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Hello all I need the following positions to me filled ASAP:
Senior Social Media Analyst Detroit.(GTB). Senior Project Manager Detroit. (GTB).
Senior Programmer Detroit.(GTB)
Senior Strategist New York.(Hudson Rouge)
Please email your CVs to Peteru@oneblockvillage.com this positions need to be filled. I will be updating new roles every week.
Sunday Wordle 260 4/6
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Mentor
I reach out to industry adjacent people and practice area adjacent attorneys and work on building meaningful relationships with the ones I feel I really connect with and whose models are beneficial to my clients and how I run my firm.
It starts with trying to work as closely as I can with anyone who happens to share a client with me for whatever reason. Or, I may reach out to someone if someone else has recommended I connect with them.
Then, I ask if they want to have lunch or coffee and I use that time to 1) educate them on what I do and what clients are good for me, 2) find out that same from them, and 3) find out some meaningful things about them to see if we make any personal connections based on that.
Then, I ask if we can do a follow-up coffee or check-in in “x” number of months.
I enter the info I learned into my practice management software and calendar the next follow-up. I forward them industry news I think may be relevant to them now and then and, most importantly, I try to connect them with other people I know who would be good connections for them.
Then, I stick with those follow-ups. If there is an industry type of event of social thing I am going to I try to invite one of them to come with me to bring them into my sphere better.
Focus on a handful of people at a time. These are the people who will remember you when someone has a problem that needs your services.
Once you have established those connections you can start over with someone new and do lesser maintenance with your established connections - but don’t forget about them!
Do not try to “sell” yourself. Focus on educating and learning and connecting.
This works so much better for me than having coffee with every person I can find that might be able to refer me cases someday. We don’t have the capacity as humans to make meaningful connections with 100 people per month.
Also, do good work and tell your clients once a matter is over that the best thanks they can give is to think of me when they meet others who need this type of help.
Finally, find a niche and find a way to stand out. I practice elder law and go to my elderly clients’ homes. No one else in my area has that as their core business model. So, any time a social worker, etc. comes across someone who can’t get out of the house to meet with an attorney they think of me.
I have to be very careful about keeping my overhead low to accommodate that, but I spend less on marketing tactics because of it.
The best connections I have do the same type of meaningful, concentrated connecting I do. So, we are both putting effort into maintaining that professional relationship.
Also, check out Bob Paden with Growth Coach as he has a specific coaching course on marketing. I took it and it was very informative.
90% of my leads are from referrals and word of mouth.
Mentor
You’re welcome! My old firm required a certain number of professional meetings with new people per month. I ignored that and kept at what I was doing. I had no problem getting referrals when I left and started my own firm doing the same work.
Just be you. That is the most important thing.
We host a lot of free seminars for our local community. It's done wonders for name recognition and networking.
How do you advertise your seminars?
Mentor
Social media’s been great for me, mainly LinkedIn but Twitter and instagram too
This is so valuable - thank you, Jeff!
I think social media is the best way for our law firm. Also when we attend conferences as well. Talking with other law firms as well.
I find that being genuine, friendly, and approachable goes a long way in a profession that is not known for these characteristics. I always aim to be professional, humble, and honest and build trust with potential clients and contacts.
Word of mouth will alway be the best marketing. Doing a great job with each client and they will share the experience with everyone they know.
I suggest in-person contact with as many other lawyers (Bar group gatherings) to become their go-to for referrals, then if marketing to corporate or business clients, hit up their professional gatherings and get in front of the folks that are actually in charge of selecting and hiring counsel. Giving great free value to your client trade groups through free seminars or webinars, or giving MCLE presentations live or online works well too. I cover the topic in detail in my Lean Litigator Method course.
I suggest getting involved with as many seminars and conferences as you can get a hold of. You can even host them yourselves to have the focus be on what you can provide for your possible clients. Advertise them through social and print media.
I’m very involved in the start up community (IP practice) and make it a point to activity attend those events. Believe it or not, the charity scrambles over the summer have yielded a few smaller clients. My biggest two came from a social club where I met a founder at the gym since we regularly worked out on the same schedule.
In-person networking. But your previous and current clients are a big help. Some of my clients refer me to their relatives or friends.