Although there is a tendency to jump right into it new matter as soon as the client gives the go-ahead, that is the wrong thing to do. Not only from the standpoint of adequately serving the client and meeting client expectations, but it could end up being a financial disaster for the law firm (Read:… Continue Reading
Category Archives: Marketing Plans
Subscribe to Marketing Plans RSS Feed5 Easy Marketing Tips for the Young (and Experienced) Lawyer
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsSometimes I run across an article or blog post that just strikes me for its simplicity and clarity. Such was the case when I ran across an article by Orlando attorney Tony Sos that appeared in the most recent online issue of Law Practice Today. His “boots on the ground” marketing tips were primarily designed for… Continue Reading
Marketing Plans Can Be a Waste of Time and Money
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsRecently, I receive an RFP to provide marketing services to a large regional firm with a deadline of today. I declined. The request included strategic planning, advertising plan, pitch training, part-time consulting, and more. Nothing sought in the RFP I had not done in some fashion in my 27-plus years as a legal marketer. It… Continue Reading
How Vague Is Your Marketing Plan?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing Tips, UncategorizedIf you or your firm lawyers have a formal marketing plan, it was likely prepared with the help of a consultant. Often these plans are lengthy and full of jargon or boilerplate to justify the fee. As a result they are frequently put on the proverbial shelf and not implemented. Worse still is the failure… Continue Reading
Spending too much time on marketing? Not a chance!
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing Tips, Prospecting for ClientsIn my 27-plus years in legal marketing, I can assure you I have never – let me repeat, never – encountered lawyers who spent too much time on developing business. On the contrary, I’ve met too many who didn’t and don’t spend enough time on it. And I have run across a lot who wasted… Continue Reading
Boosting Your Marketing Productivity With GTD
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsRan across an interesting article about getting things done and thus being more effective in practicing law by adopting five principles of GTD discussed by Daniel Gold in a piece he wrote for Attorney at Work. It struck me that the same ideas are applicable to greater effectiveness when it comes to marketing. His five… Continue Reading
Top 2012 Goal: Client Retention
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsAs 2011 winds down (this year seems to have particularly flown by), it is time to start setting goals for next year. Since approximately 80% of law firm work comes from existing clients (in the form of new work or referrals) or other referral sources, client satisfaction and retention (except for criminal defense, PI and… Continue Reading
Don’t Procrastinate, Draft Your Marketing Planning for 2011, NOW
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsOkay, you had the best of intentions after the summer to gear up for the fall and winter months ahead, right? But, you didn’t get around to it, right? Well, two “rights” don’t make a wrong… it just means that you procrastinated. Join the club. However, it is time to give serious consideration to what… Continue Reading
Coaching or The Buddy System
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsWhat I especially like about Seth Godin is his pithy posts which plant plenty of powerful (p)ideas in my pons (part of brainstem). Okay, I didn’t do that well on that one, but heck it’s only Tuesday. The point is that his recent brief post about “The Buddy System” got me thinking about a modified… Continue Reading
Mega-Mergers Might Mean More Matters for Mid-Size Firms
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsSorry about that title, but the mention on the same day in AmLaw Daily News Alert of October 1, 2010 about “preliminary” talks between Orrick and Akin Gump, and Reed Smith and Thompson & Knight (with a combined lawyer count of 1800 and 2000, respectively) struck me as odd. The oddity of that really didn’t… Continue Reading
7 Mistakes PI (and Other) Lawyers Make When Marketing
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsA lot of mistakes made by lawyers when it comes to marketing and business development are pretty simple, and simple to overcome. They just must be recognized and dealt with. A reader sent along an email, which led me to an article by Kenneth Hardison of the Personal Injury Lawyers Marketing and Managing Association (PILMMA)… Continue Reading
Is Widespread Use of Alternative Fees Still a Long Way Off?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsAccording to a feature article in this month’s InsideCounsel one consultant who helps clients structure alternative fee arrangements "estimates that only about 2% of total legal billings currently are being done on alternative basis – but he contends it’s an increasing trend." That certainly isn’t a surprise. He goes on to say "I’d expect that… Continue Reading
Here’s a New Niche Legal Practice for Ya
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsNiche practices can be marketed more effectively and cheaper than a general practice in my opinion. Law firms that promote their niche practices will easily standout from the crowd; and can charge more for the practice, if they do. Two of my posts on niche marketing that come to mind from a few years back… Continue Reading
Is Your Firm In Trouble In this Economy? Six Reasons It Might Fail
Posted in Client Communications, Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsIn a down economy, more law firms are likely to fail for a number of reasons that might not cause their downfall in boom years. And the reasons can run from how the firm is managed to how it isn’t marketed. Judd Kessler has an article in the October issue of the Texas Bar Journal… Continue Reading
Do You Need A Reason To Do A Marketing Plan?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsIsn’t the need self-evident? By that I mean, if you don’t plan what road your marketing should take, any frivolous (activity) path will get you there – to paraphrase the Cheshire cat in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, which I’ve mentioned before. If you are going to the grocery store or on vacation, don’t you at least… Continue Reading
Time to Apply Clear Vision to Your Firm’s Direction
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsIn planning for the New Year, especially since it is fast approaching, apply vision toward the kind of work and clients you really want to represent; rather than following the traditional approach of taking whatever comes in the door. That’s the advice shared by Daniel Scocco over on DailyBlogTips in his article “Have a Vision… Continue Reading
Warren Buffett’s (and Wayne Gretzky’s) Advice Applies To Law Firm Marketing
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsWhile some may be in denial, Warren Buffett writes in an Op-Ed piece in The New York Times (free registration required) that the “financial world is a mess”… but that he is now “buying American stocks.” He’s talking about his personal account (not his Bershire Hathaway holdings) which traditionally has been entirely in U.S. Government bonds…. Continue Reading
Don’t Have Time for Marketing? Preposterous!
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsFollowing up on my post of last week "Too Busy for Marketing? Or Just Unfocused?,” I ran across a post by John Jantsch over on Duct Tape Marketing where he uses the “P” word. He apparently encounters small business owners (like some lawyers I meet), who say that they’re too busy to market, and he… Continue Reading
No Client Base? Start Working Referral Sources Now
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsThe two best sources of new business for lawyers are current clients and referral sources (also referred to as word-of-mouth). Having just finished an action plan last week for a relatively new, young lawyer who does not have his own client base, it became pretty obvious that the place for him to start in building a… Continue Reading
Strategic Marketing or Just Common Sense During a Recession?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsRan across an interesting article by Glenn Ebersole that appears on EzineArticles.com that talks about the need for a strategic action plan during a recession. Strategic planning is always a good idea, but sometimes we consultants can overcomplicate a process when a common sense approach is all we’re talking about. Although I may not precisely agree… Continue Reading
How is Your Marketing Plan Coming Along?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsBe honest. Do you have a written marketing plan? Well, join the other 95% of lawyers who don’t – at least that is the percentage of business people that don’t have one according to Drew McLellan over at Small Business Branding. And I agree. Further, I concur with Drew that a “To Do List” doesn’t count. His excellent… Continue Reading
Marketing for Law Firms – Budgeting
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsThis is the second installment of my responses to questions by freelance writer John Egan for an article to be published in CPAmerica International’s newsletter addressing “marketing for law firms.” Last time I dealt with suggestions and common mistakes. The next question dealt with budgeting for marketing; to wit: 3. “Is there a rule of… Continue Reading
Marketing for Law Firms – Suggestions and Mistakes
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsIt’s a good time, as we begin a new year, to consider some basics when addressing legal marketing. I was asked this week by a freelance writer for CPAmerica International’s newsletter to respond to five questions for an article about “marketing for law firms.” Rather than present my answers in a lengthy post (which I really… Continue Reading
Are You Late in Budgeting for Marketing in 2008?
Posted in Marketing Plans, Marketing TipsYou are late, if you haven’t already budgeted for marketing and business development for 2008. Most large law firms start their budgeting process in early fall for the following calendar year. Of course, there are firms that still do not prepare a formal marketing budget at all, so anything I say here would be a waste… Continue Reading