I went to dinner last night with some very dear friends that we see once a year. She’s an attorney. She’s a solo who works out of her home after having worked for many years in a large law firm. Being the marketing student that I am, I asked her where she gets her cases from and what type of marketing she does. She replied that the work she gets is entirely from referrals. That’s a good position to be in.

I then asked what she does to thank those referring attorneys. “Nothing,” she answered.

“Nothing at all?” I asked, stunned that she would not even thank those attorneys beyond a verbal thank you.

“No, nothing.”

I then “If a referring attorney asked you how you distinguish yourself from every other New York lawyer, what would you say? Her answer: “The people who send me cases know me for many years. They know my work. They trust me.”

“Ok, I understand that,” I thought to myself. But she didn’t answer my question. I asked what separates her from all the other attorneys who do the same exact work. Her reply consisted solely of identifying those people who already knew her and trusted her. I couldn’t help but think about all the work and money she was leaving on the table by showing off her expertise in many different ways.

Most attorneys, when asked what makes them different from their competitors, talk about their experience and what they’ve accomplished for their former clients. Some say they’re less expensive than their competitors across town. “We don’t charge for photocopying or phone charges.” “We don’t have fractional billing. We only bill in 10 minute increments.”

What these lawyers are pointing to are features, not benefits of their law practice. They are simply commodities that can be bargained with, negotiated with and encourage client dissatisfaction. What do I mean? If a client is unhappy with an attorney who cannot distinguish himself, the client simply says “I’m discharging you and going to the next attorney who is less expensive and can do a better job…”

It’s like saying “What’s the big deal between supermarkets? They all sell the same food. Waldbaums across town sells the same food as Shop Rite but for less money.” Those clients will view you as simply a commodity. That’s a very bad position to be in.

What does this have to do with video marketing? I’m glad you asked. (I thought you’d never get around to asking that pressing question.)

It has everything to do with it.

Video marketing shows that you’re not a commodity. It allows you to show you’re human and approachable. It allows you to position yourself as an expert, without ever having to say you’re an expert. Video allows you to showcase your knowledge about your area of law. You can’t do that effectively with any other form of advertising media available today. Video allows you to form a bond with your online viewer,  get them to trust you and begin to like you, just from your video.

Let me know what you think about being a commodity and the importance of setting yourself apart.

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REFER A FRIEND, GET A BONUS!

Unlike my friend mentioned above, if you refer an attorney or small business owner who signs up with my Total Online Video Solution, I will give you an affiliate referral fee. How much is that fee? I’m glad you asked: $1,000 dollars. Just make sure to tell the person you refer to mention your name so we can keep track of it in our records.

http://www.oginski-law.com

You know the saying “you just had to be there?” In this video I show you two things that happened during a recent cross examination of a medical expert in a trial I recently handled. These two things destroyed the doctor’s credibility even though he had excellent credentials and was a very experienced witness. Watch the video to learn what happened.

To learn more about New York medical malpractice cases, I encourage you to explore my medical malpractice website. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me since I can answer your legal questions. You can reach me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

The Law Office of Gerald Oginski, LLC
25 Great Neck Rd., Suite 4
Great Neck NY 11021
516-487-8207
lawmed10@yahoo.com

http://www.oginski-law.com/

Your treating doctor tells you that he cannot come in to trial since he will be away at the time of your trial. What do you do? Is there some way you can take the doctor’s testimony to be used at trial?

Watch the video to learn what a video deposition is and how it can be used at trial in New York.

To learn about how medical malpractice and accident cases work in New York, I encourage you to explore my popular website http://www.oginski-law.com/. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

The Law Office of Gerald Oginski, LLC
25 Great Neck Rd., Suite 4
Great Neck NY 11021
516-487-8207
lawmed10@yahoo.com

http://www.oginski-law.com

Watching TV we hear that the prosecutor has to prove their case beyond a reasonable doubt. However, in a medical malpractice or accident case in New York, that is not the standard that we must meet in order to prove that we are entitled to compensation. Instead, we need only show that we are more likely right than wrong that what we are saying is correct. This is known as the preponderance of credible evidence.

If the jury determines that we are more likely right than wrong, then the injured victim is entitled to be compensated for the harm that they have suffered.

To learn more about how New York medical malpractice and accident cases work in New York, I encourage you to explore my popular website http://www.oginski-law.com. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me since I can answer your legal questions at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

The Law Office of Gerald Oginski, LLC
25 Great Neck Rd., Suite 4
Great Neck, NY 11021
516-487-8207
lawmed10@yahoo.com

http://www.oginski-law.com

Have you ever heard the term ‘mediation’? Do you know what it is and how it can help resolve your case? Watch the video to learn more.

To learn more about medical malpractice & accident cases here in New York, I encourage you to explore my website, http://www.oginski-law.com. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me since I can answer your legal questions at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

The Law Office of Gerald Oginski, LLC
25 Great Neck Rd., Suite 4
Great Neck, NY 11021
516-487-8207
lawmed10@yahoo.com

WARNING: This list is not for the thin-skinned or faint-hearted lawyer.

1. You don’t know why you should create video.
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 in public.
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.

Let’s face it; the yellow pages are dying and lawyer directories don’t distinguish you from any other lawyer. TV, radio and display ads are expensive. You created a website to tell the world what you do, hoping that somehow, someone looking for a lawyer online will find your website and despite compelling odds, choose to call you instead of your competitor down the street. You don’t update your website often. You don’t write a blog. Nor do you give your viewer a compelling reason to call you.

At this point, you might as well give up now and continue to complain to friends and colleagues about how bad your law business is in this economy. This mindset reminds me of a character in the book “Our Iceberg is Melting” by John Kotter. The character is a penguin (all the characters are penguins) who is always pessimistic and they call him “No-no.” Why? Because every suggestion, even good ones, are turned away by “No-no.” Nothing is ever good enough to warrant a “Yes” from him.

Why does your yellow pages ad stink? Because it’s just like all the others.

Why doesn’t your offline advertising bring in business? Because as marketing guru Mark Stevens says “Your advertising sucks.”

Nothing’s working for you. Business is way down and you don’t know how video can improve your marketing. To you, video looks like a waste of time and money. For the pessimist it will be. However, if you have a positive outlook and a good mindset, then creating video can dramatically improve your ability to effectively and ethically market your law practice.

Video allows a viewer to hear you; see you and begin to trust you. Now here’s my warning:

If you really look like a schlump, dress poorly and are not confident, then DO NOT create video. If your prospective clients are afraid to meet you because of your looks or inability to converse and interact with them, you might want to consider being an attorney who has limited contact with clients and focus your strengths on the law. Leave the marketing to someone more dynamic in your firm or hire talent to appear on camera for you.

Will you start creating video to market your law practice? Only you can answer that question. If you are eager to get onto video, I can help. Take a look at my turn-key system where I do everything for you. Also, take a look at some of the well-known lawyers who have taken the time to write testimonials. It’s truly eye-opening.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Have a great day!

______________________

Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 200 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help lawyers get onto video. To get started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry offers a simple and cost-effective turn-key video creation system where he does everything for you except appear on camera, click here to learn more.

You can reach Gerry personally at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at Gerry@lawyersvideostudio.com. He welcomes your call.

http://www.oginski-law.com

In this brief video I give you an inside look at my Great Neck, New York office. (I also have satellite offices in New York City, Brooklyn and Staten Island, but wanted you to see where I spend most of my time). This is a never-before seen video of my office. You get to see where I spend most of my day when I’m in my office. In addition, I show you some of the lighting equipment I use to create my videos.

Come on in and take a look at my office.

Warning: It’s not some big fancy schmancy Manhattan law office with gorgeous furnishings, Persian rugs, expensive lamps or wood paneling. Rather, it’s a neat office that’s fully functional. Enough said. Watch the video to see for yourself.

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I encourage you to explore my educational website where I have hundreds of FAQ’s, free reports, video tips, free books you can download immediately and lots more. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me since I can answer your legal questions about accident cases, medical malpractice cases and wrongful death cases here in New York. You can reach me at 516-487-8207 or by email at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

http://www.oginski-law.com

Sepsis is an infection that spreads throughout your entire body. Once it gets into the bloodstream, it can be lethal if not treated appropriately.  A systemic infection must be treated with powerful antibiotics, usually administered by IV. A failure to recognize and treat sepsis can have deadly consequences. Watch the video to find out more.

If you have more questions about medical malpractice in New York, I strongly encourage you to explore my educational and informative website. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me since I can answer your legal questions at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com. I welcome your call.

Yes. You read that correctly. In your next video, explain to your viewer a fault you have that may prevent them from coming to your office to hire you.

“What? Why would I do that?”

When you admit a fault, you show you are human. It doesn’t matter if you’re the best lawyer in your state. If you show a ‘human’ side of you, your viewer will likely have more trust in you than if you constantly tell them how incredible and wonderful you are.

I know some lawyers may disagree with this post, and that’s ok. They probably don’t have any faults.

The fact is that most of us have some faults. If you admit it in your video, I guarantee that it will not diminish your lawyering skills. Instead, viewers will appreciate your honesty.

Think about the last time you were in a restaurant and asked your waiter if the soup or main entree was any good. When they whispered that “It really isn’t very good tonight, but I’d suggest another more appetizing choice.”

Don’t you give that waiter greater credibility for admitting that a dish they were trying to sell you really wasn’t worth your money? When the waiter comes back and now offers you another choice of food, aren’t you much more likely to accept their recommendation, since they’ve already admitted a fault?

What if you go into a car showroom, intent on buying a nice new, expensive, shiny car. The salesman tells you “I wouldn’t buy this car if I were you…(in hushed tones)…new studies just came out showing crash tests for this car were awful. Instead, here’s a car that’s less expensive and has everything you’re looking for…”

I know that statement will create a moment of “What?! Why would the salesman give up a sale on the more expensive car?” Simple. The salesman wants to admit a fault to show he’s sincere and looking out for the best interests of his customer. He may then turn that negative into a positive by showing that it’s still a worthy car with all the other safety features.

How can you use this in your attorney video?

If you’re a newly minted attorney, tell a viewer you’re recently out of school and don’t have 20 years of experience. Yet you know all the latest laws and know how to use all the latest technology that most older dinosaurs haven’t figured out.

If you haven’t won a million dollar verdict, explain how hard you work and the reason you have not achieved that level of success is only because the right case hasn’t come along…yet.

If you’re a small firm or a solo, I would strongly encourage you to tell a viewer that they may not want a solo practitioner. Why not? Because they may want the comfort of luxury furnishings in a large building; they may want to deal with layers of receptionists and secretaries when calling to speak to a lawyer; they may like having to deal with junior associates and junior partners on a daily basis; they may enjoy not talking to the senior trial attorney until they reach trial. And on and on… Get the idea?

The next time you create a video, admit a fault. It’ll increase your credibility and show that you’re human, just like your client.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

______________________

Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 200 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help lawyers get onto video. If you’re interested in getting started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry now offers consultation services. If you want a turn-key system where Gerry does everything for you except appear on camera, click here. You can reach Gerry personally at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at Gerry@lawyersvideostudio.com.

You’ve been in practice for a number of years. You have some experience under your belt. You’re still learning, but you’re a go-getter. When a potential client comes into your office and asks why they should hire you instead of your competitor down the street who has more experience than you do, what do you say?

If you’re a solo practitioner, you tell them about your personal attention. If you’re in a mid-sized to large firm, you tell them about all the benefits a larger firm can offer; a virtual all-in-one shop for their legal needs.

Ok, so how does this relate to creating attorney video? Simple.

Create a video that explains the benefits of your firm.

WARNING: Do not talk trash about any other firm or any other attorney, especially by name. If you do, you will likely get a complaint to the grievance committee in your state.

Use your video to show other human beings who work in your firm. Give your viewer an “inside” look at the workings behind the people who work with you and for you.

Viewers love to see how things work. They love to learn about the ‘behind-the-scenes’  efforts that go into making something. If that something is generating a legal brief to submit to court, show your viewer what goes into it, using a video. If you handle corporate takeovers, show a viewer what goes into the mechanics of a takeover.

The possibilities are endless.

The next time someone wants to hire you, ask yourself why are they hiring you over your colleague, and then create a video that talks about that exact point.

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog!

____________________________

Gerry is a New York medical malpractice and personal injury trial lawyer in practice for over 21 years. He has produced and created over 200 educational and informative videos to help consumers understand how lawsuits work in the State of New York. If you want to see how Gerry has used video to promote his own practice click here.

Gerry created the Lawyers’ Video Studio to help lawyers get onto video. If you’re interested in getting started with creating video to market your legal services, Gerry now offers consultation services. If you want a turn-key system where Gerry does everything for you except appear on camera, click here. You can reach Gerry personally at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at Gerry@lawyersvideostudio.com.