Getting Started! Marketing 101

I used to have a blog called Let's Talk Tech for Lawyers, but somehow it got lost, wasn't updated and I cannot find it anymore.

But that is kind of nice, because then I can get started all over.

I am on a one woman mission - and it may be mission impossible.

My goal is to try to get lawyers, who are notoriously slow to embrace change, to look at technology not as the enemy, but as their friend.

This is no easy task.

But what I have learned, after giving many presentations on the wonders of social media, is that lawyers need to decide first to become marketers.  Typically, this is perceived to be the evil side of practicing law.  Bringing in new clients is critical, but most lawyers want to roll up their sleeves, start doing research and get ready to produce the final product.

After years of being taught that advertising is bad and soliciting clients is worse, in order to avoid the label of ambulance chaser, most lawyers go out of their way to ignore business fundamentals when it comes to their practice.

Now, I embrace the technology, but I also have an old fashioned approach to business.  Step 1 is have a business plan, and not just a document that gets filed away and dusty, but an actual living, breathing business plan.  If you are a solo practitioner, this is a daunting task, but it is uncomplicated by the fact that you alone determine what goes in the plan.

The exercise of writing a business plan will help you understand several things about yourself and your business.  It will help you identify who you are and what you want to do.  It will force you to look at yourself, your practice and determine what direction you want to go.

For example, my vision for my practice is to bring peace to families.  That covers everything I consider - from whether to accept a case or to volunteer for an activity or to do a presentation.  If what I am doing is consistent with that vision, then I know I am on track.

This is Marketing 101 - know where you are and where you want to be.

Once you have done this, then you need to look at ways to get your message out - whether through printed media, social media or networking or other methods.

So, step 1 - a business plan.  Do a quick internet search and you will find plenty of advice on how to do that.  Get a feel for it, and then produce a business plan.  Once that is done, come back for more ideas on getting the message out.