Archive for the ‘Strategies that Work’ Category
Should Law Firms Explore the Mobile World?
Mobile Marketing is a set of practices that enables organizations to communicate and engage with their audience in an interactive and relevant manner through any mobile device or network.
- Mobile Marketing Association
It’s no secret that mobile marketing has taken a number of strides over the past few years as a number of technological developments have been made. Blackberrys, iPhones and the like all encompass new developments all the time and a number of companies and businesses have taken advantage of this for marketing purposes.
Mobile marketing and advertising is an area every business should explore – why not? That said, shouldn’t law firms get a slice of this marketing pie?
There are a few good moves that law firms could make (if it’s possible). One idea is have a way for clients – or potential new clients – to text questions from their phone to someone at the firm to get answered immediately. Whether it’s a “What do I do if…?” legal question or “What’s your firm’s address?” it’s a great way for you to be easily reachable.
One of the biggest problems people have with lawyers is their lack of available time or having to pay a boatload of money for that time. Instead of having to receive a phone call or respond to an email, lawyers will be able to answer right away by simply typing in a few words that will go directly to his or her client’s phone. That lawyer will spend less time away from his or her other work and the client will be pleased to receive an answer immediately. It’s a win/win situation for both.
Or what about a legal application that certain cell phone carriers can offer?
Lawyers should definitely jump on this bandwagon and explore mobile marketing ideas while always keeping in mind: “What will set my law firm apart from the rest?”
How Important are Client Testimonials?
A solid client base is the foundation of a successful law firm. The more legal services you offer, the more clients you obtain, the more business you bring to your firm. Bottom line. By keeping a steady list of loyal clients, the chances of referrals increases which – once again – brings more business to your firm.
Like all businesses, clients – or customers – develop an opinion about the services they receive. Clients’ judgments about the lawyers or firm that has helped them can make or break a firm’s reputation.
For example, if a divorce attorney overcharges, is consistently late for meetings or is constantly hard to reach, his or her client will not want to work with that attorney again and will express a bad opinion of him or her to anyone they talk to about the situation. As a result, all of those people that hear those bad things about the firm – that can also been seen as potential clients – will have no desire to seek legal help from that firm and will ultimately hire other competing lawyers.
Thus, clients’ positive testimonials and personal stories are an extremely important aspect to successfully market your law firm. As part of a good marketing strategy, all law firms should make sure to have a page of their websites dedicated only to successful client stories. This will show potential clients that they will be pleased with the service they receive and will ultimately boost the chances of more clients wanting to work with your attorneys.
Do you have the best marketing strategy for your law firm?
Perhaps the best existing marketing strategy for law firms is one that is most obvious and extremely easy to understand. However, it seems to be overlooked by many attorneys and legal firms.
Like any business, individuality is the most important aspect for any law firm to have. Some people may feel that is stating the obvious, but this notion is often ignored.
Most firms discuss their areas of practice, their experience and their successes regarding case settlements and verdicts. What about what sets them apart from the thousands of other lawyers out there with the same credentials?
Most personal injury and accident lawyers state in their website that they will get clients the compensation they need and deserve, but doesn’t every personal injury attorney do that? Isn’t that their purpose?
Divorce lawyers say that they’ll help clients with child custody matters and spousal support, but what makes them different than other family law attorneys?
To establish a well-marketed firm, it is important for lawyers to recognize the need to advertise their uniqueness and what makes them better than the rest. It’s important not to fall within the traditional legal wording expressed on most law firm websites and get your name out there and all over the web for more unique reasons.
For example, these creative ideas can set your law firm apart from others:
- A divorce law firm which offers community resources for the emotional and financial needs of children of separating couples
- Personal injury lawyers who offer to meet with the client in their home or hospital
- Real estate attorneys willing to close property transactions on a Saturday
- Lawyers who have late hours so clients do not have to lose work time
- The use of inventive technology in criminal law cases
Any press is good press. Conversation monitoring tools such as Social Mention (www.socialmention.com) are useful tools to help lawyers track how often they are mentioned – in whatever context – on the web. After all, all publicity and online mentions are good.
How can you make your office unique? We’d like to hear!