If you are still searching for a gift for that special client, the most memorable gift will have their name on it -- literally. Give a gift that bears the name of your recipient.
The common tendency is to hand out gifts bearing the name of your firm -- a really tacky and self-serving marketing mistake made by too many professionals.
Cuff-links, platters, iPods, Kindle's, stationary, watches, messenger bags, luggage, clothing, etc.... I recall every giver of every gift I've received with my name engraved, embroidered, stamped or printed on it.
Just a tip if you want your gift to be memorable.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Friday, December 04, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
My Hero's Have Always Been Marines
And soldiers, sailors, flyers and any Man or Woman that would place themselves in harms way on my behalf.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Passing Out a Few Samples of You Works Wonders
I was up in Oak Glen, CA today, the apple growing capital of San Bernardino County and it is harvest season. Apples galore! More than 32 varieties of the mouth-watering fruit offered in ciders, jelly's, jams, mustards, honey, and freshly picked. It was a glorious sunny day in the cool mile-high valley reminisent of a New England autumn setting.
Something interesting happened that got me thinking about law firm marketing (I know -- Bruce, get a life!) and here it is.... We visited about eight different farm shops, each with a store for purchasing fruit of the harvest and add-on gift and craft shops.
The marketing revelation is that we only purchased fruit at shops offering samples. No samples, no sale.
What does that mean? Well... I feel more connected to a product someone is proud enough about that they offer me a sample before I spend a dime.
In legal marketing circles that means that I would prefer to hire a lawyer that is willing to be known before I have to know him/her (i.e., I will hire lawyers I know).
If you are a lawyer and are not showing up at associations, attending events, schmoozing and doing everything you can to offer a sample of whom you are, I can only imagine the hard road ahead.
If you are the product then showing up and being seen is the only way you can sell you.
Get it?
Something interesting happened that got me thinking about law firm marketing (I know -- Bruce, get a life!) and here it is.... We visited about eight different farm shops, each with a store for purchasing fruit of the harvest and add-on gift and craft shops.
The marketing revelation is that we only purchased fruit at shops offering samples. No samples, no sale.
What does that mean? Well... I feel more connected to a product someone is proud enough about that they offer me a sample before I spend a dime.
In legal marketing circles that means that I would prefer to hire a lawyer that is willing to be known before I have to know him/her (i.e., I will hire lawyers I know).
If you are a lawyer and are not showing up at associations, attending events, schmoozing and doing everything you can to offer a sample of whom you are, I can only imagine the hard road ahead.
If you are the product then showing up and being seen is the only way you can sell you.
Get it?
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Current Tech I Use as a Legal Marketer
A reader asked, "What tech do I carry and use daily":
PC laptop (could probably do just fine with netbook here)
Blackberry Storm
I route all of my personal email into Gmail, firm mail remains isolated via firm service on PC and Blackberry
All phone calls and voice mail including office line are fed to Google Voice (one number for life!)
At some point in every day I touch everything on the list above. I still carry my Moleskin notebook and keep old-school notes, but technology has really amped up (in a GREAT way) how I get things done.
I am certain that within days my tech will evolve to new tools... Call me an early adopter but THAT is so cool! I can hardly wait!!
.
PC laptop (could probably do just fine with netbook here)
- Outlook
- Firefox
- MS Office
- InterAction CRM
- Photoshop - DUH!
- Tweetdeck - Gotta keep up with the real-time news
- Hulu Desktop - I don't watch regular TV and get my fix here
- NeoOffice - free, as good as MS Office, compatible, nuff said
- KeePassX - so many passwords need a safe garage
- Chrome - quick, clean, glad Google finally ported their browser to OSX
Blackberry Storm
- Synced to firm email/calendar/contacts
- Gmail - another DUH!
- Opera Mini - Much more functional that BB browser
- Ubertwitter - Fast and cleaner Twitter client
- Facebook - Gotta keep in touch with m peeps
- Google Voice - One number to rule them all
- Google Maps - but of course!
- Viigo - Newsreader
I route all of my personal email into Gmail, firm mail remains isolated via firm service on PC and Blackberry
All phone calls and voice mail including office line are fed to Google Voice (one number for life!)
At some point in every day I touch everything on the list above. I still carry my Moleskin notebook and keep old-school notes, but technology has really amped up (in a GREAT way) how I get things done.
I am certain that within days my tech will evolve to new tools... Call me an early adopter but THAT is so cool! I can hardly wait!!
.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Cooking Your Way into a Great Rolodex
Many of you know I love to cook -- being the Chef-de-Cuisine is not only a fun activity but incredibly productive for business networking.On Saturday evening I catered a private dinner for 12 at the home of a highly regarded CFO in SoCal. The guests were people in business of influence within his circle of contacts. My role -- cook. I prepared an Autumn menu using fall harvest ingredients including basil, spinach, lamb, bacon, baby greens, potatoes, late season vegetables and a variety of cheeses. The hit of the evening was my acorn squash soup with bacon. I could go on about the food (just cause I am such a tireless foodie) but the point in this article is creating relationships.
At this event I met and connected with a partner-of-influence at Deloitte, a political consultant that could help me gain a seat on a State commission and the CFO at one of SoCal's most successful nutritional supplement companies. As the Chef-de-Cuisine I had a captive audience and everyone begging for recipes -- the perfect recipe for initiating great relationships with people I need to know!
The lesson here is not that you should learn to cook. The lesson is that we need to find new and interesting ways to connect with people. Doing what we love can be fun and productive!
I served dessert (sweet corn blintzes with sauteed apples and bacon bits) at 9:30PM. The last guests left at 2:00AM -- I think the evening was a complete success!
What do you LOVE to do that you can share!
Thursday, October 01, 2009
"What Keeps You Up at Night?"
The most important question, and the most cliché question of the decade! It has every possibility of making it into the Cliché Hall of Fame right alongside "paradigm", "synergistic", "stickiness" and "game changer".
The whole meaning of the question, "What keeps you up at night?" is to uncover the right--now issues that are a real concern. To be in a position to ask such a question requires you to be a trusted peer. It is NOT something to ask of a stranger or casual acquaintance. Unfortunately, too many people ask the question hoping for an answer to sell to -- not actually caring about the pain behind the answer.
Allow me to suggest that if you have a desire to know the answer to that question, spend the time it takes to be in a good relationship with the person before you ask.
Anyone can ask that question. Only someone I trust who knows me and my business will receive a truthful answer.
The whole meaning of the question, "What keeps you up at night?" is to uncover the right--now issues that are a real concern. To be in a position to ask such a question requires you to be a trusted peer. It is NOT something to ask of a stranger or casual acquaintance. Unfortunately, too many people ask the question hoping for an answer to sell to -- not actually caring about the pain behind the answer.
Allow me to suggest that if you have a desire to know the answer to that question, spend the time it takes to be in a good relationship with the person before you ask.
Anyone can ask that question. Only someone I trust who knows me and my business will receive a truthful answer.
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