From the category archives:

Marketing

Growing Your Social Networks Organically

Jonathon Fields has written a great post for social media “newbies” and one of the unwritten rules he lists is “Grow Organically”. This provoked a great deal of thought for me and I wondered what you all thought. We’ve all been on Twitter or Facebook and seen people who appear to be collectors of “friends”. They follow or add people for what seems like the sole purpose of increasing their numbers. They generally have far fewer followers than they are following…thus not increasing their exposure or business at all. Facebook will actually cut you off if they feel like you are adding people willy-nilly!

Jonathon recommends taking your time to build your online social network and I couldn’t agree more. To be authentic, you need to be following or adding people who’s values, business, writing or ideas really inspire you! Take some time to see who your friends (the ones you genuinely respect and follow for that reason) are reading and following. If you want to add to your network, get to know some of those folks first. Read their blogs and/or their books.

Once you add new people, for social networking to be effective, you need to interact with them! Comment on their blogs, respond directly to their Tweets, post questions on their Facebook wall, and email them directly if you want to start a real conversation. Pam Slim recently “tweeted” that she hates when people contact her the first time simply to promote their business! This isn’t effective networking and can cause the exact opposite effect of what you are seeking.

First build relationships, then allow the process of building relationships to strengthen your brand.

If you are trying to grow your practice, seek new clients or attorneys, build your knowledge base or are considering a new venture, we all know that online social networking is important. But just because you are enthusiastic about getting involved, be careful that you don’t take on more than you can actually manage.

Again, build relationships, then allow the process of building relationships to strengthen your brand.

Social media has become so enormous and complex that there are actually people you can hire to manage your networks for you! Joining sites and then being inactive doesn’t serve you or your potential clients. Pick key sites first, like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn and really build a reputation and network on those first.

Once again … the most powerful aspect of social media is the ability to begin to develop relationships. Relationships are the key to the door of accelerated business success. If you are not focused on relationship building strategies in addition to building brand awareness, you are pretty much wasting your time.

If you need help developing a social media strategy, let me know!

I’d also love to know how you manage your networks and which ones you are most active on.

Take GREAT Care!

Coach T.C.

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Build Your Own Social Network

Today’s Feature Social Network: Ning

Ning, a social media site, is quietly changing the face of social networking. While it has been around since 2004, Fast Company recently featured Ning co-founder and CEO Gina Bianchini on their cover and in April of this year there was speculation that Ning’s value was then approximately half a billion dollars (not that this is unusual in the world of a $1 billion YouTube purchase). Ning sites are extremely easy to navigate and they look and function very much like a lot of social networking sites that are open to the general public. There are existing Ning groups for every conceivable interest and Ning is continuing to build momentum.

You may be asking, “Why is a discussion about creating a “personal” social network important or even relevant to lawyers or lawyerpreneurs?” Well … creating or joining a Ning community around a topic that is of interest to your industry or that relates to your subject matter expertise is simply another great way that social networks can be used to build community, your professional brand and showcase your expertise … all resulting in increased business opportunities.

Ning is a powerful tool because it allows you to develop a network (Ning supplies all that you need … except the contacts) instead of just hooking into more “general” communities like Facebook and LinkedIn.

Ning is also extremely easy to use! For example, if you want to create a special network for colleagues, leaders in your industry or maybe people who are interested in your areas of specality, you would first reserve the name for your community (which will be hosted on the Ning service for F*REE), select the networking tools you want to be available to members (forum, photos, music, events, text, etc) and then select a template design.

This entire process takes less than 5 minutes and allows you to create a really professional interface for your social networking community. Once you’ve created your community, you are free to invite colleagues, friends and clients to your new “professional” community, start discussions, schedule events and even further customize the look and feel of the website (ifyou so desire) by updating the template with HTML. It’s just that simple! If you like the idea of creating your own social community, but have no desire to do the formation legwork (regardless of how easy it is) just let me know in the comment section and I’m happy to make a recommendation.

UpwardAction® SuccessWork:

I have five questions for your consideration.

1. Do you know where your “ideal clients” spend their time - both online and in-person?’

2. If yes, are you making valuable contributions in those places?

3. If you don’t know the answer to question one, how can you find out?

4. What needs to happen for you to show up in the places that are most powerful for your business development and that supports your authentic-self?

5. What else needs to happen?

Always - Expect the Best!

Coach T.C.

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Help a Reporter, Get Free Press…It’s A Win-Win Deal!

Help a Reporter (HARO) is a new and free media service (that outgrew its Facebook group) that facilitates the introduction of subject matter experts and journalists. You are an expert if you have something meaningful and interesting to share about your business, industry or subject matter.

If you are on an entrepreneurial journey or developing a mature practice, becoming a source of information to a reporter is a great way to position yourself (and your business or firm) as an expert. You are also providing a valuable service to reporters and the public-at-large when you provide unique quotes or insights about the matter being covered.

I am a big fan of HARO. Peter Shankman, serial entrepreneur, and founder is careful to solicit and post interesting reporter queries in funny and engaging emails. This is really an amazing free service where you’ll find great places to “pitch” your expertise while enjoying the adventures of “Shankman”.

Peter also has a great philosophy about why it’s important to him that this service is (and remains) free. He feels that connecting people in this way spreads good karma and I couldn’t agree more! :-) Peter says ~ if you feel you must donate for his services, to please do so to your local animal shelter or other similar group.

HARO is pretty easy to use. Simply register as a source by entering your name and email address. Each day you’ll receive up to three emails (early morning, around lunchtime and early afternoon) with a list 15-30 queries of reporters seeking sources. If you see a query that fits your background and expertise, you contact the reporter directly by email.

Being quoted as a subject matter expert is a excellent way to build your professional brand and raise your profile. Once you are quoted, be sure to use your quote(s) on your Web site and other promotional materials, or link to your quote on your social medial profiles or blog (you are blogging, aren’t you?). Referring to your ”name and words” in the media helps to raise your profile and let others know about your areas of expertise.

And, once you are quoted in the media, be sure to “tweet” about it. You are on Twitter by now, right? If you are not, you should be. If you are, be sure to follow me at www.twitter.com/upwardaction

Expect the Best!

Coach T.C.

P.S. - I have no financial or other interest in HARO- I’m simply a raving fan.