Hello from the MPS Program in Orlando!
Good morning all, I apologize for not getting this to you Monday. I thought it would be most fitting to provide you with an explanation “tip” this week, in light of the Twitter (social media) explosion following President Obama’s Address to Congress last night. Evidently, the site was almost shut down with the high increase of activity or what is called, “tweets” last night. If you are not familiar with - don’t understand – or think you don’t need to....think again. Regardless of your age – your years in practice or your interest in new technology - This is the wave of the future AND can effectively increase your exposure and revenues, if used properly to market your firm and its services.
The Difference between “Social Media” and “Social Media Marketing and PR”
“Social media” signifies a broad spectrum of topics that have a number of different connotations. In the context of Internet marketing, social media refers to a collective group of properties whose content is primarily published by users, not direct employees of the property (e.g. The vast majority of video on YouTube is user generated content).
“Social media marketing and PR”, on the other hand, is about the commercial practice of building ways for fans of a brand or company to promote themselves in multiple online social media platforms. Social media marketing and PR is about collaboration between people. It is about participating with everyone and sharing information. It is as much about giving as it is about receiving from the group. The premise of social media marketing and PR is engaging the consumer in conversation in a way that provides mutual value. It is primarily a strong form of “word of mouth” that can literally reach millions with the click of a button.
This emergence of social media marketing and PR is another way you can generate new and maximize your revenue potential with minimal investment for your firm that can lessen the pressure exacerbated by the impact of our economic recession. Of course, like any other marketing medium, there is an advantage of understanding what works and what doesn’t. Your first step, as an attorney, is to begin educating yourself on this fast growing network of professionals. It is not just kids on-line!
~all the best, Serena
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Chick Tip: Leverage your profiles & other connectivity tools
So, I recommended LinkedIn...Now what? Over the next several weeks, I will focus on social media networking and HOW to make it WORK for you. Please feel free to ask questions along the way. In addition, my team will be creating profiles for Dave and MPS groups and extending an invitation to them to each of you. To increase exposure for both MPS and each of you, please accept these invitations!
Tips for LinkedIn and other social sites as we move forward:
*Update your connections with new projects you are working on, new services you may offer, changes in the industry, etc. This gives others the opportunity to ask questions or call you for more information
*Advance your understanding of relationships between the people you are linked to. I.e. A financial planner may be linked to a nursing home administrator
*Connect with former colleagues from past relationships – you never know where those former relationships can take you and your business
*Use social marketing sites, such as LinkedIN, to understand more about your prospects. Look at where they used to work and where they went to school. What’s in it for them? Look at profiles to see if there is something in it for them by way of an introduction or even an opportunity for you to share your knowledge. Are they a discharge planner? Are they a social worker? How can you help them?
*Be generous with your contacts and make an introduction. It will come back to you :-)
*Use LinkedIN with google alerts (www.google.com/alerts) which is a great business tool. I.e. Do you want to reach someone at a nursing home chain? Do a LinkedIN search on the company name and you will likely come up with a couple of names that you can now speak to. Set up a google alert on these people. This kind of intelligence will tell you what he/she cares about, is interested in, etc. What is more flattering than a message saying congratulations on a promotion or offering your knowledge to further them on a paper or project.
*When you spot a “cluster” of people who all know each other and are accomplished in the same arena, that’s a special thing on social sites. To you – that means you have a listening audience that is intelligent and full of opportunity! Reach out to 1 or 2 of them and express your interest in their topic. Offer to provide answers for them – ideas or a question or two. What you are doing, is tapping into the rich repository of information on a social site and it can be highly beneficial for you.
I realize that social marketing is time consuming. Don’t let it take over you! It is about time management – similar to your email and your listserv monitoring and activity. Check on social sites, email, listserv frequently – but not too frequently. Make them work for you - Don’t fall into working for them! If it is NOT in your comfort zone or interest, consider asking someone on your team – a younger generation to initiate and manage your social sites. No matter how you look at it, it IS the wave of the future and it DOES have proven statistics of success.
~all the best, Serena
Tips for LinkedIn and other social sites as we move forward:
*Update your connections with new projects you are working on, new services you may offer, changes in the industry, etc. This gives others the opportunity to ask questions or call you for more information
*Advance your understanding of relationships between the people you are linked to. I.e. A financial planner may be linked to a nursing home administrator
*Connect with former colleagues from past relationships – you never know where those former relationships can take you and your business
*Use social marketing sites, such as LinkedIN, to understand more about your prospects. Look at where they used to work and where they went to school. What’s in it for them? Look at profiles to see if there is something in it for them by way of an introduction or even an opportunity for you to share your knowledge. Are they a discharge planner? Are they a social worker? How can you help them?
*Be generous with your contacts and make an introduction. It will come back to you :-)
*Use LinkedIN with google alerts (www.google.com/alerts) which is a great business tool. I.e. Do you want to reach someone at a nursing home chain? Do a LinkedIN search on the company name and you will likely come up with a couple of names that you can now speak to. Set up a google alert on these people. This kind of intelligence will tell you what he/she cares about, is interested in, etc. What is more flattering than a message saying congratulations on a promotion or offering your knowledge to further them on a paper or project.
*When you spot a “cluster” of people who all know each other and are accomplished in the same arena, that’s a special thing on social sites. To you – that means you have a listening audience that is intelligent and full of opportunity! Reach out to 1 or 2 of them and express your interest in their topic. Offer to provide answers for them – ideas or a question or two. What you are doing, is tapping into the rich repository of information on a social site and it can be highly beneficial for you.
I realize that social marketing is time consuming. Don’t let it take over you! It is about time management – similar to your email and your listserv monitoring and activity. Check on social sites, email, listserv frequently – but not too frequently. Make them work for you - Don’t fall into working for them! If it is NOT in your comfort zone or interest, consider asking someone on your team – a younger generation to initiate and manage your social sites. No matter how you look at it, it IS the wave of the future and it DOES have proven statistics of success.
~all the best, Serena
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Chick Tip: Link In to Social Networking
Wondering where you can find your next new client or professional referral source? Familiarize yourself with Social Networking, starting with this popular one: LinkedIn.
Go to: www.linkedin.com and complete your profile. Then, invite your co-workers, business acquaintances, friends and others to link to you. Using the "six degrees of separation" concept, you benefit by gaining potential access to hundreds or thousands of contacts as your LinkedIn network grows.
Don’t think it is for you? Check out who and how quickly the legal community adopted it: tons of law firms – go ahead and search for them. How about, LexisNexis, the parent company of Martindale-Hubbell? They have a partnership with LinkedIn that displays a small blue LinkedIn icon for firms active in both services. LinkedIn members who visit the Martindale site can view common connections with a listed attorney if they allow Martindale to search their LinkedIn account.
Why should you join LinkedIn?
• it’s a free way to expand your marketing efforts
• it increases your search engine visibility because it is so focused on bringing people together online
• It provides you an increased potential to develop new business by identifying mutual connections and requesting introductions
• It will improve and allow you to demonstrate your internet savvy and technical mastery
a failure to network online today will only leave you with a competitive disadvantage in the near future
LinkedIn features "groups" of people with common interests, similar to a listserv. There are several active LinkedIn legal groups including legal blogging group, business start up group, patent law group, etc. Search and find your groups or start one of your own.
Other features? So long as you are careful to conform to your bar guidelines, you can also volunteer to answer questions in your area of expertise. If you publish a blog, you can easily display your blog posts as part of your LinkedIn profile. It is a free technique to extend the reach of your online communications, helping you employ a broader range of dissemination techniques.
There are other options, too. Honestly, although I have had my profile for some time, I personally have not used it to its fullest capacity...YET. One thing it has accomplished, however, is the organic placement of my name and company in a search engine search. Invite me once you set up your profile and together we can maximize this social network!
~serena
Go to: www.linkedin.com and complete your profile. Then, invite your co-workers, business acquaintances, friends and others to link to you. Using the "six degrees of separation" concept, you benefit by gaining potential access to hundreds or thousands of contacts as your LinkedIn network grows.
Don’t think it is for you? Check out who and how quickly the legal community adopted it: tons of law firms – go ahead and search for them. How about, LexisNexis, the parent company of Martindale-Hubbell? They have a partnership with LinkedIn that displays a small blue LinkedIn icon for firms active in both services. LinkedIn members who visit the Martindale site can view common connections with a listed attorney if they allow Martindale to search their LinkedIn account.
Why should you join LinkedIn?
• it’s a free way to expand your marketing efforts
• it increases your search engine visibility because it is so focused on bringing people together online
• It provides you an increased potential to develop new business by identifying mutual connections and requesting introductions
• It will improve and allow you to demonstrate your internet savvy and technical mastery
a failure to network online today will only leave you with a competitive disadvantage in the near future
LinkedIn features "groups" of people with common interests, similar to a listserv. There are several active LinkedIn legal groups including legal blogging group, business start up group, patent law group, etc. Search and find your groups or start one of your own.
Other features? So long as you are careful to conform to your bar guidelines, you can also volunteer to answer questions in your area of expertise. If you publish a blog, you can easily display your blog posts as part of your LinkedIn profile. It is a free technique to extend the reach of your online communications, helping you employ a broader range of dissemination techniques.
There are other options, too. Honestly, although I have had my profile for some time, I personally have not used it to its fullest capacity...YET. One thing it has accomplished, however, is the organic placement of my name and company in a search engine search. Invite me once you set up your profile and together we can maximize this social network!
~serena
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