Out with Business Cards, in With Facebook — Connecting with Colleagues and Clients Online
I worked my way through college tending bar, and one of my gigs was the Albany Marriott. This was where the local Bar Association met to network, make contacts, share ideas and generally schmooze. But that was then. I don't tend bar at the Marriott anymore, and a lot of that schmoozing can now take place through social media.
Online networking isn't limited to time and space constraints like live events. And social media networking allows attorneys to connect with many more people. So ignoring social media isn't really an option for attorneys looking to find new clients or establish themselves as thought leaders. And who isn't looking to do that?
If you haven't taken your networking online yet or want to expand your presence, here are some tips to get started.
Establish business profiles across multiple social media. Even those who are comfortable with social media tend to think of LinkedIn as their professional page and Facebook as where they virtually hang out with friends and family. But many potential clients turn first to Facebook to find a lawyer. In order to make sure you are visible, establish a strictly business profile on Facebook, Twitter and other sites in addition to any personal profiles you have. If you are part of a firm, be sure that your social media profiles are consistent with the firm's branding, including logo and verbiage.
Boost your SEO. There are a lot of lawyers on Facebook. To be sure that colleagues and potential clients can find you based on your practice areas and location, do some basic search engine optimization research for the major search sites.If you'd like to learn more about law firm SEO and receive a free website/SEO evaluation, contact us to speak with a Law Firm Marketing Specialist.
Don't forget mobile devices. Increasingly, people search for attorneys through mobile devices rather than laptops or desktops. When creating and maintaining social media profiles, consider how to make your page mobile-device friendly.
There will always be a time and place for face-to-face networking. But augmenting that with social media can produce exponentially better results. And when you do attend live events, don't forget to tip your bartender while shaking hands and passing out business cards!
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