Why Use Social Media?

wikipedia states that "Social media is the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into interactive dialogue" Translation - getting to know people/businesses online and building relationships and sharing information.

Social media gives you the opportunity to promote your business branding, provides exposure through networking and enables you to build relationships and trust. It can also provide much needed feedback.

Feedback could be used from a customer service perspective. Latimer Hinks have used feedback from online surveys to provide answers to "burning questions."

For our most recent online survey we wanted to know if businesses had noticed an increase in debtor days.

The social media sites used were:

• LinkedIn groups as well as asking members of LinkedIn in "answers".
• Twitter
• Facebook

I'll let you know which site was most successful in generating completed surveys. We will of course "pay back" those who have responded as all results will be collated and a press release generated from the information we receive. 

Some tips on social networking
1) Don't ask for favours
2) Build a rapport, get involved in discussions
3) Your home page may not be the best link to share with someone whilst networking. Consider linking to a more relevant page on your site
Correctly done, social media can grow your online business faster than any other means. Social media also saves money, however there is a time element to successful social networking that sould be considered.

For interest, I came across this article about the use of social media in emergencies.

A Visit from LawNet

Yesterday representatives from LawNet travelled to Latimer Hinks to discuss/inform us of the services LawNet offers.

Latimer Hinks is a member of LawNet.

LawNet's aim is "to help win and retain clients, reduce costs and increase profitability" so it was a good idea for their team to come along and update us.

The talk was to be held at our offices in Priestgate, we arranged lunch (courtesy of LawNet). The finger buffet provided by Ray Wade catering was excellent!

This was the first lunch for LawNet. They wish to carry out the same process with other member firms - we were very gentle with them!

It soon became apparent that we really did not know much at all about LawNet.

• members can enjoy online specialist groups (knowing that other law firms would not be in competition)
• LawNet can write text for a particular service we would wish to provide
• we can use standard leaflets and drop in our logo
• there are free pdf's available that can be tailored to requirements
• they are considering offering training in the North (sometimes fee earners would like to take up training but most courses are based in London)

Many other points were discussed, and will continue to be discussed. Now that we have met the LawNet team it feels that we are now building a relationship and can contact them for advice/information. It's also good to put a face to a voice or email!!

The LawNet team were:

• Helen Hamilton-Shaw - Director of Services
• Myriam Stirling - Events & Networking Co-ordinator
• George Coombes - Marketing & Services Executive

 

New Year, New Us

Latimer Hinks was originally established in 1892 and last year it was decided that the Latimer Hinks image required an update, a new corporate identity. I believe that this is only the third image change in nearly 120 years! Hopefully you can tell from the photos that the left image is previous signage.

A modern, fresh, clean image which would sit well with our private as well as corporate clients was required. This was the easy bit - the hard bit was having 10 very different partners agree on an image!!

The challenge was on! Everything was due to roll out on the 4th January 2010. Partners evetually agreed on a logo and we were off!

All the stationery, pop up displays, folders etc were delivered in the run up to Christmas ready for use on the Monday we returned to work.

The shop front and reception signage was to be replaced during the Christmas holidays by Signs Express in Darlington. Whilst on Christmas leave I heard an announcement that Priestgate (the street on which Latimer Hinks sits) had been closed due to a hole appearing in the road!! Luckily our contractor liaised with the council and managed to "get the job done."

So far so good - but the job still continues! I will keep you updated on the rest of our ptomotional update!

The Right Place at the Right Time!

The press have recently covered a story about a young girl being "spotted" by model agency Storm (same one that spotted Kate Moss) in, of all places, Primark!

She has since gone on to model for Benneton and is also one of the stars of London Fashion Week.

She was in the right place at the right time!

Now getting press releases, blogs etc in the right place at the right time can be a time consuming process - but well worth it in the long run.

By submitting press stories to relevant web based PR companies saves an awful lot of work. Sending press releases by email attachment is not always the best way.

Common Craft have produced a video for their Client PRWeb - this explains everything very simply - i'm a great fan of the style of Common Craft videos, they remind me so much on my Blue Peter and sticky back plastic years!

Submitting to Blog Directories - the less time consuming way!

This is such a long and tedious process.

Search for the directory, find the relevant page for submitting, then submit.

Not any more - i came across a list of submission URLs for blog directories and RSS feeds - all in one place!

Many many thanks to the Online Marketing Blog

Essential Articles Every Serious Blogger Should Read

I have been advised by John of Family Lore that the best way to gain more hits to my blogs is to create links (and he should know as Family Lore receives around 2000 hits per month - he's obviously doing something right).

I also came across an article by Matt Huggins - 55 Essential Articles Every Serious Blogger Should Read via Del.ici.ous and have been slowly going through the list. Most of the information is very straight forward and there are further links to relevant sites. It's an excellent list as everything in in one place.

Take a look and i'm sure you'll discover something you didn't already know!

FeedBurner - pushing your information

I've been burning feeds - not something i thought i'd be saying in a marketing role + it's free!

Recently Google purchased news-feed management company FeedBurner for $100 million and Google is now offering the service for free - Google Gives Away Feedburner

Why Would I Want to Set Fire to my Feed?
If you long for creative ways to attract an audience, see where your content goes once you publish it and generally add a lot more value to your feed, then "feedburning" is for you

Your "feed" is redirected so that you can get a true picture of how many subscribers you have, where they come from etc. You are provided with a very detailed analysis which can be tailored to what you require. I've used the data on one blog to help promote the other blogs. It's interesting to see where your traffic comes from and where it is going to!

See Feedburning for Bloggers

Blidgets and Widgets!

Some form of new insect/disease? Not at all, simply take your blog, make it into a widget and share it with the widgetsphere.

What’s a blidget?
A blidget is a widget that contains your blog. Other people can place your blidget on their sites, increasing your exposure.

Why should I want a blidget?
A blidget drives readers to your site.
Many bloggers like to show support for the other blogs they read, and like to provide their readers with related articles they might like. Everyone who goes to their blog is instantly given a sneak peak into yours.
Some of our blidgets quickly gain hundreds of subscribers — that is, hundreds of people put your blidget on their site, providing their readers exposure to your content.

I decided to give it a go.

If you look at the right hand side of my blog you will see Judith's divorce blog's blidget. What a mouthful! Judith made her blog into a widget and i was able to add it to my blog. Any changes that are made should show instantly.

It's a direct link to Judith's Divorce blog and whatever topic you wish to view if you click, will take you directly to that topic.

I think that this is a great way to share promotional tactics. Any thoughts?

PS: the widget/blidget came from Widgetbox

The Latimer Hinks Guineapig

This is a time for firsts - my first blog and first posting. The reason I have decided to create a blog is to diary the progress of a marketing campaign which myself and the family law partner (Judith Middleton) at Latimer Hinks Solicitors decided to undertake.

I am hoping that the campaign will generate traffic to the Latimer Hinks website and also raise the profile/awareness of the partners of the firm.

It is an experiment of which Latimer Hinks is the guineapig.

I recently attended a presentation by Roger Coathup of 21 Thoughts . Roger considers himself to be a "futures expert" (GRReat job title I might add). The presentation was excellent and set me to thinking of how best to create a social networking presence.

I took Roger's comments on board and decided to try a few out.