BestLegalMarketing.com

6. Consider clients’ frame of reference. Take a look at who your main clients are and what legal services you generally help them with. Make sure you promote those services and focus your marketing plan on specific areas. Also, make sure you understand how these services are seen through your clients’ perspective.

7. Use online directories. Make sure to get your firm listed in as many online directories as you can – especially the free ones. They’re all over the web and it’s important to have your name listed so that when people search for lawyers who practice your area of law, you’ll be seen and considered.

8. Make sure your pricing is reasonable. Everyone knows getting legal help from a lawyer is costly. That doesn’t mean you have to charge clients a ridiculous amount of money for your help. Obviously clients will be more drawn to you if your prices are reasonable, so make sure you’re not overcharging.

9. Publish newsletters. By simply sending out a monthly emailed (and free!) newsletter, you can keep in touch with your existing clients and keep them informed of what’s new with your firm. Taking care of your existing clients is more important that getting new ones. After all, they’re the ones referring new clients to you. It’s important to keep them acknowledged and informed.

10. Survey existing clients. Any firm – big or small – should survey its clients every so often. It’s extremely effective to gather opinions and suggestions from your loyal clients as to what changes in your business should be made, what’s good about your firm and what matters most to them personally. Shape aspects of your marketing plan based on the answers you receive.

1. You must have a website. No matter how small your firm is, you need to develop a website. Whether you have one attorney or five or your firm has existed for a few weeks or a few years, you need to get yourself on the web as much as possible. A website is a place for potential clients to come and read about the services you offer, become familiar with your firm’s staff and find out information to contact your firm and possibly hire an attorney.  Nowadays everyone runs to a computer when they need to look up something. Not having a website can hurt any business.

2. Use a referral service. Especially if you’re in the process of building your practice, referral programs can be very helpful in gathering more clients. More calls mean more business so it’s important to take advantage of this service if possible, even if there is a small fee included.

3. Promote your firm to the fullest. Small law firms have the potential to market their services as well as larger firms do without the same financial budget. Some suggestions? In addition to creating a website, utilize free social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Linked In and free blogging sites that you can link back to your website. Also, take advantage of any low-cost advertising your firm can afford.

4. Connect with colleagues. It’s extremely beneficial for lawyers to have a network of colleagues who specialize in a range of legal services. This can increase business if one attorney refers clients to his/her fellow colleague who practices in the legal field that client needs help within and visa versa.

5. Get your staff together to brainstorm. If you’re trying to develop or improve a marketing plan for your firm, call your staff together for a meeting to generate new ideas and suggestions and discuss your overall marketing goals.