Successful Blog

Marketing One of the Most Needed Legal Services

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Time For ChangeFor those going through a divorce, it can be one of the most unnerving times in their lives.

For those dealing in a divorce that involves children, property, animosity and more, the situation can be 10 times worse.

So, what role do divorce attorneys play in trying to keep both sides from going at each other?

As many divorce lawyers and attorneys will tell you, doing the most for their clients and keeping the peace are oftentimes the two biggest goals.

Finding such clients has become easier and easier for many in the legal profession over the last decade or two do much in part to better marketing efforts.

Whether it is legal websites, blog postings, content marketing, social media, the list goes on and on.

So, is your law firm doing its best to market your family law services?

Myriad of Ways to Get One’s Message Out There

For many lawyers and attorneys, the key to landing more clients is in fact through sound marketing principles, principles that involve a well-rounded approach.

Among the ways divorce lawyers and attorneys should be courting potential clients:

  • Content marketing – Whether it is through content marketing pieces on their own blogs, guest posting on other blogs of interest, press releases, white papers, the list is literally endless. By having a stellar content marketing plan in place, attorneys and lawyers have the potential to reach countless individuals (families for that matter too) in need. Once some of those individuals and/or families see the final results they can obtain, they might be noting that was the attorney who did a great job with my divorce. As a legal pro in the area of family law, make it a point to direct a sizable portion of your promotional efforts towards content marketing. While you never want to come across as trying to make a sale if you will, it is important that you make it clear in your marketing efforts as to why your firm stands above the rest;
  • Client testimonials – Some of your best marketing and advertising efforts can come right from the mouths of those you have helped. Client testimonials are about as good as it gets for a law firm in terms of telling potential clients why one divorce court expert is better than the others. In putting together client testimonials, you obviously want permission from any participant you consider to go in front of the camera or provide a quote for a publication. Anything that may come across as possibly being coerced etc. will not only look bad, it could damage your reputation in the legal field;
  • Video promotions – Along with the above-mentioned client testimonials, more law firms are coming to realize that video promotions can be another winning form of marketing. Allowing potential clients the opportunity to get to know you and your staff better certainly can’t hurt. The video doesn’t have to be long (in fact it should not be long and drawn out). Simply tell a story as to why your law firm is the best choice for those in need of legal services when it comes to divorce proceedings. Finally, be sure to include pertinent members of your firm in the video, allowing potential clients to put a face with a name or voice they speak with on the phone etc.

Family law can of course be both exciting and contentious at times.

That said lawyers and attorneys in this line of practice know that there are plenty of people in need of such services, not to mention plenty of legal pros nationwide looking to score their business.

Always remember as a divorce attorney to focus on demonstrating through myriad of marketing and advertising means why your law firm is a notch above the competition.

Sure, you certainly are not going to land every consumer out there in need of family law services, but you will attain your fair share when you stick to good marketing principles and of course stellar customer service initiatives.

Simply put, you are one of the most needed legal services out there.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and marketing services on the web.

 

More Lawyers Becoming Adept at the Internet

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bigstock--125544251Would you be surprised to learn that more and more legal professionals are using the Internet to their advantage?

While that statement may surprise some, many others are not in the least bit surprised to hear such a thing.

As businesses continue to see all the Internet can do for their brands, law offices are certainly not standing on the sidelines. In fact, many lawyers are using their websites and social media on a daily basis, hoping to attract more clients in their time of need.

That said how can would-be clients reach out to lawyers, hoping to find those best suited to handle their respective cases?

Web and Social Media Getting Thumbs up Verdict

As more lawyers head over to the web and social networking venues to state their cases as to why individuals (and families for that matter) should choose them in their time of need, the former should keep these items in mind to present their best case:

  • Where to go? – The first question that someone in the legal arena will likely have when venturing over to the Internet is where should they start? While a formidable website is of course important for one’s brand, it is also quite beneficial to have a regular presence on social media. To start with the website, make sure if you’re not capable of putting it together and/or running it, you find someone who is. Even though having a website is great, one that is put together in sloppy fashion, along with not really serving a purpose to the public, is quite frankly a waste of your time and that of the public. You may choose to outsource such I.T. needs and find an individual or company specializing in website construction and website marketing. Just make sure you have a website that is not only productive for the public, but that is also secure. In today’s world of identity theft and other online issues, you need to make sure your site is as secure as it can possibly be;
  • Social networking is a bonus – As important as having a solid website in the legal field is, whether you are Scheiner Law in Houston or one of the many other law firms out there, it is also a good idea to put social media to work for you. Your social media efforts can also be done by outside sources if you neither have the time or expertise for such efforts. Don’ try and be too many things for too many people right off the bat. For example, if you specialize in DWI cases, there is not a specific social site obviously catering to that problem that will bring you instant business. On the other hand, having a Twitter and/or Facebook profile, you can tweet and share posts with hashtags such as #legal, #DWI, #DrinkingandDriving, #findalawyer and more. When you do that, each of your posts where you added those hashtags will end up in the respective category. Lastly, make sure you do not forget how important LinkedIn is to your law firm. The most popular of sites on social media for professionals, LinkedIn, can be great for bringing more awareness to your firm. Be sure you periodically update your LinkedIn profile, giving the public the latest information about your firm, cases you have been involved in, any new hires to the firm etc. As you can see there is a treasure-trove of opportunities waiting for you when you put social media to work for your firm.

While just about every lawyer will tell you that their top priority is making sure their clients get a fair trial (and hopefully the case goes their way), more in the legal field are learning how much of a role the Internet plays in bringing business their way.

When lawyers apply the time and effort to promoting their services with both a sound website and solid social media promotions, the possibilities for landing new business are endless.

If you are a lawyer looking for more of a presence on the Internet, start today to see how adept you can become at working the worldwide web to your advantage.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers business and marketing topics on the web.

Lead When it Comes to a Better Online Presence

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Brand Marketing Branding Copyright Identity Trademark Patent ConIf you’re looking to generate more leads for your business, a strong online presence is absolutely the way to go.

Most of your customers are online these days, which means the internet is a key communication tool for your business.

But how do you stand out from all the other businesses in your niche? And how do you make sure the people who find you are strong leads and likely to lead to sales?

The answer is to build up your online presence.

Here are four ways you can do just that….

Embrace Social Media

Social media is a must for your business these days.

Your customers are on social media and using it to research brands like yours, so you need to be there too.

To boost your social media presence, you’ll need two things:

  • Social media listening tools to help you research the best leads for you;
  • Dynamic content that speaks directly to your customers’ needs.

A strong social media presence will keep your customers engaged with your brand.

By using social listening tools and paying attention to your social media stats, you can make sure that you’re connecting with the best leads for your business.

Publish Regular Fresh Content

As the article “6 Tools to Improve Your Online Presence and Generate Leads” says, publishing regular content to your website or social media profiles is a must.

Regular fresh content will keep your online presence strong and is good for:

  • Search engines, who like regular and relevant content and will rank you accordingly;
  • Customers, who will have a reason to keep coming back to your blog, site or social media profiles.

As well as keeping customers interested, regular fresh content can be used for lead generation.

By producing high quality and highly targeted content, you’ll attract customers who are interested in what you do and who are a great match for your business.

Always Capture Leads

If you want your online presence to help with finding and keeping good leads for your business, capturing your leads is a must.

One way to do this is by using lead capture forms, where customers give you their details in return for signing up for a mailing list, giveaway or useful information such as an EBook.

Capturing leads in this way helps you to assess who is interested in your business, and what specifically they are interested in. You can then schedule email messages and even social media posts designed to appeal just to them.

Generate Brand Positivity

Generating brand positivity is a good way to boost your online presence.

That means paying attention to what people are saying about you online and managing your online reputation, so that when people find you, they find a brand that comes with glowing recommendations.

One way to do this is by listening to what people are saying about your brand, and taking steps to manage any negative perceptions.

Has a customer posted on social media about a problem with you? Take steps to fix it and turn a negative into a positive.

Another way to manage your online reputation is by encouraging positive reviews.

Encourage your customers to share their thoughts on review sites such as Google and Yelp.

A dynamic and positive online presence will keep your brand fresh in your customers’ minds and encourage ongoing engagement.

Combine a strong presence with lead finding and capturing activities to make your online presence work hard for your business.

Photo credit: BigStockPhotos.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to build a strong online reputation.

Don’t Be a Stranger in Promoting Your Brand

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Leads To Sales ConversionWhat makes your brand stand out from the competition?

For some business owners, their products and/or services, customer service, pricing structure and more make the difference between a sale and not getting one.

No matter where you stand in securing more business, promoting your brand is crucial, especially in today’s competitive marketplace. Simply put, giving your brand the TLC it needs and deserves is more important than ever.

With that in mind, what are some ways you can make your brand stand out in 2016 and far beyond that?

Marketing Your Brand As Important As Ever

For starters, your brand needs constant and relevant attention, not the occasional marketing effort that unfortunately becomes all too commonplace for many business owners.

Whether it is due to budgetary constraints, limited time and effort available to properly market their brands or a lack of marketing expertise, too many brands do not get the full attention needed to be successful. As a result, the brands suffer from a lack of exposure, something that can be damaging to many businesses.

In order to properly spread the word regarding your brand, make sure you remember that:

  • Signs do matter – While you may think everyone in town and those who are passing by know about your business, the proper signage proves a great marketing vehicle for your brand. Whether you use mega led sign or another signage option, such information is crucial to directing consumers to your products and services, especially potential customers. With the right mega light emitting diodes (LED), your business can distance itself from competitors. Make sure your sign has custom content, is big and bright enough to grab consumer eyes, and is properly positioned for maximum attention;
  • Marketing must be continuous – Doing marketing tricks here and there will do little to promote and sustain your brand. Yes, your marketing budget might be tight at times, but don’t hesitate to move some funds around, giving marketing the added resources necessary to be successful. While your traditional marketing means have hopefully made a difference, have you done much in recent years with mobile marketing? If not, consider 2016 the year that you change your approach and become more mobile. As various reports show, mobile marketing is only expected to grow in the years to come, something you should definitely consider being a part of. If you don’t have the time and/resources to mount a serious mobile marketing approach this year and beyond, consider outsourcing those needs;
  • Happy customers are priceless – Never forget just how important happy customers are to your bottom line. When a customer leaves your store, completes an online purchase with you etc. you want to make sure there is a very good chance they will be coming back to you for more business. In doing so, they are more likely to tell those they know about you, their level of satisfaction with the product or service purchased, and their overall customer service experience. When you hit home runs in all of these areas, these customers will essentially be doing your marketing and advertising needs for free.

While there are other keys to successfully promoting your brand, having proper and effective signage, continual marketing, and happy customers are three great ways to increase the odds your business and your revenue stream continue to grow.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Dave Thomas covers marketing topics on the web.

Get Personal in Training Your Sales People to be the Best

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Close-up of people with hands together. Concept of union in busiDoes your sales training have a personal touch?

The aim of sales training is to equip your sales team to do their best for your business. Well-trained sales people will pursue the best leads and communicating effectively with customers, ultimately improving your sales and conversions.

By adding a personal touch to your sales training, you increase the chances of success for your sales team.

So just what does a personal touch mean in terms of sales training, and how can you implement it in your business?

One Size Doesn’t Fit All

When it comes to sales training, it’s all too easy to take a one size fits all approach.

You set up a training day or give your sales team an e-course to complete on their mobile devices, delivering everything you think they need to know. However, this may not be the most effective approach for your business.

Here’s why:

  • Different people have different learning styles;
  • Different people learn at different speeds;
  • Some team members will already be familiar with some of the material;
  • Team members will have different gaps in their knowledge;
  • Some people will learn better at different times of day;
  • Some people will respond better to specific content delivery methods than others.

Understanding the different needs of your sales team members is vital in creating sales training that has a truly personal touch.

What Does Personal Training Look Like?

Personal training is focused on what is best for each individual learner.

Personal training can include:

  • Offering different learning options (such as videos or interactive quizzes);
  • Breaking training down into bite size pieces so learners can choose where to go next;
  • Recommending new training modules based on each learner’s history;
  • Giving learners a chance to focus on problem areas;
  • Delivering different content based on each learner’s progress.

Benefits of Giving Training a Personal Touch

Adding a personal touch to your sales training means you’ll be offering the best training for each individual member of your sales team.

By focusing your efforts on adapting your training to be appropriate for each individual learner, you increase each team member’s chance of getting maximum benefit from the training.

As the article, “Modern Pharma Sales Training Deserves a Personal Touch” points out, customizing training to each learner’s needs improves the quality of the training.

Each person will receive the best content for them, in a way that they can personally work well with. Their engagement with the content will be more meaningful.

Making Training More Efficient

Adding a more personal touch to your training also means your training will be more efficient. When you deliver the same training to everyone, some people will receive training in topics they’re already well versed in.

As well as wasting time, this is likely to bore learners.

By personalizing your training, you let each learner skip over areas they are already familiar with.

More personal training also lets you see where each member of your team is struggling, giving you the chance to offer them support. Learners can put their focus on the areas they most need to improve.

Finally, by personalizing your sales training, you can pay attention to each learner’s preferred method of learning, for example by reading, answering quizzes or watching a video.

Targeting a preferred learning method is much more efficient than having everyone wade through material that doesn’t gel with their personal learning style.

When you add a personal touch to your sales training, you are essentially delivering the very best training for each member of your team.

The result is the best trained sales people, who are an asset to your business.

Photo credit: BigStockPhoto.com

About the Author: Tristan Anwyn writes on a variety of topics including social media, how to build customer relationships, content marketing and how to offer the best training to your sales people.

Unleash your inner social PR superhero – Q&A with Shonali Burke

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I’m so pleased this week to interview one of my personal superheroes, Shonali Burke.

She’s a “social PR” strategist who was named to PRWeek’s first “top 40 Under 40” list, the first list of 25 Women That Rock Social Media; and who founded and continues to curate the popular #measurePR hashtag and Twitter chat. She’s the owner of Shonali Burke Consulting, Inc.

Shonali is going to be offering a free mini-training to share some of her secret sauce, so I thought it would be great to have her answer some teaser questions here at Successful Blog. We could all use some help with PR, right?

 

How do you define “social PR”?

The classic definition of PR is the discipline that “builds and maintains mutually beneficial relationships between and organization and its publics” – that’s the *real* P in PR, not the imposter, “publicity.” Now, for decades publicity was the best way to get attention, and that awareness was the springboard for inquiries, additional marketing, sales, etc.

But if you’re actually going to build relationships with your “publics” – your audiences – you’re going to have to find ways to consistently engage with them. Social technologies allow you to do that in a way we never could before; it’s remarkable. I mean, just last week my website went down, and I was able to get BlueHost’s attention more quickly on Twitter than through their live chat!

So “social PR” harnesses the power of social technologies and platforms to help organizations build these relationships with their publics. This translates into a lot of online community-building, which is hard work (as you know), but the results can be incredible. Because if you can motivate your communities to start telling your story for you, isn’t that far more believable than you harping on it yourself?

What are some key mistakes that people make when trying to do social PR on their own?

First, I think a lot of companies (large and small) don’t realize they can’t just create social media accounts and blast information out at people. A press release will do that just fine. So there’s a lack of understanding of what it takes to have a regular conversation online. I find that a bit strange because they’re just fine talking to you offline!

Second, not actually listening to what people are saying, either about them, or their competitors, or their space. If you don’t do that, I don’t see how you can set a benchmark and ultimately gauge the success or failure of your campaigns and work.

Third, they’ll silo the various areas of communication as if they’re stocking their granaries for the winter. Social PR is by its very nature fluid and integrated (as business communications should be). While you must absolutely have some structure, you also need flexibility, because the mediums you’re working in are changing all the time.

 At what point does a small business owner need to call in a pro for PR?

The minute she can afford it. Truly, though I know you probably think I’m biased. But honestly – I’m wearing my own small business owner hat as I say this.

Unless you run a PR shop of some sort, your business is not PR. Your business is selling widgets, or distributing refrigerators, or knitting shark blankets, or selling online community software. Even if you have a knack for communications, and many many business owners do, ultimately any time you’re *not* spending on activities that grow your business is money you’re throwing down the drain.

Unless you’re exceptionally handy, you wouldn’t try to learn how to install a new roof on your home just so you could replace it in 30 years. So why would you not hire a PR pro to do what they do well, so that you can focus on what you do well?

How do you best leverage community to help spread the word about your product or service?

I heard a three-word mantra a long time ago that I often use: Educate, Cultivate, Motivate. This is how organizations *should* approach it; but most of the time they instead jump straight to Sell. That just doesn’t work.

You have to spend time becoming a part of a community, listening, engaging, curating, sharing. Do for everyone else before you ask them to do for you. Then, when you have enough community “change” in your bank, you can make your ask – but not before.

What’s your favorite social listening tool that won’t break the bank?

Talkwalker Alerts. I would have said Google Alerts, but they’re pretty unreliable these days, which is disappointing. 

What sparked you to create this course?

The best part of my job is when I’m able to help clients, students, people who attend my workshops, see what a joy social PR is. When that light goes off in their eye, that’s what makes my heart sing.

I got tired of seeing so many, many smart folk flounder when it comes to smart social PR strategy & implementation; not because they’re not smart, but because they don’t have the right coach to guide them.

I’m ultimately a teacher at heart. So I figured taking this online was the best way to share my joy with as many people as possible, and give back to an industry that has given so very much to me.

Thank you so much for chatting with me, Shonali!

Click here to sign up for Shonali’s free mini training course, The Social PR Launchpad: Unleash Your Inner Social PR Superhero.

Author’s Bio: Rosemary O’Neill is an insightful spirit who works for Social Strata — makers of the Hoop.la community platform. Check out the Social Strata blog. You can find Rosemary on Google+ and on Twitter as @rhogroupee