Effective blogging for business development: Recording and Power Point now available

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:22:52 GMT

We had a huge turnout for today's webinar: The Art of Effective Blogging for Business Development. We had close to 200 attendees, made up of members of the LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group and others.

If you missed the webinar or want to re-watch, you can watch the recording here or on our Author Services site. You can also download the Power Point by clicking on the image above.

We're planning to have regular webinars for members of the Legal Blogging Group on a variety of topics related to blogging, social media and client development. If there's anything you'd like to see, drop Kevin an email or post a discussion in the LinkedIn group.

As mentioned in the webinar, if you are interested in a personalized webinar with you or your firm, don't hesitate to contact Kevin O'Keefe (kevin@lexblog.com) or call LexBlog at 1-800-913-0988.

Free Legal Blogging Group webinar this Tuesday : Art of Effective Blogging for Business Development

Sat, 09 Jan 2010 20:29:52 GMT

I'll be conducting a webinar for members of LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group this Tuesday, January 12 at 12 ET, 9 AM PT. The Legal Blogging Group is free to join and membership is not a prerequisite for registering for the webinar.

The subject is the 'Art of Effective Blogging for Business Development.' I'll be covering, among other things:

What blogging for business development truly means?
The importance of developing a strategy to accomplish your business development goals.
Developing the right niche and focus for your blog?
How to define and engage your target audience?
How to build relationships with your target audience?
Developing a conversational style.
Marketing your blog to extend its reach.
Measuring the ROI for your blog.

Please go to our Webex Events Center to register.

LinkedIn's Legal Blogging Group has over 3,500 members from our legal profession who exchange information and insight on the use of blogs and other social media. If you're not a member, you may join at the Legal Blogging Group LinkedIn Page.

I'm working on making the Legal Blogging Group more valuable to its members in 2010. One way of doing so is through Webinars like this. I hope to see you there. If you cannot attend I'll make a recording and accompanying screencast available here on my blog and on the Legal Blogging Group's Discussion Board.

LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group discussions back and kicking

kevin@lexblog.com (Kevin O'Keefe) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:11:58 GMT

The Legal Blogging Group on LinkedIn has grown to over 3,400 professionals. The group is for legal professionals and others interested in the use of blogging, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, and other social media by lawyers and other professionals.

With that growth, we've seen a number of people take advantage of the group's discussion board by posting messages unrelated to blogging and social media or posting spam touting their services. Discussion should be limited to questions and commentary related to blogging and other forms of social media.

I spent the last couple hours deleting irrelevant postings and spam. I gave deference to some unrelated posts which had already drawn a number of comments. If I deleted one of your posts, I'm sorry. I just wanted to get us started with a cleaner slate and make the group more attractive to folks with an interest in legal blogging and social media.

Going forward I'll monitor the posts more closely and delete items that are beyond the group's focus. I'll also try to answer your questions and invite others to do the same. When I can, I'll post items being discussed here on my blog and in Twitter. That way we attract more users and generate more discussion.

In addition to the discussion, you may submit a relevant news article to the group with an accompanying link. This can include news items or blog posts.

Posting of items to the discussion board and news articles you submit, in addition to being posted at the group's site in LinkedIn, will be distributed by email to group members who have opted for that feature.

Head to the Legal Blogging Group LinkedIn Page to join the group.

David Nelmark of Mixed Martial Arts Law Blog: LexBlog Q&A

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 18:25:26 GMT

How's this for a niche? Iowa attorney David Nelmark writes the Mixed Martial Arts Law Blog, covering the myriad legal issues that come up around this emerging and increasingly popular sport.

David has a general practice, and he and his firm, Belin Lamson McCormick Zumbach Flynn, practice in a wide variety of areas that are of interest to promoters, competitors, and others in the Mixed Martial Arts industry.

"While most people at my firm do not understand the intricacies of Mixed Martial Arts, they do understand the value of building a name for yourself within a particular industry," David says. "Thanks to the blog, I am the first entry when someone does a Google search for MMA lawyer or Mixed Martial Arts lawyer."

David advises potential law bloggers not to be afraid of focusing their blog in a very specific area.

"I have been able to highlight multiple aspects of my practice, including civil litigation and intellectual property matters, by finding stories that combine those elements with the sport of MMA," David says.

We reached out to David for this LexBlog Q&A to find out what blogs he enjoys following and what advantages his blog gives him.

See our email exchange with David, after the jump.

Lisa Kennelly: Why did you decide to start a blog?

David Nelmark: I thought that a blog would be the most efficient way to establish myself in an emerging practice area. I also enjoy writing and my blog allows me to tap into my creative side without devoting the massive amounts of time necessary to draft law review articles.

Lisa Kennelly: What has been most rewarding about blogging so far? What has been most challenging?

David Nelmark: The most rewarding part has been getting to know people that have contacted me through the blog. Even those who do not become clients are very interesting and I have made several contacts around the country.

The most challenging part is finding the time to blog consistently.

Lisa Kennelly: What has the response been to your blog from clients, other attorneys, or anyone else?

David Nelmark: All of the feedback I have gotten has been positive. While most people at my firm do not understand the intricacies of Mixed Martial Arts, they do understand the value of building a name for yourself within a particular industry. Thanks to the blog, I am the first entry when someone does a Google search for MMA lawyer or Mixed Martial Arts lawyer.

Lisa Kennelly: Do you feel having a blog on such a unique topic gives you an advantage, as an attorney?

David Nelmark: The most beneficial part of blogging has been that it serves as a great icebreaker with potential clients in the industry. I can strike up a conversation and let them know about my interest without making a direct pitch for their business.

Lisa Kennelly: Do you read any other law blogs or do you mostly read MMA blogs, and which ones?

David Nelmark: I regularly read my colleague Chuck Becker’s blog at Iowa Environmental Update, Rush Nigut at Rush On Business and Brett Trout at BlawgIT. For a city not known for being at the forefront of technological advances, Des Moines has a really strong legal blogging community.

On the Mixed Martial Arts side, I read MMAJunkie.com (general news and fight results), MMAPayout.com (the business of MMA) and Cage Potato (irreverent and humorous commentary).

Lisa Kennelly: What advice would you give to another attorney thinking about starting up a blog?

David Nelmark: Find a topic that you love. I am able to justify the time I spend doing “research” because much of it deals with articles that I would already be reading just for entertainment. Also, don’t be afraid to find what might at first seem to be a small niche. I have been able to highlight multiple aspects of my practice including civil litigation and intellectual property matters by finding stories that combine those elements with the sport of MMA.

Interested in hearing more? Recent LexBlog Q & A posts:

John Hochfelder of New York Injury Cases Blog [10.21.09]
Michael Reitz of The Supreme Court of Washington Blog [10.16.09]
Gideon Alper of Gay Couples Law Blog [10.14.09]
Charles Internicola of New York Franchise Law Blog [10.5.09]

Or, see our full list of legal blog interviews.

LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group webinar with Stephen Fairley

kevin@lexblog.com (Kevin O'Keefe) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:01:23 GMT

As the LinkedIn legal blogging group leader, I've been organizing a series of free webinars on effective networking through the Internet for lawyers, with a focus on professional and client development.

I'd like to invite all readers of this blog to sign up for our next webinar as well. Nationally recognized law firm marketing expert Stephen Fairley will share "8 Proven Keys to Recession Proof Your Law Firm." I will assist with presenting and moderating the discussion with Stephen. It's tomorrow, Tuesday, August 4, at 3 p.m. ET/ 12 p.m. PT.

In this one-hour seminar, Stephen will review:

Critical questions you must consider to increase your profits.
3 specific ways to use technology to reduce your expenses.
The key mistake attorneys are making related to their cash flow.
Proven strategies for reducing your accounts receivables.
What sacred cows have to do with your business model.
3 effortless ways to stay connected with your referral sources and how it affects your practice.

I invite you all to register for this webinar. Stephen recently hosted a similar webinar for LexBlog clients that had almost 200 attendees. We have received tremendously positive feedback from that webinar and expect this upcoming webinar to be equally rewarding for all of you.

If you have any questions about the webinar or registration, contact Client Development & Communications Coordinator Jillian Pariseau at jillian@lexblog.com or 206-204-3222.

Client development for solo's and small law : Free webinar with Stephen Fairley

kevin@lexblog.com (Kevin O'Keefe) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 23:01:23 GMT

In this one-hour seminar, Stephen will review:

Critical questions you must consider to increase your profits.
3 specific ways to use technology to reduce your expenses.
The key mistake attorneys are making related to their cash flow.
Proven strategies for reducing your accounts receivables.
What sacred cows have to do with your business model.
3 effortless ways to stay connected with your referral sources and how it affects your practice.

If you have any questions about the webinar or registration, contact Client Development & Communications Coordinator Jillian Pariseau at jillian@lexblog.com or 206-204-3222.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 6/16/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 18:39:41 GMT

We're back with another update from the LinkedIn legal blogging group, where group members chime in with questions, comments, critiques and discussion on blogging, social networking, and social media in the law.

Suggestions on starting an internal blog?: Toronto practice support lawyer Kathleen Hogan reaches out for tips on starting up a blog for her firm or practice group.
Are legal Q&A sites effective?: San Francisco marketing & PR manager Lisha Fabris asks how well legal Q&A sites bring in business and referrals in today's internet.
What is the best way to avoid information overload?: UK management consultant James Dunning wonders how to manage the volume of information coming at him and still make time for blogging.

Kevin O'Keefe is the moderator of the Legal Blogging group on LinkedIn. If you're already a member of the Legal Blogging group, join the discussions or start your own. If you're not yet a member of the group, you can request to join.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 5/12/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Tue, 12 May 2009 22:07:14 GMT

It's been a while since we checked in with the legal blogging group over at LinkedIn, but the discussions are flying fast and furious. The wealth of knowledge on blogging and social networking is invaluable, whether you're a veteran blogger or just starting out.

How NOT to keyword optimize: Los Angeles civil litigation & trial attorney Aaron Morris gives an example of keyword linking gone terribly awry.
Google Blogger or Wordpress?: Idaho trial attorney John Kormanik asks what platform he should use to start blogging.
Share some mistakes and what you've learned: This is a great topic, and has generated dozens of comments. New York personal injury attorney Lawrence Berezin asks what mistakes bloggers have made and what they have taken from them.
Networking: are you a giver or a taker?: Attorney marketing specialist Brian French discusses the reciprocity of social networking.

LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group Webinar a success: download PowerPoint now

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 19:57:44 GMT

Thank you to all the members of the LinkedIn legal blogging group who attended today's webinar on "Networking through the Internet: Using Law Blogs to Enhance Your Reputation & Get Business" with LexBlog CEO Kevin O'Keefe and VP of Client Development Kevin McKeown.

For those who were unable to attend, you can download the PowerPoint presentation.

Among the topics covered included:

The growth of law blogs in the legal profession.
Who is reading law blogs & why you should care.
Which law firms are publishing blogs?
What is a professional blog?
What do they look like?
What are the key elements of a good blog?
Advantages of law blogs for reputation enhancement & client
development.
Where do you begin?
How to blog effectively.
How to network with other thought leaders, the media, and conference
coordinators.

As mentioned in the webinar, if you are interested in a personalized webinar with you or your firm, don't hesitate to contact Kevin O'Keefe (kevin@lexblog.com) or Kevin McKeown (kmckeown@lexblog.com), or call LexBlog at 206-340-8201.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 4/14/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:10:06 GMT

Checking in with the Legal Blogging Group on LinkedIn shows a few lively discussions on maintaining multiple blogs and how to take your blog to the next level.

What can I do to take blog to the next level?: Los Angeles HOA attorney Robert DiNichilo polls the group for advice, a month after launching his blog.
Do any of my fellow legal bloggers publish more than one blog?: New York attorney and business advisor Lawrence Berezin asks for insight on maintaining a high quality while publishing to more than one blog.
Yellow Page Advertising: Attorney and website marketing company owner Dan Goldstein asks if group members are dropping their yellow page advertising in favor of online ads.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 4/3/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 23:48:20 GMT

With 30 new discussions in the last week, the Legal Blogging Group at LinkedIn continues to be a great resource for feedback and conversation about blogging and social networking.

Lost in the blog world: what to do?: Los Angeles estate planning & elder law attorney and director of Client Relations Elizabeth Meehan asks several questions about the purpose of blog, frequency of posting, and what makes a blog good. There are 22 comments on this post already, clearly a hot issue for group members.
My blogging has dropped off since...: Seattle law firm accounting manager Robert Wood confesses how his Twitter addiction is affecting his blogging. This is another fascinating thread with plenty of members admitting their own Twitter "problems."
Twitter privacy issues: Switzerland trademark attorney Alfred Strahlberg raises the question of privacy and Twitter.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 3/24/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 18:32:28 GMT

The LinkedIn legal blogging discussion group has been blowing up recently, with some great new blogs getting feedback and provocative questions stirring up debate:

Can social networking help attorneys get better results for their clients?: Marketing specialist at LexisNexis David Knott addresses the Martindale Hubbell Connected debate.
Do third-party ads belong on law blogs?: Chicago law blog consultant Amy Derby weighs the pros and cons on ads on a blog.
Quantity vs. quality: Boston jury behavior expert Edward Schwartz addresses a perpetual concern of bloggers.
How can bloggers/communicators help rescue the economy?: Washington D.C. Knowledge Management Lead Neil Olonoff asks how the sharing of information by bloggers and media members can help the financial crisis.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 3/10/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:44:30 GMT

The Legal Blogging Discussion Group on LinkedIn is a great place to go to get feedback on your blog from other lawyers and legal professionals interested in blogging and social networking. Check out those threads and other from this week:

Feedback and more feedback: Montana personal injury attorney Solomon Neuhardt and Los Angeles real estate lawyer Robert DeNichilo both ask for feedback on their new sites.
How long have you been blogging?: Chicago technology paralegal Geroge Weinert V asks around at how long folks have been blogging. Some of the responses are pretty surprising.
What does "social networking" mean to you?: London consultant Penny Edwards polls the group on how they use social networking in their law practices.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 3/4/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 20:08:48 GMT

This week over at the LinkedIn Legal Blogging Group, lawyers and legal professionals are abuzz about a funny new legal blog, a XXX

A different type of legal blog, Practicing Law Sucks: Los Angeles business coach Jerome Bame shares his new blog devoted to "relieving the pain and suffering of lawyers."
What luxuries or name-brand items are you refusing to give up?: North Carolina attorney Donna Ray (Berkelhammer) Chmura asks for feedback on what lawyers just can't part with, despite any economy-related cutbacks.
Syndicating your blog: any legal issues?: Houston web developer Greg Davis asks if there are other legal issues to be aware of when syndicating blog content besides the standard copyright issues and privacy concerns.

Legal Blogging Discussion Group Roundup: 2/19/09

lisa@lexblog.com (Lisa Kennelly) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 21:43:20 GMT

With over 2,000 members, the Legal Blogging Discussion group at LinkedIn always provides diverse opinions from lawyers, legal professionals and members of the blogosphere. Our roundup this week includes posts on website development, IM clients and importing legal blog posts:

Creating a law firm website: Washington D.C. international arbitration attorney Charbel Moarbes asks for suggestions and advice about webhosting, design and pricing for a new law firm website.
Importing legal blogs: NYC-area securities and broker-dealer attorney Mark Astarita seeks others' thoughts on general legal web sites importing the full text of legal blog posts without consent from the author.
The Best Third-Party IM contest: Bulgaria software company CEO Stefan Chekanov shares the results of a poll on software that can access and manage different/multiple messaging clients.