We have officially made it to the year 2016! In this era of innovation, technology is advancing as rapidly as ever, social trends are taking charge, and the overall way we conduct business is evolving, fast. With society shifting and changing at such a fast pace, it's important to take a moment to do a gut check and make sure your firm is keeping up!
Still using an AOL email address? Not exactly sure what a "Tweet" is? Haven't moved your firm to the cloud? All tell-tale signs that your firm may be stuck in the 90s. If your firm needs a swift kick in the pants when it comes to keeping up with the tech and social marketing trends, check out these tips on how to get modernized:
Is your law firm's website starting to feel a little...outdated? Has the content not changed at all in the last 12-18 months (or longer)? If this is the case, you may want to start thinking about a total revamp.
There are a plethora of resources, online tutorials, and content management platforms such as WordPress or SquareSpace that can help you build a more modern looking site with ease. Don't forget that, as of 2015, your firm’s website should also be optimized for mobile viewing! This is especially important because, today, over 50% of web browsing is done on mobile or tablet devices which means that it's time to go where your clients are.
Social media has become the norm for companies across all industries. It's a great way to reach out to potential clients directly, see what your target market is talking about, quickly address any problems with your product or service, and easily connect with your current client base. Best of all, it's free!
Pro Tip: Keep your social media channels regularly updated with interesting content and incorporate social media buttons on your website in order to allow people to easily follow your firm. The important thing to remember is that, the less effort people have to put into engaging with your firm and content, the more likely they'll be to give you a follow!
Keeping a blog will not only help your website with search result rankings (more content about your business = more opportunities for your content to show up in related search results), but it's also an opportune way to highlight your firm’s knowledge and expertise. Overall, blogging about niche topics is a great way to establish trustworthiness to potential clients and partners alike!
Not sure what to write about? Aim to publish articles and posts about your own success stories, achievements, and relevant topics in your industry to show the public that you are up-to-date and credible. Also, don’t forget to include social share buttons on your blog to allow your readers to easily share your content!
Free your office of clutter and take the Eco-friendly paperless route for your firm. It may take a little getting used to at first, but it's more than worth it in the end. Remember: going paperless doesn't mean that absolutely no paper will be used in your office, it just means reducing your paper use in a intentional and reasonable way.
One simple way to get started (and really become a part of the 21st century) is to utilize a cloud-based legal practice management system, like MerusCase. With Merus, you can keep your existing data and will have access to tons of cool features that will make managing your firm far easier.
And that's all we've got! Interested in learning more about law firm marketing or taking your law firm paperless? Check out our handy resources library where you can download these white papers and so much more!