Uncategorized
Investing In YOU Is Investing In Your Law Firm
Why do some people find success quickly as entrepreneurs while most others struggle?
“What’s the fastest way to grow my business?” That’s usually the first question I get asked when I meet an entrepreneur, whether they are new, experienced or aspiring. My first response to them is also a question….“What are you doing consistently to learn how to run your practice, market your firm and bring in new cases? Are you part of any Business-Building Mastermind Groups?”
I’m shocked each and every time when they reply, “I’m not in one”…or “I don’t really need one”…or even worse, “I can’t afford one.”
That last response is the one that really gets me. What do they mean they can’t afford one?!
They can’t afford a Business-Building or Mastermind Group but they can afford their daily fix of Starbucks or cigarettes, or they can afford to buy new clothes and spend their money on pricey concert tickets or gourmet dinners…
And then they wonder why they’re so frustrated and anxious about their firm’s growth and struggling to pay the bills!
It amazes me! It really does. Once in a while, we’ll have a member call to cancel his or her monthly membership. The reason why usually doesn’t make sense.
For example, I saw an email once from a former member who cancelled his membership a while back. It said, and I quote, “Ken’s stuff is awesome and I’ve already made money from following his tips and advice but I had to cancel my membership because I just don’t have time to read and listen to the information you guys send me.”
Wait a minute. Let me get this straight….He’s profited from the tips and information provided by PILMMA but he can’t find the time to read and listen to the information we send him even though he knows it’s going to benefit his business and make him more money?!? See, I told you some reasons just don’t make sense.
If it were me, I’d stop all the other non-revenue producing activities (that I’m sure he’s probably doing) and I’d be focusing on IMMEDIATELY opening every PILMMA envelope and email received, clicking on every link and reading every publication from cover to cover and IMMEDIATELY implementing what I learn each month!
By the way, this is the same guy who will be making excuses for himself soon, moaning and griping about how bad the economy is, or how there are too many restrictions on legal marketing or just too many lawyers out there to even worry about trying to advertise. Basically, he’ll be using the “Let’s Blame Everyone and Everything Else” types of excuses.
Personally, I would NEVER consider cancelling the monthly coaching “investments” I make because I know that once I stop, my business will most-likely decline instantly.
Jim Rohn, legendary author, entrepreneur, and business philosopher, always said: “Tell me how many books you’ve read in the past year, audio programs you’ve listened to, seminars you’ve attended, and coaching you’ve had, and I’ll tell you how much money you’re making.”
Spot on. Genius. I love it.
Think about this old saying: “You don’t go to school once in your life; you should be in school every day of your life!” You MUST continue to educate yourself on how to market and manage your practice. Anything you can learn on a monthly basis will improve your firm on a monthly basis.
When you stop learning, you stop growing. Once you stop growing, you start dying.
Invest in yourself. Keep on learning. Invest in your firm. Keep on growing.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Ken Hardison
Search Engine Rankings for Lawyers- Big changes ahead!
This week Google announced three big changes that affect a user’s ability to search. These changes will enhance Google users’ ability to search in new, faster ways.
Here are the three changes:
1. Instant Pages – This is an enhancement to Google Instant which provides users with search options and phrases as they type. This function tries to anticipate a user’s search based on the most frequently used search phrases. Now, the service will also begin preloading the most frequently displayed results based on the anticipated search phrases to save time.
What does this mean for your firm? Now, more than ever, search engine rankings are vital. Since Google is suggesting phrases for users based on the most commonly used search terms, you definitely want your firm to be on that list! I suggest you evaluate your current standing in Google rankings and begin a plan to increase your web presence. If you or someone in your firm is not trained in Search Engine Optimization (SEO), you should seriously think about investing in some SEO training. This is not something you can do haphazardly. Even small mistakes can hurt you and cause you to drop in rank.
2. Image Search – This is an entirely new search site at www.image.google.com. It allows users to drag and drop images into the search window to find other images and search results related to the chosen image.
What does this mean for your firm? Searches are no longer based solely on words or phrases. This is an entirely new area for search engines, so my suggestion is to wait and see users respond to the new Google image search before altering your website strategy too much.
3. Voice Search – This gives users the ability to speak their search queries.
What does this mean for your firm? With this new search option, I believe people will be more detailed in their searches than ever. I also think there will be an increase in the use of vernacular and slang terms. This means you will need to expand your search terminology (SEO style) even more to include these terms and stay ahead in the rankings.
Overall, I think these changes are only a preview of the future of search engines. For you this means, short key word phrases are a thing of the past – they simply will not work as well for you now as they did previously for search engine rankings. I believe we will see more people using longer, detailed phrases in their searches, which is actually a good thing because it will in turn provide users with more targeted accurate search results. As long as you fall into these long, detailed phrases, it will be good for you as well. Evaluate your marketing plan, review your current rankings, learn about SEO and talk to other lawyers and even members of your staff…stay on top of this so you and your staff can be ready to meet the challenges of online marketing.
I also recommend you evaluate your internet marketing plan, read some books on the subject or hire a coach to train you how meet the changing trends.
Help Save the Children
Help Save the Children – Announcing Ken’s Charity Weight Loss Challenge!
In one of PILMMA’s weekly Bright Idea video posts earlier this month titled “Who Are You?”, I spoke to the importance of humanizing yourself so your clients and potential clients can get to know who you are and what you’re all about. I mentioned that one way to do this is to get involved with charities you support and take action on things that are important to you.
Well, this week it’s my turn…
It’s my pleasure to officially announce Ken’s Charity Weight Loss Challenge. As many of you know, I’ve battled being overweight my whole life. I’ve finally decided to do something about it and figured while I was at it I could support a great cause with the help of you, my friends and colleagues. I’ve chosen to sponsor the charity “Save the Children” since 90% of all donations go straight toward helping the children! My goal is to raise $30,000 by October 15th, 2011.
If you’d like to help me, visit my website www.kenscharityweightlosschallenge.com and pledge whatever dollar amount you’d like per pound I lose. Even one dollar per pound would be most appreciated. I am personally committing $20 per pound to this challenge. Please join in and help me lose weight while helping the children of the world get the food and medical attention they so desperately need. All donations will go directly to the charity.
Each week I will update the weight loss challenge site and keep you all posted on my journey. Visit www.kenscharityweightlosschallenge.com for more information and to make your pledge to help me save the children.
Personal Injury Lawyers Increase Credibility
Want instant credibility, expert status and a business card that lasts for years? Then write an educational consumer book.
A book is the ultimate marketing tool because it positions you as an expert and shows that you want to help educate the public. Better yet, books don’t get thrown away; they sit on shelves, end tables and get passed around to family and friends!
This task is not as daunting as it seems. Here are a few tips to get you started:
1. Write it for a 5th to 7th grade reading level. You want to use easy to understand metaphors and charts as a way to explain complex topics.
2. Include a section titled “7 questions to ask a lawyer before you hire them”. Include the seven questions and the answers, so the consumers know what to look for when interviewing a lawyer. Make it flow so you are the natural choice when they go to hire a lawyer.
If you do not want or have the time to spend writing a book, PILMMA has books available for licensing!
E-mail Valerie@pilmma.org for more information. We do all the work and you get to customize the book – YOUR name, YOUR logo, and YOUR firm. Give us a call at 1-800-497-1890 to find our more.
Yellow Pages and legal marketing- not worth it
Just last week as I drove though my neighborhood I saw the infamously massive Yellow Page book sticking of all the mailboxes on the way to my house. Sure enough, I had a present waiting inside my mailbox as well. Naturally, I took it from the mail box and threw it in the recycling bin.
This week, San Francisco put another nail in the coffin of the almost defunct Yellow Pages. City authorities are pushing new laws which would limit the distribution of Yellow Pages within city limits. This law would impose a $500 fine for each book distributed violating the ban. The city cites growing environmental concerns of printing such a large book that is seen as unnecessary, since all the information can quickly be found online.
To combat these new proposed laws, Yellow Pages has created their own opt-out website, www.yellowpagesoptout.com. At this site you can opt-out of all or certain selections of the Yellow Pages directory in your specific area code.
It seems all types of print advertisement may be in danger as environmental concerns rise and online advertising replaces traditional print. I suggest you begin to analyze your current advertising campaign and strive to learn as much as you can about digital advertising. This is a topic I would like to explore in depth in the coming months. Stay tuned for more information!
Click here for a complete article on this new law
Don’t be Shy – Networking is a Must!
As our Spring Summit approaches and we are busy making the final preparations for our event in Atlanta, I always make sure we block out time for our attendees to mingle and network. Even though our speakers will be providing invaluable information to our participants, time to share ideas and make new business connections can be just as important – if you know how to make the most of it. Not everyone is a born mingler, so I created a system that I use, to most effectively work the room at any event I attend to ensure I come away with all the contacts I wanted and answered questions from everyone who wanted to speak with me.
First of all always arrive early. This gives you a chance to talk to the organizers about future events and activities plus they can be good connections to have. Read the names on the badges at the registration table so you know who you’re going to meet and ask one of the organizers if they would mind introducing you. For those of you who are uncomfortable approaching a stranger and introducing yourself, this makes it a little easier.
During the beginning of the event I tend to linger by the entrance. The sooner you strike up conversation with someone the more forthcoming they are. Besides sometimes being seen is just as important as being known. When you visit the food tables invite someone to come with you, its an easy way to start a conversation. Never eat and drink at the same time, you always want to have a free hand to shake and hand out business cards. If you have trouble joining a group already in conversation offer to bring them drinks, when you return you will immediately be admitted into the group.
Always carry a pen and your business cards in your shirt or jacket pocket, where they will be easily accessible. When you give someone your card take a moment to write your cell phone number on the back, it will seem more personal and exclusive. When taking someone else’s card write yourself a note on the back about where you met or what you discussed. That way when you contact them you will have a jumping off point for a conversation. Remember, always be good listener and make eye contact. After an event you only have 72 hours to make contact with the person before they will have forgotten meeting you, so act quickly.
Its always polite to stay until the end of an event if you can but if not after the initial buzz in the room has died down its usually safe to make an unnoticed exit. I hope these tips will help you better work a room. I look forward to seeing you all in Atlanta!
PILMMA Adds Michael Swanson to Advisory Board!
I’m very happy to announce that we have a new addition to PILMMA’s Advisory Board.
Michael Swanson, President and CEO of Advocate Capital, Inc, was officially added to PILMMA’s Advisory Board on Monday, December 20th. Mike adds an entirely new mix of expertise, law firm finance and management, to our already impressive panel of Advisory Board members.
CLICK HERE to read the full press release.
To jump-start Mike’s involvement with PILMMA, and to introduce him to any of our members that didn’t have the pleasure of meeting him at our Fall 2010 Marketing Summit, he will be our guest expert on December’s Ask the Expert Q and A Call (Wednesday, December 22nd @ 4 PM Eastern Time).
Our monthly Ask the Expert Calls are reserved for PILMMA Gold and Platinum members only. Each call features me and a handpicked guest, answering live questions submitted by our members.
Every law firm has its own unique set of issues and goals that require individualized attention. This is exactly why I started this feature benefit. I wanted to give our members a way to get qualified answers to their own unique questions on a monthly basis.
These calls are also available for replay anytime on the Gold and Platinum Member’s Only website.
If you are interested in joining PILMMA, please visit www.PILMMA.org.
Dedicated to Your Success,
Ken Hardison
President of PILMMA
Topics to be covered include:
- Grassroots Marketing for Lawyers
- Marketing for Mass Tort Cases
- Launching a Successful Mobile App
