Category: Marketing

Blogging for money — ethical?

Is the blogging world becoming polluted? Is the line between paid advertising and unbiased opinion becoming blurred? (more…)

Lawyer advertising rules again revised

Florida modified its regulations on lawyer advertising, according to one commentary. This time, any commercials on radioi or television must be submitted to the Florida Bar 15 days in advance of running.  And, these rules apply to all lawyers who solicit business in Florida, even if licensed elsewhere.

Florida, one of the most restrictive States in the country, follows New York’s recent changes.

Advertising

Thank you, Monica, for focusing more lucid comment on the advertising issues presented by the recent New York State Bar regulations.

I particularly like the focus that the Bar’s energies seem to be inward-looking. As lawyers should be looking at the needs and wants of their cliens/customers, so should the Bar … looking to the needs of its customers, lawyers. While the Bar’s responsibility is to protect the public (from lawers?), the Bar also owes a responsibility to its members. Creating unmanageable requirements is not the way to protect either the public or the members/lawyers.

Law firm coaching for client care

In today’s posting, Tom Collins talks about customer care.  He cites David Maister and Tom Peters.

One doesn’t have to go that far … just look at your State Bar’s disciplinary system reports. The number one complaint, by far, from clients is the lack of caring — said in many different  ways such as failure to return phone calls —

If lawyers want to stay in business, let alone become profitable and continue to grow their practices, they  need to pay better attention to the needs of their clients and respond to their wants.

Lawyer advertising exposed

The finalized amendments to the attorney advertising rules in New York are scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2007.  The new rules go beyond advertising and include communications such as Web sites, email and direct mail in changing the way lawyers can generate new business. Will lawyers’ blogging survive? Or will the weight of lawyers blogging cause the Bar to change its rules?

Do these rules violate Free Speech? Isn’t any and every communication from a lawyer intended to attract new business, directly or indirectly? Is this a slippery slope for the Bar?
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Blogging Special Report

IncreMentalAdvantage just released a special report entitled, “The Marketability and Legality of Law Firm Blogs.”

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Kentucky Bar relents on blogging restrictions

Ben Cowgill has posted the summary of his challenge to the Kentucky Bar’s earlier restrictions on blogging as prohibited advertising by lawyers. It’s good news that they seem to have taken a more reasonable approach.

What values are most important to clients?

A suggested listing of traits most valued by clients set forth the following items:

   1. Show up on time
   2. Do what you say
   3. Finish what you start
   4. Say please and thank you

These are the single, simplest, most important rules to remember in dealing with all people, not just clients, in my opinion. (more…)

Ghost Writers for Blogs

It seems that my suggestion that "busy lawyers should consider getting a "ghost" writer to help start and/or maintain a blog" was perceived as an extraordinary idea. (more…)

The company we keep — A sales tool

Are we known by the company we keep? Tom Collins cites a source that seems to conclude we are. And, he cites another source that suggests clients like to know who we represent because it tells them something about our experience in the respective industries of our clients and our expertise.  I take a contrarian viewpoint.
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