Law firms ought use social media to help good causes
Social media is being used in so many good ways.
- Police are using Facebook to find missing children.
- Allowing organ donation status on Facebook has increased the number of donors.
- Plastic surgeon uses social media to raise money to fight domestic violence and homelessness in his community.
There are thousands of other causes which have leveraged the power of social media. Just Google , ‘Social Media for Good Causes‘ to get a flavor.
Where are law firms in their use of social media to support good causes we always have in the past? In every town across this country lawyers sit on civic boards and lead volunteer groups. We’re uniquely skilled to help, many of us have our heart in the right place, and it’s good for business – we meet and build relationships with other business people in our communities.
No question there are some lawyers and law firms using social to help local causes, but reading law firm marketing and business development blogs (I’m guilty too) and sitting at the Legal Marketing Association meetings over the years, we all talk of social to help us. Tweet to get attention and traffic. Pay for services to get your content in front of more people. It’s become “Me, Me, Me.”
Of course there are bloggers in the law who do a very good job of giving away more insight, commentary, and information than they’d ever expect to receive. These lawyers enjoy the experience and have found it an excellent way of growing their network of relationships and reputation.
There’s an opportunity though for law firms to get social in a big way by helping others, while at the same time helping themselves.
It’s easier to learn social and leave all the rules and policies aside when you’re focused on a greater cause–and you need to get things done quickly. And like civic causes offline, it’s good exposure/relationship building for the lawyers and other professionals in your firm. Let alone, what using social for good will do for your brand as good lawyers who are also good people.
You don’t need to think up from scratch how your law firm can use social to help a local cause. Social media is the now the main way non-profits get word out on their cause, recruit volunteers, and raise money. They need help getting this done.
Your law firm can financially support what’s needed to set up social environments or help get them built. Companies like mine, LexBlog, are glad to help non-profits you may be involved with. You are probably already working with similar companies.
Your law firm can help run the social media – whether Facebook, Twitter, blogging, or Google+. These media take time and smart people. Don’t want to turn your lawyers and other professionals loose on your firm’s behalf, why not for a local cause? Your team will learn social.
So many people in need. So many causes. And so many ways law firms can help through social.
Instead of using social solely to shine a lot on ourselves, let’s, as lawyers and law firms, use social to help others. It’s what we have always done after all.