PMRC Library at Your Fingertips
August 23, 2019
The Practice Management Resource Center has a lending library of print and digital books on a variety of topics to help attorneys with all phases of their practice.
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The PMRC Helps You Manage Your Practice
August 16, 2019
For many of us, the business side is the least enjoyable and most difficult side of our practice. Fortunately, the State Bar of Michigan can help.
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The Practice of Limited Scope Representation
August 9, 2019
The SBM Lawyer Referral Service reports that they receive 20–25 calls per week asking for limited scope assistance. As word of the practice spreads, there will be more clients looking for limited scope representation.
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New Limited Scope Representation Rules
August 2, 2019
In 2016, the State Bar of Michigan president appointed an Unbundling Work Group that drafted limited scope court and ethics rules that were adopted by the Bar’s Representative Assembly, and then by the Michigan Supreme Court.
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Introduction to Limited Scope Representation
July 26, 2019
Limited scope representation is a method of representation in which attorney and client agree to limit the attorney’s involvement in a civil lawsuit.
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Casemaker Launches Casemaker4
July 12, 2019
The new version, according to the company, keeps features users liked while improving search speed and design responsiveness.
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Casemaker—A Free Research Tool for Your Practice
July 5, 2019
Casemaker, a free member service provided by the State Bar of Michigan, is a web-based program for legal research.
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Reviews Help Your Business Grow
June 28, 2019
Recently, I received an email from an attorney who received a bad review. I advised a cooling-off period, reminding him that consumer research shows that a negative review improves the credibility of positive comments.
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Consumers & Lawyers Benefit from SBM Member Directory
June 14, 2019
The member directory assists both consumers and Michigan attorneys. Consumers have access to qualified lawyers, and lawyers have all their information where there are over 2,000 searches a day.
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Every Law Firm Needs a Brochure
June 7, 2019
A brochure keeps your law firm in the client’s mind after leaving a meeting and, ultimately, when the hiring decision is made.
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Updating Your SBM Member Directory Information
May 24, 2019
Using the services provided by the SBM Member Directory, you have all your information in the place where consumers are looking for a lawyer, and keeping it current will encourage future clients to return.
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Images are Vital to Your Website
May 17, 2019
Research shows that websites with images get more views. Pictures act as storytellers, allowing visitors to visualize your firm and its services. They capture the readers’ attention quickly and help them recall the visit later.
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Five Steps to Enhance Difficult or Complex Legal Content
May 10, 2019
Writing complex content is challenging. Start by putting yourself in your reader’s shoes. Connect your topic to the real world and your audience will stick to the end of the story.
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Is Freelance Lawyering for You?
May 3, 2019
The gig economy—a free-market system in which organizations contract with independent workers for temporary and often short-term positions—is transforming the larger economy.
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The Importance of Website Accessibility
April 26, 2019
People with disabilities are often excluded from online digital marketing due to access barriers. Loss of mobility, blindness, deafness, or learning difficulties like dyslexia affect the way an individual interacts with the internet.
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These Posts Need a Stamp
April 12, 2019
In the early 1980s, service marketing emerged as a separate category of marketing. This change was in response to the shift in employment from product creation to provision of services.
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Is There a Logo in Your Future?
April 5, 2019
A great logo helps identify your firm to the world. New clients will be drawn to it, making it a valuable marketing tool for your firm.
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Great Content Needs Great Distribution
March 29, 2019
Learning the best distribution techniques is essential to make sure the time and thought you spent creating the blog is not wasted.
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A Link is Not Just Another Name for a Golf Course
March 25, 2019
Hyperlinks, or links, are the mainstay of the internet.
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Pro Bono Service Benefits Lawyers, the Public, & the Profession
March 15, 2019
Many of you first learned the importance of providing pro bono services in law school. Once in private practice, you continued the practice offering no or low-fee service to non-profits or low-income consumers.
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Keep Your Clients Informed with an Email Newsletter
March 8, 2019
An email newsletter is an easy and effective way to contact all of your clients at once. It helps keep your name in mind when you are not in regular contact.
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How to Select the Perfect Website Designer
March 1, 2019
You’ve reviewed your website, compared it to your competitors, and decided it’s time for an overhaul. However, you are not a website designer nor do you desire to be one. It's time for professional help.
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7 Key Pages on Your Website to Review
February 22, 2019
Your firm’s website is one of the most important marketing tools you have in your business development tool kit.
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What’s in a Font?
February 15, 2019
Visual elements are just as important to the success of your blog as the words you select. The font you use helps transmit the message you want to impart to your readers.
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Eight Tips for an Effective Seminar
February 8, 2019
Who are you speaking to, and what are they expecting or needing from your presentation. To obtain a complete analysis of who will be in the room, talk to the person who invited you.
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The Importance of Your Existing Client Base
February 1, 2019
A client base that continues to use and refer your services is cost effective and increases your bottom line.
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Finding the Right Niche Practice & Community for You
January 25, 2019
According to the federal government, the prospects for lawyers are good. The projected 8% growth is about as fast as the average for all occupations.
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Twelve Steps to a Better Blog
January 18, 2019
A well-written and well-received blog needs some planning. Start by blocking out some time to write the post—you’ll probably need two to three hours.
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January is the Time to Replan Your Marketing Plan
January 11, 2019
January is the time of year to look to the past and plan for your marketing future. Listing the successes and failures of 2018 can help you make effective goals for 2019.
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It’s a New Year—Time to Update Your Profile
January 4, 2019
A well-written bio can convince potential clients that you are trustworthy and can help them solve their legal problems. It’s your chance to highlight your work and areas of expertise.
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Are You Ready for a Mobile-Friendly 2019?
December 21, 2018
A mobile-friendly website is designed to work the same across all devices.
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Is it Time for Analog Marketing?
December 14, 2018
Before the internet, websites, and social media, there was attorney advertising. Now called analog marketing, as opposed to digital marketing, it was and is a real, tangible, and personalized connection with potential clients.
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SEO Meets Voice Search
December 7, 2018
Realizing that it’s projected that half of all internet queries will be made through voice search or search engine optimization (SEO), the use of techniques to increase your content for voice should be a priority.
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How to Review Your Marketing Program
November 29, 2018
It’s that time of year again. Holidays are being celebrated, families are gathering together, and legal work is being concluded. In the midst of all that activity, take some time to look back at how your marketing efforts performed.
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What is Marketing Mix?
November 21, 2018
If you use the marketing mix to audit your efforts, it’s important to assess each part. Doing so will assure you’ve developed a strategy that will support the firm's future.
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7 Headlines That Attract Readers
November 16, 2018
The headline you write is the first thing a prospective reader sees. If your headline doesn’t turn a browser into a reader, the time you spent writing your words is wasted.
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Is There a Billboard in Your Future?
November 9, 2018
You’ve probably seen billboards advertising lawyers with captions vowing to fight for you. But have you ever wondered if a billboard would be right for your practice?
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Is It Time for a Podcast?
November 2, 2018
Your podcast must convey the right image and interest your target audience. An interesting, informative, and entertaining message creates a great podcast.
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Which Marketing Method is Right for You?
October 26, 2018
Effectively marketing for your firm requires that you have a well-defined market, know your potential clients, understand where to find them, and have a consistent plan.
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Where to Find Topics Consumers Will Read
October 19, 2018
Even though you’ve been immersed in the law all week, what would your readers be interested in? Where would you find interesting topics?
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Limited Scope Representation
October 12, 2018
Limited Scope Representation refers to the concept of a lawyer agreeing with a client to handle only some part(s) of the client's legal matter.
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Meet the Press
October 5, 2018
Your first step in cultivating a relationship with reporters is to establish yourself. Writing useful content is an excellent way to make yourself known.
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Six Ways to Improve Your LinkedIn Profile
September 28, 2018
LinkedIn is one of the most powerful social networking tools for lawyers.
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Consider the E-Newsletter
September 21, 2018
Before LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and websites, law firms used regularly published newsletters to stay in touch with clients and contacts.
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It’s Time to Review Your Marketing Plan
September 14, 2018
Clients come to law firms in many ways. Some through personal contacts, others find you on the internet, and some come to you through paid advertising.
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Master Lawyers Share Their Thoughts
September 7, 2018
Experienced lawyers were asked about words of wisdom they would share with a new lawyer. Respondents commented on the business and practice of law, relationships with clients, networking, and enjoying the journey.
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Network with the SBM
August 31, 2018
Building relationships with other members of the profession will help you develop a practice and enhance your legal career.
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Is Instagram for Lawyers?
August 24, 2018
Instagram is good for building your brand by creating a visual story of your life in and out of the law. While the law may not be photogenic, the people of the law are.
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Twitter for Your Law Practice in 2018
August 10, 2018
Twitter has grown from its early days as a way for friends to stay in touch to be both a networking tool and news source.
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Law Firms Need Evergreen Content
August 3, 2018
Like the trees, evergreen content on your website retains its usefulness to readers long after publication.
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Tips to Improve Your Blog
July 27, 2018
Blog: "A regularly updated web page, typically run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style."—Oxford English Dictionary
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Social Media & Lawyers in 2018
July 20, 2018
Although the legal profession has been slow to jump on social media, a survey by the American Bar Association showed more lawyers are maintaining a social media presence.
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Reaching the Rural Consumer
July 13, 2018
This is rural Michigan, with an estimated population of 2,519,000 living in the northern half of the state, the thumb, and the upper peninsula.
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Free Up Time & Schedule Postings in Advance
July 6, 2018
Last week, we wrote about saving time by recycling content. Now we'll look at posting refreshed and new material on your social media, website, and blog to free up more time.
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Save Time—Reuse & Repurpose Content
June 29, 2018
Marketing, a necessary part of running a law firm, takes time. You can save some of that time by reusing and repurposing content.
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Seven Common Mistakes Lawyers Make with Their Websites
June 22, 2018
To be sure that your website is welcoming and properly designed, look at this list of common mistakes made by law firms and what to do about them.
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Your Brand Supports Goodwill
June 15, 2018
Brand and goodwill are intangible assets. To understand their worth, consider what they are and how they are created, maintained, and connected.
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Search Engine Optimization in 2018
June 8, 2018
Search engine optimization is a series of techniques used to increase the visibility of your website. Using them can help your website provide a complete user experience.
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How to Write Your Practice Area Pages
June 1, 2018
Your practice area page carries a heavy burden. It explains what kind of law you practice and, when well written and designed, convinces prospective clients to contact you.
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Writing With Your Readers in Mind
May 25, 2018
Your clients, unlike fellow lawyers and judges, don’t have legal training. When they visit your website they want information they can understand.
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Need a Website? Your SBM Has The Answer
May 18, 2018
While all State Bar members are listed with a basic profile, you can use the free and fee-based services to create a more complete web presence.
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Every Lawyer Needs a Website
May 11, 2018
A lawyer without a website is like an office without a door. Without a website, consumers seeking information about you on the internet have no way to enter your world.
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What is a Tagline? Do I Need One?
May 4, 2018
A tagline is a succinct phrase that communicates your brand message to consumers. It is a short phrase or a few words that describes your brand.
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Website Content—The Heart of Internet Marketing
April 27, 2018
Website content is the heart of a successful internet marketing campaign.
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How Often Should You Post on Social Media?
April 20, 2018
When using social media, quality and consistency are more important than quantity.
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Fourteen Tried & True Tactics to Market Your Firm
April 13, 2018
The best marketing plan focuses on activities you do well, can accomplish consistently, and are aimed at your target audience.
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Add Reviews to Your Website in 2018
April 6, 2018
A consumer looking for a lawyer often starts by consulting with friends and relatives. Armed with some names, they often turn to the internet to find more information.
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Host a Webinar to Bring in More Business
March 30, 2018
A webinar is like a seminar except the host and participants connect via their computers.
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This is the Year to Write That Book
March 23, 2018
Yes, this is the year for you to write a book about issues that occur in your practice. You’ve thought about it for a while and now is the time.
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Finding Your Target Market
March 16, 2018
When you decided to practice law, part of that decision was based on the type of client you wished to attract. Knowing who you wish to attract is key to the first step.
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The Importance of Bar Associations
March 9, 2018
The State Bar of Michigan provides several services and opportunities to volunteer. However, there are many other local and specialty bar associations within the state.
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Understanding the Language of the Internet
March 2, 2018
The law has a rich history of words that lawyers like to use but few outside the industry understand. The internet also has special words, many borrowed from other fields.
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Creating a Content Marketing Publishing Strategy for Your Firm
February 23, 2018
A well-developed law firm publishing strategy improves the firm’s profile and supports business development.
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How to Increase Your Referrals in 2018
February 16, 2018
The oldest and most reliable form of generating leads for lawyers come from referrals.
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Lawyer Referral Services Benefit Lawyers & Consumers
February 9, 2018
Consumers looking for legal services have several options.
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How to Retain Your Clients
February 2, 2018
The practice of law is both a service and legal business. Looking at both of these aspects can help you find ways to retain clients.
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Face-to-Face Networking—the Why and How
January 26, 2018
Meeting people face to face and sharing experiences, ideas, and interests is a valuable opportunity to keep your name and practice visible.
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How to Upgrade Your Website
January 19, 2018
After just a few clicks, you should be able to determine how many people visit your website, who they were, what action they took, and how long they stayed.
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It’s That Time Again—Time to Update Your Profile
January 12, 2018
The "About Us" or "Profile" page is the second most visited page on your website. Potential clients find the home page and then click on your profile to learn more about you.
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Use Niche Marketing to Find More Clients
January 5, 2018
Lawyers can no longer be generalists. Because the law is too complex for you to be all things, it is necessary to select an area of practice that suits you and your firm.
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Your 2018 Marketing Plan—Part 2
December 21, 2017
In part one of Your 2018 Marketing Plan you set the goals and purposes of the plan. In part two we’ll look at some elements you must establish to accomplish those goals.
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Writing Your 2018 Marketing Plan—Part 1
December 15, 2017
A marketing plan that considers the firm’s purpose, goals, and results of past efforts and describes how to reach future goals will help spur growth in 2018.
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How & Why You Should Analyze Your Website
December 8, 2017
It’s December and the year is coming to a close. Before you start planning for the new year, take some time to look back at how your internet marketing efforts performed.
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How to Answer When a Reporter Calls
December 1, 2017
When reporters come to you for information, they want a clear, succinct discussion of a legal question that adds information to their story. How should you respond?
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Your Profile on LinkedIn—It’s Time for an Update
November 17, 2017
If you haven’t visited LinkedIn in the last three months to review your profile, it’s time for an update. LinkedIn is now one of the most powerful social networking tools for lawyers.
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Call to Action: What it is and Why You Need it
November 9, 2017
Calls to action are some of the most important language on your web page.
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Six Steps to Protecting Your Online Reputation
November 3, 2017
Your online reputation and identity are vital to your practice. These steps can help ensure your online reputation is not costing you clients.
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Hoping for Clients is Not Enough—You Need to Market
October 27, 2017
Hoping for clients may be beneficial, but analyzing the type of practice you wish to create and the marketing methods needed to connect will bring better results.
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Comprehensible Writing for Your Clients
October 20, 2017
Using plain language helps you to be precise in your writing, whether it be a legal contract, an e-mail to clients, or a blog post.
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Keeping Your Clients Informed with Newsletters
October 14, 2017
The purpose of your newsletter is gaining new contacts and clients; make sure your audience knows you really want to talk to them.
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An Integrated Campaign is a Winning Campaign
September 29, 2017
An integrated marketing campaign is an approach that ensures all forms of communications and messages are carefully linked.
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Five Steps to Great Content Marketing
September 25, 2017
The core assumption of content strategy is that if you deliver consistent, worthwhile information to prospective clients, you’ll be rewarded with their business.
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Profile Badge to Connect Instantly to Your Profile Now Available
September 15, 2017
The State Bar of Michigan has made it easier for people to find your profile with the addition of a badge you can post on your website and blog.
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How to Organize Your Contacts for Business Development
September 11, 2017
The key to developing your law practice is staying at the top of the minds of your clients, referral sources, and contacts.
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Is it Time for Video?
September 1, 2017
Using video on your website captures attorneys in action, showing prospective clients the service they will receive from that lawyer.
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Fifteen-Minute Marketing
August 25, 2017
Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes to keep your present clients informed and attract new ones to your practice.
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Lawyers Are Great Sources of Referrals
August 18, 2017
Referrals are vital to a successful law practice. To get as many referrals as possible remember that every person you meet is someone who will need a lawyer at some point.
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You Still Need a Business Card
August 11, 2017
The business card is one of the most compact business marketing tools in use today. It fits in your pocket, you can make notes on it, and it never needs charging.
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Making the Move to Long-Form Content
August 4, 2017
Long-form content is longer than most blog posts. Long form offers a greater depth of information, is more comprehensive, and provides visual support of the written text.
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Finding Topics for Your Blog the Easy Way
July 28, 2017
Bloggers have to regularly search for topics to keep readers. It's important to search for topics to understand who your target reader is and what they want to know about.
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Finding Your ROI on Your Website
July 21, 2017
Measuring your website's return on investment (ROI) is the key to assessing the effectiveness of your Internet marketing efforts.
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LinkedIn Revisited—Still the Place to Be
July 14, 2017
LinkedIn is said to be one of the most powerful social networking tools available for lawyers.
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Reaching New Clients in Rural Michigan
July 7, 2017
67% of Michigan's rural population uses Facebook. And those folks, per the U.S. Census, live in the northern half of the state, the thumb, and the Upper Peninsula.
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Podcasts—What Are They & Should You Have One?
June 30, 2017
The newest and fastest growing entrant into the digital marketing world is the podcast.
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Five Ways to Extend the Life of Your Speech
June 23, 2017
Preparing and giving a speech takes a lot of valuable time and effort. Using the material before different groups and in many outlets makes the whole procedure worthwhile.
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Distribution—Needed Support to Great Content
June 16, 2017
Knowing where your content will perform best is vital to its success. Consider the readership, relevance, and purpose of your content to help decide your distribution plan.
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In-House Counsel Prefer Client Alerts for Information
June 9, 2017
A client alert is a mass e-mail message addressing a new or developing legal topic—perhaps a recent precedent-setting decision or a pending change to federal or state law.
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Easy Marketing Ideas for Your Practice
June 5, 2017
Business development or marketing is vital to your practice.
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Conversion Rate Optimization—What is it & Why You Should Care
May 26, 2017
Conversion rate optimization is using web design techniques to improve or enhance your home page, making it more attractive for consumers to use.
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Four Ways Google Analytics Can Help Improve Your Website
May 19, 2017
Most likely, the reason you have a website is to attract new clients. Google Analytics is a good tool to learn how to make better marketing decisions.
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Use a Blog to Grow Your Small Firm Practice
May 12, 2017
In today's technological world a blog is one of the most affordable ways to reach a large number of people.
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How to Write a Winning Lawyer Profile
May 5, 2017
Consider breaking with traditional patterns to make your profile more relevant, revealing, and engaging. Show present and future clients why they should want to meet you.
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Remember to Market to Your Existing Clients
April 28, 2017
We spend a lot of time writing about attracting new clients; however, it's important not to forget about your current and past clients.
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Is Your Practice Page Ready for Prime Time?
April 14, 2017
Each practice page should focus on one topic. By doing so, it's easier for search engines to find you and a prospective client to find the topic they are seeking.
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Why & How to Hold Press Conferences
April 7, 2017
Press releases, interviews, and informal media contacts are great ways to get keep your firm's name in the news.
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Links & Your Website
March 31, 2017
Links are the mainstay of the Internet. They are what make it work. When you're browsing and come across a highlighted or underlined word, it's probably a link.
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Five Thoughts on Selecting a Website Designer
March 24, 2017
Are you trying to increase brand awareness, or are you looking for new leads for your practice? How do you select the best designer for you?
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SBM Member Directory Offers New Payment Options
March 17, 2017
Prospective clients feel more comfortable contacting a lawyer when they know the cost of representation. Take time now to edit your profile to include your payment options.
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Is Your Website Mobile Friendly?
March 10, 2017
A mobile friendly website is designed to work the same way across all devices. A website with no usability concerns, regardless of where it's being viewed, is mobile friendly.
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Content Marketing in 2017
March 3, 2017
Client-focused content will continue to be a big theme in 2017. Your content should inform, build trust, and each page should give readers a way to contact you.
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Receiving an Award Benefits You and Your Firm
February 24, 2017
Awards presented by reputable legal organizations to members of your firm confer recognition on the firm and position your lawyers as leaders in the law.
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The Many Features of Your SBM Member Directory
February 17, 2017
In the two-plus years the SBM Member Directory has been up and running, many features have been added and expanded. Enhance your basic profile to gain more contacts.
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Non-Traditional Lawyers Also Need a Web Presence
February 10, 2017
An online presence in the form of social media or a website is as necessary for non-traditional lawyers as it is for lawyers working as solo practitioners or in a law firm.
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Community Outreach—Good for Community—Good for Your Firm
February 3, 2017
Adding local community outreach events to your strategic plan can benefit both the firm and the community.
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Your Law Firm's Brand in 2017
January 27, 2017
Having a brand identity and message will lead to more targeted and consistent marketing, which will increase your business.
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E-mail Marketing in 2017
January 20, 2017
E-mail marketing campaigns are still the best way to deliver a targeted message to a particular and receptive audience.
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Voice Search Meets Law Firm Websites
January 13, 2017
Voice search is the fastest growing type of search. It's faster, hands-free, and allows you to multi-task.
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Law Firms in Your SBM Online Member Directory
January 6, 2017
Your SBM Member Directory now has a Law Firm package, which allows access to the profiles for every person in a law firm with one username and password.
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The Best New Year’s Resolution for Lawyers
December 22, 2016
Start by looking back at 2016. List three things that worked and three things that didn't work.
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Use the Active Voice for Winning Website Content
December 16, 2016
The visitors to your website want writing that is clear, concise, and formatted correctly. To keep the reader on the page, use the active rather than the passive voice.
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Which Voice or Point of View is Right for Your Website?
December 9, 2016
Point of view, or voice, in writing is the perspective the writer takes to tell the story. It is the mode of narration used to inform your clients or prospective clients.
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Website Design that Turns Seekers into Clients
December 2, 2016
The design of your website helps attract business to your firm. Yes, you need compelling content and your contact information, but a good design is a website's foundation.
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Who are Your Clients & How Do You Reach Them?
November 21, 2016
The practice of law is both a business and a profession.
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Small Steps = Giant Leaps
November 4, 2016
Marketing for your law firm is comprised of both large and small steps. There are several small marketing steps you can take that will help you.
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Is Your SBM Profile Ready for Prime Time?
October 29, 2016
The State Bar of Michigan and Zeekbeek have created a site you can use as your only online presence or as an addition to your website.
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The Millennials Are Coming. Are You Ready?
October 21, 2016
By 2020, 46% of the U.S. workforce will be millennials. What legal issues could the millennials, aged 18–34, have?
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Social Media in Late 2016
October 14, 2016
Social media is a necessary part of your marketing efforts. Right now, your potential clients are on their phones or tablets, checking in, sharing, and engaging with others.
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10 Marketing Tips to Build Your Practice
October 10, 2016
What type of law are you going to practice? Where? Do you want a partner?
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How Lawyers are Using Social Media in 2016
September 30, 2016
Now, as social media has become a major part of our culture, lawyers are accepting its importance to their profession.
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Frequently Asked Questions about FAQs
September 23, 2016
Adding a Frequently Asked Questions page to your website will improve your client's experience.
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Snapchat—It's for Lawyers, too
September 16, 2016
Snapchat is great platform for the storytelling lawyers among us to improve their skills, create new connections, new business, and unleash their creativity.
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Internet Searches Now Favored Method to Find a Lawyer
September 9, 2016
According to a study done by FindLaw in 2014, searches on the Internet have overtaken word of mouth as the preferred method to find a lawyer.
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Your Firm Newsletter—Print, Digital, or Both?
September 2, 2016
Newsletters are a powerful way to build lasting relationships with your clients. When you use both digital and print newsletters, you can boost firm recognition.
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Speaking Engagements: Great for Client Development
August 26, 2016
Speaking engagements are an effective way to connect with potential clients. Presenting on topics in your practice area helps to establish you as a leader in your field.
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Three Easy Ways to Get Your Blog Noticed
August 19, 2016
Your blog entry is written and posted. The content is informative and interesting. The formatting is attractive and will draw readers. Now you want to get it noticed.
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Finding a Lawyer the Lawyer2Lawyer Way
August 12, 2016
The Lawyer2Lawyer Directory is an efficient and effective way to find a lawyer to help you with a project. It is also a great way to offer your services to other lawyers.
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Using SEO to Attract Readers to Your Site
August 5, 2016
SEO is about visibility with your posts, but it's the consumers, readers, and users of the information who are most important to consider.
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Search Engine Optimization—In Plain English
July 29, 2016
SEO or Search Engine Optimization is a technique used to ensure that a website can be found in search engines for the words and phrases relevant to what the site is offering.
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7 Formatting Steps to a Readable Blog
July 22, 2016
You've come up with a topic for your blog. The piece has been written, revised, and edited to perfection. You know it's what your clients want, but is it user friendly?
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Consumer Reviews—The SBM Member Directory Way
July 15, 2016
Future clients want reliable information when deciding on an attorney for their legal needs. Client reviews are an important part of the decision-making process.
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Is There a Book in Your Future?
July 8, 2016
A book written by you for the benefit of your clients and colleagues is an innovative marketing tool.
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The Mysterious World of #Hashtags
July 1, 2016
Definition of hashtag: Word or phrase preceded by the symbol # that classifies or categorizes the accompanying text, such as a tweet. (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
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The Pluses & Minuses of Using Social Media
June 24, 2016
It seems everyone is busy using social media to market their practice. Should you jump into the social media pond?
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Need an Online Presence? The SBM Has You Covered
June 13, 2016
Your SBM Member Directory powered by Zeekbeek is an online marketplace where lawyers can increase their visibility and consumers can find lawyers.
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Interview with Julie Fershtman, Lawyer-Blogger
June 6, 2016
Julie Fershtman, former SBM president and attorney with Foster Swift, writes a blog on equine law. She speaks on how blogging has benefited both her and her firm.
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Good Endings Make Good Beginnings
May 27, 2016
Use your ending to inspire readers to keep reading your blog. Give them a call to action.
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How Do I Find Readers for My Blog?
May 20, 2016
"How do I find readers for my blog?" is a question I get asked frequently—most recently standing in line by an attorney pondering the vastness of the Internet.
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Interview with a Lawyer Blog Writer
May 13, 2016
Jeanne M. Hannah has maintained her own solo practice since 1987. She has published a family law blog, Updates in Family Law, since June 2005.
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Where Do I Find Topics for my Blog?
May 9, 2016
You have the best of intentions when it comes to writing your blog.
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Is My Website Effective?
April 29, 2016
Has the feedback concerning the effectiveness of your site been limited to casual comments from clients or colleagues?
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How to and Why You Should Network Face to Face
April 22, 2016
Meeting people face-to-face, sharing experiences, ideas, and interests is a valuable opportunity to keep your name and practice a step ahead.
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Making Time for Online Marketing
April 18, 2016
“I know we said we would do an online marketing activity every week,” Lance said to sister Linda.
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Why Video on Your Website
April 8, 2016
"What type of lawyer are you looking for?" Sally Consumer asked her friend Jane sitting across from her in the coffee shop.
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Branding is Essential to a Successful Law Practice
April 1, 2016
Branding is the cornerstone of your practice. It is the framework, the basis of all your marketing decisions, and the way you communicate your values as a lawyer.
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5 Steps to Getting Noticed on the Web
March 25, 2016
You will get noticed on the Internet if you try these suggestions.
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Six Easy Steps to Improve SEO
March 21, 2016
So what is SEO? Search Engine Optimization is focused on finding ways to improve rankings, drive traffic, and increase awareness in search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo.
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Facebook Page—It's for Lawyers
March 18, 2016
The next time you're standing in line at the movies, look around at the people on their smartphones, laptops, or tablets. How many are checking their Facebook accounts?
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LinkedIn—the Professional Networking Tool
March 11, 2016
LinkedIn is about networking and building relationships.
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Build a Better Blog, Add More Readers
March 4, 2016
"Build a better mousetrap, and the world will beat a path to your door."—Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Twitter in 2016
February 26, 2016
Twitter, a social media platform begun as a way for friends to stay in touch, has grown to be both a networking tool and news source.
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Tell Stories to Find Clients
February 20, 2016
Simply stating the facts loses readers, but stories with characters experiencing legal problems keep the reader on the page.
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Your Website in 2016
February 12, 2016
In 2016, a website and web presence is both a convenience and the standard by which consumers judge your business.
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What is Marketing?
February 6, 2016
Marketing: A management process through which goods or services move from concept to consumer.
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Online Appointment Scheduling is Here
January 29, 2016
When Sally Consumer wants to find a lawyer to help with her case, she is most likely to hop on the Internet to find lawyers who are accepting new clients.
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Jump-Start Your Referral Business in 2016
January 22, 2016
Referrals are vital to a successful law practice. The SBM has developed a Lawyer2Lawyer Professional Referral Directory.
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7 Trends in 2016 Marketing
January 15, 2016
It's the time of year when, like Janus, the two-faced Roman god of doorways and for whom January is named, you look to the past and plan for your marketing future.
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It's Time to Update Your Profile
December 18, 2015
"I think our profiles on the SBM Directory and our website need updating," said Lance walking into the conference room of L & L Law.
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Find the Legal Needs in Your Community
December 11, 2015
If you've added a new legal service to your practice but aren't sure what that service should be, your first step should be to analyze the people in your community.
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How to Find Marketing ROI and Why You Need It
December 4, 2015
We've celebrated Thanksgiving, the holiday season has begun, the end of the year is approaching and it's time to plan for 2016.
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A Week of Marketing
November 20, 2015
Lance and Linda Lawyer of L & L Law are sitting in their conference room early Saturday morning. Their conversation is focused on business development.
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How Sally Consumer Uses the SBM Directory
November 14, 2015
The SBM member directory offers consumers, like Sally, access to 44,000 plus Michigan lawyers on the site.
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Make Contact Information Work for You
November 6, 2015
Your SBM member profile serves several functions; it helps keep clients informed with articles and blogs, it improves client service, and it helps potential clients find you.
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Post Your Publications on SBM Enhanced Directory
October 31, 2015
You've written a great blog. The headline is compelling and it's presented in an interesting format. Now it's time to circulate it to current and future clients.
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The Importance of One Client
October 24, 2015
Michigan native Joe Girard, a car salesman, is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the world's most successful retail salesperson.
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SBM Annual Meeting From an Exhibitor’s View
October 16, 2015
The exhibit hall was a great place to discover the many services.
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Are You Ready for Video?
October 9, 2015
Using video can help attract more clients and grow your law firm by establishing your expertise online.
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Identify Your Brand With a Logo
October 1, 2015
A logo or symbol representing your firm can be the cornerstone of your brand.
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Seven Steps to a Better Blog
September 24, 2015
When your reader looks at your blog, the first question in their mind is “Why should I read this?”
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Your Name, Your Profile
September 17, 2015
In today’s world of the Internet, the selection of a name for your profile in a directory, website, blog, twitter, and Facebook account is important.
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Press Releases for Lawyers
September 10, 2015
A well-written press release generates power, passion, and publicity.
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The Words of the Internet
September 3, 2015
Every year after the ABA TechShow, a survey of the attendees, mainly lawyers, is conducted. In answer to whether they used a “web-based service,” only 30% answered yes; 70% said no.
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E-mail Marketing—Effective & Efficient
August 27, 2015
E-mail marketing is still considered the best way to deliver a message. While many e-mails are deleted after reading the subject line, e-mails with a message of value will be read.
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Your Firm, Your Brand
August 20, 2015
A firm’s brand makes a promise; it tells the world what service to expect and how it will be delivered.
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Facebook? For Lawyers?
August 13, 2015
It is a social network where people connect and build relationships. All are welcome, including lawyers.
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Twitter for Your Law Practice
August 6, 2015
Twitter can be a great resource of information, a place for you to network with other lawyers, a way to keep in touch with clients, and develop your personal brand.
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Writing for Your Reader
July 30, 2015
All writing involves two people—the writer and the reader.
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What is Mobile Friendly?
July 23, 2015
Being on the Internet + being found on the Internet = an effective marketing program.
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Time for Review of Your Online Presence
July 16, 2015
In the cold of our Michigan winter, AKA January, experts created lists of marketing trends for 2015.
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Is One Online Presence Enough?
July 9, 2015
The more places you can be found on the Internet, the higher your search engine rankings and the easier it will be for your clients and consumers to find you.
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Lawyers Can be Legal Consumers, Too
July 2, 2015
The same rules apply to marketing to lawyers as publicizing to consumers with a few additions.
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The Internet is for All Lawyers
June 25, 2015
You can establish relationships and connections that would otherwise be unworkable because of distance and time.
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An Online Presence may be a Legal Necessity
June 18, 2015
A website can cultivate relationships and help you find your next best client.
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Finding the Licensed Attorney in Michigan
June 11, 2015
Only the SBM Member Directory prominently highlights at the top of every active member’s business card and profile that the lawyer is "Active and in Good Standing."
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Avoid Internet Risk, Keep Your Social Media Safe
June 4, 2015
Social networking sites can help you better serve your clients and bring in new business. But, remember your ethical obligations when using the sites.
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Your Profile, Your Door to the World
May 28, 2015
Roughly three quarters of those looking for a lawyer will turn to the Internet as part of their research.
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Search Engine Optimization or How Robots Find You
May 26, 2015
Creating a relevant and popular site that gets lots of visitors is called Search Engine Optimization.
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Consumers Use the Internet—You Need to Be There
May 14, 2015
The newly redesigned Member Directory lets you add information to your online profile listing with easy-to-use tools.
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