Get quick, useful and simple information on how your law firm can best use social media to get new clients.
A few years ago, social media was a place where teens would meet, hook up, and chat but things have changed.
Today, a social media marketing strategy is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal. Some of the most used social platforms include Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, etc. and people are relying on social media for more than the latest news and business trends. The social media online community is growing, it is a force to be reckoned with.
But there is definitely a right a wrong way to use these tools if your goal is to get more clients. Follow these 5 tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your social media marketing plan and start to get new clients right away.
1. Listen To The People
Finding your next client might be as easy as paying attention to Twitter, and responding with empathy.
It is not uncommon for people to turn to social media to voice their complaints about a situation or business. Well, we know people are not going to complain about you, but they might be complaining about your competition.
If you’re a personal injury lawyer, go to Twitter or Facebook and search ‘need a personal injury lawyer in (your area)’ and look what comes up. You might have to filter through to find cases in your state but it doesn’t hurt to look. If you listen to the people you’ll find that your customers are asking for you.
2. Respond Respond Respond
Most currently do not answer customers or prospects on Twitter, Facebook, or other social media. As a result, you have a huge competitive advantage if you respond to your clients, and your competitor’s.
If someone feels compelled to complain, don’t delete it or ignore it. Instead, you have an opportunity to respond publicly that you’re working to solve the problem, and will send a private message to the individual so it can be fixed.
Instead, if you delete a complaint, you’re sending a message that the person who wrote it doesn’t matter and essentially you’re going to fan the fire!
Also, when you respond, do it in your voice, whatever that may be: serious, funny, full of puns, scientific, whatever. As long as it’s true to the brand.
3. Be Real
Authenticity works because it gives your law firm identity and makes you relatable to potential clients. Essentially, people respond to people. As a solo, you are your business. Let your personality shine through in your marketing.
Don’t be afraid to share who you are and what drives you in your law practice. Telling people about your passions and your mission will ultimately win you more admiration and respect than self-promotion. People will want to give you their case because they like what you stand for.
Remember to always be transparent and never make claims you can’t prove, promises you can’t follow through on, or post any misleading or dishonest information about your practice.
4. Share Valuable Content
Instead of artificial self-promotion, try to offer information and thoughtful answers to questions. In the end, this is the best way to get noticed.
For example, don’t have a blog for the sake of having one if you are not going to post useful content. Nothing is more disappointing than reading a headline that promises information and discovering the post is actually two paragraphs of nothing.
Often, this is a sign of a firm that has hired a non-lawyer to ghostwrite their blog posts and they end up filling it with keywords and fluff. This is inauthentic and potential clients can easily see through it.
Additionally, social media is not for self-promotional updates. The biggest mistake lawyers make on Instagram is posting about their firm, their practice area or cases they’ve won, but never anything that interests potential clients or referral sources. Your time would be better spent posting useful content you created or sharing the content of others that would be relevant to your audience.
5. Show That You’re Human too
Instead of always trying to sound perfect, which we all know no one is, show vulnerability in your online marketing. For example, write a Facebook post that shows how you made a mistake and what you did to correct it and learn from the experience.
People relate to you when you show them you are human. This helps them feel like they know you, which will make them more comfortable with reaching out to you.
