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Marketing, Messaging

Conversant: Social Media Is Not Just About Posting Content

Social media is an essential component of any law firm marketing program, especially for content marketing.  And, if you can develop a content calendar, obligating you to build and post content on a schedule, that is a super effective way to complement more traditional marketing means.

But, if you’re only posting content all the time, you’re sort of missing the point.

In addition to sprinkling in your own content, and other relevant content, you should also engage other users on your social media platforms.

You can become a respected expert in your space, by creating and publishing content – like blog posts, videos and podcasts – and, you can build your network by engaging with those who comment on, like and share your posts.  Users who engage on social media platforms drive views, and create new opportunities to meet and confer with referral sources.

So, when you’re on social media, posting is only half the battle.

Marketing, Messaging

Speak Its Name: Don’t Forget to Tell People What You Do

It’s kind of a hassle to tell people what you do for a living.  Sometimes, you just don’t want to talk.  Or, you may want to instead tell folks you do something entirely different, maybe something so weird or disgusting that they will leave you alone.

But, if the subject of work comes up: you have to be strong.  Tell people you’re an attorney.

I know, I know.  Then, they’re going to ask you a bunch of legal questions.

Good.  Refer them to a paid consult.

The fact of the matter is that there are business opportunities everywhere; and, you never know who might be a good client, or a potentially valuable referral source.

But, to find out, you have to venture forth, and say the words: ‘I am a lawyer’.

And, be ready to follow that up with your elevator pitch – because that will be the next (implied) question.

The momentary pain is decidedly worth the future pleasure.

Now, it may come to nothing; but, in a tight marketplace for attorneys, you can’t risk leaving potential business on the table.

As a small business owner, especially in the current environment of unstructured offices, you kind of have to be ready to engage (and be engaging) at all times.

And, it starts with a simple willingness to tell just about anyone your profession.

Keeping secrets is not a great marketing program.

Marketing, Messaging

Time and Temperature: How Far Can Lawyers Advocate?

Lawyers advocate for their clients all the time; it’s literally ‘the job’.

But, most of that advocacy, that ‘zealous representation’, is made in private.  No one knows, but the client.  And, the client may not even know (likely doesn’t know) how hard you’re fighting + how much you believe in their cause.

That’s okay; nobody ever said your clients would be baking cookies for you – even if they sometimes do.

But, from a marketing perspective, it’s really hard to let other knows how effective a counsel you are, since you’re bound by ethical strictures regarding the confidentiality of your clients’ information.  You’re not like a contractor, who’s got a new home addition (and an advertising sign) right out in the front yard, for people to look at, and drive by.

That’s why some attorneys go public with their advocacy.  Employment attorneys address the need for better parental leave laws in their state.  Immigration attorneys are decrying the state of affairs across the whole country.  Landlord-tenant attorneys highlighting potential unfairness in the system, on both sides.

Does that play in the media, including on social media?  You bet it does.

Is every attorney willing to do that?  To take a side, and stand on it?  Not so much.

But, if you do, it could be advantageous to your practice, and generate more of the kinds of clients you want to work with.

So, if you’re passionate about representing your clients, it’s okay to let everybody know.

Marketing, Messaging

And, in the End: Why All Your Marketing Content Needs (Is) a Call to Action

The Beatles wrote that ‘All You Need Is Love’.  But, from a marketing perspective, that’s not exactly right.  You need love, sure.  But, you also need a call to action.

What’s a ‘call to action’?  It’s simply what you want someone to do.

‘Hey, visit my website.’

‘Let’s schedule a time to get coffee.’

‘Listen to my new podcast, at this link.’

One of the reasons you need a call to action is because people are so busy these days, with so much information flying in their faces at all times, that you really need to generate an obvious next step.

Another thing to keep in mind is that, especially for potential law firm clients, many of whom have never worked with a law firm before, and don’t know much about the legal process – they want to know what happens next, and what they should do to move things forward.

So, in the end, any piece of content you produce, reproduce or repurpose, should have at least one call to action, so that you can allow your potential clients and referral sources, to move the ball forward.  Otherwise, they won’t, and you may lose new business because of it.

Marketing, Messaging, Technology

The Goldbergs: The Real Trick is to Uncomplicate Your Marketing

A Rube Goldberg Machine is an overly-complicated chain reaction program, kind of like the one in the opening sequence of ‘Back to the Future’.

A lot of law firm marketing programs look just like that: half-formed marketing strategies, untested hypotheses, unknown results.  When it comes to marketing their practices, most law firm owners rely almost exclusively on referral marketing, and just hope that it keeps working.  Literally everything else is left up to chance.

Maybe a Rube Goldberg Machine is the kinder, gentler way to describe it.  But, it’s more like they’re throwing shit against the wall, to see what sticks.

And, you can bet your ass that those overly-complicated marketing programs you’ve designed, aren’t particularly inviting to your potential clients, either – who have to wade through the morass.  Legal consumers, like all consumers in the convenience economy, most highly prize engagement and speed above all else.

So, as 2022 draws to a close, and if your law firm marketing program seems less like a program, and more like a mess, you can still take some small steps to launching something better in 2023.  But, it will require you to be thoughtful about what you’re doing, and to get granular about the processes you build, as you try to place yourself in the shoes of your clients.

It’s possible to generate an effective marketing plan that features helpful automations; you just have to put the time in . . . and put away the duct tape.

(As it turns out, everything is not fixable with duct tape.)

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