Tips for Successful Social Media Marketing by Lawyers

Social Media Marketing Tips for Lawyers
As social media marketers for attorneys, we know how social media and search engine optimization work in tandem to improve the rankings of any law firm website. We see many lawyers who are making mistakes in the ways that they handle their law firm’s social media marketing efforts. This article will explain the benefits to attorneys and law firms of engaging in social media and some tips from our digital marketing experts for how lawyers can use social media to build an online audience of prospective clients and referrals.

Fishing for Leads – A Metaphor for Social Media Marketing for Lawyers

Think of your online marketing strategy as casting a fishing net into open waters to capture business. You and your competitors are standing side-by-side on the shores of the Internet, trying to take in the biggest haul. If you’re using just your website, your net is small, and your competitors engaging in social media are landing more clients.

Now let’s suppose that while “fishing” on social media channels, your competitors are using only the best, most attractive lures available. You, however, have opted to use only the most essential tackle.  In other words, while your social media channels are barebones, your competitors have filled out their profiles, braided each one with custom images and logos, and they’re posting regularly to their audience. If you’re ill-equipped, don’t be surprised when your competitors who have immersed themselves in better social media marketing are landing all the business.

Let’s take it one final step further. Let’s imagine that your law firm’s competitors are hi-tech, and they’re using the best depth finders, sonar, chart plotters, and other fish-finding gear. Meanwhile, you’re haphazardly casting your line anywhere. Stated another way, while your law firm’s competitors have used analytics and reports to figure out the best spots to “fish,” you’re wasting your time in the wide-open waters of the Internet. Get the point? Good! Now let’s talk about some tips for better social media marketing practices.

Be Genuinely “Social” in Your Social Media Marketing

Social media marketing on Facebook, Google Plus, LinkedIn, Twitter, or other social media channels only works if you’re being “social.” Aside from the medium, there’s not much difference between being digitally social and social in your everyday affairs. For example, let’s say you decide to join your local Rotary club as a way to connect with others to market your firm and develop referrals. If you sit in a corner and keep to yourself, then you’ll never make connections. Overall, social media is no different than real life. Introduce yourself, share in others’ online conversations, reply when someone comments online, and generally speaking – be social.

Don’t Get Fixated on the Numbers of Fans or Followers.

Many attorneys mistakenly believe that social media marketing is a numbers game, and they get fixated on their number of fans and followers. Some lawyers buy followers. Buying followers is a waste of money, and it results in little to no leads. When you buy followers or fans, you’re just buying numbers. The follower and fans you purchase aren’t people who’re interested or willing to engage with you or your firm. Additionally, you’re likely buying a large number of fake social media accounts

Instead of worrying about the numbers, be patient and concentrate on growing your followers and fans organically. Your end goal should be developing an audience interested in and will engage with you, your firm, and your practice areas.

Don’t Auto-Post

Not only does it take time and effort to grow your followers and fans, but it also takes considerable time to engage on social media by posting relevant content. Many attorneys don’t have the time to devote to posting and sharing, so they turn to a cheap and convenient solution by using auto-postingAdd a Tooltip Text tools and applications to automatically distribute their blogs or other content to their connected social media accounts. Setting your social media profiles to “autopilot” is terrible for several reasons, including:

  • When you’re auto-posting, you’re not engaging or listening. In other words, you’re not being “social.” Successful social media marketing for lawyers requires the human element of engagement.
  • Different social media platforms allow for different styles of posts. For example, Google Plus allows for embedded photographs, font styles (bold post headings), and more. However, Twitter only allows 140 characters. Facebook posts can be significantly longer and can include location and tags. When you auto-post the same message to different social media channels, you miss out on opportunities to customize your posts and increase engagement with your followers and fans.

As a side note, at JustLegal, we don’t auto-post content. Instead, we increase your social media marketing efforts by posting and sharing content relevant to your firm’s practice areas.

Schedule the Best Times for Your Social Media Posts

Effective social media marketing for attorneys requires timing, especially since social media posts can have a short shelf life. For example, Twitter is perhaps the most challenging platform where your posts disappear the fastest depending on the number of your followers. The reach of your Facebook posts depends on Facebook’s newsfeed algorithm that considers how relevant and engaging your post is to your audience. The point is that you should schedule the timing of your social media posts to reach and engage the maximum number of followers and fans.

With enough historical data from your social media platforms and the right analytic tools, a social media marketing expert (like JustLegal) can create a precise schedule for engagement. However, the following information should give you a rough idea of the best and worst times to share your law firm’s content on social media:

Platform Good Bad Peak Worst
Facebook 1 PM to 4 PM 8 PM to 8 AM  Weds. at 3 PM  Weekends
Twitter 1 PM to 3 PM 8 PM to 9 AM  Mon. to Thurs.  After 3 PM Fri.
LinkedIn 7 AM to 9 AM
or 5 PM to 6 PM
10 PM to 6 AM  Tues. to Thurs.  Mon. & Fri.
Google Plus 9 AM to 11 AM 6 PM to 8 AM  Work Hours  Evenings

Engage With Other Lawyers

In my experience, lawyers will readily engage with other lawyers through social media. Don’t overlook this engagement as a potential source of referrals. In fact, over the years, several lawyers outside of my jurisdiction have referred clients to my firm solely because they follow my firm on social media platforms and me, and they’re aware of my practice areas.

Don’t Get Into Arguments Online (“Flame Wars”)

As lawyers, we have opinions, and we enjoy expressing them. If you’re a trial attorney, then you probably have a penchant for persuading people to come around to your point of view. However, in the world of social media, a healthy exchange of ideas can quickly turn into a nasty [tooltip title= “A flame war is an argument between Internet users who repeatedly provoke each other with personal attacks through forms of online communication between you and others online. Sometimes these flame wars arise because people easily can misinterpret your comments or your tweets. Sometimes, online bashing happens because others want to get a rise out of you purposefully. Either way, resist the temptation to match wits with others online. 

Here’s a real-world example of just how bad things can get. In this example, a patron brought her dog to a restaurant that does not allow pets. The restaurant manager asked the woman if the dog was a service animal required for a disability (a permissible question under the ADA). The woman became enraged and left the restaurant in a huff. Within days, the restaurant’s Facebook page went from having a handful of likes to having 430 1 star reviews and numerous negative posts on its feed.

In this case, the business owner attempted to apologize for the situation but also blamed the customer (where it truly belonged). This response only drew more fire from the woman and her social media friends. The only real solutions were to disable comments on the Facebook page, disable the rating system, and contact Facebook directly to request that the excessive number of negative reviews be removed.

In the end, always stay professional and avoid these confrontations. After all, in the words of comedian George Carlin:

Never argue with an idiot. They will only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

Don’t Be Overly Self-Promotional

It’s always nice to be recognized for your good works, so an occasional post about an award such as an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell or inclusion in Super Lawyers is OK. However, if you’re constantly bragging about your accomplishments and accolades instead of being social, then you’re going to alienate your followers and fans.

Don’t Try to “Game” the Social Media Marketing System.

A targeted strategy on Google Plus and other social media platforms doesn’t equal engagement with your followers and fans. Google eventually catches up to every “system” SEO enthusiasts engage into “game” social media to boost their online rankings in Google’s search. Suppose you grow your social media organically and naturally and authentically engage with your audience. In that case, you’ll never have to worry about the following algorithm Google implements to penalize spammy online marketing efforts.

 

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