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.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Keeping Creativity Flowing on Your Legal Marketing Blog

Your Personal Brand vs Your Corporate Brand – Added Clarity for Legal Marketers

The Space Between Center Rejuvenates the Creative Spirit of Legal Marketers

Chris Brogan on Legal Marketing: An Interview With Karasma Media

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

Heather Morse-Milligan over at The Legal Watercooler is providing some powerful insights on the world of legal branding.  Her guidance that lawyer’s personal brand is the assurance to the client that the legal services that they are purchasing  are actually what, and who, they say they are; couldn’t be more on track.

Two of Heather’s terrific tips:

• If you want to be know as an the “green attorney,” then don’t waste your time writing articles on constitutional nuances of the death penalty.

• Don’t speak before bar associations if you’re clients, potential clients, referrals sources and influencers (oh, my) are all attending industry-based conferences.

She’s written several poignant articles on branding.

Read more on Build Your Personal Brand at The Legal Watercooler

Other articles you may be interested in reading:

In Social Media for the Legal Marketing Industry – Digital Branding Creates Clients

Using Keywords to Communicate With Your Legal Marketing Audience

Your Personal Brand vs Your Corporate Brand – Added Clarity for Legal Marketers

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

Many legal marketers have been hesitant to embrace social media such as Facebook, YouTube and Twitter because they believe that these new media channels are strictly about creating awareness for their law firm’s brand.

Some are also under the impression that their website is strictly on “online brochure” so that prospects can learn more about them in a non-threatening way.  Razorfish reported in their 2009 Digital Brand Experience Study, that nothing could be further from the truth. (See the slide presentation at the end of this article)

Survey after survey has shown how consumers interact with brands online and found that not only can you build a brand online, the online experience that a consumer has can be the difference between success and failure in driving new clients to your practice.

It is no longer enough to simply re-configure the same message as you did with traditional media.

In today’s digital world, the experience is the message.

Razorfish found that 65% of consumers reported having a digital experience that strongly influenced their opinion of a brand and that 97% of those indicated that their experience determined whether they bought a product or service from that brand.

Consumers are demanding more interaction and want to be talked with rather than talked at.

Further, potential clients for your law firm not only convert from visitors to prospects after interacting with your website, but give serious consideration to engaging your firm and may recommend your firm to their friends.

The research in this study definitively indicates that consumers expect the same level of quality from all of their web experiences as they do on those sites where the ability to complete a transaction is everything. If your website does not provide an informative and satisfying experience and you don’t engage your prospects through social media, then they will find a law firm that does.

Every web interaction has the power to influence a potential client’s decision to contact and/or hire your firm.

The Razorfish Digital Brand Experience Report 2009

Referenced:  Social Media for Attorneys-Digital Branding Creates Clients

Other articles you may be interested in:

Here’s the Scoop: Facebook for Lawyers Is In the News

Your Personal Brand vs Your Corporate Brand – Added Clarity for Legal Marketers

Ease, Steadiness and Awareness Work for Legal Marketing Social Media

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

Facebook has fast become the world’s largest and most engaging communications platform!

I regularly encourage legal professionals to establish their profiles here as they can only stand to benefit from building their a corporate presence and personal brand here.

Granted some skeptics within the legal industry are still leary of blending the personal and professional profiles.  However, in this day and age of personal transparency, next to the quality of your craft the genuininess of your persona is your strongest selling tool.

JD Supra has 4 applications (The title of the article linked here says “Three”, but there are actually 4 listed) that will work extremely well on both your personal and business pages.

Legal Publishing

JD Supra Docs

Legal News

Email Sign-Up

I find JD Supra’s applications so invaluable that I’ve become an affiliate myself and highly recommend using them to my clients.

Read the full article here:

Three Apps for Your Law Firm’s Facebook Page – JD Scoop

Other articles you may be interested in:

Legal Marketers – Now is not the time to give up on Twitter

Listening, monetization, and ethics are key for successful social media campaigns and your legal marketing reputation

Protecting your legal marketing brand from “Bad Buzz”

Keeping creativity flowing on your legal marketing blog

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