If over 90% of all new legal work comes from referral relationships, why don't law firms spend 90% of their marketing budget on growing their referral network?
Just a question.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Facebook is a Business Tool
I am on Facebook and quite happy to be there -- it serves me professionally and socially.
The other day I jumped into a conversation with several senior executives -- I'd overheard one of them state, "Facebook is not useful for business people. It's mostly for young folks..." I emphatically replied, "Facebook gives me back my village!"
Just to be straight up, I am not paid by Facebook nor do I know anyone that works there, but what I am finding there makes a lot of social sense.
I certainly Twitter, I'm on Linkedin, I blog (duh!) and have profile pages on a few other sites around the Internet, and the common thread among these is they are all confined to a narrow professional and/or personal niche. None of them show the "complete me".
On Facebook my social and professional life cross over and people can see a more complete picture of whom I am -- which I am happy for them to know.
Look at it this way; long ago when we lived in villages and small towns everyone knew everything about everyone. It did not matter what our profession was or what friends we had -- in a village there is no place to hide. Trust was built between people that could know all there is to know. I like that.
I want people to know all about me so that I can cross the bridge between knowing and trusting as quickly as possible. And on Facebook that bridge is being built. So I update, send out "what's on your mind" posts, join groups and participate in the activities of my village.
I would encourage every professional to get engaged and use the tools we are offered to get connected, be known, and be trusted. It WILL work for you!
The other day I jumped into a conversation with several senior executives -- I'd overheard one of them state, "Facebook is not useful for business people. It's mostly for young folks..." I emphatically replied, "Facebook gives me back my village!"
Just to be straight up, I am not paid by Facebook nor do I know anyone that works there, but what I am finding there makes a lot of social sense.
I certainly Twitter, I'm on Linkedin, I blog (duh!) and have profile pages on a few other sites around the Internet, and the common thread among these is they are all confined to a narrow professional and/or personal niche. None of them show the "complete me".
On Facebook my social and professional life cross over and people can see a more complete picture of whom I am -- which I am happy for them to know.
Look at it this way; long ago when we lived in villages and small towns everyone knew everything about everyone. It did not matter what our profession was or what friends we had -- in a village there is no place to hide. Trust was built between people that could know all there is to know. I like that.
I want people to know all about me so that I can cross the bridge between knowing and trusting as quickly as possible. And on Facebook that bridge is being built. So I update, send out "what's on your mind" posts, join groups and participate in the activities of my village.
I would encourage every professional to get engaged and use the tools we are offered to get connected, be known, and be trusted. It WILL work for you!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Lawyers Need to Be on Linkedin!
Are you on Linkedin? For myself and many of the professionals in my circle this is an odd question -- of course I am there! It's the new, new white pages for professionals! But, still too often I have marketing conversations with lawyers around the topic of being listed on Linkedin and their response is, "I get email invites but I just push them to the trash bucket. I don't want to hassle with all that stuff."What!?
OK, I kind of understand. Five years ago I was in the same place -- all these random emails coming in to connect with someone via Linkedin or similar site. It seemed like it WOULD become intrusive. Yet the opposite happened. It turned out that everyone is totally turning to the Internet to find out anything about whatever whenever.
No one opens a phone book first. We all jump on our computer and Goggle (or Bing for you Microsoft fans). Me, if I am looking for a person -- I surf to Linkedin first. If that person is not on Linkedin I have just learned a lot by finding nothing.
My advise to any lawyer not on Linkedin, get on or get lost (as in "invisible").
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
WJF Institute Has Great Client Teaming Ideas for Lawyers
Until I joined Allen Matkins I had only heard of "Flannery" business development training for lawyers -- in less than four weeks I am disciple.After working through two phases of his training experience and meeting him yesterday (in Austin, TX) I will confess that he gets the BD struggle BIG TIME.
I have never directly endorsed any consultant and this time I think I will. Visit www.wjfinstitute.com. Bill teaches success.
Friday, June 05, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
160,000 Words So Far. Has it Made a Difference?
This week I surpassed 160K words posted to the MC blog. More importantly there are more than 4,000 people visiting MC each week. What is THAT all about!?
I have never promoted this blog, never tried to create income through it or pushed it in any organized way into the mainstream. I simply marked a place to write about what I was passionate about within my profession. The lessons I've learned just by writing about my observations has been the biggest reward.
Thank you to every person that gave my blog more than 30 seconds of readership. Thank you for all of the feedback I've been privileged to receive and your ideas that have given me new insight. I will continue to write for myself and appreciate there are professionals out there to keep me sane and my posts appropriate.
I have never promoted this blog, never tried to create income through it or pushed it in any organized way into the mainstream. I simply marked a place to write about what I was passionate about within my profession. The lessons I've learned just by writing about my observations has been the biggest reward.
Thank you to every person that gave my blog more than 30 seconds of readership. Thank you for all of the feedback I've been privileged to receive and your ideas that have given me new insight. I will continue to write for myself and appreciate there are professionals out there to keep me sane and my posts appropriate.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MC Joins Allen Matkins to Lead Business Development Initiatives
I am happy to report I am now heading up business and client development for Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, a full service business law firm based in Los Angeles, CA (#157 on AmLaw 200).
The choice to return to an in-house position was actually easier than I thought. My good friend Jennifer Skiver called me several weeks back to ask if I knew of anyone that could step up to fill a new position at her firm. They were looking for help where the rubber meets the road -- business and client development. While I have been mostly content as an agency owner these last many months I have to confess I missed the challenge and opportunity that comes from being on the "inside". So I said, "How about me?"
Fast-forward a few weeks and here I am, the new (excited and energized) guy at Allen Matkins. I am certain this experience will produce lots of new thoughts to share here at MC blog.
I am totally charged and cannot wait for what happens next!
In the spirit of full disclosure I have added a disclaimer in the footer of MarketingCatalyst to clarify that this blog is an independent effort focused on my knowledge and opinion about the marketing of law firms and professional services. My employer, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, does not contribute to the posts on this site.
The choice to return to an in-house position was actually easier than I thought. My good friend Jennifer Skiver called me several weeks back to ask if I knew of anyone that could step up to fill a new position at her firm. They were looking for help where the rubber meets the road -- business and client development. While I have been mostly content as an agency owner these last many months I have to confess I missed the challenge and opportunity that comes from being on the "inside". So I said, "How about me?"
Fast-forward a few weeks and here I am, the new (excited and energized) guy at Allen Matkins. I am certain this experience will produce lots of new thoughts to share here at MC blog.
I am totally charged and cannot wait for what happens next!
In the spirit of full disclosure I have added a disclaimer in the footer of MarketingCatalyst to clarify that this blog is an independent effort focused on my knowledge and opinion about the marketing of law firms and professional services. My employer, Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, does not contribute to the posts on this site.
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