There are a number of websites and companies that go around giving awards to people who create great videos.
That’s nice.
Those websites promote the videos and drive traffic to their own websites. They encourage the “Winnees” (that’s not a real word, btw) to also promote the fact that their videos have won an award or two.
This comes directly from YouTube’s terms of service. I’ll bet you didn’t know that.
You see it on Facebook all the time. People say “I want 500 “Likes” in order to get to the next level. If you click like, I will give you XYZ, or you’ll be entered in a drawing for a free DooDad that you certainly don’t need and won’t know what to do with.
Yes, I will be the first to say it now. Your law firm will become obsolete if you do not adapt and put video on your website.
Come back with me a few years. Why did you create a website? Because other lawyers were using new technology to ‘get their name out there’, right? You didn’t want to be left behind. Why did you join Facebook? Everybody was doing it and you realize it’s not just hype to be on FB. The social implications are huge. Same for Twitter and LinkedIn.
I received an unsolicited email the other day from someone who was peddling this product that you can see to the left.
See the message that came with this image:
“Hi Mr Oginski: If You! Be the Judge is the marketing catalyst you’ve been looking for, don’t hesitate to call for more information. Regards, …”
I have no idea what this meant and I had no interest in clicking on this unsolicited e-mail. Instead, I wrote back to the person who sent it to me asking one question: “Why?”
That question I wanted addressed was “Why should I click on this e-mail?” What is it about your product or service that would compel me to be interested in your offering?
The reply I received was bizarre…
Have you ever woken up in the morning, looked out the window and just wanted to go back to bed? Have you ever sat in your office with a pile of papers in your inbox that just have to be done but you have no desire or inclination to get to it? Have you seen those fitness gurus on TV who promote their great products but you just don’t feel like making the effort to do all that work to get the results that they talk about?
Let’s see…
A person in need of legal help who does not know an attorney.
A person who does not know a friend or relative who knows an attorney.
A person who has never had a legal problem before.
Question: What type of person chooses a lawyer the way they choose their plumber, by going to the yellow pages and picking the biggest ad in the book believing that they must be better than the other lawyers because they have a bigger ad?
Answer:
Lawyers ask me all the time whether video is really useful. I’m tempted to tell them that the answer is “no.” However, I’ve always been straightforward and honest when explaining to lawyers how useful and important creating video is to market their legal practice.
There are plenty of attorneys who are so busy practicing law that they never look up to realize that they actually need to work on their business instead of in the business in order to generate new clients and new cases. Many attorneys find marketing to be distasteful and best left to the rainmaker of the firm. All they want is to be the best lawyer they can be and get the best results for the client. That is a great ideal and is very commendable. However, if you look at your recent statistics showing you where you got your clients from over the last year you will undoubtedly recognize that the sources for your cases have changed, especially when compared to years past.
I used to use a dry cleaner near my home that I would have to drive to in order to get my clothes dry cleaned. They were a big operation. Very impersonal. The front desk staff changed often and nobody ever knew who I was despite the fact I had been using them for more than 10 years. Well, this dry cleaner went out of business, and I needed to look elsewhere for my dry cleaner needs.
The emperor had a change of clothes and so should you.
When you arrive in court for trial each day, you have changed your clothes, right? (At least I hope so.)
When you watch the evening news (does anybody still watch the evening news?) you notice the newscasters with different clothes each night.
“Why does this matter and what the heck am I talking about?”
WARNING: This list is not for the thin-skinned or faint-hearted lawyer.
1. You don’t know why you should.
2. Nobody would want to watch you anyway (except your family).
3. You’re lazy.
4. You like the # of calls you’re getting from the yellow pages.
5. You have no desire to market yourself on the internet.
6. It’s beneath you to talk about what you do on camera.
7. You don’t look good, and have a radio face.
8. You don’t sound good and would rather pay ‘talent’ to appear for you.
This list is for those attorneys who fail to take action when presented with the opportunity to dominate their area of law.
