The New York Times’ John Biggs has poseed an important question…

How much is a Tweet worth and how much does a Twtitter follower cost?

Noah Kravitz, a writer, worked for PhoneDog, a cell phone marketing company.  While there, he wrote for the company’s blog and acquired more than 17,000 Twitter followers. He left his job after 4-years and was intially told that he could keep his Twitter account and was requested to “tweet on their behalf from time to time and I said sure, as we were parting on good terms.”

twitter.com/phonedog_noah and the site Noah's last post directs you to have been "disconnected" for now...

I am among a fast growing number of marketing professionals who are building our reputations as online journalists via their blog and social media platforms.  In doing so, we are building our influence among our audience, and any employer interested in doing so for their company, will bring on professionals who are demonstrating their skills.

The “proof’s in the pudding” so to speak, and transparent actions speak much louder than words.  So, of course any savvy hiring manager will want to be on the lookout for the skill-set.

This being said, John’s statement below truly hit home…

… in a world where social media’s influence can mean the difference between a lucrative sale and another fruitless cold call, social media accounts at companies have taken on added significance.

The outcome of this case is going to set a precidence. Particularly, because more and more marketing and sales professionals are being hired because of their savvyness using Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and other social media platforms, and the number of followers they have acquired.

As employers, you’ll want to stay concious of what you’re paying your employees to do.  After all, if they’re being paid to sit in a seat and make calls, then their interactions on social media (and the followers they generate) — are personal.  They are not connected to the business you pay them to perform.

Transparency in business practices has never been more important.  So, specicifity in job descriptions and fair compensation from the outset will alleviate a multitude of problems later — not to mention the negative public relations impact a lawsuit against an ex-employee in good standing has on your company.

Similarly, if you are an employee of a firm and requested to blog and use social media as an addendum to the duties you were originally signed on to do, make sure the stipulations for doing so are in writing!! Expressing your professional opinion, ie: publicising your expertise on the company’s behalf, your writing skill, and the audience you attain, and the time it takes to create are all valuable skills that you should be compensated for.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Legal Marketing and Small Business on Facebook

Social Media and MeetUps Keep Legal Marketers Connected

FourSquare – A Fun and Innovative Tool For Legal Marketers

Kara works with legal marketers and small to mid-size business 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

I didn’t realize how incredibly blessed I was living in Harlem, in a world full of future-driven, forwad thinking folk from all over the planet.  Don’t get me wrong, I truly adore the sunshine and overwhelming generosity of the many new friends I’m making.

While living in my fabulous corner of Manhattan, it wasn’t possible for me to see how much, New York with all of its issues, was a very safe coccoon brimming with intellectual, humanly rational and empathetic people.

It occurs to me now that I was living in a microcasm of the country where the  -isms are openly discussed, debated and not tolerated.  I’m also painfully aware of how much I went unthwarted because of them.  Obviously, I’m not oblivious.  I fully realise that inequality exists over the entire planet.  That’s not what I mean…

After moving to Phoenix, and meeting the countless number of people that I have, I feel it is important to note that many of my new friends encounter racist and sexist behavior and commentary on a daily basis.  Since arriving here at the end of January, I’ve experience several instances myself.  This is human behavior that I have been the focus of in the past.  Before moving here, I liked to believe was behind me.  However, it is behavior that I’ve been reawakened to.

I have found myself deeply disappointed and angry.  When I witness this behavior, there is a physical pain I feel, like a fast, deep heart break.  It truly hurts.  Just yesterday, I realized that I  truly hoped this antiquated ideology had ceased in the 1980’s and we still have far to go!

With the issues of human civility facing me, the reason I chose my vocation is extremely clear.  I adore working with attorneys, and fully respect and admire them for their mastery of  United States Law.   The structure of our laws maked them adaptable with the capability of being reworked over time.  I belive this construct was put in place in order to provide the best possible life for our citizens and standing for the law is what attorneys do.

You may think that I have an idealistic viewpoints, but I lived in Manhattan for more than 22-years, studied the rulings of Thurgood Marshall during his reign on the Supreme Court, and pay attention to civil justice changes, so I thoroughly believe in the brilliance of our legal structure. So, please realize that my opinion is only mine – not meant to be fodder for agreement or disagreement…

To all attorneys –KUDOS to You!

One of my older aunties used to tell me, “Don’t worry baby, what doesn’t kill you will make you stronger.”  She wasn’t kidding either!  I’m still getting squeezed to be more than I ever thought I could be. So I guess I’m a full fledged butterfly Ready To Soar!

Other articles you may be interested in:

How to Create a Personal Brand as a Civil Rights Lawyer – Using Speaking Engagements, Published Articles & Social Media Web Sites as a Way to Make a Name for Yourself

The Most Racist Thing That Ever Happened To Me, by Toure -The Atlantic.com

I am an advisor at The Rainmaker Institute.  The Rainmaker Institute provides business development knowledge and Done-For-You services of Blogging and Social Media and Customized Newsletter Writing services that small to mid-size firms need.  Please please feel free to give me a call at 888-588-5891 Ext. 402 or send me an email at kara@therainmakerinstitute.com.

I received word today that three graduate research I published on The Social Science Research Network (SSRN ), made their 2010 Top Ten Lists.

*UPDATE: I received an e-mail from Gregg Gordon, the President of SSRN early the morning of January 4th, containing the following text:

We apologize for sending you one or more incorrect email messages last week. While testing some new functionality, our servers sent “Top Ten” emails to the top one hundred downloaded papers in certain ejournals instead of the top ten.

Oh well… I made the top-20 in two categories, and the top 50 in others…

My papers:

“A Semiotic Analysis of the African American Character Ben in the Film Night of the Living Dead, in Relation to Literary Media Theory“

• Listed on SSRN’s Top Ten download list for AFAM Subject Matter eJournals, Film eJournal – Forthcoming, HRN African-American Studies Research Network, HRN Performing, Visual, & Fine Arts Research Network, Literary Theory & Criticism eJournal and PVFA Subject Matter eJournals. Downloaded 126 times

“Jazz Interpolation and Improvisation: George and Ira Gershwin’s Fascinating Rhythm as Recorded by Ella Fitzgerald and Dianne Reeves”

• Listed on SSRN’s Top Ten Download List for Music eJournal – Forthcoming.   Downloaded 64 times

“African-American Media Images of Death and Mourning”

• Listed on SSRN’s Top Ten download list for AFAM Subject Matter eJournals and HRN African-American Studies Research Network. Downloaded 76 times

I’ve begun a job search for a college level teaching position in communications based in Arizona, where my mother lives; specifically at Arizona University West Campus
and The University of Phoenix.

Being in SSRN’s top-10, three times is very exciting news, as I build this new leg of my career, and it is exhilarating to receive affirmation that my work is being read.

However, in today’s world of on-line research availability, I can’t help wondering how many people are plagiarizing, and how many professors aren’t catching the students doing so — for a multitude of reasons.

I would very much like to hear other published professionals and educators about this issue and safe guards/software you utilize to offset it.

I’ll be keeping a leg of Karasma Media here in New York to continue to service clients here, and traveling as needed. We’re launching a new platform in February, so stay tuned!

Kara works small to mid-size business and  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

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.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Generate an International Legal Marketing Conversation Using Social Media

How to Use Twitter To Build Your International Conversation

Small and Medium-sized Firms Can Generate Business From Blogging

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

Alain L. Locke Elementary School P.S. 208 Celebrates World Dance

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

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:

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.)

Other articles you may be interested in:

A Very Simple Twitter Formula for Generating Legal Marketing Business

In Fortune 500 Companies Twitter Moves Ahead of Blogs – Are you Tweeting Legal?

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

3 Reasons For Legal Marketers to Start Thinking Like Journalists

Legal Marketing Ethics in a Web 3.0 World

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

The last post I wrote about my friend, Philadelphia filmmaker Tigre Hill’s feature documentary “Barrel of a Gun” received some terrific feedback from my legal marketing audience.  I’m thrilled to find the Karasma Media Legal Marketing Blog readers find his work as intriguing as I do!

His most recent coverage comes from  Philadelphia Magazine writer, Don Steinberg in the article,

The Gospel According to Tigre

The film’s take on the matter is that Mumia is guilty as charged — and convicted — in the 1981 killing of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. Hill released an incendiary three-minute trailer for Barrel in September, and the global outrage arrived on cue. Abu-Jamal supporters began labeling it an “anti-Mumia lynch-mob movie” and Hill an Uncle Tom. Protest-tourists from around the world started printing up signs to wave at the film’s premiere, which may be in Philadelphia, maybe this month or next, at least according to the last time Hill pushed back the timetable.

The Barrel of a Gun Trailer

Other related articles you may be interested in:

MOVE — A Legal, Political and Emotional Turmoil In Philadelphia’s History Revisited

Legal Marketers – Step out of the box with video

Karasma Media Introductory Video

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

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.

Other articles you may be interested in:

Ethics Checklists for Legal Marketers

Legal Marketing Ethics in A Web 3.0 World

7 Deadly Business Mistakes Legal Marketers Can Avoid

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

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

We all receive inquiry calls from people seemingly interested in the services we offer.  Would you ever  not respond to a phone call because you don’t recognize the telephone number?

I received this e-mail today:

I found you on Twitter and wanted to just take a moment of your time to reach out to you in hopes you or someone you may know can help me, you never know and I am taking a leap of faith.

Long story short, I left my ex nearly 3 years ago, divorce was final in May of 2009, and I got the worst divorce. We receive zero money for child support, zero alimony, and zero for the business (restaurant) we had. I had very bad representation and I have been looking for pro bono help since the second week of May 2009 after I realized that I had been had. I have 2 amazing kids and want to file a motion to overturn the final judgment (which I have one year to do-year is literally around the corner) based on fraud (my ex did not disclose his true financials at the mediation).

I have been given various different advise from attorneys that I have had free consults with but because of the economy, I have yet to meet a family law attorney willing to help me for free. I have gone to every legal aid and resources and still no help. I know you’re in New York, but if you know anyone that might be able to help me, I live in Tampa Bay Florida, I would be very greatful, thankful, and appreciative.

Thank you in advance.

Initially I responded by saying that I did not know of any one who could assist her directly and suggested she research via Avvo.

Her response:

Thank you for the quick response! Wow, I really didn’t even expect to get a response at all! I will check out the link and you never know right! Thank you again for your kindness!

Fortunately, I participated a webinar on Martindale Hubbell Connected conducted by  Pro-Bono Net later the same afternoon.  I  forwarded her the link to their consumer site, www.lawhelp.org, an online resource that helps low and moderate-income people find free legal aid programs in their communities, answers to questions about their legal rights, court information, links to social service agencies, and more.

The point is, I feel it’s important that Twitter not be disregarded as a source for viable client leads or people reaching out for your assistance.

I sent the contact information of 4-criminal defense attorneys to a human resource director in the mid-west inquiring for one of his colleagues. He and I initially connected from his following me on Twitter, he connected to me on Linked In and we’ve had subsequent conversations regarding business generation for minority owned law firms.

As of January, Twitter had more than 30-miillion users in the U.S. alone, so it’s far from being “useless”.

It may be true that some communication via online platforms from anonymous sources need to be taken “with a grain of salt”.  However, with more than 30 million Americans communicating on Twitter,  and millions more on LinkedIn and Facebook the time has long past that legal marketers can ignore initial service inquires or  requests for assistance.

Additionally, while we may not be able to assist people directly, it’s equally important that we’re savvy enough with our community to be able to direct them to sources who can.

Pro Bono Net is a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing access to justice for the disadvantaged.  Their website for lawyers, www.probono.net, promotes collaboration and makes it easier for pro-bono attorneys to get involved, saving time and connecting them with opportunities, training events, mentors, and searchable libraries of practice resources.

If you’re an attorney and would like to learn more about how to get involved at www.probono.net

Additional articles you may be interested in:

A Very Simple Twitter Formula for Generating Legal Marketing Business

A Great Legal Marketing Firm Tool to Optimize Twitter

The Joy Of Watching Pro-Bono Seeds Grow: Harlem’s Alain L. Locke-P.S. 208 in the News

50 ways Legal Marketers can incorporate “Social Good” into their “Social Media Strategy”

What if I Were Just Getting Started with Social Media Marketing

Karasma Media’s Pro Bono Work

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

In early March 2010 several large corporations declared their commitment to work with the minority and women owned (MWBE) law firms in 2010 and have created the Inclusion Initiative to challenge other companies to follow their lead.

They will be working closely with the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) to identify best practices for corporations to maximize relationships with high quality minority and women owned law firms.

Thomas Sager, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Dupont, this initiative will help to improve chances “that the economic downturn does not disproportionately affect minority and women owned law firms.”  Sager also pointed out that many minority law firms are smaller and more cost effective.  Sager views this initiative as a way for corporate law firms to cut costs at a time when many law departments are trying to trim budgets.

The Inclusion Initiative companies will work closely with the National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) to identify best practices for major corporations to maximize relationships with high quality minority and women owned law firms throughout the United States.

“The companies of the Inclusion Initiative and their general counsels are proven leaders on the issue of diversity in the legal profession,” said Richard Amador, Inclusion Initiative task force chair for NAMWOLF. “Their collaboration will provide a successful model demonstrating that law department leadership, tracking and support for utilizing highly-qualified MWBE firms can reap significant benefits for both the companies and the MWBE firms.”

Contact NAMWOLF for more details

Mastering the tools of social media, aka online brand building is the most viable and cost effective ways to attract the attention of large corporate counsel to your firm’s abilities and want to bring you on to work with their clients.

Social media  is not only about sharing your knowledge, but also sharing the knowledge of others and helping your audience grow in their knowledge.  The center of your social media informational platform is your blog, so if your firm isn’t using one and generating traffic, getting one sooner rather than late is key, so you don’t get caught in “catch-up” mode.

Karasma Media offers a Jumpstart Your Social Media Workshop designed for legal marketers to develop new business and come up with answers to key questions that will accelerate your productivity.  Click here for details

Other articles you may be interested in:

Women and Minority Law Firms Looking to Grow – Mastering Social Media Highlights Your Reputation

There Has Never a Better Time for Legal Marketing Brands to Engage in Social Media

The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act Empowers Cultural Diversity and Multi-Faceted Thinking For the Legal Industry

What If I Were Just Getting Started With Social Media Marketing

Lawyers Get Clients Using Linked In and 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

Faced with one of the most serious strategic marketing challenges of the 20th Century, Kodak’s, CMO, Jeffrey Hayzlett adds excitement, exhilaration and enthusiasm to taking the driver’s seat of paradigm shift.

Hey, sometimes we’ve gotta laugh at ourselves in order to pull of change!

Other related articles you may be interested in:

Small to Mid-size Legal Marketing Firms – Your Online Video Is Allowed to Express Your Individuality

Legal Marketers Can Step Out Of the Box With Video

Lawyers Preparing to Launch Your Own Boutique – Here’s a video you’ll want to see

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