It is interesting to check outside the legal profession from time-to-time how other cash-strapped entrepreneurs (and we lawyers in private practice like to think of ourselves as such, don't we?) are handling marketing with fewer dollars in a down economy.

In an August 18, 2010 Wall Street Journal piece entitled "On a Tight Budget? How to Land a Client", Emily Maltby points to a number of techniques that could provide useful.

Creativity is key, Maltby writes. She points to techniques such as aiming to reach a particular targeted, "specific demographic" for new clients, and "focusing more on niches or specialties" within a particular industry. Offering free services, "learning more about search engine optimization," creating a more powerful on-line presence, and making better use of social media are also things to consider. 

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8/23/2010 9:08:50 AM #

I am a sole practice lawyer, consultant and expert witness and have used every possible method to obtain marketing in a less than traditional manner.  For instance, I posted to this blog and comment on blog postings.

I have limited my practice to a niche insurance coverage and insurance expert witness market dealing with insurance bad faith and insurance coverage.

I post on insurance list serves, LinkedIn groups, etc.

I write a twice monthly newsletter.

I write books and articles and sell them through traditional publishers and some over the web as e-books.

I stopped taking people out to lunch -- except to meals on trips to the London market -- because they are unproductive and most claims people don't have time to eat a free lunch unless there is a real business reason for it.

As a sole practitioner I don't have a great deal of business nor will I ever become rich, but I have enough business to keep me from getting bored and to make a healthy living without needing to rely on Social Security.

Of course, the best marketing tool of all is to do good work and make sure that the client and the world knows about how well you are doing for your clients.

BZ

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