Bob Ambrogi and I provide 30 tips on how to use social media for marketing and research for lawyers at the American Bar Association GP Solo and Small Firm Fall Meeting in Denver

1. Session Title Presenters {Name} {Name} October 22, 2011 PRESENTED BY THE 30 Tips for Using Social Media in Your Law Practice Marketing :: Research :: Ethics Presenters Robert Ambrogi, Esq. Alan Klevan, Esq.

2. What we’ll cover 30 tips 7 tips each for getting started in social media 5 tips each to take you beyond marketing : research and more 3 tips each for staying out of ethical trouble

3. Getting started in social media

4. Alan’s Tip 1: YOU are the engine that will drive your social media success.

5. Bob’s Tip 1: If all you have is a website, you’re not doing enough to market yourself online.

6. Alan’s Tip 2: Think of yourself as the Purple Cow.

7. Bob’s Tip 2: Use social media to distinguish yourself from your competition. 1.2 million

8. Alan’s Tip 3: Focus not on the product you deliver, but on the value.

9. Bob’s Tip 3: The single best step you can take is to start a blog.

10. Alan’s Tip 4: Start on LinkedIn.

11. Bob’s Tip 4: Make yourself ubiquitous.

13. Bob’s Tip 5: Don’t underestimate the power of 140 characters.

14. Alan’s Tip 6: Create a Facebook fan page.

15. Bob’s Tip 6: Fish where the fish are – but know what kind of fish you want.

16. Alan’s Tip 7: Use the language and words your clients would use. Is a client “committed to seek justice, or do they want results?” Does client know what a spinal cord injury is, or do they know what it means to be paralyzed?

17. Bob’s Tip 7: It’s not just about building networks, but also about nurturing them.

18. Beyond marketing: research and more

19. Alan’s Tip 8: Tie in JD Supra to your LinkedIn account.

20. Bob’s Tip 8: Google Scholar.

21. Alan’s Tip 9: iCyte.

24. Bob’s Tip 9: Public.Resource.Org

25. Alan’s Tip 10: MEGALAW!

26. Bob’s Tip 10: My ‘Tweet 16’ 1. Expand your network. 2. Discover new blogs. 3. Mold your image. 4. Distribute your news. 5. Drive traffic. 6. Simulate the water cooler. 7. Message your colleagues. 8. Monitor the buzz. 9. Get noticed by news media. 10. Keep up with your local court. 11. Track activity at a conference. 12. Follow the government. 13. Promote an event or seminar. 14. Get more mileage. 15. Find clients. 16. Locate experts. 16 ways lawyers can use Twitter

27. Alan’s Tip 11: LexTweet

29. Alan’s Tip 12: Justia Blawg Search

30. Bob’s Tip 12: Track government through social media.

31. Staying out of ethical trouble

32. Alan’s Tip 15: Remember – anything you post has the potential of being there forever Adobe Acrobat “convert” function will allow you to convert a web page to a permanently dynamic PDF, even if the page is ultimately removed from the web

33. Bob’s Tip 13: Common sense will keep you out of trouble.

34. Alan’s Tip 14: Will you recommend me? E.G., Indiana Model Rule 7.2(d): A lawyer shall not, on behalf of himself, his partner or associate, or any other lawyer affiliated with him or his firm, use or participate in the use of any form of public communication which: … (3) contains a testimonial about or endorsement of a lawyer…. “ Can I accept recommendations on LinkedIn?” Seems that since this is not a paid referral, recommendation, or solicitation, it’s okay? Be very careful here. Some states prohibit attorneys from using any testimonials in their advertising materials. If you are licensed in one of these jurisdictions, you cannot display any “Recommendations” or similar testimonials in your online profiles. (Check your state’s attorney advertising rules)

35. Bob’s Tip 14: Never ever never blog about your clients.

36. Alan’s Tip 13: Prospective client, potential client, and solicitation ABA Model Rule (Rule 1.18). A “prospective” client is one in which communications give rise to a client-lawyer relationship. A “potential client” is one in which the lawyer has had no prior contact Read Rule 7.3 of the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct How about chatting with a “potential” client? The ABA Commission proposes that: “… a lawyer’s communications constitute a solicitation when the lawyer offers to provide, or can be reasonably understood to be offering to provide, legal services to a specific potential client.” (Emphasis added)

37. Bob’s Tip 15: Use disclaimers when answering questions online.

38. [email_address] @bobambrogi www.lawsitesblog.com [email_address] @alanklevan www.lawpracticestrategies.com