Twitter for Lawyers – Twitter Etiquette

Twitter use is constantly evolving.  But there are some unspoken Twitter Etiquette rules that you should consider following.  The reason is because you want to not only have followers, but you want to build relationships with these followers so they will engage with you.

1.  The Golden Rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.  This does apply to Twitter.  If someone takes the time to respond to your tweet, thank them or agree with them or something.  Be courteous and reply.

2.  Retweet what other Twitterers are saying.  Retweet the great quotes or profound thoughts that resonate with you.  Retweet some of the funny stuff.  Retweet other people’s questions so they reach a wider audience.  Retweet good blog posts.

3.  Tweet about an excellent blog post or article you just read and include the link, whether you know if they’re on Twitter or not.  These type of tweets are helpful to others and it’s also good karma.

4.  Thank someone when they’ve retweeted (RT) your tweet.  If several people have retweeted something you posted, you can thank them in one post (remember always put the @ before their Twitter name) or single them out with one person thanked per posting.

5.  Don’t tweet the same message over and over again.  Similarly, don’t tweet 20 times in a 3 minute period. It clogs up people’s Twitter streams and they won’t appreciate it.  In fact, they’ll probably un-follow you.

For some additional Do’s and Don’ts, take a look at Steven Matthews’ 29 Lawyer Twitter Practices.

Twitter for Lawyers – How to Find Tweeple

There are several ways to search for people (or “tweeple”) to follow on Twitter. Below are a few techniques you can use to start connecting with other legal professionals. The resources are listed in no particular order.

1. Twitter Search –

With Twitter’s search function, you just type in a word or phrase descriptive of the type of people you want to follow. So, if you are a divorce attorney seeking to connect with other divorce attorneys, simply type that phrase into the search box. Take a look at the profiles that return and determine who you want to follow. While this option is not as targeted as some of the other resources on the list, it’s a good page to bookmark when you want to do a more general search.

2. Twellow –

Twellow is another great way of finding people to interact with. People here are categorized into all different areas and you can search for those with similar interests to your own. When you click on a category, Twellow displays a list of people in that category and they are ordered by the number of followers they have. If you are already logged into Twitter via the web, you will be able to follow people directly from the screens where the profiles are displayed.

3. JDScoop -

JDScoop maintains a list of over 750 lawyers and legal professionals using Twitter. Although you can’t sort this list, it can be used as a means to find and build a group of legal industry Twitterers to follow. You can also request to be added to the list by leaving a comment.

4. LexTweet -

LexTweet is an actual directory of lawyers, legal marketers and other legal professionals using Twitter that aggregates Twitter streams. Here, you can find people to follow as well as submit your profile for inclusion.

5. Legal Birds -

Legal Birds is another great directory of lawyers and legal professionals using Twitter and aggregates the Twitter streams of those in the directory. You can search for attorneys by practice area, keyword and location. You can also submit your Twitter profile here for inclusion.

6.  Big Law Lawyers on Twitter -

Here is a list of anyone currently or formerly with a major law firm who is posting on Twitter primarily about business law topics.

7. Blog for Profit -

Here’s another big list of solo practioners and legal professionals.  It’s not searchable, but you can request inclusion on the list by leaving a comment.

8. TweetLaw -

This is a Twitter feed aggregator, directory and social network tool for legal professionals on Twitter. Tweetlaw is best used to identify Twitter users from a particular area of law or with a specific professional interest.  Another useful Tweetlaw feature is that it allows all users who register to fill out ample profiles, which is a great way to stake another digital marker on the web and fill in the blanks between tweets.

9. State Bar Associations

Here is a list of bar association Twitter feeds.

Once you’ve connected with a few people, start Tweeting about your day-to-day law practice, legal updates in your practice area, and news of interest to you and your followers.

Twitter For Lawyers – Getting Started

In a previous post, I discussed why lawyers should use twitter. In this post, I’ll discuss getting started with Twitter and provide you with some tools and tips to optimize your experience.

First, if you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to create a Twitter account at http://twitter.com. Just click on the green “Sign up now” button on the home page. The sign up process is fairly simple and straightforward.

You’ll first need to enter your real full name. Next, you need to enter a username. Give this some thought. You want to choose something that is easily recognizable and promotes your practice. Using your name is a good idea, particularly if someone uses the search feature on Twitter to look for you.  A well known firm name is another example,  or, if you are a divorce attorney in Arizona, you might select AZDivorceLaw or AZDivorceAtty. You are limited to 15 characters, so be concise. Enter a password, email address, and the captcha image to verify that you are human, and you’re done. It’s now time to personalize your account.

Once your account is created, go to settings tab at the top of the page to add some character to your profile. After all, Twitter is a social platform. The more people know about you, the more likely they’ll follow and engage in conversation with you. So add a picture, your website or blog address, your location and bio information.

Your bio is limited to 160 characters so use them wisely. As with your username, you want it to be descriptive. We suggest that you identify your practice area first, then some of your personal interests or hobbies and possibly some humor.

Your practice area will get you targeted followers as people will do searches for specific areas of the law.  Personal information in your bio helps people decide if they might like you and have something in common with you.  Humor is because people like to laugh. The key here is to provide as much information as possible that is relevant to the kind of audience you want to attract.

The third step in the process is to customize your background. Don’t settle for the dull and boring default backgrounds provided by Twitter. A custom background will help you stand apart from the rest and, in many cases, allows you to add even more information about you and your practice. While there are some professional services available, there are a couple of free, easy to use services I like. Take a look at Twitter Backgrounds and Twit Backs.

With everything setup as you like, it’s now time to start following other people. In my next post, I’ll provide some resources to help you find like minded people to follow. In the meantime, feel free to follow us at http://twitter.com/blawghouse.

Twitter: Why Lawyers Should Tweet

Twitter is a free micro-blogging platform that has become increasingly popular since its launch in March 2006.  Simply stated, it asks users to post an answer to the question, “What are you doing?” in 140 characters or less.  These “tweets” allow for an interactive experience among users who follow each other.

One of the most popular uses of Twitter was during the 2008 presidential election.  Barack Obama effectively used Twitter to inform supporters of his appearances, fundraisers, opinions etc. CNN uses Twitter to post breaking news.  Others use Twitter for purely social reasons.  Even Oprah has a Twitter account.  But, as with most social media platforms, there are naysayers claiming that Twitter is a colossal waste of precious time.

Despite the negative feedback, Twitter has attracted over 3 million registered users.  So, what does this mean for lawyers?

Lawyers can now leverage one of the most powerful online platforms to communicate with colleagues, clients, potential clients, referral sources and other like minded individuals.  In particular, lawyers can use Twitter to:

• expand their network.
• comment on legal issues and trends in their practice area.
• build their reputation.
• showcase their expertise by linking to content they have published.
• receive news updates relevant to their practice area.

Twitter’s value lies in a combination of “broadcasting” information and engaging in conversations with others.  But, before you jump in feet first, remember that the Rules of Professional Conduct apply.

Despite the informality of Twitter, lawyers must refrain from sending tweets that may appear to be legal advice or characterized as a solicitation of legal work.  In a recent article by Jones Day partner Steven Bennett in the New York State Bar Association Journal, he recommends that lawyers establish Twitter protocols to avoid any claims of professional misconduct.

By planning both your time and purpose, Twitter can be an effective tool.  It’s a great way to market your practice and build your network if you do it right and manage your time.  Go on with a purpose, follow the rules of professional conduct and you’ll soon enjoy the benefits of Twitter.

Know Your Blogging Audience

Before you jump into the blogosphere, it’s essential to know who your blogging audience is.  If there’s one mistake people make when starting a new blog, it’s not identifying their target audience.

Your target audience consists of people who are likely in need of your legal services. For example, if you offer legal services to start up businesses, then you want to target only those people thinking about creating a business or who are in the process of doing so.  If you are a divorce attorney, you want to target those people thinking about or going through a divorce.  Similarly, if you are a motorcycle injury attorney, you would target only those people who have been injured in a motorcycle accident.

Get the idea?

Because the Internet has fostered a much more sophisticated consumer base, they know exactly what they want before they purchase it.  Thus, generalization is no longer effective.  People want to know that you have worked with others like them, that you understand their specific problems and concerns, and that you can craft a solution to fit their needs.

When you become laser targeted, you can better assess your prospect’s concerns and create a better marketing message to address them.  The interactivity and dynamic nature of a law blog is idea to connect with your target audience.  Through it, you can provide free guides that address and/or explain their concerns, e.g., How to Start a Small Business, or market a seminar on a common issue among your prospects, e.g., Corporations vs LLC’s.

If you don’t have a clear idea of who you’d like to target, you’ll be spinning your wheels with a law blog.  Instead of speaking directly to a highly specific group of people, you’ll speak to no one.  And speaking to no one usually means you’ll get no responses.

To make the most out of your blogging experience, take the time to identify your target audience first.  You’ll then be able to tailor your content specifically to address their needs and take full advantage of a tool that can increase your profits and grow your practice.

Why You Should Have a Law Blog

When it comes to marketing your law practice, maximizing use of the various online outlets can help you get more clients. Law blogs, in particular, are a crucial element of any business development plan.

If you’re new to the blogging world, you may not be quite sure of what a blog actually is or how it differs from a traditional website.  So, let’s start with a definition.

The word “blog” is short for “weblog,” and is a website that contains a chronological “log” of opinions, ideas, information or commentary on an almost any imaginable subject.  The term “blawg” is a combination of the words “law” and “blog” and represents a law related weblog typically written by legal professionals.

Law related blogs first began to hit the scene around 2002, publishing commentary on a wide range of legal topics.  If a subject involves the law, chances are that someone is blogging about it.

Lawyers and legal professionals are taking advantage of the blog platform because it can be a successful addition to their overall marketing and professional development plan.  In particular, blogs have become extremely popular for at least three good reasons.

1.    Blogs Can Help Establish Your Expertise

A blog can give you a place on the Internet that reflects you, your accomplishments and your interest.  And because of their ease of use, you can publish news and events in your practice area as quickly as you can write an e-mail.  All you do is write a title, write the body of your message and then hit the publish button.

Additionally, blogs open up your professional network.  You become visible to other lawyers across the nation, which can open up referral and collaborative opportunities.

2.    Blogs are Popular with the Search Engines

Search engines love blogs.  Because they are frequently updated, search engines typically list them very high in their search results.  This means that blogs are likely to get more traffic than traditional sites because more people can find them quickly and easily in search engines like Google, Yahoo and MSN.

3.    Blogs are Interactive

Most blogs have comments enabled, allowing readers to express their own thoughts on a particular blog post.  When other people “join the conversation,” you can end up with a very exciting collection of thoughts from people all over the world.

As you can see, blogs can be a useful marketing tool.  If you’re contemplating a blog for your law practice, now’s the time to get started.  According to an ABA Journal report in 2008, only 8% of the lawyers surveyed are blogging.  This means you can position yourself and establish your credibility in your practice area before your competitors do.

5 Steps Toward Establishing Your Legal Expertise

The basic method of becoming a recognized legal expert is to organize and disseminate information on your specialty frequently and in a variety of formats to your current and prospective clients. You must present what you know – the latest thinking, proven principles, and best practices – in a clear, interesting, accessible fashion. You can accomplish this by:

1.    Building a Law Blog. With more and more consumers trending online in search of products and services, an online presence serves as the centerpiece for information and community of interest in your area of law.

2.    Writing Articles. Writing articles for publication is the quickest and easiest way to build your reputation. You can publish articles on your law blog as well as in topical directories such as LawFirms911, Ezine Articles or AllGoodLawyers.com. You should also seek to submit your articles to local legal magazines and publications.

3.    Writing a Book. Writing one or more books can quickly lend to your credibility and establish your expert status. People will look to you for answers and even quote you for related topics. Over time, you will develop a reputation and may be sought out by others for your expertise.

4.    Making Speeches. Giving keynote speeches at meetings and conventions quickly establishes your reputation as an expert. You can even do this on a smaller scale with local community groups and nonprofit organizations.

5.    Giving Seminars. While speeches are short talks, seminars are more comprehensive presentations that can range from a half-day to a full day. Seminars work particularly well with topics such as estate planning and the currently popular issue related to foreclosure rights. Seminars also provide you with an opportunity to reach new clients and solidify your position as a leading expert.

If you truly want to dominate your practice area, you must raise your visibility and credibility. The best way to do that is to take action and implement the five steps above.

Ready to take the first step? Click here to get started with your law blog today.

Law Blogs: Increase Your Client Acquisition

Whether you’re a veteran in the legal profession or just starting out, there can be no doubt that the economic landscape has changed. This means that how you market has also changed.

For many attorneys, long-time clients and referrals have been their bread and butter. However, securing new business is becoming increasingly competitive. The good news is that more and more people are seeking legal services and, many start their search online.

To keep pace with maintaining a steady flow of clients in an uncertain economy, your marketing strategy should include an online component. In particular, you should develop a law blog.

Law blogs are search engine friendly, meaning that properly configured, can be easily found in Google. For example, most people search for attorneys by name or law firm name. Imagine, however, if a prospective client were able to find you by your practice specialty on page 1 of Google. And when they discover your blog, you just happen to be in the same locale where they live or do business. This scenario presents a win-win situation for both you and the prospective client.

Without an online presence, you are missing out on a key client acquisition opportunity. Law blogs are a cost effective marketing tool that will not only raise your online profile, but expand your reach to prospective clients and fellow attorneys alike.  A law blog also affords you the opportunity to:

• Share your experiences and knowledge, and thereby your authority in your area of practice.
• Build client relationships.
• Interact with other legal authorities.
• Educate the masses about your practice area.
• Get cited in cases as an authority on a subject.

So what are you waiting for? Contact us today for a free consultation on how to develop and maximize your online presence with a law blog.