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6 social media tips from a smart lawyer : American Express Open Forum Story on me

American Express Open Forum Six tips from social media savy lawyerLong time writer and speaker on social media issues, Shel Israel, has penned a nice story on my going from practicing lawyer to founding LexBlog. ‘6 Social Media Tips From a Smart Lawyer‘ is running in American Express Open Forum, a online community designed to help you grow your business.

I’ve come to know American Express Open Forum to feature the likes of Guy Kawasaki or Seth Godin and business owners far smarter than me. I’ve also learned a ton from Shel by reading his books and being a long time follower of his blog, Global Neighborgoods. So it’s an honor to have the story of LexBlog and I shared this way.

If you’re interested in learning a little about how a trial lawyer in rural Wisconsin went from practicing law to starting a couple technology based companies so as to serve lawyers and the public we serve, check out Shel’s piece.

As for the 6 social media tips from a smart lawyer that Shel gleaned from our interview?

  1. Chiefs over Indians. O’Keefe advised companies to avoid assigning junior people to be the company online voice. “The top management needs to be involved. How else do you build relationships? How else do you demonstrate thought leadership?” he asks.
  2. Blog strategically. Don’t just shovel up content. Provide information and ideas that will engage clients and prospects. Respond or anticipate to their questions or concerns. Also pay close attention to influencers, top clients, media and, top bloggers. Find ways to engage them with your social media activity.
  3. Be yourself. O’Keefe warns lawyers, ” don’t hide behind your law firm brand.” People are looking for authenticity. “You’ll shine like a star when people see you acting like an everyday person.”
  4. Listen first. O’Keefe–as do most experts–see far greater power in listening to relevant voices on social media than broadcasting messages. “You wouldn’t shout out content through a bullhorn at a cocktail event. Don’t do it online, either.”
  5. Be curious. Lawyers are trained not to ask questions in court that they don’t know the answers to. This doesn’t work online where it is smartest to ask questions and enjoy a forgiving environment for making a few mistakes now and then.
  6. Ask for the work. Lawyers online sometimes seem shy when asking people for the business they hope to get. O’Keefe advises professionals to “ask for the type of work they want to do from the type of clients they want to work with.”

Thanks Shel and American Express Open Forum.

** The books I mentioned by Shel are Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customer, co-authored by Robert Scoble, and Twitterville: How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods. **