I’m working on my “Buzz Your Magnetic Brand with Social Media” training for CEOs of mid-sized companies in New Jersey and came across a video that is not only great for my presentation, it’s also fantastic for fellow lawyerpreneurs. This video clearly supports the Social Media case for CEOs who run product based companies. It is also informative for laywerspreneurs running law businesses or other service-based businesses.  

Social media has many profitable benefits for lawyerpreneurs of which a key benefit is the ability to speak to the heart of your  ”ideal client” in mass! Another key benefit for lawyerpreneurs is the ability to showcase your expertise while creating a platform for greater client conversion.  Powerful stuff!   Check it out the video and let’s discuss.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Expect the BEST!

~T.C. Coleman

Winning BIG in 2010

2009 was a difficult year for many lawyers and law firms. The lawyers and firms that most successfully made it through the rough waters of 2009 were the ones that learned to connect their value proposition to the core needs of their clients, while staying “top of mind.”

Success stories in 2010 will be from those who embrace new media and social networks to strategically build credibility online, develop relationships, increase exposure, and engage clients online in ways that generate new business opportunities.

Are YOU Ready to Win Big in 2010? Let’s explore 5 tips to get you started.

1. Make exceptional customer service the hallmark of your law business. Develop a system to plan and track every client experience with your business including: (i) first contact by phone or via the Internet; (ii) the intake process; (iii) responsiveness for ongoing matters (make a commitment to always respond within 12 hours - or whatever is reasonable for your business); and (iv) follow-up after a matter has closed.
2. Strengthen relationships with past clients and develop relationships with prospective clients. Host complimentary virtual educational events to engage your target market and add value. Webinars and teleseminars make it easy and inexpensive to host such events. Invite former, current and prospective clients to your firm’s virtual events. Consider hosting a reoccurring monthly or quarterly event to build loyalty and a community around your core practice areas.
3. Use on-line technology (i) to aggregate contact details for your “Friends, Fans & Followers” (from sites like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.) using a social/business networking tool like www.Plaxo.com and (ii) update your mailing list with this information. Take personal responsibility for communicating with your mailing list at least once a quarter via a white paper, article or printed newsletter. This should be in addition to your ongoing email marketing initiatives.
4. Pick up the phone and call your contacts. Create space each week to have a telephone conversation with no less than three former, current or prospective clients. Use your LinkedIn connections for a rich supply of contacts and leads.
5. Use social networks to build a magnetic personal brand and magnetic corporate image. Share presentations on sites like www.Slideshare.net and www.ScribD.com. Connect these sites to your LinkedIn profile to automatically alert your connections about new activities in your business. Strategic use of social networks facilitates adding value and building credibility while staying “top of mind.” This combination results in magnetically attracting pre-qualified business opportunities.

Lawyers, law firms and other professional service firms that thrive and WIN in 2010 will be those that utilize online technology and basic relationship building strategies to engage, interact, educate, serve and connect with former, current and prospective clients. This combination will result in increased opportunities to generate new business leads and inspire repeat business.

Let’s hear from you! What will you do in your law business to WIN in 2010?

Expect the BEST!

T.C. Coleman

Leverage the Power of LinkedIn to Turbocharge Your Business Development!

Now that you have had time to implement the tips from my PowerUP Your LinkedIn profile blog post, let’s move to strategies you can implement (starting today) to leverage the power of Linkedin as you build your network and grow your business.

1) Customize your message when inviting people to join your LinkedIn network. In your message, remind the person of how he or she knows you. If the person does not know you, let him or her know why you would like to connect. This is a great place to refer to things like your impressions of the person’s company, work, articles, blogs or contributions to the community.

2) Join LinkedIn groups that are related to your associations, industries, subject matter interests and hobbies. After joining select groups, participate in group discussions by sharing information about upcoming events, interesting articles by others, new content by you, etc. Groups provide the opportunity “to FIND” and “be FOUND by” prospective clients & business partners.

3) Use LinkedIn Answers to raise visibility and increase credibility. Ask or answer at least two question per month to leverage the power of LinkedIn Answers. If business is slow, I suggest ANSWERING at least one question per week.

4) Export your LinkedIn connections list and import it into your contact management systems (e.g., Outlook, ACT or Batchbook.com). Exporting, then importing your connections allows you to easily integrate your LinkedIn connections into your personal marketing system. If you are serious about building a sustainable law business or other service based business, you MUST have a personal marketing system. At LawyersLaunchpad, we can help you develop your personal marketing system and implement it!

5) Connect with at least 2 LinkedIn connections each week. Invite several of your connections to have a 15 minute PowerChat with you until you have two confirmations. This is a great project for your assistant. When on PowerChats, invest the 15 minutes learning about what is happening in your connection’s business. PowerChats are about gaining information and building relationships. They are not for pitching your services. Make the connection, build the relationship and the business will follow … oftentimes much faster than you can imagine. Be diligent about sticking to the 15 minute time frame. Make very few exceptions to this rule. It is important to retain the integrity of your initial request for the call. Schedule a follow-up call when your conversation reaches the 15 minute limit. The follow-up call is where you start to explore how your services can meet the person’s needs.

Now that you have 5 ways to leverage the power of LinkedIn, it’s time for YOU to implement.

Applied UpwardAction is POWER!

Let’s Go!

T.C.Coleman, Esq.