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November 8, 2012 Executive Team Blog
On community...
I'm one of those people who have been in, then out, then back in, then back out (and sometimes back in) to various forms of social networking over the past several years. I have two Facebook accounts, two Google+ accounts, three or four Twitter accounts, and I've dabbled with Digg, Tumblr, Flickr, and other social network services from time to time. I've even been involved in a bunch of different old fashioned message boards for various things I'm interested in. The reason I've had a hard time settling in to social media is that I honestly have a hard time knowing what to do where and when. I have written personal blogs from time to time mostly to share thoughts with friends and family on personal matters (vacations, philosophical ramblings and the like). But bec... Read More
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October 2, 2012 Social Media
Is Social Media Marketing Really Like A Cocktail Party?
Mark Powers Atticus, Inc. Shawn McNails Atticus Inc. In their book on social media marketing, experts Tim Tobin and Lisa Braziel suggest that the activity generated by these sites is analogous to a giant, ongoing 24-hour cocktail party. The name of their book neatly sums up their philosophy: Social Media Marketing Is A Cocktail Party: Why You Already Know the Rules of Social Media Marketing. They believe sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter provide on-going stream of cyber conversation that you can (and should) step into and out of at will. While there’s no question that social media marketing offers another avenue to market yourself and build relationships... Read More
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August 30, 2012 Social Media
Are You Getting into Social Media?
More law firms and lawyers are starting to use social media as part of their business development and marketing strategy. Once considered a passing fad, law firms are hiring dedicated, in-house social media professionals, as discussed in The Washington Post’s recent article, Law Firms Get into the Social Media Game. Read More
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May 15, 2012 Social Media
5 Tips on Social Media: How to Get Help While Staying In Control
By: Darlynn Morgan Morgan Law Group Member of WealthCounsel Despite its popularity, social media is still a widely-debated marketing tool in legal circles. Many lawyers are still testing the water to see if sites like Twitter and Facebook are a complete waste of time or a valuable resource in driving new leads and exposure for their firm. I strive to maintain an active presence on both sites and I’ve found that some of my best speaking engagements and local publicity opportunities have come from connections made on social media. Having an active presence also helps with SEO, as websites are ranked higher when they are constantly shared in social communities (it’s a sign to Google that your site is “popular”). Of course I don’t have time... Read More
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May 8, 2012 Social Media
Can You Require Employees to Turn Over Their Facebook Passwords?
Ethan J. Wall, Esq. Richman Greer, P.A. Employers across the country are requesting access to potential hires’ social media pages to weed out unwanted candidates. They are also curious of how their employees are representing themselves in an ever-increasing online world. Employers are understandably wary of employees acting in a disparaging way while at the same time displaying an affiliation to their employer. But can an employer legally require their applicants and employees to turn over access to their social media profiles – revealing all content and messages that are often hidden behind various privacy settings? If you work in Maryland, the answer may be “no.” Maryland lawmakers are in the process of passing legislation prohibiting employers from asking... Read More
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March 27, 2012 Social Media
What Attorneys Need To Know About Facebook’s Timeline For Pages
By: Darlynn Morgan Morgan Law Group Member of WealthCounsel For attorneys who use Facebook as a marketing tool, you’ve likely noticed that your fan page has now converted to a public timeline. Besides learning how to manage the new layout, many lawyers want to know how to best utilize these changes to expand their reach and maximize social media ROI. As I sat down with my virtual marketing team at Legal Marketing Maven to discuss the new layout, I was excited by the possibilities Facebook is giving to business owners to better connect with their target market. Social media marketing is about building relationships, and for me, the changes make reaching and engaging with prospects easier than ever. Here is an overview of 10 key changes to your Facebook fan page... Read More
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January 4, 2012 Social Media
Search Social Media Sites to Locate Beneficiaries
Ethan J. Wall, Esq. Richman Greer, P.A. Have you experienced frustration with locating a beneficiary during the administration of an estate? Finding a lost beneficiary can be time-consuming and prolong the execution of the inheritance. You probably employ several methods to search for a missing person, but have you considered searching social networking sites? Social media sites like Facebook, Myspace, and LinkedIn are also a great place to search for a lost beneficiary. These sites allow you to search for a specific beneficiary by name, and narrow your search city or hometown, schools attended, graduation year, and various associations the beneficiaries may be connected with. While you should be cautious... Read More
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November 10, 2011 Social Media
Effective Social Media Marketing
Ethan J. Wall, Esq. Richman Greer, P.A. Social media is an important marketing and business development tool. Lawyers and law firms are continuing to recognize that social media websites are a valuable form of branding and relationship-building. Social media is an effective means of communicating a firm’s brand in today’s online marketplace and of allowing a firm’s lawyers to establish and maintain relationships with clients and contacts. Some lawyers use social media to promote their firm’s participation in handling client matters. Lawyers should be mindful that commenting on their own cases may require them to include specific disclaimers that are required by their state’s ethical rules and regulations. For example, a Virginia criminal defense attorne... Read More
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September 26, 2011 Marketing
Ethical Pitfalls to Avoid with Social Media Marketing
Ethan J. Wall, Esq. Richman Greer, P.A. Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are among the top social media websites that have transformed electronic communications and social interactions for attorneys and law firms to promote their practice. Inevitably, these communication techniques are governed by the very same ethical and professional conduct guidelines that apply to other forms of advertising. While certain jurisdictions are beginning to adopt specific ethical guidelines for social media marketing, attorneys should be mindful of the existing ethical pitfalls that apply across nearly every jurisdiction: * Avoid direct solicitation through real-time electronic contact. For example, if someone tweets “I can’t believe my home is facing foreclosure,” a... Read More
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July 26, 2011 Social Media
Stay Connected with Symposium Contacts with Social Media
Ethan J. Wall, Esq. Richman Greer, P.A. So you attended the 2011 Planning for Generations Symposium. You’ve undoubtedly got a head full of new ideas, a belly full of Chicago style deep-dish pizza, and a handful of business cards from WealthCounsel members with whom you aim to grow meaningful and mutually beneficial relationships. The question is: now what? Many of you will shuffle through your stack of business cards and decide the appropriate method of building a stronger network with your WealthCounsel colleagues. Some of you may send emails or letters providing information about your innovative services. Others may pick up the phone and invite a new contact to join you for lunch. These traditional avenues of staying connected are certainly effective... Read More