The Atlanta Lawyer August / September 2018 | Page 27

Skype, Reddit, YouTube, Flickr,
Google Plus, etc.) but it is important
to focus on the platforms your
potential clients are already using.
You might have most vibrant and
creative Pinterest page in Metro
Atlanta, but that does not matter if
your potential clients are not using
Pinterest. When you are setting up
your social media accounts, be sure
to use the same (or very similar)
handle for each account. Also,
create social media accounts on
all the platforms you plan on using,
even if you will not be posting soon
– better to claim those accounts
now than have a competitor snag
your preferred name.
can regularly share information
related to your practice (ex:
explaining new laws, commenting
on regional issues, celebrating law
firm accomplishments) and with
every new blog you publish, you are
increasing your chances of ranking
higher in search engine results.
Blogging also provides an important
opportunity to build your online
reputation and stand out as an
“expert” within your particular field.
You can increase your exposure
even further by turning a blog into
an article for an outside source or
legal publication such as the Atlanta
Lawyer Magazine¬ – hint, hint!
When it comes to posting on social
media, lawyers may be under
the impression that they need to
generate original content for every
single post, but this is not the case.
In addition to the original content,
attorneys can also share material
from other quality resources –
while adding their “two cents” on
the topic. This not only allows you
to join the conversation on a specific
issue but sharing another person’s
material and tagging them in the
post is also a great way to grow your
online network of legal resources
and potential referral sources. Once you have updated your
website, set up your social media
accounts, and started drafting blogs,
it is essential to be consistent. Create
professional brand recognition by
using the same colors, logos, fonts
– even the same style of writing
or presentation. Also, make sure
you are cross-posting to all of your
communication platforms. When
you publish a new blog, for example,
make sure a link is visible on your
website homepage and that you are
promoting it on all of your social
media channels. Boost your online
presence and catch the attention of
all those potential clients!
3. Build Your Reputation by
Blogging. The authors of The Zen
of Social Media Marketing hit the
nail on the head when they wrote,
“You don’t need a blog, but you
do need fresh content on an on-
going basis… and the best place
to put this content is in a blog.”
Creating a blog is an effective way of
generating content and momentum
for your law firm. With a blog, you Dr. Megan Hodgkiss, Esq., is the
owner of Hodgkiss Consulting LLC,
a strategic communication company
based in Atlanta, Georgia. Megan is
the current Chair of the Atlanta Bar
Association’s Women in the Profession
Section. She also serves on the Atlanta
Bar Association’s The Atlanta Lawyer
Magazine Editorial Board and the
Continuing Legal Education Board of
Trustees.
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