A Universal Marketing Checklist for Young Lawyers by Larry Bodine

A Universal Marketing Checklist for Young Lawyers

by Larry Bodine on February 9th, 2012

Please read the article linked in the below, if you want to know it more.

http://lawyerist.com/39661/a-universal-marketing-checklist-for-young-lawyers/

First-Year Associates

• Volunteer for assignments and ask the firm’s “rainmakers” for assignments.
• Start a habit of visiting the people you work with at clients.
• Take your contacts at clients out for breakfast or lunch. 
• Whenever you get a business card,
• When you return to the office, immediately create a contact record 
• Over time, collect more information about the other person 
• Create a mailing list and keep it updated. 
• Join a bar association and learn the law.
• Scrub your Facebook page 
• Go to LinkedIn and create a complete profile with a good picture. 
• Don’t waste time on Twitter. 
• Send out holiday cards to your mailing list.
• Sign up to have the firm’s annual report or other firm wide messages sent to your mailing list.
• Participate in firm functions where clients are present.
• Look like a lawyer,

Second-Year Associates

• Continue all the activities above. 
• Remember that business development is up to you. 
• Find a mentor. 
• When you get an assignment, ask how the business came to the firm. 
• Get to know your colleagues in the firm. 
• Get on a committee at the bar association. 
• Join a community organization, charity or political party. 
• Keep adding to that mailing list…accountants, bankers and clients you’re working with.
• Buy a box of thank-you cards and a roll of stamps. 
• Write an article for a partner or practice group. 
• Increase lunches and events with your peers. 
• Create a local listing for yourself on Google.
• Join a group on LinkedIn.
• Read articles.

Third Year, Fourth Year, Fifth Year Associates

• It’s time to declare your major. 
• Start thinking of yourself as the owner of a business,
• Clients sort themselves into industries. 
• Develop a 30-second commercial. 
• Ask your clients what meetings they go to. 
• Join a trade association that your clients belong to. 
• Present a custom CLE program for a client. 
• Find a hot topic, and present a webinar with a partner. 
• Re-evaluate your activity in the bar association. 
• Become visible in your trade or community organization. 
• Add more lunches, sports or cultural events. 
• Give a speech to an audience of clients, potential clients and referral sources. 
• Write articles in industry magazines or website on topics that interest your ideal clients .
• Use LinkedIn to get introductions and request recommendations (check your state’s ethics rules regarding testimonials.)
• Add a business aspect to your personal relationships. 
• Find a speaking role on a firm seminar. 
• Keep visiting clients at their offices. 
• Offer to be the editor of your practice area’s newsletter.
• Propose to write a blog if you like to write.
• Ask your marketing professional about firm marketing and business development activities you can get active in.

Sixth, Seventh, Eighth Year Associates

1. Fill in the appropriate number in the following statement: “I want to be responsible for bringing in $_ thousands in originating collections this year.”
2. List clients for which you are the handling or billing attorney.
3. List anyone outside the firm who has referred you a file.
4. Pick one trade association and go deep.
5. Write down a list of businesses you would like to represent.

• Have lunches or meetings with prospects, clients and referrers as often as possible.
• Keep up community involvement.

Client Service Checklist

• Be punctual at meetings. 
• Make a client feel as though they are the only piece of business you work on.
• Return phone calls promptly. 
• Don’t strand a client in the reception area 
• Use business language in correspondence with clients,
• Note, remember and use names of your client’s staff
• Take a tour of your client’s facility, offices, factory or stores. 
• When great news like a settlement check or a signed contract that took weeks to negotiate arrives at the firm, personally drive it to your client and deliver it with a smile and a handshake.
• Is a special event coming up for your client? A new headquarters move? An anniversary? Were they named to a distinguished list or win a prestigious industry award? Mention and celebrate their success with them.