With today’s economic pressures, law firms are finding it harder to figure out how to effectively spend and strategize in regard to a marketing plan and budget. Micah’s 35-minute interview by Cole Silver from earlier this summer is now available as a free podcast online…
It has been a long time since an article I authored garnered as many e-mails and phone calls as this recent one, which appeared in the new column for GCs in the Philadelphia-based The Legal Intelligencer.
In-House Counsel Seek Value From Law Firm Marketing Dollars
by Micah Buchdahl Published by The Legal Intelligencer, 02-27-2008
DEAR MAM: I read your comments in a recent article in Conde Nast Portfolio, and was wondering how easy it is to become a Super Lawyer? And how can I get rated somewhere? SINCERELY YOURS, LC, New York, NY
DEAR LC: To be honest, if you have a heartbeat and a JD, and can not get ranked by somebody somewhere, you’ve got serious problems. As a matter of fact, you can send me a thousand bucks and I will name you the “Marketing Attorney Lawyer of the Week” (complete with an e-mailed PDF of a “plaque” and a gold star sticker from my three year old daughter’s sticker book. I know it sounds sarcastic, but call me if you’ve got the grand handy.
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The ABA’s first-ever national law marketing conference is approaching…November 8-9 at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC.
The Law Firm Marketing Strategies Conference commemorates the 30th anniversary of Bates v. Arizona, and examines the state of law firm marketing for U.S. law firms, and the hottest issues presently on the table. After three decades, what is the current state of law firm marketing? Where do we take it from here?
This is the purest educational conference in law marketing you will ever attend…and at a few hundred dollars, is the best use of business development funds for you and your law firm.
Just kidding about the “death” reference. The much-talked about changes to the attorney advertising rules in New York take effect today. And in the end, New York proved no better (or worse) than the majority of state bars in creating different standards for what is and is not kosher.
Don’t believe what you read
Outside of what you read here. In perusing dozens of articles and blog posts, I read dozens of inaccuracies and inaccurate quotes (a lot of those interviewed misspoke about what the rules were all about). One article quoted a legal marketer that said these rules effected few attorneys in New York (do you know anything about law firm business development?). An attorney cited that NY was at the forefront of these advertising ethics issues (you are not). And I read lots of quotes from non-lawyer marketers that have no say or influence in these decisions. Attorneys that make up the state bar decide what attorneys are going to do.
If you live or work in the Miami area, are attending the ABA Midyear Meeting, or simply would like some no-cost business development learning, the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Management Section is pleased to provide a special slate of law marketing programs, capped by the ABA Women Rainmakers’ Reception, on Friday, February 9, 2007 at the ABA Midyear Meeting in Miami, Florida. The programs and reception are free of charge and open to all ABA attendees as well as any interested attorneys, marketers and administrators from Florida’s law firm and law school community.
For further information, visit the LPM Web Site for program details.
Or download the informational PDF brochure from ABA LPM:
DEAR MAM: I read your recent post on Verizon Yellow Pages. I too have had enormous frustrations with their practices–how much things cost? When the deadlines occur? Errors in the ads? What should I do? Is there a person or department you suggest I contact with Verizon? SINCERELY YOURS, JB, Phoenix, AZ
DEAR JB: To be honest, I’m encouraging firms I work with to stop all Verizon Yellow Pages advertising, because of these types of issues. The reality, in my opinion, is that it is a dying entity. Besides the fact that there are numerous competitors (I do not know which book I keep in my own kitchen–Verizon or Yellow Book–myself), when I need to look something up, I go online anyway. And for one of my law firm clients, we have spent more time trying to resolve a dispute with Verizon this past year than we have on our own business development plan. The best bet is to simply cancel your listing all together. You can always go back later (regardless of “losing your spot in line” sales gimmickery). Perhaps, you will get a new manager or rep that can start you off fresh, or simply try some other marketing tools for a year or two and see how things net out. I have chosen to redirect some of the Verizon money to Yellow Book, simply to see if the product, services and results are any better. Please feel free to contact me privately for further information. Thanks for writing. I feel your pain. Sincerely yours, THE MARKETING ATTORNEY
The November 2006 issue of Law Technology News features a cover story I’ve authored on the process of setting up a law firm blog today.
This is the story of DelawareIPLaw.com, brainstormed and created by three associates in the Intellectual Property section at Wilmington, Delaware-based Young Conaway Stargatt & Taylor.
For more information on this subject, feel free to contact me.
DEAR MAM: I practice employment law at what would probably be considered a megafirm. A few of us are wondering whether it might be better to venture out on our own. In today’s market, do you think our futures are brighter staying put (we are on the partnership track, we think) or going out on our own? SINCERELY YOURS, JC, New York, NY
DEAR JC: Oh, the dilemma of sucking it up and earning big bucks with little life, or rolling the dice on making a good income and doing what you want. I know it well. Contrary to some recent reports, many have found recent success finding a niche that stands between a solo and a boutique–the mini-boutique. In most cases, the mini-boutique has a specialty in which a corporate client finds greater value and lower cost. In most cases that I’ve dealt with, the mini-b is started by partners that have a book of business to get rolling. So, unless you know that there will be some clients to get going, you might hold off a littler longer. Some of the mini-bs that have met with great success are IP and employment practices.
You think that you are on the partnership track? If you are within three years of that next level, stay the course and then reconsider venturing out. If you are a third-year associate, unless you have some clients that will be making the move, you may struggle. And, of course, there is always the opportunity to find a better fit at a full-size boutique. The grass is always greener, baby! Let me know how things play out. SINCERELY YOURS, THE MARKETING ATTORNEY
DEAR MAM: Where do you stand on Yellow Pages advertising? My gut is that it is a waste. However, so many still spend so much on it. SINCERELY YOURS, SP, Minneapolis, MN
DEAR SP: You’ve struck a nerve. There is no entity that has less of a shot of getting a piece of marketing dollar from one of my firms than Verizon Yellow Pages or Super Book or whatever they call themselves. Dealing with Verizon is the worst vendor interaction experience that I have faced ANYWHERE on ANYTHING. I am in the process of looking for law firms that have had similar issues with Verizon sales personnel. Since I am not interested in getting into litigation with them, I’ll leave it at that. However, firms with such experiences should contact me privately. I’ve had much better experiences dealing with the folks at Yellow Book. But that does not really answer your question. In some undersaturated markets, there are still consumer-oriented firms that see and get value from Yellow Pages-style advertising. However, the impact in today’s market is far less than it once was. It has become an overpriced entity that is often too crowded to be effective. If you have a huge budget, I still put money aside for a Yellow Book, but if my dollars are tight, I go elsewhere first. Sincerely yours, THE MARKETING ATTORNEY
