Raising the Bar Blog - Blogging 101 http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/blogging-101/ Developing high achievers into world class rainmakers. en Copyright 2010 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:50:25 -0800 Tue, 22 Jun 2010 12:50:25 -0800 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.32-en http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Change Is Coming While we’ve been blogging over the last few months we have also been doing some deep work on improving our blog platform, look and content. That process is now complete. Look for the launch of our new blog hosted on the Lexblog platform coming soon.

In the meantime, keep up with social media tips by joining my LinkedIn group, Raising the Bar: Social Media Marketing for Lawyers and CPAs (and other professionals, too.) Send me an email at rhensley@raisingthebar.com and I will get back to you right away.

Our next LinkedIn 90-minute seminar will be held on August 18, 2010. Email me to register for "LinkedIn Secrets for Lawyers, CPAs, Financial Advisors and Other Professionals” taught by myself and Jeffrey Brathwaite aka JB, Raising the Bar's social media consultant. There will be a cocktail reception immediately following at the Peachtree Club overlooking Atlanta. The response to our first seminar was overwhelming. Again, attendance is extremely limited so contact me now if you want to know more.

Until next time…

Robin

]]> http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/change-is-coming/ http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/change-is-coming/ Blogging 101Social Networking Tue, 01 Jun 2010 06:01:13 -0800 () Blog Comments Are An Easy Blogging Strategy Commenting_On_A_Blog-300x250.pngDip your toe into blogging the easy way by leaving a comment for the blogger. Agree or disagree, state your opinion, offer encouragement or add to the conversation. It’s an easy way to get started and commenting has an extra bonus. It can get you noticed!

How to comment on a blog

Most blogs give readers an opportunity to comment or reply by sharing their thoughts. I’ll use this blog as an example of how to comment. (Of course, if you feel you want to comment on this post or others, please do so!)

  1. Look for a “Comments” or “Reply” box on the blog. This is usually at the bottom of the posting. Scroll down now and you’ll see a box that says, “Leave a Reply”
  2. Fill in the information requested and type in your comment. This is a great opportunity to show off your knowledge or experience but be sure to keep it brief.
  3. Click the “Submit Comment” button. Your comment will be reviewed by my blog moderator for content and appropriateness. Once the moderator (often referred to as the “mod”) has reviewed it, your comment will be posted.
  4. If you have included a website when writing your reply, blog readers scrolling down to your comment will see a pop-up window with a link to your site when they click on your name —a quick and easy way to promote yourself and your business.
  5. Get started now by posting a reply. Hey, your blogging!

Your comments are welcome! Have you ever used “Comments” or “Reply” to showcase your expertise? Tell us about it.

]]> http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/blog-comments-are-an-easy-blogging-strategy/ http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/blog-comments-are-an-easy-blogging-strategy/ Blogging 101 Tue, 15 Dec 2009 06:30:23 -0800 () Does Blogging Make Sense for Marketing Your Practice? The bigger question is, "Does social media make sense for marketing your practice?" I say, "Yes, definitely." However, you have to know how to use it to make it work for you. That's where I've found my clients fail in their online efforts.

Take blogging, for example. This requires a real commitment to posting; but beyond that, it takes a real reason for getting the word out. In other words, just pushing out content to make a splash for yourself isn't good enough.

You have to be more interested in the people you are serving than in serving your own public relations purposes. It's an opportunity to share information and connections (think LinkedIn) that can help your constituency reach their objectives. That's what I believe, and it's why I've decided to take the plunge myself -- not just with blogging, but also with the whole social media phenomenon. In future posts, I'll be sharing online strategies and tactics that can support your professional practice and help build your success.

In the meantime, are you ready to take the plunge? Read on for more about blogging...

]]>There is still plenty of skepticism in larger firms about the value of blogging (or blawging as it is known in legal circles). Media savvy lawyers who would rather go online for their information are not necessarily the decision-makers. Some people are still arguing for the value of newsprint (huh?). Is that your story?

Big firms argue, too, that blogs attract the wrong market -- that general counsel and C-level management are not likely to be visiting a blog any time soon. And finally, where’s the ROI on the time and trouble it takes to keep up with a blog? Are the same arguments true for the solo or small firm?

Gerard W. O’Brien, who posts at www.lawfirmblogging.com, makes the case that blogging for lawyers is an easy way to get feedback on creative ideas. Better to be embarrassed in relative anonymity of a blog than when arguing in court or speaking in front of a room of VIPs. He goes on to say that, “Blogging is also a great way to expand your reach. As an estate-planning attorney, I often have the need for counsel in the states my clients had resided in. When you read other’s writings and communicate back and forth, you can get a feel for who you may and may not want to work with.”

James Beck and Mark Hermann, co-authors of the Drug and Device Law blog with 25,000 page views per month (http://druganddevicelaw.blogspot.com/), think blogging is a great idea. Former trial attorney and Internet marketing expert Kevin O’Keefe (Real Lawyers Have Blogs), CEO of LexBlog, Inc. (http://kevin.lexblog.com), would agree. He was so successful in marketing his small law firm on the Internet that USA Today said, “If O’Keefe isn’t careful, he may wind up giving lawyers a good name.”

Googling “law blogs Atlanta” confirms that blogging is certainly catching on in the Atlanta market. Below are just a few of the dozens of law blogs you will find:

Atlanta Injury Law & Civil Litigation Blog (http://www.atlantainjurylawblog.com), published by Shigley Law Firm

Georgia Bankruptcy Law Blog (http://www.georgiabankruptcyblog.com) published by the Law Office of Scott B. Riddle

Georgia Law Blog (http://www.georgialawblog.com) published by the Law Office of Jack Clay, LLC.

Why not blog back?

What do you think?
Are you blogging now?
What's blogs do you follow?
Could you be missing opportunities by not blogging?

]]> http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/does-blogging-make-sense-for-marketing-your-practice/ http://theraisingthebarblog.mt4temp.lexblognetwork.com/does-blogging-make-sense-for-marketing-your-practice/ Blogging 101 Thu, 10 Dec 2009 10:37:00 -0800 ()