Constant Contact: Email and
Online Marketing
can transfer calls to your phone line, take messages,
and communicate with you via email or text message.
In developing your client database, both current and
former clients can be excellent resources for future
leads and referrals. The trick is staying in touch with
all of them. Programs such as Constant Contact and
MailChimp offer communication and marketing tools
like email newsletters, client satisfaction surveys, event
invitations, Facebook promotions, and more. You can
also use the programs’ email campaigns to direct clients to your social media and online presence. With
Constant Contact, after users send a marketing email,
the program will deliver comprehensive analytics on
views, bounces, opt-outs, click-throughs, and forwards.
The numbers are very useful in determining how
effective your email marketing is with your clients.
Social Media (LinkedIn, Facebook,
Twitter, Instagram) via Buffer
A law firm can further develop and amplify their brand
through marketing campaigns on various social media
platforms. Some of the most widely used in the legal
field are Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. These types of social media programs can help
potential clients to understand what type of law you
practice, what constitutes good referrals, and to stay
connected to the happenings of your firm. Keeping
up with all of these different social media accounts
might seem like a daunting task, but this is where Buffer comes in. Buffer is a program which allows users
to manage multiple social media platforms at once,
and to either post on each account simultaneously, or
even schedule future posts. It helps attorneys save a
tremendous amount of time and effort; users can plan
an entire month of social media posts ahead of time.
Ruby Receptionist: Virtual Receptionist
Services
Whether you have a small or larger firm, making sure
the phone is answered is a top priority. Callers are
potential clients. If you do not have a live, dedicated
receptionist, it is likely that you are missing out on
business. Ruby Receptionist is a virtual receptionist
service which is available either throughout the day,
or when your staff is otherwise busy. Those who work
with Ruby Receptionist are trained to be professional,
friendly, and patient. They handle calls based on a
system of keywords that you design. The receptionists
ADP: Online Payroll Technology
Managing your firm’s payroll used to be complicated,
but with online payroll services like ADP, now it is
easy. Say goodbye to writing checks and calculating
your own taxes. All ADP requires is a quick review
and a click of the button.
Your ADP account is setup via a sales agent, who enters in the banking information for your payroll, plus
your tax information and employee’s information.
Employees clock in/out using the ADP time clock on
their computer or iPhone. ADP calculates employee
pay and taxes, allowing attorneys to review or modify
before the final submission. At the end of the pay period, ADP sends users an email to process payroll. It
directly debits the law firm account and then directly
deposits funds into the employees bank accounts (a
paper check is also available). Employees can also keep
track of their pay stubs and running taxes by logging
on to the ADP portal.
All of these law practice technologies can potentially
save you time and money, and help you improve your
overall business operations. But, as a disclaimer, there
is still the potential for software to fail, or the programs
to become outdated. A few final words of advice: Have
back-up procedures in place. Call customer support
when you are frustrated or if something does not work.
Also, be sure to remember your account passwords. ■
___________________
1
From Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert’s CLE presentation “Using
Law Practice Technology to Leverage Your Law Firm,”.
GTLA Worker’s Compensation Claimants seminar, May
11, 2016.
Jennifer Gore-Cuthbert is the owner of The Gore Law Firm,
where she practices personal injury law. Her firm provides peace
of mind for victims of D.U.I. or hit and run collisions. For more
information, visit www.gorelawatlanta.com.
Law Practice Technologies
ADP: www.adp.com; also an iPhone App
Buffer: www.buffer.com
Clio: www.goclio.com; also an iPhone App
Constant Contact: www.constantcontact.com
Dropbox: www.dropbox.com; also an iPhone App
Lexicata: www.lexicata.com
Ruby Receptionist: www.callruby.com
The Official News Publication of the Atlanta Bar Association THE ATLANTA LAWYER
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