly defined focus and distinctive business strategy that will provide them with a competitive advantage for new business, higher reputation recognition, and enhance their ability to attract, win, and retain the clients they really want.
You can reach her at 917-856-5410
Tags: Kara Smith, Karasma Media, Legal Marketing Tactics, Legal Marketing Tips, Legal Marketing Tools
March 8th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
Although face book may be a growing trend, there are drawbacks with this type of social media! When you communicate online with your potential clients, you miss out on the opportunity to read facial expressions, body language and voice intonation. This dilemma leaves many lawyers and business professionals wondering the best way to proceed with social networking. Web video is a better way of building trust with your online prospects. This will give your potential clients the opportunity to get to know your mannerisms and personality, not to mention your knowledge on a particular subject.
March 9th, 2010 at 1:43 pm
Hi Julien –
A combination of written articles, audio and video are best, due to the mix of technologies consumers now have available to them. Applications on notepadsa and smartphones are skyricketing in popularity and make accessing video, listening to a podcast or giving an article a fast read all exceeding viable and within quick reach for all of us.
So, now is indeed the time for legal marketers to make their messaging within reach of their potential clients.
Thanks so much for responding!
Kara