January 3, 2009
Social Media Marketing for Lawyers: 2009 Predictions
My belated 2009 social media/new media predictions on marketing for lawyers, law firms, and attorneys:
- Business and/or law-related social networking sites such as LinkedIn, LegallyMinded, Legal OnRamp, and at least one new site will grow in importance for client development among lawyers
- Law firms will gradually become less skeptical of blogs, and blogging will catch on among more and more attorneys
- In light of the state of the economy and fears about a "recession," law firm marketing directors and marketing committees will increasingly turn to social media and new media
- Use of video on law firm websites will still be sparse, but some lawyers will begin to appreciate and harness the power of video for purposes of SEO and effective communication
- A small segment of lawyers will start posting more videos on YouTube and other video-sharing sites
- Use of Twitter among lawyers will grow relatively slowly, due to the perception and reality that lawyers are very busy
- Few lawyers will use "article marketing" or content marketing (through content sharing sites) in their client development efforts
- Social bookmarking will not yet catch on among lawyers
- Podcasting will not yet become widespread among lawyers
- An increasing number of lawyers will start to view Facebook not solely as a social tool, but also as a business tool
Lawyers and the legal community are historically slow in adopting new technologies and social media strategies. However, lawyers generally seem to become ardent adopters of certain technologies (e.g., Blackberries and other mobile devices) once their clients and the business community have adopted them. During 2009, attorneys will make the social media advances described above (I think!).
What are your thoughts on the use of social media among lawyers during 2009?
Comments on Social Media Marketing for Lawyers: 2009 Predictions »
Bentley:
I agree with your predictions and can add 1 more… More firms will bring in folks like us to conduct not only 'rainmaking workshops' but also 'bLAWging for business' workshops.
It may be spearheaded by their CMO or Marketing Director - by most likely, it will be by their Managing Partners - who will realize how many of their colleagues, peers, and associates are bLAWging.
~ Vikram Rajan
PracticeMarketingAdvisors.com
Vikram:
I agree that law firms will increasingly look for outside help to implement blogging and other forms of new media and social media. You are probably right that partners will take a major role in such efforts.
Bentley Tolk
I think your predictions are dead on. I'm a social media coach and I consult with a small law firm that is just now considering blogging. I think it's a natural for them with some coaching from me. They are also looking at other social media. I'm encouraging them to do exactly that. It's a great complement to the face-to-face networking they are already implementing.
Deborah, I'm glad you are helping law firms make the jump to blogging and other social media.