Successful Blog

Take Your Law Firm Marketing to New Heights

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In operating your legal practice, have you factored in the importance of marketing?

In the event you have not, do you have concerns that your law firm may be a step or two behind your nearest competitors?

When you come up with a winning marketing plan, your legal practice can benefit in so many different ways.

With that in mind, is it time to see what digital marketing can do for your firm today?

Where Best to Start?

In deciding if in fact digital marketing is right for your law firm, where best to start?

There are many digital marketers out there. But how will you know which one is best suited to help you grow your legal practice?

To get you started off in the right direction, do some Google research on the marketing firms out there.

Sure, you can’t look at them all, but you should get a fair sampling of them to better help you make a decision.

That said you may want to see who some of your legal competitors are using for marketing help. Unless they are doing in-house marketing, they have probably reached outside for help.

You should also spend time seeing which marketers get the highest grades in their field.

By having some good research info to work off of, you are in a better position to hire the right digital marketer. Whether it is Legal Legends or another top company, get the help to grow your brand.

Do You Know Your Role?

Even if working with a top-notch digital marketer, you still have some work to do on your end.

First, are you adept at social media and the importance it plays in today’s digital world?

Sure, the digital marketer you go with may very well set up and oversee any social media accounts you have.

Among the sites you should be going for:

That said you should still do some posting on your own. When you do, you should become more comfortable with how social media works.

You want to engage prospects with questions and comments on your legal services. Doing so could make the difference between you representing them or not.

Second, you might want to see if some of your clients who’ve you represented are willing to do a testimonial for you.

Such testimonials can carry a fair amount of weight with consumers. When they do, you could see more prospective business head in your direction.

Those testimonials could be on a local TV station, in the local newspaper, and even appear on your website. No matter where they go, they can be a difference maker when people are deciding which law firm is best for them.

Last, always work with your digital marketer to see where trends in your industry are going. You want to be at the forefront when it comes to digital marketing in the legal world, not lagging behind.

So, are you going to take your law firm marketing to new heights sooner than later?

Photo credit: Pixibay

About the Author: Dave Thomas writes about business topics on the web.

 

Self-Care Matters — Especially in Business

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Does your “To Do” list include self-care?

Sure, we all have To Do lists.

That list of things is endless.

There’s always more that can be done.

Here’s the thing — no matter how long your list of things to get done is — it’s essential that you put caring for yourself on that list every day.

Self-care really does matter. In fact, it’s essential. Especially in business.

The list of tasks will never end. You in-box will always have more. The notifications will rarely end. Yet — the more that you make yourself a priority the better capable you will be at completing the tasks that are in front of you each day. The more focus you will have. The easier it will be to reach your goals.

As urgent as everything is — there truly is nothing more urgent than your own self-care. Remember that. It is an essential business practice.

Simple Self-care Strategies

Here are some simple strategies that you can immediately put into action in order to begin caring for yourself right now.

Drink more water. 

Sure it sounds simple. Yet — for most of us, we don’t drink enough water in the day. Water is really, really good for you. And it’s especially good for helping your brain to stay focused and on task. Hydrate. Instead of reaching for a coffee — refill your water bottle — and drink, drink, drink!!

 

Go outside and look at the sky.

Sometimes we spend too much time inside. And sometimes when we are outside we are focused on where we are going, what’s happening around us or what the weather is doing. Try going outside and simply looking up. Look at the sky. Notice the colours you see. Are there clouds? Is the sun shining? Do you see stars? Breathe. And breathe again. Plus — breathe some more. All while looking up and at the sky. Reconnect your feet to the ground while doing nothing but taking in the wonder of what the sky has to show you. Liz has written about the importance of the sky on more than a few times.  See her posts – Beach Notes: A Few Minutes for Yourself and the Sky and Imagine a Blue Sky, Blissful Weekend.

Go for a walk.

Feeling frustrated? Tired? Disconnected? Put your shoes on and go for a walk outside. It doesn’t need to be a big walk. Perhaps it’s just to your mailbox. Or maybe around the corner to the park or local store. Put one foot in front of the other and simply move. Step by step by step. And while you are at it — try looking up at the sky too and also take a big drink of water from that water bottle that you filled up! Rosemary touched on the importance of moving your body in this post – How to Get More Done by Managing Your Energy.

Get quiet and breathe.

Stop talking. Just be quiet. Tune out the noises around you. Breathe. In and out. And in and out. Over and over. Listen to your breath. Trust that it knows what to do. Follow your breath. Be still and in the moment. You don’t need to think about anything other than your breathing. Do this for 5-10 minutes twice a day to regroup your mind with your body. Simply be quiet. And breathe.

 

Self-care is really so very important. And it’s actually quite simple. So make sure it’s on the top of your To Do list” and keep it there.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

How to Deal With Four Pressure Points Most Entrepreneurs Face

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By Kayla Matthews

Amidst the growth of successful startups and the fame of their owners, many young people are finding entrepreneurship an increasingly attractive option. While it’s certainly possible to build an impressive business from scratch, it’s not as easy as it may seem.

Entrepreneurs face many challenges that affect not just themselves but also the overall success of their companies. Learning to manage these challenges is a crucial part of being an entrepreneur. However, if you’re not prepared for them, they can feel overwhelming.

To increase the likelihood of your business’ success, you need to be familiar with the common problems entrepreneurs and their businesses face so you can plan to handle them ahead of time. With that in mind, here are four pressure points entrepreneurs commonly encounter and a few strategies to tackle them.

1. A Lack of Funding

Starting a successful business requires a substantial financial investment. Most entrepreneurs don’t have access to the kind of capital they need to fund their businesses on their own. Even so, 80 percent of entrepreneurs use their personal funds to start their companies.

Though it’s good to invest your own money into your business if you can afford to do so, other financing options are available. To protect yourself from potentially life-shaking financial losses, you need to plan ahead and make the most of potential sources of funding. Loans, crowdfunding and money from investors can all help you launch your business without putting your family’s security at risk.

In addition to seeking out sources of supplemental funding, entrepreneurs worried about financial security should set aside money in personal savings in case the business’ budget tightens down the line.

2. Chronic Stress and Overworking

Because they tackle so much every day, entrepreneurs are at risk for chronic stress and other mental health issues. Not only is this a concern for the health and happiness of entrepreneurs, but it can also negatively affect their businesses. An overly demanding, negative or competitive attitude can permeate a company and bring down other employees, as well.

If you’re one of your business’ only employees, you’ll be tackling a huge portion of all tasks. If your entire financial and professional well-being relies on the success of your company — that’s a lot of pressure. Entrepreneurs in these high-stress roles should use some relaxation hacks to avoid burnout.

To prevent additional stress, pay attention to how much you work. Limit your work week to a reasonable number of hours and entirely separate your work and home lives. If you can, delegate tasks to another employee so you can spend your time as effectively as possible.

3. Irresponsible Scaling

Startups can grow fast, which is exciting. However, fast growth requires an entrepreneur to be extra conscientious, as irresponsible decisions made during the scaling process can sink a business equally fast.

Most businesses should grow steadily not swiftly. Though your startup may need to increase its size quickly, decisions made about hiring, firing and spending should all be made thoughtfully.

As you grow your business, think about the company culture you want to foster. Hire highly qualified candidates you want to stick around and fire employees who are causing difficulty as soon as you notice a problem. Spend frugally — even when it seems you don’t need to — to assure your company’s ability to continue growing a year or more into the future, when things might not be going as well.

4. Poor Ethical Choices

Another often overlooked problem faced by entrepreneurs is the temptation to skew from ethical practices and founding missions. Because startups and small businesses are personal affairs grown from scratch, entrepreneurs sometimes struggle to draw the line between what is ethical and what is not.

Nepotism, failure to accurately report income and co-mingling of business and personal finances are all common ethical conundrums entrepreneurs face. Though one misstep here and there may seem insignificant, they can come back to haunt the company in the long run.

To avoid ethical problems in your company, it is best to establish procedures and codes of conduct at the very beginning. You should always consult with an accountant or lawyer to ensure all of your business’ finances are being properly handled.

Running a business is difficult, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Luckily, by preparing for these common challenges, you can start your business on the path to success.

 

About the Author: Kayla Matthews writes about communication and workplace productivity on her blog, Productivity Theory. Her work has also appeared on Talent Culture, MakeUseOf, The Muse and Fast Company.

Featured Photo by sydney Rae on Unsplash

Playing on the Swings is Good for Business

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Looking for a new productivity hack?

Here’s a novel idea. Try the swings.

Really!

How often do you truly play?

You know — get out there and have some good old fashioned fun!

Think about it.

When is the last time you played on the swings at your local park?

 

Or — even better — under a night sky.

Stop.

Think.

Close your eyes.

Imagine.

Let your mind play for a while.

 

 

 

Can you feel it?

 

The back and fourth.

The up and down.

The breeze against your face.

The sky touching your toes.

The excitement of getting a little bit higher with every additional swing.

 

 

This moment you are thinking about — this is the stuff of wonder. 

 

And joy.

This is what makes the little kid in us re-emerge.

It’s what keeps us curious and engaged. All of it.

This is play at it’s best.

And guess what?

Letting your adult self play is good for you.

And it’s good for business too. Especially when it comes to helping you stay focused and creative.

So — go find a swing.

And swing.

Take it all in.
Appreciate it.
Experience it.
Embrace it.
Enjoy it.
Learn from it.

Trust me. You will be glad you did.

And you might just discover it’s one of the keys to helping you be more productive too.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.

How to Manage Stress and Mental Wellness When Starting a Business

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By Jean Cherry

The U.S. Small Business Administration reports there are 28 million small businesses, which account for 99.7% of all U.S. businesses. That means a lot of small business owners are making a go as an entrepreneur. Starting a business is exciting and rewarding, but included in that excitement are fast-paced demands and risks of the unknown – all of which can lead to stress.

There are both positive and negative stresses when starting a business. A 2017 survey of entrepreneurs found that positive stressors include increased commercial activity, hiring an employee, and launching a new project or product. Negative stressors include being overworked, employee resignations, and poor business performance.

Here are some tips for small business owners to help manage both positive and negative stressors:

Stay organized.

Stress levels can be diminished when you’re well prepared and have everything in order. Careful planning allows you to anticipate challenges and come up with solutions ahead of time.

Find a creative outlet.

Great ideas come from many places, so take time to dream, take a painting class, get out in nature, meditate, or write in a journal. Business owners can benefit from building time in their schedules to think about innovative and creative ways of doing things and separate themselves from the everyday stress of running a business.

Listen to others.

As a business owner, you have a lot of decisions to make. Being a good listener will show that other people’s opinions are valued. Employees that are closer to different aspects of the business may provide new perspectives.

Be committed and resourceful.

A recent study found that entrepreneurship is common among people who have endured life challenges. They learned to persevere and manage stress by working harder, seeking help when needed, developing social skills, and networking. Everyone can learn from these entrepreneurs.

Balance responsibilities.

One of the most common complaints entrepreneurs have when starting a business is that they feel overworked. Delegation is difficult when there are only a few employees to carry the load, but letting go and sharing the responsibilities of the business can help reduce some of the stress. It’s also necessary to take time away from work and go on vacation. Delegating and taking a vacation helps to avoid burnout.

Exercise and eat right.

Exercise is a great stress reliever. Find something that fits your personality — from walking to marathons to yoga. We have better mental acuity and focus when we maintain a healthy diet. Drink plenty of water, decrease sugar intake, and limit caffeine.

 

Stress management for an entrepreneur is a balancing act, but the journey can be much more enjoyable with good organization, building on creative ideas, valuing input from others, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

 

 

Author Bio: Jean Cherry, RN, MBA enjoys sharing her knowledge of health and wellness with readers in her writing for Walgreens, where you can find a variety of vitamins to supplement a hectic entrepreneurial lifestyle at Walgreens.com.

 

 

Although it is intended to be accurate, neither Walgreen Co., its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any other party assumes for loss or damage due to reliance on this material. Walgreens does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned in the article. Reliance on any information provided by this article is solely at your own risk.

 

Sunshine, Silence and Contemplation

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Oh that moment.

You know the one I mean.

That moment when the sun is shining through the windows of your home (or office) in the earliest hours of the morning.

That moment when you are drinking your first hot cup of coffee or tea or perhaps even a smoothie.

And there’s only you, sunshine and silence.

Plus contemplation. Lots and lots of contemplation.

Yes — that’s the moment.

That’s the exact moment I’m talking about.

Now, truth be told — we’ve pretty much all experienced a moment such as this at some point in our lives.

Yet, for more than a few of us, the reality is that we can’t quite recall the last time we were in the middle of a moment of sunshine, silence and contemplation.

Life is like that.

Moments come and moments go.

And silence mixed with sunshine can be fleeting. Especially on cloudy, hectic days.

Yet — the reality is this — the sun shows up every single day.

Even on the cloudiest and stormiest of days, it’s still there.

Especially when we can’t see it.

The truth is that on those days and in those moments, we simply have to wait a little longer for it to show up with it’s full beauty and brilliance.

And silence?

Yes silence is always there too; even when we can’t quite hear it.

No matter how hard silence is to find, you have to believe that it can always be heard too.

Especially on the loudest of days.

So tomorrow morning, grab that hot cup of coffee or tea or your favourite smoothie and sit down by a window.

And wait.

Wait without your phone. Without notifications. And without people.

Just wait with yourself.

Wait, watch and listen.

If you are lucky, the universe might just decide to cooperate. And you too will experience the moment I’m talking about.

Yes — that moment.

No matter who you are, what road you are on or where life is taking you (or where YOU are taking your life) — there’s virtually nothing better that starting your day with the collision of sunshine, silence and contemplation. It will focus and ground you more than you realize.

Jane Boyd is a Partner in GeniusShared. She is also the CEO of 45 Conversations Media & Education Ltd, a Canadian education and training company based just outside of Vancouver Canada. She works with educators, business, community and government in the areas of early learning, work-life, community development and employee engagement.