With the ever-evolving landscape of law and business, it’s essential for lawyers to stay ahead of the competition regardless of practice area. Outdated marketing activities are no longer sufficient for keeping up with the industry; legal practices must invest in modern marketing solutions if they want to succeed.
Staying on top of the latest trends in legal marketing is no longer optional. If you want to stand out in today’s competitive legal landscape, marketing experts suggest you keep up with the latest developments to ensure your firm and its services remain relevant. After all, one misstep could cost you precious time, money and reputation.
With the right tools and information, you can position your firm for success.
To that end, let’s go over five innovative techniques to help you stand apart from your competitors and gain an edge.
Now, understand, this won’t be the typical article you see everywhere that covers: local seo, broad based search engine optimization, Google ads, website design, adding your site to legal directories, creating a gazillion blog posts, email marketing, online reputation management, your Google Business Profile or any of that jazz. The goal for this piece is to give you something other than vanilla because that stuff has been covered already.
The five for today are: video; influencer marketing; live events and webinars; AI and chatbots; gamification. While this isn’t a complete guide to attorney marketing, leveraging these techniques can definitely give you a big boost.
Creating Engaging Video Content
Video marketing has the power to transform practices into powerful, influential legal entities.
With video, lawyers from almost all practice areas are able to reach an even wider audience and make a lasting impression on potential clients. Videos can showcase your expertise, highlight your areas of specialty, demonstrate your commitment to excellence, share case studies and create a more personal connection with those seeking legal advice. You know, potential clients.
Through video, you have the ability to attract more clients, strengthen relationships with existing ones, and position yourself as reliable authority in your fields.
With quality video content marketing, a legal practice is poised to become a leader in its industry.
Examples of legal firms using video content successfully
Womble Bond Dickinson, a U.S. firm, effectively leverages video content to increase their visibility in the legal community. They create videos that explain complex legal topics in an easy-to-understand format and offer tips on how businesses can protect themselves from potential lawsuits.
Another example of successful video content is Shearman & Sterling’s series of “Ask The Expert” interviews which feature renowned lawyers discussing hot topics in the industry. These videos have been widely praised for their thoroughness and professional presentation.
Finally, JPMorgan Chase regularly releases videos featuring its own attorneys who discuss various topics such as global regulatory updates and IPOs. This type of content provides viewers with valuable insights into the legal sector while also raising awareness of the firm’s expertise.
By implementing these strategies, firms are able to attract more clients and establish themselves as thought-leaders in their field. While the videos may not produce an instant influx of business, they plant the seeds for a healthy harvest down the road.
Tips for creating engaging and informative video content
Know Your Audience – Before creating a video, it’s important to have a clear idea of who your ideal audience is. Identifying key demographic information such as age, gender and location will help you create content that is relevant and engaging. In addition, understanding what motivates their behavior and interests helps ensure your content speaks to their desires and needs.
Identify What Action You Want Viewers To Take – Crafting videos with a specific call to action in mind helps increase engagement with your video. Whether you are using the video to sell a product or service, capture leads, or simply to educate viewers, having an actionable goal in mind can help you craft more engaging content that has a greater chance of resonating with your audience.
Keep Things Short & Sweet – Most people don’t have an attention span for long videos – so keep yours short! Aim for videos that are around a minute and a half, and make sure the most important messages are the first few seconds of the video so that you can grab the attention of potential viewers right away. You can also provide a teaser snippet of a key point to come later in the video at the start to give viewers a reason to watch longer.
Leveraging Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing goes beyond traditional advertising by relying on the influence of key individuals instead of blanket messages to drive results.
For legal practices, influencer marketing can be incredibly powerful. It allows firms to establish relationships with people who are trusted in their respective industries or among their desired audiences. By building these relationships, your firm can more effectively target potential leads and create a presence that resonates with those leads.
The benefits of influencer marketing for legal practices are vast. From increased visibility, to increased credibility and opportunities to reach new clients, influencer marketing offers a cost-effective way to bring exposure and value to your practice.
It’s time to get creative and connect with authoritative figures to tell your story, give you a platform and spread awareness about your services. With influencer marketing, your firm will have the ability to get its message out quickly, create valuable relationships and drive real business growth.
Identifying the right influencers to work with
When it comes to influencer marketing, it’s important to identify the right influencers who will best represent your firm – because only then can you be sure of getting the best results. So where do you start?
First, look for influencers whose audience and content aligns with the objectives of your law practice. Then check their followers to ensure that the engaged audience is relevant.
Finally, research their influence in terms of the size of their reach and engagement to ensure that they’ll be able to help you get as much exposure as possible. When done correctly, influencer marketing can be a powerful way for firms to build awareness and reputation – and find new clients. They’ve done the hard part by building a following so remember to respect that when you set out to partner with an influencer.
Strategies for effective influencer campaigns
Here are some strategies to ensure your campaign is effective:
1. Identify who you’re trying to reach. What do they care about? Who do they follow? Use the answers to these questions to help you identify the right influencers for your campaign.
2. Develop a clear message. Make sure it resonates with your target and positions your brand as a leader in its field.
3. Make sure your objectives are realistic. Set achievable targets and measure results. Having an understanding of what success looks like will enable you to focus on the areas that will move the needle for you.
4. Establish an ongoing relationship with influencers and consistently deliver great content. This will help build trust and loyalty with your top influencers, and keep them engaged over time.
5. Leverage analytics for insights. Track and measure the success of your influencer campaigns using data-driven insights.
If implemented correctly, a well-crafted influencer campaign can be one of the most powerful tools you have in your marketing playbook.
Follow these steps to make sure your campaign is successful. Influencer marketing can be lucrative although it may not be instantaneous.
Hosting Live Events and Webinars
Are you looking to take your presence to the next level? Live events and webinars can be effective tools to do just that. No longer do lawyers have to rely strictly on local events to broaden their reach.
Whether you’re starting off in a small law firm or established in the industry, you’ll find that hosting live events and webinars is an excellent way to reach potential clients and build brand recognition. But it’s not easy—it takes time, effort, and confidence to make a successful event.
Here, we’ll look at tips on how to plan and host a memorable event or webinar, as well as advice on how you can capitalize on the success of each one. By the time you finish reading, you’ll have the knowledge and confidence needed to host successful events and webinars for attorneys.
The benefits of hosting live events and webinars for attorneys
Live events such as webinars offer an exciting and cost-effective alternative to traditional marketing methods, affording your firm the opportunity to increase business development.
The biggest benefit of hosting live events is that they can be tailored to suit any budget and desired audience, whilst also allowing you to showcase your unique offerings.
Webinars are an especially popular choice for firms looking to promote their services, as they provide a platform for lawyers to discuss industry topics, demonstrate their expertise and interact directly with potential clients. This allows firms to build relationships with attendees, promoting trust and credibility in their brand.
Additionally, by hosting live events or webinars, you can gain valuable insight into your target market’s behavior and interests, providing you with the data needed to craft more effective marketing strategies.
Live events and webinars also generate the kind of ‘buzz’ that’s invaluable in raising a firm’s profile and helping them to stand out amongst the competition. All in all, it’s clear why so many lawyers are turning to live events and webinars as part of their overall marketing strategy.
Tips for planning and promoting successful events
Planning and promoting a successful event takes expertise, resourcefulness and strategy.
Start by doing research on your target audience and the event industry in general to get an idea of what’s current and innovative.
Create a timeline that outlines when key tasks need to be completed and delegate to dedicated team members whenever possible. Keep track of any changes or updates to plans as the event date nears.
When it comes to promotion, build an engaging website or platform for people to find information about your event.
Use social media to spread the word about your upcoming event and post regular updates throughout the planning process.
Reach out to local businesses or organizations who may be interested in sponsoring or supporting your event.
Utilize press releases with the help of a PR specialist to get your message in front of the right people.
Above all, put your passion into it – nothing is more convincing than genuine enthusiasm from the organizers!
Measuring the success of live events and webinars
When it comes to measuring the success of live events and webinars, there are several key metrics to consider.
First and foremost, you need to look at the size of your audience — how many people registered for the event, how many joined in during the event, and how many stayed engaged throughout the entire experience.
Additionally, you should track feedback from attendees such as survey results, ratings and comments.
Finally, you should measure any tangible results achieved during and after the event, such as sales conversions or content downloads.
By keeping a close eye on these key metrics, you can get a comprehensive view of how successful your live event or webinar was and use that information to further refine your strategy.
Utilizing Chatbots and AI
As the legal industry moves closer to full efficiency, AI-powered chatbots (also called live chat widgets) provide a low-cost and efficient way for firms to engage with potential clients and maintain relationships with existing ones.
With an AI-powered chatbot, you can streamline client communication, automate tasks, and take care of many of the mundane technicalities associated with the practice of law.
Chatbots are also an effective way to generate leads from your law firm website. AI-powered tools enable lawyers to automate sales messages and place targeted content in front of customers based on their interests, location, and other factors. This helps ensure that potential customers are exposed to legal services they are interested in – increasing conversion rates, and enhancing the customer experience.
Ultimately, when used effectively, chatbots benefit both you and your clients. They allow you to streamline your workflow and improve customer service, while clients can quickly and easily find relevant legal services.
Chatbots and Artificial Intelligence represent a unique opportunity for law firms to stay competitive in an ever-changing market – one they cannot afford to ignore.
Examples of law firms using chatbots and AI effectively
As you know, the Bar Association keeps a close eye on things. Laws, regulations, and the legal system as a whole is highly complicated – making it hard to comprehend and navigate, especially for those outside of the industry.
But with the introduction of chatbots and AI, some law firms are taking steps to make the process simpler. One example comes from Baker McKenzie, who created Kira, an AI-based program that helps clients with contract analysis and due diligence. Kira leverages a set of algorithms and AI models to quickly uncover insights from large volumes of data, saving attorneys valuable time.
Another example is from a company called Lawgeex, which has created an AI tool that automates contract review. The software reviews contracts four times faster than an average lawyer and can automatically alert them about any discrepancies.
These examples show how chatbots and AI can help law firms streamline their processes and reduce costs. By empowering lawyers to work more efficiently, this technology could revolutionize the legal sector and ultimately improve access to justice.
How to implement chatbots and AI in your attorney marketing strategy
To effectively implement Chatbots and AI into your marketing, you must understand the impact that AI can have.
By leveraging the power of cutting-edge AI technology, you can quickly automate tedious procedures such as customer service inquiries and lead generation tasks, drastically reducing the manpower devoted to them.
With automated customer service, you can guarantee a constant, high-quality experience for all clients and prospects.
Additionally, AI can help analyze data to identify underserved or unfulfilled needs in your market, giving you insights into where opportunities lie and how to craft effective campaigns.
Automation also has the potential to improve response times with prospective leads and even track long-term success metrics to give you an accurate overview of what’s working and what isn’t.
With AI on your side, you can create a more efficient, organized process for your business – freeing up time and resources that can be used to focus on the most important elements of your personal brand.
Incorporating Gamification
Gamification is a powerful tool to include in your law firm marketing plan. By creating an engaging and rewarding user experience, it can help to attract new clients and retain existing ones.
It also provides an effective way to promote specific services, such as business-to-business transactions, intellectual property disputes, or environmental law.
Lawyers can leverage gamification in several innovative ways:
- Create an online game or competition with real-world legal prizes.
- Send out promotional emails that let users earn points for taking specific actions, such as referring friends or viewing educational content.
- Reward customers who complete surveys or questionnaires with exclusive offers or discounts.
- Use gamification software to create rewards programs that offer tangible benefits such as free consultations, discounts on legal services, or complimentary seminars.
The bottom line is that gamification can be a highly effective tool for your law firm’s marketing. By engaging potential clients with fun and rewarding experiences, you can make the process of finding legal representation both exciting and accessible.
Examples of law firms using gamification to engage with their audience
Legal practices are increasingly turning to gamification techniques to engage with their audiences and build a stronger following.
By leveraging game mechanics, such as points, rewards, and levels, law firms can turn mundane tasks into entertaining experiences that will draw people in and keep them engaged.
One example of gamification in the legal field is The Harris Firm’s ‘Harris Challenge’, which encourages its followers to answer legal questions for the chance to win cash prizes.
This innovative approach to engaging users aligns perfectly with the firm’s mission to provide accessible legal advice. With the revenue generated from prizes, the firm has managed to fund scholarships which aim to promote diversity in the legal profession.
Other firms have also adopted similar strategies, such as offering discount coupons or small tokens to those who participate in online polls or quizzes. This not only serves as an incentive for people to take part but also provides valuable insights into how the firm is perceived by its clients.
In this new era of legal services, the use of gamification has proven to be an effective way of creating meaningful engagements with potential customers and current clients alike. As more firms begin to explore this concept, it may soon become standard practice for many firms around the world.
Strategies for implementing gamification in your firm’s marketing
Gamification is a powerful tool to drive user engagement and boost your marketing campaigns. By using game mechanics, you can create a sense of competition, a healthy desire for recognition, and ultimately, an enhanced customer experience.
Implementing gamification doesn’t have to be complicated — with the right tools and strategies, you can easily incorporate it into your existing campaigns to increase user engagement, loyalty, and even revenue.
Start by creating a game that encourages users to interact with your firm’s content. This could mean assigning points or giving virtual badges when they complete certain tasks, offering rewards when they reach a certain level of expertise, or allowing users to track their progress within a campaign.
You should also consider setting up leaderboards so users can compare their performance against one another.
Lastly, consider integrating social media marketing elements and awarding special bonuses to those who spread your message through their networks.
With these strategies in place, you’ll be able to drive deeper user engagement, reward valuable customers, and enhance their overall experience.
Conclusion
The legal profession is one of the oldest that still exists today, yet it has the potential to remain fresh and innovative.
You can benefit significantly from keeping your marketing plan up to date with current trends – implementing modern techniques, like engaging content and digital campaigns. Those who stay ahead in the game will be better equipped to foster client relationships, keep existing customers engaged and draw in new clients.
Ultimately, prioritize finding creative ways to engage potential clients, while remaining compliant with ethical guidelines and regulations. The ability to do so is what separates successful firms from those that just survive. By staying innovative in your marketing efforts, you can ensure you are always at the forefront of legal services.
The Benefits of These Innovative Techniques
The potential benefits of trying these innovative techniques are virtually limitless, and can help to improve your bottom line without maxing out your marketing budget.
Video is a great way to engage with clients, as it allows you to show them exactly what your product or service offers.
Leveraging influencers can help you reach a wider audience and potentially draw more people to your site.
Live events and webinars give you the opportunity to build relationships with clients face-to-face, allowing for more personalized interactions.
AI and chatbots enable you to provide instant customer service, making it easier for potential clients to find the answers they need quickly and easily.
And gamification can be used to drive engagement and boost sales by creating an exciting and entertaining experience.
Trying out these techniques could be just the thing to get your firm noticed by potential clients, so consider giving them a try today!
The Need to Measure the Success of Your Marketing Efforts and Adjust as Necessary
Every lawyer marketing effort should be done with a clear agenda: to reach the desired target audience and build relationships with them.
But how do you know if your efforts are meeting this goal? The answer is simple–tracking and measuring results. With the right metrics in place, you can see which actions are making an impact and which ones need adjustments.
For example, track how many website visitors convert into leads or how quickly prospects become paying clients.
You can also measure your social media presence– like how many people comment, share, and engage with your posts. Use a combination of qualitative and quantitative data to get a holistic view of your performance.
With this information at hand, you can tweak your approach or even change direction entirely based on what’s working and what isn’t. The path to success might not always be straightforward, but by monitoring your progress, you’re setting yourself up for success in the long term.
FAQs
What is the most effective marketing technique for attorneys?
When it comes to law firm marketing techniques, one of the most effective strategies is video. Plain and simple.
Online video is powerful for several reasons:
- Video allows potential clients to see you on screen so they know you’re a real person.
- It gives them a feel for how you communicate.
- A video is more memorable than simple text or even hearing an audio clip.
- The more “immersive” an experience you provide for your potential clients, the more informed they become.
- The more informed they are, the better equipped they are to make a hiring decision.
Video is also engrained in us from childhood on up to be a celebrity medium. It’s engrained in humans to believe what we see on screen along with associating the people we see as “celebrities.”
There has been a large price to pay to get on television in years past, but online video has leveled the playing field where anyone can become a “star” with the right mix of quality, value, and entertainment.
You obviously can’t crank out garbage and expect people to respond, but it’s easier than ever to put out consistent content that your audience values and spreads the word. People like sharing videos with their friends and colleagues, too!
How do I identify the right influencers to work with for my law firm?
To identify the right influencer for your law firm, you need to ask yourself: Which personalities will best represent my law firm with the audiences I’m trying to reach? Establishing relationships with influencers is more than just finding a “cool” person in the industry.
You should take time to research and identify potential influencers who can introduce your law firm to your target demographic. Look for people who are well respected in the legal sphere, have an engaged audience, and can create content that resonates with potential clients of your law firm.
Ensure they are also transparent about their affiliations with brands, as this is important to maintain credibility with their followers.
Use their online presence like social media or blogs to get a better feel for how they engage with their readers and why they would be a good fit for your law firm. Utilizing these resources and tips can help you ensure the influencers you partner with align with your brand values and objectives.
Is it necessary to hire a professional video production team for my law firm’s video content?
When it comes to creating video content for a law firm, the first step is taking control of the script. Professional video production teams know what works and what doesn’t. They can deliver concise scripts that will convey your message clearly and effectively.
While some legal marketing teams may be tempted to tackle video production in-house, it generally takes longer and with less professional results. Hiring a professional video production team ensures that you’ll get the best possible product, without any hiccups along the way.
A professionally produced video will also elevate your brand and demonstrate professionalism. Professional video production teams are intimately familiar with audio and visual techniques that will ensure your key messages are heard loud and clear. Working with a professional team means that you can rest assured knowing you have experienced professionals in your corner.
How do I measure the success of my law firm’s live events and webinars?
Measuring success for webinars and events can be tricky, but it’s important to remember that success isn’t just determined by attendance numbers. You should evaluate the effectiveness of your event or webinar based on the engagement and follow-up after the event. The number of attendees is a good starting point, but there are other factors to consider as well.
For instance, a successful event should have a clear call to action: invite people to subscribe to your mailing list, leave their contact information, or join an upcoming webinar. If they don’t take your call to action, then it may mean that you need to better engage with and motivate your audience.
Follow-up emails afterwards can also help measure success – if those emails result in more website visits or leads down the line, then you know your event was successful. Ultimately, success depends on the goals set before the event and how well those goals were achieved.
By setting measurable goals and tracking your progress, you’ll be able to determine how successful your events and webinars are over time.
Are chatbots and AI expensive to implement in law firm marketing strategies?
Thankfully, the short answer to this question is no.
In fact, implementing a chatbot or AI solution into your law firm’s digital marketing strategy can be surprisingly cost-effective. You don’t need to break the bank in order to get started.
For starters, many platforms offer free trials so you can test the waters and see how their technology works before committing to anything long-term. Other solutions may have low monthly fees so you can pay as you go and scale up your usage as needed.
Plus, when used correctly, these tools can help you increase leads and conversions – meaning you might end up recouping any costs associated with implementation within a relatively short period of time. Even better, chatbots can work well for just about any practice area.
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