Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

  • Why Being Extraordinary Wins” from Altitude…brand elevation through social media. Think you’re good at client service? What would it take for you to be great at it? What would that cost? Would it be worth it? This story of customer experience at a dentist’s office just might give you some ideas on how you could be extraordinary. Read it.

  • Want to be a better PR professional?” from Client Service Insights (CSI/Season 2). Don’t let the title fool you: this post is really about being a better professional services provider. How? By putting the client first. Before you say “but I already do that!” (like I did…), read this post. And then ask yourself if you know your client’s business as well as you should.

  • A Blogging Guide for St. Louis (and Other) Lawyers (and Others)” from DennisKennedy.com. Lawyers, want to start blogging? Read this interview with four pioneers of the legal blogosphere who all hail from St. Louis, “Blawg City USA.” This is great advice, the kind that you normally have to pay for, the kind that will help you understand the cost and demands of blogging, the kind that will make your blog better. The bonus? Even the most seasoned blawger will learn something from this group.

  • Some Thoughts About Pitching In-house Counsel for Business” from Legal Marketing Blog.com. This post is written for smaller firms, who are increasingly getting opportunities to pitch for work from larger corporations traditionally represented by BigLaw. But everyone will benefit from this advice, especially the in-house counsel who won’t have to sit through another bad pitch. And if they appreciate it, you most likely will, too.

  • A Thought For Law Students” from In Search of Perfect Client Service. If you read my other blogs, you know the importance I place helping law students prepare for the future. That’s why I was especially pleased to find this advice for law students from Patrick Lamb, founder of Valorem Law Group. Why? Because Lamb isn’t waiting for the future to happen, he’s writing it. And in this post he tells future lawyers how they can write their own futures, too.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Have you read these?

A smattering of interesting and valuable posts from the blawgosphere and beyond

  • Outsourcing: What Indian Firms Have Planned for the Future of Biglaw” from Above the Law. As the debate continues about the relevance of the billable hour in today’s market, some firms are developing different models. No, I’m not talking about “billable hours” firms changing their spots to become “alternative billing” firms. I’m talking about finding different ways to deliver value. This post gives us an in-depth look at outsourcing as a business model for the legal profession. Will more firms adopt this approach?

  • All the things you don’t need” from The Art of Non-Conformity. I can tell already that this post is going to make my “all-time greats” list. It will be on yours, too. It will help you move beyond the obstacles that are holding you back, that are keeping you from doing what you want to do, from becoming that which you would like to be. Because most of the time, success isn’t dependent on the things we don’t have. Read this post and you’ll agree.

  • Whither Sales in Law Firms?” from Corcoran’s Business of Law Blog. Disguised as a report on a recent panel discussion in which he participated, Tim Corcoran provides a valuable primer on law firm marketing, business development and sales. Should law firms have a sales force? They already do. Read this post. Then give a copy to everyone in your firm to read too. They’ll thank you.

  • Navigating the seven Cs of knowledge” from Enlightened Tradition. Don’t be fooled: this post isn’t about knowledge management. That’s just the context. This post is about value and success and service and perspective and a whole lot more. Lawyers, legal professionals, accountants, consultants, PR professionals, this post was written for you, too. Read it.

  • What's that Chirping in the Forest?” from Leadership, Women, Lawyers. This post is a good addition to the ongoing “lawyers on Twitter” conversation, but not because it talks about the vast potential of Twitter as a communications tool, or the meaningful relationships that Twitter can help you establish, or even the fun you can have when you tweet. Because it contains ideas like this: “…if you have client that tweets, you are a fool if you don't follow. You can bet that some other lawyer will.”

Friday, June 5, 2009

Have you read these?

A smattering of insightful and useful posts from the blawgosphere and beyond.

  • Draft Horse” from Belgium Knee Warmers. I don’t often get the chance to recommending a cycling post in the context of legal business development and marketing. This is a great post about working hard, satisfying the needs of your client, and the satisfaction that comes from being a true team player. Lawyers: don’t make your clients tell you what they need. Know their business, know their industry, know their objectives and strategies and challenges, so that you can smell their need and satisfy it before they ask. Then you know you’re adding value.

  • You Need to Be Proactive to Sell” from Alan’s Blog at Contrarian Consulting. I’ve featured posts from Alan Weiss before. This one features stories about selling, value and how one vendor makes their client feel important, special and valued. Guess who’s going to get repeat business?

  • Decision making defines the leader” from Harvey MacKay. This article doesn’t need much in the way of introduction, because you already know who MacKay is and why you should be reading his weekly column. My favorite part of this one? The quote from Harry S. Truman: “Whenever I make a bum decision, I just go out and make another."

  • Tips for Pitching Your Firm to In-House Counsel Without Going Overboard” from Law.com. It may seem like you’ve heard these before. After all, you have a lot of experience on the buyer side making purchase decisions based on how people pitch their services. Then why do you need to read this post? Because you’re probably not using your “buyer” experience when wearing your “seller” hat. Read this post and put what you learn into action.

  • What do recruiters want from a resume?” from MN Headhunter. I feature a lot of posts for job seekers that offer valuable lessons for all who sell themselves (including the fortunate ones who currently have jobs). Don’t let the title of this post fool you: it too is for everyone. Yes, it is full of very practical advice for job seekers writing, updating, or merely circulating their resume. But there’s a broader lesson here: don’t deal in generalities. Find out precisely what your buyer is looking for, and tailor your materials to communicate your ability to meet those needs.