We are thrilled to invite you to The Practice42 Summer Marketing Series Webinar 7: Building Your Law Firm Strategic Marketing Plan for Success! In this final webinar, we’ll bring everything together, helping you design a comprehensive marketing plan that aligns with your firm’s objectives and drives measurable success. You may not be aware that Audrey Ehrhardt, Esq., CBC, teaches an innovative course for our Premier Practice Institute Members called Practice42’s One Year of Marketing in One Day and, in this webinar, she will share the key components you need to master!
In this session, you will be able to dive in and learn more in key areas including:
By the end of this session, you’ll have a clear roadmap for building a sustainable and results-driven marketing plan tailored to your law firm. When it comes to how to get the most out of your strategic law firm marketing and developing solutions in each of these key areas, whether you are a veteran law firm marketer in your practice, just starting out, or looking for how to make the right change to get the results you need for your law firm, you won’t want to miss the last session of Practice42’s Sizzling Summer Marketing Series on October 10th at 1 pm ET. Space is limited! You can use this link to register right now.
You know that an efficient client intake process is crucial for converting leads into clients and providing a seamless experience from the first interaction. In this brand new Practice42 Webinar series we will be showing you the best practices for identifying your ideal client and tailoring your intake process to meet their needs.
You’ll learn not only how to attract the potential clients you want to work with but how to create an intake pipeline that is both efficient and effective, ensuring no potential client slips through the cracks. We’ll also discuss the importance of a user-friendly intake form and how to design one that captures all necessary information without overwhelming the client.
Law practice management technology can significantly enhance your client intake process, making it more streamlined and efficient. In this session, we’ll explore various intake tools and technologies that can help manage client interactions and automate administrative tasks PLUS how to eliminate redundant data entry and more throughout the client journey. You’ll learn how to implement and utilize these tools to track leads, automate follow-ups, and convert prospects into clients. We’ll also discuss how to integrate intake tools with other systems and software to create a cohesive and efficient workflow. Space is limited for our Practice42 Webinar on Thursday, June 20th at 1 pm ET. Register now!
In our legal world, first impressions are crucial. As we all know, increasingly these first impressions are being made online, long before a potential client ever steps foot into your office. Your website, and particularly your blog content, often serves as the introductory handshake, greeting, and initial consultation all rolled into one. Research tells us that over half of your potential clients are doing their own investigation into the attorney they need, and drawing their own conclusions!
Knowing this, are you putting your best foot forward?
Let's delve into how the content of your blog, and your website, can set the tone for meetings with potential clients and why it needs to be a living, breathing component of your client-acquisition strategy.
First, we want to discuss the power of first impressions. The content on your blog is often the first substantial interaction a potential client has with your law firm. It reflects not just your knowledge and expertise but also your approach to clients and cases. It should not be overlawyered, in fact most search engines read at a 3rd grade level, and quality, informative, and engaging blog content can take critical actions including, but not limited to, the following:
The topics you cover in your blog can also influence what potential clients want to discuss in their initial meetings. Well-crafted posts can guide the conversation. For example, if you write about particular legal issues, clients may come to meetings with those topics in mind, allowing you to prepare more effectively. You can also discuss various services or successful case strategies, so you can steer clients toward considering these services for their needs. Your blog's content can enhance your credibility and increase the comfort level of potential clients by allowing you to explain complex legal processes or potential outcomes demystifying the legal process, which can reduce anxiety and make your potential new clients more comfortable in meetings.
We know you may have questions on how to ensure your blog effectively sets the tone for potential client meetings. When it comes to creating a marketing blogging plan that you can follow consider these tips:
In conclusion, the content on your law firm's website blog is a powerful tool that can significantly influence potential client meetings. It sets the tone for your firm's image, demonstrates your expertise, and begins the important work of building a relationship with clients before you ever meet them. By strategically crafting your blog content, you can ensure that this first impression is a positive one, laying the groundwork for successful and fruitful client interactions. If you have questions about your blog, or any part of your law firm marketing plan, we encourage you to contact us and schedule a free 30 minute Strategy Session to discuss your practice needs.
There could be a multitude of reasons why you are leaving your current software program for another. Whether you are leaving for more streamlined services, better monthly prices, and the overall look, there are still a couple of other housekeeping rules to consider.
1.Getting the staff on board
Your staff needs to know if you are strongly considering making a change in programs. It gives them time to prepare and adjust to change. They could even provide their insight from an employee perspective on changes that come with switching software programs.
2.Organizing data before the switch
Know what data you want versus what you do not. Gathering data from years and years of service can be daunting but it is absolutely necessary. You may find that there is data you do not need to bring over. This also gives you and your staff an opportunity to become better organized with materials and processes.
3. Implementing the change
Yes! Okay, we got the staff on board and the software is in our hands. It can be scary dipping your toes into a new program or a new anything. Give yourself and the staff time to adjust and make room for improvement. Be intentional about working together and learning from each other during this time of fine tuning.
So, while there are many considerations to think about, you do not have to do it alone! There are many ways to go about informing your staff for support, organizing firm/client information, and implementing it all. Here at Practice42, we can help to tailor your materials and processes to best suit your needs. Let us help! We encourage you to call us at 850-933-5072 to schedule a free Strategy Session with our team to find out more about what we can do for you.
Do you know your ABCs? Not the ones you learned in grade school, but the ones surrounding cybersecurity that can protect your practice. Ready to relearn them? Let’s begin!
Always read, learn, and understand what is required of you in your cybersecurity insurance policy. Many lawyers today still do not read the fine print when it comes to the legal insurance policies. Do not forget to read the fine print of your cybersecurity insurance policy to learn what you need to do to ensure it works.
Bar rules related to cybersecurity and cyber ethics matter. Know your bar rules.
Cybersecurity defined: “Cybersecurity is the measures taken to protect a computer or computer system (as on the Internet) against unauthorized access or attack.” (Merriam-Webster)
Data ethics and your firm. Train your team to understand data ethics. The information you hold is a person, and how would they want their mother treated? Further, data collection policies should reflect the data you actually need, not what you don’t. Consider all data you collect subject to vulnerability and at risk of being stolen. Do you still want it?
Email is always a risk. Create team trainings to help your team understand what the risks are and teach them how to protect the firm. If you need help, hire a professional for the trainings.
Fire drills can help! Do not wait for a problem to know your setup works. Act as if there has been an attack on your practice and bring in your team and your IT professional to learn where the vulnerabilities are.
Get the help you need. We are lawyers. This is not easy. Hire a paid professional, learn what you need to protect yourself, and stay vigilant.
Hire the help you need. Whether it is an employee, a contractor, or a company you want to outsource to, identify and hire who you need in your practice. Do not wait for a crisis to happen.
Install back up and redundant servers and file protections. Test them. Make sure they work.
Just do it. This is an overused phrase, I know. But many of us need that additional push out the door to make a difference in our practices, consider this yours.
Keep an eye out for weird things. Slow computers, zombie computers, misspelled words, unusual file extensions, talking computers…if you start to see this, call your IT professional.
Logins, passwords, and access codes are vulnerabilities. Protect them the best you can. Follow industry best practices, such as sentence structure or a password company, to best protect your access to important information.
Maintain a strong relationship with a local IT professional. Period.
Never leave devices unattended or unsupervised or password unprotected. Threats and breaches occur even in the safest ecosystem. Do not open the door to potentially dangerous activity. Have a cleaning staff in your building? Lock down your devices at night. Meeting with clients in a conference room? Lock down your devices before you leave the room.
Opening attachments should always be an action of LAST RESORT. Find a different way to share data. Train your employees and yourself to never open attachments. That is one of the easiest ways for a cybercriminal to attack you.
Partner with your clients. Cybersecurity breaches are not a matter of IF, they are a matter of WHEN. Tell your clients of the risk. Explain it to them. Ask them to acknowledge it and agree to it. The ones who want to work with you will work with you regardless.
Quietness is not a virtue when it comes to cybercrimes. If you see something, say something. If you even barely suspect something, speak up and get help.
Read, read, read. Read, learn, and understand what is required of you in your cybersecurity insurance policy. Many lawyers today still do not read the fine print when it comes to legal insurance policies. Do not forget to read the fine print of your cybersecurity insurance policy to learn what you need to do to ensure it works.
Safeguard protected and private data. Take measures to protect the data you use in your law firm. You have some of the most vital data for each of your clients. Be careful to protect it thoroughly.
Train your team. As with every area of your practice, your team will not know how to best protect you and cannot be its most productive if you do not train them. Make the commitment.
Up to date software is a MUST HAVE. Only get your updates from trusted sources.
VPNs are your best friend. You need a VPN on all your devices. It is an easy layer of security to add. This is especially important if you work on a device that may not be in your ecosystem such as unsecure hotel Wi-Fi at conferences. Wi-Fi networks should never be unsecured. It may be “just general lobby Wi-Fi” but there is no such thing. Access to your Wi-Fi is access to your Wi-Fi, no matter what label you put on it.
Xenolalia may seem farther away than it actually is. The more you train yourself on the tech you need the more natural it will become for you, and you will find yourself speaking the foreign language of technology before you know it.
You. This all starts with you. You could make the commitment to do whatever you need to do to succeed in this area, or not. It is up to you. It is your practice.
Zero regrets. When you are the victim of a cyber attack, that is where you want to be. Do not waste time. Get started. Learn what you need to do. Get help. Choose to make smart answers to tough questions. After all, it is your practice, protect it.
We understand that you may have questions, serious questions, when it comes to cyber security, employment practices related to cyber security, and how to best protect yourself, your practice, and your clients. We are here to help. We build successful law practices nationwide. Do not wait to schedule a free 30 minute strategy session so we can discuss how to best support you in your practice.
