10 Simple Steps For Creating A Social Media Strategy V2
1. Natalie Alesi
10 Simple Steps for Creating a @legalerswelcome
Social Media Strategy Samantha Collier
@samtaracollier
2. Before you get involved with social
media:
• Get approval from upper management
• Get buy in from lawyers in the firm
• Don’t mandate social media. It won’t work.
• Remember that a social media strategy prevents any
misunderstandings and emphasizes why social
media is relevant to your firm’s overall goals.
6. ABA Model Rules 1.1 requires lawyers to be competent in representation of their clients.
Comment 6: Lawyers “should keep abreast of changes in the law and it’s practice”
7. Reasons why Law Firms start using
social media:
• Increase number of qualified sales and leads
• Improve customer engagement
• Network with peers and colleagues
• Keep up-to-date
• Monitor the competition
# 1 WHY?
8. Benefits of social media marketing. The number one benefit of social
media marketing is standing out in an increasingly noise world.
9. Law Firms and Social Media
FACT: Washington Post
20 percent of law firms have a full-time social media specialist
on staff, and about 40 percent said blogging and social
networking initiatives have helped the firm land new work.
10. Goals can only be achieved if you keep a clear picture of
who your core audience is. The better you know your
target client, the better you can reach them.
• What types of people do we want to talk to?
• What are they talking about already?
• Is it appropriate to join the audience, and if so, when?
• What value can we provide?
• When do we earn their trust?
# 2 Audience
11. Do a little research on your target clients and your
competition. Find out where they hang out online.
• Flickr
• Facebook
• Public Forums
• Twitter
• Message Boards
• LinkedIn
• Google+
• Pinterest
• Blogs
# 3 Channels
13. Mind Blowing Statistics Every Law Firm Should Know:
• Businesses that blog get 55% more web traffic. The more you blog, the
more pages Google has to index, and the more inbound links you’re
likely to have. The more pages and links you have, the higher you rank.
• 57% of businesses have acquired a customer through their company
blog. Blogging is good. Directories are bad.
• The majority of AmLaw 100 firms have blogs. What sets them apart is
style, format and how up-to-date they are.
# 4 Blog Presence
14. Ensure every lawyer at your firm has a
complete LinkedIn Profile. It’s easy:
• Professional picture
• Keyword rich headline
• Complete past employment and school information
• Well written summary
• Part of two or more relevant groups
• Applications such as JD Supra, Slideshare and Events
5 LinkedIn
Did you know? LinkedIn now has over 150
Million members including executives from
every Fortune 500 company, #
15.
16. # 6 Twitter Did you know? Twitter now has
over 500 million users.
17. Decide if you would like to create a
law firm Facebook Page or use your
personal profile for business
development.
Did you know? Facebook now has
over 845 million users and is
expected to reach 1 billion by the
summer of 2012. # 7 Facebook
18.
19. Did you know? Google+ has over 90 million users. A
significant 77% of marketers plan on increasing their
use of YouTube and video marketing, making it one of
the top area marketers will invest in for 2012.
# 8 Google + / YouTube
22. Newbie Tips
1. Schedule it on your calendar
2. Set your browser tabs to open to specific
sites
3. Start with ONE channel and get great
at it (LinkedIn)
# 10 Time Management
23. Checklist
Define WHY?
Define Your Audience
Start with ONE Channel (LinkedIn)
Understand privacy settings
Listen, listen, listen & watch others
Start a blog or expand the one you have, create engagement
Understand your state ethics rules with regard to advertising
Understand firms social media policy, be on the committee
Manage your content and create a content schedule
Get mobile, download social apps
Engage others, RT them, thank them, talk to them, build a
relationship, network, have conversations
24. DON’T
Be spammy
Be salesy
Critique others for their opinions
Not be consistent with content
Confuse channel audiences
Be scared
Post the same content across all networks
at the same time.
Jump on the next thing every time a new
social network comes out.
26. 10 Simple Steps for Creating a Social Media
Strategy
Join our community!
Natalie Alesi
@legalerswelcome
www.legalerswelcome.com
Linkedin.com/in/nataliealesi
Facebook.com/legalerswelcome
nataliebethalesi@gmail.com
Samantha Collier
@samtaracollier
www.socialmediaforlawfirms.com
Linkedin.com/in/samanthacollier
Facebook.com/socialmediaforlawfirms
samanthataracollier@gmail.com
Editor's Notes
Define – social media – as defined by wikipedia - Social media includes web-based and mobile technologies used to turn communication into interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content."[1] Social media is media for social interaction as a super-set beyond social communication. Enabled by ubiquitously accessible and scalable communication techniques, social media has substantially changed the way organizations, communities, and individuals communicateYou need a social media strategy to translate your firm’s values and goals and integrate those into your marketing strategy. You need to define why you’re using social media, where you want to go, and how you want to get there. Social media is starting to take hold with brands, companies and organizations everywhere, including law firms. Most are done “testing the waters” and are now approaching social media with certain goals in mind. Social media exists for one purpose only: to provide trusted, third party information to consumers looking for something other than a sales pitch.
You need a social media strategy to translate your firm’s values and goals and integrate those into your marketing strategy. You need to define why you’re using social media, where you want to go, and how you want to get there. Social media is starting to take hold with brands, companies and organizations everywhere, including law firms. Most are done “testing the waters” and are now approaching social media with certain goals in mind. Social media exists for one purpose only: to provide trusted, third party information to consumers looking for something other than a sales pitch.
A significant 88% of all marketers indicated their social media efforts have generated more exposure for their business. Improved traffic and subscribers was the second major benefit. Two thirds of marketers indicated a rise in search engine rankings which leads to increased business exposure and lead generation. Slightly more than half of marketers found social media generated more qualified leads.
* Define your top ten dream clients. Find them online. You’ll be surprised.
Look at your client websites as a starting place, Google them.
By a long shot, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs were the top four social media tools used by marketers.
Blogs are a great way to distribute your firms’ content. Use Wordpress if possible. Spend some time and money making it look good.Should you post the blog on your website? Or separate? Branding follow through.Discuss Lexblog. Create an editorial calendar and keep your blog up to date.
Example
What makes a complete Twitter profile? A professional picture, a good Twitter User ID, a well written description that makes use of all 160 characters, a link back to your LinkedIn profile or your Website biography. Follow people in your practice area, colleagues, clients and news. Retweet others, learn the lingo.
Discuss practice groups good for facebook – PI, Tax & Estates, etc.
Facebook Page. All pages are moving over to Timeline profiles on March 30, 2012. Make use of photo albums, add historical data, status updates, and more. Add your Facebook info to your website, email signature, blog, etc. Note privacy issues. Sharing issues, etc.
A significant 58% of marketers are using social media for 6 hours or more each week and 34% for 11 or more hours weekly. Only 15% of marketers spend more than 20 hours eac week on social media. Those with more years of social media experience spend more time each week conducting social media activities. It’s important to use social media management tools such as Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Google Alerts, etc.