Now that the internet gives us instant access to information, it is critical that you are aware of how to develop and monitor your reputation. People are talking about you and your law firm; you need to know what they are saying.
I want to address not only ways you can build your reputation online, but also some suggestions for tracking what is being said about you.
1. Create a blog and regularly contribute to it – By writing articles about the fields of practice you work in is a great way to build trust and reputation. Others will look to you as an expert and you will build a great catalog of material to “show off” to prospective clients.
2. Use Google Alerts – Google provides this tool to everyone for free. This powerful tool enables you to enter words you want to scrape the internet for. It will email when a new instance of the word you are tracking appears. You can track your name, the name of your firm, and much more.
3. Use Twitter Search – By searching in the Twitter stream for your name and your firm’s name, you can track in real time when others tweet about you. You can also respond quickly if a criticism or complaint is found.
4. Involve yourself in social media – Take time to answer LinkedIn discussions and questions. Submit blog posts to Digg.com. Friend other professionals and lawyers on Facebook. Taking part in these activities will establish connections and build your reputation.
The web is really good tool for connecting and sharing information. Much like in the offline world, establishing your identity and expertise will help build trust. This helps if others complain and say negative things about you and your firm as well.
Negative comments and conversation should be tracked and viewed as an opportunity to address the problem and win people over. Often times how you react and handle bad situations is a better reflection of you and your law firm than how you act when things are going well.
When you put forth effort into establishing and developing your online reputation you will see potential clients turning into actual clients. Establishing trust and monitoring is essential in the online community.
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