There is a common law firm marketing misconception that is pervasive among "old school lawyers". I am referring to the school of thought that confuses good law firm marketing with people who scream and shout on television or appear in advertisements on the side of a bus or billboard.
Those are forms of advertising which indeed is part of marketing but they are not the most effective marketing vehicles for lawyers and law firms.
This video explains:
Law firm marketing is about building relationships with clients through education. Only a small percentage of attorneys understand this but those who do are certain to be successful.
There are several lawyers out there who claim to be marketing experts. Many of them occupy their law firm marketing role on a part time basis - while they continue to practice law. You need to be very careful if you are thinking about hiring one of these folks. This video explains why.
You wouldn't go to a part time heart surgeon if you needed bypass surgery. You would not take you dog to a part time vet. You should not trust your marketing to a full time lawyer pretending to be a part time guru.
Last week I had the pleasure of speaking with Gerry Oginski, an attorney from Great Neck, New York. He has been reading The Rainmaker Lawyer Blog for a while and he was complementary of the content and my position on several law firm marketing issues. I was flattered, humbled and honored by Gerry's comments. You can only imagine how I felt when I saw the video below posted on his Youtube channel page.
Once again Gerry, I thank you for the kind words.
For those of you who are interested in seeing what Gerry does when he is not trying Medical Malpractice cases, visit The Lawyers Video Studio.
Gerry knows a great deal about law firm marketing and he is a true professional and a nice guy. I dabble in video marketing for my own practice but Gerry is the expert in this area for all lawyers. Check him out today.
Being a sole practitioner or the managing partner of a small law firm can be a lonely role. One of the ways to combat the loneliness is also a great way to commit yourself to lifetime learning for attorneys. This can be done by forming a small group of likeminded people dedicated to individual improvement. This is called a mastermind group. This video explains.
Mastermind groups have some specific advantages. They include:
Advanced Problem Solving (and Problem Prevention)
When you are part of a mastermind group you will be able to tap into the knowledge of each of the group members. Their experience is invaluable in helping you solve whatever issues may arise in your law firm.
New Ideas
Members of the group will share best practices with you. This means that they will provide you with information on what is working. If you know what works (and what doesn't) you can invest your time, energy and money the right way.
Support
Loneliness often comes with the job when you are a solo or small law firm attorney. This kind of group is a great way to interact with people who face similar challenges. Just knowing that you are not alone can be incredibly valuable.
Referrals and Competitive Intelligence
Although most mastermind groups are not referral clubs, business relationships sometimes develop. Often these relationships will be powerful because there is a high level of trust among the participants in the group.
Ultimately, a commitment to learning and development is essential to the success of any attorney. Get some people you trust together and form a mastermind group as soon as you can. It will be a valuable experience that pays big dividends, not just in money but in piece of mind.
