Posted by Susan Cartier Liebel: "This post is a follow up to my previous post: 'Do You Have A Social Media Strategy? The Good, The Bad and the Time Sucking".
I'm a relative newbie in digital media (what most call social media). I won't pretend I can give you the macro and micro education on all of this, either. I, too, can only journey with you through this galaxy of new ways to 'converse' with others and share information. Because that is what social media is - media that allows you to interact and converse with others. Online relationships formed then have the ability to convert into offline personal and business relationships.
The art of marketing, connecting and converting those connections into opportunities and business for your law firm through the effective use of social media is a whole other discussion. But one thing I can assure you - you must start feeling your way through it now. It is that important to your business.
There is no way to know it all because it is all too new. I've seen others self-proclaim themselves as experts and even a novice can see the claims must fall flat. No one fully has their head wrapped around the power of social media. What I'm going to discuss here are some ground rules you should follow when getting started because it can be overwhelming and addicting. And like any addiction it will suck away your time and impact your personal and professional life.
First, regardless of whether or not you plan to use any social media platform, register and protect your personal name and your business name on all sites you can think of: LinkedIn, Facebook, Pulse, Plaxo, Tagged, Friendfeed, Plurk, Twitter.... and the list goes on and on and on.
Second, ask for recommendations for the social media sites where the 'cool kids' hang out...
Third, do not spread yourself too thin...
Fourth, only participate in the social media site you truly enjoy...
Fifth, no matter what sites you choose to actively participate in, allot a certain amount of time per day or week and that's it..."
Full text and the active link are available at the source site listed below.
Source: Build a Solo Practice, LLC, 8 December 2008
