Legal Tweets

Tidbits from NYC Avvo Seminar

This legal tweets series brought to you via Andrea Cannavina aka @legaltypist, who did a great job covering this event and provided a ton of useful information:

legaltypist: Word of mouth referrals is going on line. #AVVO

legaltypist: Blogging is a micro site where you put your opinions and thoughts. More dynamic it is the more Search Engines will find you. #AVVO

legaltypist: Some sites now help attorneys share documents. JDSupra. #AVVO

legaltypist: Money and morning test. Where do you spend your money and what do you think about each morning? Should be your core web presence. #AVVO

legaltypist: In order to have an effective web presence, it doesn't need to be expensive. Once you have core, go out and network pointing back. #AVVO

legaltypist: Think strategically. Don't just hang out with lawyers. LinkedIn create site, but do consumers/target market congregate there? #AVVO

legaltypist: Reputation management. Everyone has an on line profile - whether you like it or not. #AVVO

legaltypist: Google Alerts helps you learn/monitor any one's name. #AVVO You should be monitoring your own. (My two cents: SocialMention's alerts are even better--allow you to track sentiment in the mentions as well)

legaltypist: AVVO republishes information from State Bar. All NY attorneys have a profile. #AVVO

legaltypist: To be an effective blogger you need personality. #AVVO

legaltypist: Effective blogs are written by real attrorneys with real voices. #AVVO

legaltypist: From groups and forums - point back to your blog, website or profile - your core web presence. Tells Google and search engines too. #AVVO

JeenaBelil: @MarkBritton doing a phenom job breaking down SM for lawyers in room #AVVO

legaltypist: If they are not talking about you - you don't exist. per @ThatLaywerDude #AVVO

legaltypist: You can't contribute to the conversation if you're not listening per @AriKaplan #AVVO

legaltypist: Per @JeenaBelil - its two jobs. One practicing law; the other marketing a practice. It's hard, but doable. per @JeenaBelil #AVVO

legaltypist: You should be spending at least 10% of your time marketing your practice. #AVVO

legaltypist: The things that you do on a daily basis, will come back to you on the yearly basis. per @ThatLawyerDude #AVVO

Kevin O'Keefe on social media for lawyers at the "Get a Life" conference

TotalAttorneys: @KevinOKeefe starts in 5 minutes at #GAL09 Watch live here http://twurl.nl/a2bm8i

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe: 5% of people influence the other 95%

• retheauditors: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe "Go where the people are. Don't build a shrine to yourself. " Well, I like my blog, but that's why I'm on Twitter.

• adriandayton: You are living at the best time ever to do whatever you want to do. ~@kevinokeefe #gal09

• InsideLegal: Kevinokeefe: Blogging is your homebase-it's not going out of style-we're still using telephones #GAL09

• edscanlan: Quote from @kevinokeefe presentation "Lawyers were split 50/50 when telephone came out on whether or not it was o.k. to use" #GAL09 : )

• InsideLegal: KevinoKeefe: Twitter is single biggest branding tool since telephone. #GAL09

• retheauditors: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe "Twitter is strange. How to get started? Follow others in your geo: media, other lawyers. Use Lextweet to find."

• TwitToWho: Oh the irony... Twitter access goes down just as @KevinOKeefe starts to talk the virtues of Twitter at #GAL09

• nikiblack #GAL09 @kevinokeefe The 3 sites he recommends LinkedIn, blogging & Twitter Nikki adds facebook - I push twitter to facebook.

• MusaLaw: @kevinokeefe says rather than just throwing your marketing message out there, listen first, then join the conversation. #GAL09

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe: get a gmail account if you don't have one--it's going to be the same as a social security # soon.

• nikiblack: #GAL09 @kevinokeefe Studies show that 1 out of 5 lawyers won't be practicing law in 5 years.

• adriandayton: Okeefe: If you don't believe the internet can help your law firm- then leave. #gal09 (love it)

• moeeds: #Gal09 @kevinokeefe - Your take on social media really changed my perspective. Thanks for the insight!

Does Twitter have value for lawyers?

kevinokeefe: 'Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing' (@LarryBodine) http://twurl.nl/ickx6k (expand) shallow & very uninformed opinion

• rklau: @kevinokeefe Glad we know Twitter's not effective for law firm marketing! Whew. Glad we cleared that up. /me slaps head

• nikiblack: @phillyshortcite @kevinokeefe @LarryBodine It's nearly impossible to "prove" ROI from online marketing. But, IMO, the right combo works.

• nikiblack: @phillyshortcite @kevinokeefe @LarryBodine Twitter's not 4 every law practice-but can work for many. Need 2 use with other online strategies

• jmilles: @nikiblack Hmm. OTOH, that blog post sure got Bodine's name retweeted a lot. Talk about "shouting post for relentless self-promoters."

• phillyshortcite: @kevinokeefe @nikiblack @LarryBodine Until I see someone post a good ROI from Twitter, Larry wins. Fun, but not profitable.

• beej777: @kevinokeefe I dont see how one user can legitimately write off Twitter for law marketing - all hangs who you follow and how you interact?

• Russ23229: Maybe user error in case of @LarryBodine? - 'Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing'

• jeffrey_brandt: @kevinokeefe lk any tool, its all in how U use it. wld not be surprised by those failing when they try 2 use Twttr lk a hardcopy brochure.

• JayFleischman: @kevinokeefe More a case of short-sighted thinking.

• kevinokeefe: Twitter ROI? Senior partner in major law firm asks me to speak to corp clients in 2 cities on what I do & becoming LB client (via Twitter)

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe re: @larrybodine if your purpose on twitter is marketing and you make that clear, you become like the salesman at a party

The Business of Practicing Law

kevinokeefe: WSJ: Lawyers Lack Skills Needed to Draw, Keep Cliients http://twurl.nl/mfm24f  need coaching on client development

• stephkimbro: RT @kevinokeefe: WSJ: Lawyers Lack Skills Needed to Draw, Keep Clients http://twurl.nl/mfm24f (expand) (Me: education in biz should start in school)

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe isn't being a great lawyer a great way to draw/keep clients? I want clients looking for a good lawyer, not a well coached one.

• LawBiz: @btannebaum Yes, but even if you are good, someone has to tell them for them to know. :-)

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Clients cannot distinguish between a great lawyer & an average one. They CAN tell how you make them feel. (cont)

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum If you do stellar legal work but your client perceives you as unresponsive or cold, your business will flounder.

• btannebaum: @TradeSecretLaw I'm a criminal lawyer, If I do stellar legal work it doesn't matter if my client perceives me as unresponsive or cold.

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Be a great lawyer, but recognize that your client's definition of a great lawyer differs from yours. Use his definition.

• btannebaum: @kevinokeefe isn't there a difference between telling people you're a good lawyer and actually being one?

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum Hone and improve your legal skills, but emphasize things from your client's perspective. Think like a client. (cont)

• btannebaum @TradeSecretLaw my client's definition of "great lawyer" depends on which door he uses to exit the courtroom

• kevinokeefe: @btannebaum 'difference between telling people you're a good lawyer & actually being one?' absolutely, transparency will prevail

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum For good ideas on how to think like a client, read "What Clients Love" by Harry Beckwith. http://tinyurl.com/o8k6cz

• TradeSecretLaw: @btannebaum If you want clients to flock to you, you must be perceived as being good. How do clients or referral sources perceive you?

Lawyers & Social Networking--#LegalIT Conference

stevematthews: Getting ready to present with @conniecrosby @kevinokeefe in Montreal #legalit

• intechgration: #LegalIT - web 2.0 marketing is all about networking. It's all about two-way conversation, not one-way.

• goclio: @conniecrosby: Feels blogging has pushed her career forward 5 years. #LegalIT

• goclio: @kevinokeefe: You blog because the busiest people around get their information and news through blogs. #LegalIT

• intechgration: #LegalIT - Steve Mathews says that use of web 2.0 tools is low among lawyers, which means this is a great competitive advantage if you do.

• goclio: @kevinokeefe: Twitter is the single biggest branding tool since TV. #LegalIT

• goclio: Honest question from the audience re: all the twitter lingo (tweets, RTs, etc.): "What are you talking about?" #LegalIT

• intechgration: #LegalIT - Google reader is a great tool for getting content you're interested in without having to read tons of irrelevant stuff.

Richard Susskind's Keynote Speech at ABA #Techshow

ltrc: Waiting for Susskind keynote to start - big crowd. #techshow

• elizabeth627: Legal terrain will be radically different post current economic legal meltdown. Susskind #techshow

• stevematthews: #techshow Susskind: "Firms need to pay attention to KM. And not just pay lip service to the concept"

• jordan_law21: #techshow Susskind: clients want fence at top of cliff, not ambulance at bottom. Yup: preventive legal services is the future of lawyering.

• allisonshields: Susskind: What's exciting about tech is not automating what you were doing b4, but allowing you to do things you couldn't do b4 #techshow

• nikiblack: Keynote--Susskind: Be proactive-invent the future-make it happen. Very @garyvee-esque;) -#techshow

• edscanlan: "Innovation is when you use technology to do things that were previously not possible" Richard Susskind @totalattorneys agrees! #techshow

• nikiblack: Susskind--clients want more for less--challenge in next 10 yrs for lawyers--so true. IMO--tech. helps you provide that. #techshow

• @LexConf: Richard Susskind on technology: best when used to innovate, not automate. #techshow

• nikiblack: Susskind: SOme version of social networking will come to dominate the way prof. services are delivered. ABSOLUTELY.

• jordan_law21: #techshow Susskind branded heretic in '96 for saying lawyers would someday always use email (ironically,lawyers may end up last to use it)

• MarkRosch: Susskind sez "the lawyer's 1st port of call for information" is the Internet #techshow

• stevematthews: #techshow Susskind: "two competing online services, even between large firms, create a commodity - race to zero $$" Great stuff!

• @david_bilinsky: #TECHSHOW Susskind: Online legal services is the future.

• allisonshields: Susskind: "Bespoke" [customized] legal work dominates 'romantically' in minds of lawyers, but doesn't align with reality #techshow

• DavidWms: Not @ #techshow, but for Susskind, isn't virtually all litigation either "bespoke" services or, if not, likely malpractice?

• GabeAcevedo: Susskind: As we move from customization to commoditizationn quality goes up #techshow

• MarkRosch: Susskind: clients want more predictable costs for legal services #techshow

• goclio: Susskind's talk has been fantastic for sub-140 character sound bites. How long b4 this is done deliberately? #TECHSHOW

• debbiefoster: #techshow - susskind predicts...small firms be ready...lots of work now going to big firms coming your way!

• GabeAcevedo: Susskind: Project Management central to legal services #techshow.

• nikiblack: Susskind Basically just said lawyers are full of themselves--they're too "important" to use tech. So true! #techshow

• gregorybell: When 1desktop machine soon has proc. power of the brains of all humanity it MAY be time 4 lawyers 2 rethink approach. Susskind at #techshow

• edscanlan: Overheard "Susskind is the British Yoda of law" :) #techshow

• @nikiblack: Susskind: Tech is enjoying exponential growth. About to experience unimaginable growth and devlopment. #techshow

• allisonshields: Susskind: no reason to think legal world will be unaffected by changes, esp. accelerated technology changes #techshow

• awfirmblogger: Susskind: Social networking is the next generation of email. If you're not connected, your competition will be. #techshow

• stevematthews: #techshow Susskind: "Twitter is not a passing fad" -- Ok he is crazy. ;)

• nikiblack: Susskind: Suggests social network of solos could innovate and take over many areas law firms now handle #techshow

• stephkimbro: Thinking that the attorneys that really need to hear the ideas in Susskind's speech are not the ones attending #techshow.

• conradsaam: "Its the end of many or most lawyers as we know them" - Susskind #techshow

• stevematthews: #techshow Susskind: "online bidding tools for the sale of legal services will happen". Can see this, but not necessarily a good thing, IMO.

• nikiblack: Susskind: Over next decade--fundamental change in market. Legal services as we know them will be unrecognizable. #techshow

• denniskennedy: Hey, I actually liveblogged the Susskind keynote session. See what you think at http://bit.ly/jd6wN (expand) #techshow

• nerinopetro: Susskind sees an incremental revolution in the legal industry. He's wrapping things up - great session! #TECHSHOW

ABA's LPM Social Media Webcast

The following are a collection of tweets regarding the ABA's Law Practice Management teleconference and live audio webcast that occurred earlier today-"Online Social Networking Gets Professional."

stevematthews: Follow @JDTwitt this morning at 10 a.m. PT to learn how lawyers are getting social http://twurl.nl/fd11b4 (expand) #lpmsm

• heathermilligan: Close to 100 people signed up for today's ABA Social Media webinar. Attendance well above average. #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: #LPMSM is underway and starts with survey. most attendees have website. 32% have blog. 33% on twitter. 59% on facebook. 73% on linkedin

• dougcornelius: RT @SoFlaEstatePlan: #LPMSM for a conference on Twitter and Blogging and facebook, having it on telephone conference is very pre-internet

• JDTwitt: @stevematthews wordpress.org allows you to download software and control domain name, branding design, hosting etc #LPMSM

• heathermilligan: I follow to be followed. I do not read every post. I'll share my Tweetdeck during program to show how I balance the conversations. #lpmsm

• matthomann: It's easy to learn how to use Twitter, but it's hard to learn why. Once you get it you'll move from skeptic to disciple overnight. #lpmsm

• nicolecaccamo: Sorting and searching tweets and connecting with followers outside of Twitter are key to successful use #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: @heathermilligan: Linkedin allows a small firm to make a big impact. "Have fun" Connect with colleagues, friends, former clients #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: @barrettdavid twitter great way to make and enhance new relationships. #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: @heathermilligan great success on twitter. has expanded presence across country & world, quickly built her own brand. quick and ease #LPMSM

• VMaryAbraham: TwitterTip: don't limit yr community/tweets 2 black letter law. Include anyone w/ something useful 2 say about the business of law. #LPMSM

• tamerabennett: RT @leahcdaniels: @mglickman Agreed. I think the future is creating web sites that function as blogs with more video content too. #LPMsm

• tamerabennett: RT @recoveringlawye: Use a photo of you - not logo for firm or avatar. Twitter is more personal networking #LPMSM

• nicolecaccamo: If you are using multiple SM sites - FB/Twit/LI create similar brand throughout to create a well-rounded & prof image of yourself #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: @stevematthews: OK to display your professional work to personal network. Show people what you do. Opportunity for referrals #LPMSM

• matthomann: People want to know you before they hire you. Be yourself in SM, unless you don't expect to be yourself with clients. #lpmsm

• JDTwitt: @stevematthews: "Write once, publish often." This is one value of social media/networking. Allows for presence in multiple places #LPMSM

• nancymyrland: I LOVE your 4 point 2.0 plan! :-) RT @heathermilligan: Here's my 4-point 2.0 plan. http://tinyurl.com/crcek3 #lpmsm

• matthomann: Personally, my facebook friends who didn't "know" me before Twitter would be annoyed by all my updates, so I don't autopublish. #lpmsm

• alinwagnerlahmy: RT @nancymyrland: @heathermilligan Agreed..TweetDeck columns are the best tool for Twitter prioritization. #lpmsm

• mglickman: @bmanevitz http://www.ning.com/ allows people to create their own, semi-private "social network" #LPMSM

• barrettdavid: @lancegodard - building relationships with referral attorneys and potential clients is more important than one communication. #LPMSM

• SCartierLiebel Have social media plan to develop relationships. Give first. Be generous w/tools for others benefit. It comes back #LPMSM

• JDTwitt: @heathermilligan: last piece of advice: learn from others. Be wary of "gurus" - learn from others who are actually doing it #LPMSM

Marketing Professionals Forum Tweets

melby_az: This session should be good. ACC Value Challenge. #MPF

• melby_az: Challenge is not to call out the outside counsel. It is also calling first the responsibilities of in-house too. Collaborative change. #MPF

• corporatetool: How about this for a value challenge - align with my level of risk aversion. No goldplating or handwringing. #MPF

• tcorcoran: One #MPF attendee is "holding on until business picks up." Reminds me of the Dad in Pleasantville baffled by change. "Where's my dinner?"

• LarryBodine: Michael Gruskin, GC of GM: Firms are deaf as to how their performance is being received by the client #MPF

• pjfuller: Communication is what's received not what's sent. #MPF

• lancegodard: Will be interesting to see what ppl take away from #ACC #MPF convos - all I see reinforces my view that the billable hour isn't the problem

• melby_az: Atty walked into GM to say "I drive a Focus" Nice but thats a Ford. Oops. Know ur client. #MPF

• LarryBodine: Ex Stanford GC: Most brochures and newsletters go straight into the wastebasket. #MPF

• melby_az: Law firm dissolution numbers for 08 were not out of the norm. Always a few big ones. #MPF

• LarryBodine: Counter-cyclical practices will do well in 2009: bankruptcy, regulatory (in capital mkts), contracts related to govt stimulus #MPF

• melby_az: This recession will change firm econ model. Different than past recessions industry has faced. #MPF

• melby_az: Some things that may change: assoc comp; rethink staffing models; rethink delivery of services model #MPF

• melby_az: Some things that may change: assoc comp; rethink staffing models; rethink delivery of services model #MPF

• melby_az: Firms who make changes could actually come out of recession better than where they were when went in. - Who's going to take advantage? #MPF

Are the Yellow Pages Relevant to Lawyer Advertising?

kevinokeefe: Canadian Yellow Pages to Allow People to Opt-Out of Receiving Book http://is.gd/eZDF  Yes. End of lawyer ads.

• GrantGriffiths: The Yellow Pages is dead, the wicked Yellow Pages is dead. Is it? http://is.gd/eZDF

• GrantGriffiths: Here is another take on the Yellow Pages from @finisprice: http://is.gd/f03L

• conradsaam: Yellow Pages moving towards fossilization http://snipr.com/9p07g

• @jeenaesq @timothyevans @vpynchon Will not be renewing Yellowpages ads. Using more efficient/effective forms of mktg in '09 and saving $$$.

• vpynchon: @jeenaesq don't imagine you even WANT 2 negotiate better deal with Yellowpages

• jeenaesq: @vpynchon I was offered upgrade 1/4 to 1/2 pg ad. Still decided against for this yr.

• vpynchon: @jeenaesq that's good integrative bargaining on Yellow Pages part: same price but extra value