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Social Media Tips for Legal Professionals

Social Media Tips for Legal Professionals

Where do you go when you want a referral for an electrician, accountant, or attorney? Most people take out their smartphones and head to social media sites like Facebook and ask their friends for recommendations. That?s great but if you?re a lawyer, paralegal, or court reporter, how do you connect with your community? You might think because of the confidentiality of your work that you need to stay away from social. We politely disagree and offer our social media tips for legal professionals that include having a consistent presence and new website content.

Why are you using social media?

Your friends might be using social media for ranting about their boss but we caution you (and them) to be more focused in your online efforts. Even on a private page someone can screenshot what you?ve written and send it to someone else that you may not want to see it.

If you?ve been involved with a divorce or family law case especially, you can appreciate the enormity and seriousness of what can happen when you use social media certain ways. What used to be he said she said is now exhibits of text messages and social screenshots. It also happens to businesses who fail to use social the way we think it should be.

Who is your target client?

I often hear that legal professionals, and others, have no time to manage social media and I ask why. They tell me how they have to create content for multiple social media sites, message contacts, and manage comments. My next question is to find out who their target client is.

Once you?ve identified your target or ideal client, focus marketing efforts, including social media, on the sites where they are spending time. If they?re 30+ year old professionals, consider Facebook and LinkedIn and avoid Instagram and Pinterest as the latter are for the younger crowd.

What do you post on Facebook, LinkedIn, and blog?

On first glance it may appear you can post the same on your Facebook business page and LinkedIn profile updates but I caution you using this strategy. The reason is that the audiences are different.

  • Facebook is family-centric, a place where people go for recommendations, so you want an engaging presence. Mix news with facts and ask questions.
  • LinkedIn is where you connect with other legal professionals or find people to hire for your team – court reporters, legal assistants, paralegals, attorneys.

LinkedIn also has a publishing feature which is beneficial to establish you as the expert in your area of law. In addition, I encourage you to blog consistently (2 times a month minimum) on your own website because Google loves new content. Keep in mind users, whether on LinkedIn or your blog, are attracted to catchy headlines and content. The more you can entertain while telling a relatable story, the better to connect with your audience.

The next time someone is looking for a recommendation for a legal professional, we want your firm to be the one that is mentioned! Have fun and let us know how you?re using social media tips for legal professionals.

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Phoenix Court Reporting Firm Herder & Associates and Chandler Horizon Rotary Give Back in Charity Fundraiser

PR Web – December 14, 2017

Phoenix court reporting firm Herder and Associates and Chandler Horizon Rotary Give Back in Charity Golf Tournament Fundraiser

Marty Herder, President of Phoenix Court Reporting Agency Herder and Associates, is sponsoring the 25th Annual Chandler Horizon Rotary Hole-in-One contest. Over the years the event has raised more than $650,000 to help charities including the Chandler Gilbert YMCA, Desert Cancer Foundation, and Pregnancy Care Center, to name a few.

In addition to the charity golf tournament, Herder and his Rotarians are involved in rebuilding the Houston home of a single mother whose home was devastated by the hurricane.

?Giving back is an important part of the mission of Herder and Associates and for the Chandler Horizon Rotary. Our motto at the Rotary is, ?Service above self,? and I agree with that sentiment. In a world that is filled with stress and terrible news, it?s refreshing to focus on improving our community by giving back. Whether it?s time or money, every little bit we can do helps whether it?s rebuilding a Houston home or sponsoring a golf tournament to benefit charity,? says Marty Herder.

The $100,000 Shoot Out will take place February 17, 2018 beginning at 10am at the San Marcos Golf Resort in Chandler, Arizona. 100% of funds received from golfers and sponsors at this all-volunteer event will support charities in Chandler and surrounding Phoenix area communities.

Herder and his fellow Rotarians wouldn?t be able to pull off such a big event without help from volunteers and sponsors. Learn more about the golf tournament on the Rotary HIO website www.rotaryhio.org.

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Is it worth it to make a New Year’s Resolution?

make a New Year's Resolution

It?s that time of year when people start looking back to see what they have accomplished and where they failed. What I?ve found over the years is that while it?s worth it to make a New Year?s resolution, it?s just as important to set reasonable goals. That?s because it?s too easy to look back and beat yourself up over missing a goal that you have the power to change.

Life is full of change.

Whether it?s your personal journey or business development, there?s one thing we can count on and that is change. We can make all the plans we want, including resolutions, but life can get in the way of reaching our goals.

Here?s the wild part about life that I?ve learned over the years. It?s that we can get in our own way when it comes to facing challenges and meeting goals.

When it comes to managing a court reporting firm or other business, we set the bar high with what often becomes unachievable goals. We want to lose 30 pounds in a month or double our income in six months. The problem is that we don?t have a plan and even when we do have a plan, life gets in the way or we get in the way of progress.

Make a new year?s resolution.

To avoid this messiness of making but not achieving what we desire, it?s important to make reasonable resolutions. Let?s take the goal of doubling income as an example.

  • How many clients do you need to reach that income goal?
  • What does it take to turn a prospect into a client?
  • How many hours does it take to serve X new clients?

You may find that to reach your goal you and your team would have to work around the clock which is unreasonable. Even if it?s possible to achieve the goal, do you have the team in place to serve those clients? It?s likely the answer is no and you need to go back and re-work your plan. Don?t be discouraged. This is an exercise in setting achievable goals.

Rather than ONE BIG GOAL, set small goals that ultimately get you to where you want to be this year and in the future.?

  • Do you need a marketing strategy to attract and sign new clients?
  • Once they sign with your firm, what?s the process for onboarding?
  • Do you have the team to support the growth?

By breaking your new year?s resolution into bite size pieces, you will find you?re achieving more than you even planned! So yes, it?s worth it to make a New Year?s resolution. If the plan is to increase your caseload, Herder and Associates is here to help with depositions and more. Contact our Phoenix office today.

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