dsd law site solutions: (510) 250-2450 social networking: flash in the pan or here to stay? feb. 25...

DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450

Social Networking: Flash in the Pan or Here to Stay?

Feb. 25th 2010 noon

Randy Wilson

&

Kelly Savage Day

Bio Page

Randy Wilson: Attorney, legal marketer and co-founder of DSD Law Site Solutions - dynamic websites and other online marketing solutions for solos and small firms

Kelly Savage Day: Attorney who practices product and appellate law and is also an avid user of social networking to increase her visibility and to communicate her practice expertise.



How to engage in social networking

Start with a strategy: what is the goal?

Follow-up with deciding your level of commitment

Is now the right time?

Create your social networking operational plan

Remember: social networking ISN’T advertising

Interactivity required


Blog Example


Why Blog?

It’s the fuel for your social networking outreach

Visibility to clients, prospects and colleagues

Credibility: shows you take your practice seriously

Differentiation: Allow you to stand out from the crowd


Where blog?

Free blog sites: Blogspot, Wordpress, Typepad

Legal blog platforms: Lexblog, Justia, Martindale, Findlaw etc.

Blogging off your website vs. separate platform

Make website more engaging, fresh, interactive

Separate blog: can establish separate identity, distinct url, drive traffic to your website from your blog


Getting started w/ blog

No magic bullet

Come up with concept or hook that will enhance your credibility, online presence, give value to potential clients.

Make sure you are committed before setting up your blog Set up schedule: daily, several times a week, once a week

Look at news sources, set up Google alerts, IGoogle page


Example of IGoogle blog page


To Tweet or not to Tweet

What is Tweeter? Described as a microblogging tool: limited to 140

characters but can link to longer articles You obtain followers – people interested in your

opinions and you can become a follower Best practices:

Create community: “retweet” to comment on other tweets and share with your community

Downside: time intensive: worth the effort? Use as a news feed: if have blog, LinkedIn, Facebook

can feed content to Twitter (I do this)


Facebook: just for fun?

Facebook is the largest social networking website (400 million worldwide) Used for businesses but heavily focused on recreational use

Is Facebook’s recreational environment appropriate for your practice? (If you specialize in licensing, will people adding facial hair to their friends’ faces be in the mood to view your profile?)

If your practice is security deals for private companies, does a Facebook profile convey the right message?

What is true about Facebook now may not true six months from now so stay open to its promise


Your website as a social networking platform

Your website as your social networking hub:

Make sure your website platform allows for blogging and embedded social networking links

If your blog integrates with your website, its content can publish out to your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts etc.

Your website and social media presence will enhance your online reputation


Website Example


Attorney specific social networking sites Avvo (Yelp for lawyers)

Client reviews, automatically created, they sell premium listings

Justia (provide you a blog platform – paid)

Lexblog (provide you a blog platform – paid)

E-circles: California State Bar networking site

JD-Supra: legal publication platform

Legal OnRamp: for in-house counsel and law firms

Martindale – Connected: also for in-house counsel and law firms


Disclaimers: need to have or nice to have?

An ABA CLE seminar concluded that a professional blog should be treated just like a website – check state bar rules that apply to websites

What about your LinkedIn profile? Some say that if you mention your website or your firm’s website, then the same disclaimer should be used (but where on the profile?)

Common Sense approach: don’t solicit for business online, don’t hold your self as an expert if you aren’t, don’t post or tweet about confidential matters, don’t behave publicly online in anyway you wouldn’t in written communications

Thoughts from Dana Schultz


Kelly Savage Day LinkedIn profile


Kelly Savage Day Avvo profile

dsd law site solutions: (510) 250-2450 social networking: flash in the pan or here to stay? feb. 25...

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