Have you read these?

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

• “How Essential is a CMO?” from AmLaw Daily. This is what I do, so it’s not surprising that I have a viewpoint on this question (first thought: this isn't the right question to ask). But that’s not why you need to read this article. You need to read it because your own answer to the question should provide the foundation for your marketing plan, for the initiatives, budget and scope of how you market your practice. You also need to read the responses it has sparked, including those from Heather Milligan in The Legal Watercooler, “How Essential is a CMO? Depends,” Mark Beese in Leadership for Lawyers, “How Essential is a CMO?,” and Tim Corcoran in Corcoran’s Business of Law Blog, “Law Firm Leaders and Law Firm CMOs: Stop Whining and Get On With It,” and Jordan Furlong in Law21.ca, "Trust and the marketing department."
  
  
• “Testing Marketing Competence” from Branding Strategy Insider. This post fits well with the ongoing discussion about the necessity of law firm CMOs. Why? Because these are the types of questions lawyers should be asking when talking to law firm marketers. And legal marketers should be articulating what they do, how they do it, and why it works or doesn’t work, in these terms. That’s how your clients do it.
  
  
• “Twitter – New Opportunities and Headaches for Companies” from Howard Rice. This is a client alert written by Howard Rice attorneys that takes a broad (and cursory) look at legal issues raised by blogs, Facebook and Twitter. Lawyers: whether or not you are directly involved in social media and social networking, your clients are. This isn’t going away, and the risks are only going to increase. You need to know this stuff. Really well.
  
  
• “Graduating into a recession” from Law21.ca. I ask lawyers what advice they have for law students when I interview them on 22 Tweets. So when I saw that Jordan Furlong had answered the same question, in a blog post, I had to read it. And recommend you read it too. It’s not by accident that I regularly feature his work on this blog: his analyses are thoughtful, comprehensive and insightful. And this one rises to the top: in the course of advising student, Furlong provides an in-depth examination of how the legal profession is evolving, and how lawyers must evolve to survive in the world. Read it.  
  
  
• “Tough times, tougher questions” from legalweek.com. Still trying to figure out what to do in today’s economic climate? You’re not the only one. This article captures a recent debate on the future of the legal profession (sponsored by Legal Week). In the process, it gives us valuable insight how this very diverse group of legal professionals see the profession and where it is going. The bonus? Reading what your peers and colleagues think the profession is doing right (and not so right).
  

Have you read these?

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

• “The Better Business Experience for your Customers, Prospects and Partners” from Conversation Agent. Successful client relationships depend a lot on meaningful dialogues. The ideas in this post, and the ongoing conversations, might help you reshape your client interaction and strengthen your client relationships.
  
  
• “50+ Tips to Brand Yourself Online” from HRM Today. Not a lot I can say about this post beyond providing the title. So just read it. You’ll be glad you did.
  
  
• “Recessionary Thinking: 12 Smart Marketing Tips for Tough Times” from Legal Marketing Reader. I don’t agree with all 12, there are some very good suggestions for marketing in a down economy here. The bottom line? Arbitrarily cutting back your marketing spend is no better than paying for marketing activities without a clear understanding of their benefits. Successful marketing is more about having a focused and realistic plan than it is about spending money. Read this post for a good perspective on the types of things your marketing plan should address.
  
  
• “How do you syndicate a blog or website?” from Rachel Levy’s Job Search and Networking blog. Maintaining a successful blog isn’t solely about providing good content, it’s also about finding readers and engaging them in meaningful conversations. This post provides some useful ideas on how to get the word out so you can get the readers in.
  
  
• “Know Thyself” from Leadership and Women Lawyers. I like three things about this post. The first is its practical advice: lawyers, whether you know it or not, you have a web presence. You need to be aware of it and manage it wherever possible. The second is the story of lawyers collaborating with professional staff. This firm sounds like a great place to work. The third? Being able to subscribe to a blog dedicated to “developing and supporting women in leadership positions in law firms and law departments.”
  

Have you read these?

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

• “How to Market in a Recession” from John Quelch’s Marketing Knowhow blog at Harvard Business Publishing. This post from late September 2008 (read: before the world caved in on our heads) starts out quoting Bernanke: “recession is possible.”  As it turns out, the points on how to market in a recession are even older, from February 2008. And the eight factors to bear in mind when developing your 2009 marketing plan are as fresh as the day they were written.
  
  
• “Permission To Manage Your Career” from Jibber Jobber. We all need someone to give us permission to act now and then. This post takes an idea I once blogged about – knowing is nothing, doing is everything – and articulates it in a way that will prompt action in virtually everyone who reads it (wish I'd been able to do that!).  Go get permission to own your future, then get at it.
  
  
• “Five Great Things About the 2009 Depression” from the Law People blog. I really like this post, not just because I’m excited about 2009 (and you should be too), but because it gives us the permission that Jibber Jobber convinced me we all need to use the current economic climate as a driver for change. Change is inevitable this year. Own it.
  
  
• “5 Ways to Gain More Value from Your PR Agency” from PR Squared. Last week I recommended you read a post to help you evaluate the value provided by your PR counsel and what they should be doing. This time it’s your turn. This post talks about your actions and attitude toward your PR counsel, and what you need to do to ensure you’re getting maximum value from your PR spend.
  
  
• “2009 Readiness: Part 2: The best source of success is already with you” from the tompeters! blog. This post explains why it is crucial that you actively target your existing clients for new business. The bonus? You already know where this is going. It’s Part 2 in a six-part series on 2009 readiness. Read it and learn.