Individual bar associations across the country may or may not have regulations governing social media on their books: social media moves fast; the process of creating new rules to govern the practice of law within certain jurisdictions, not so much.
Obviously, lawyers should know their own bar rules and regulations, since they are bound by the ethical rules applicable to their jurisdiction(s). That's not the only attempt at corralling online communications on the web, however.
Social Media Policies and Guidelines Established for Private Companies and Public Entities
Attorneys should be aware that social media policies and online communication guidelines are being set up by many different types of entities now; savvy lawyers will be aware of those internet rules and regulations that may apply to certain clientele - as well as those of a competing law firm (e.g., the April 2011 social media guidelines established by Baker & Daniels).
For example, there are social media policies in place for the States of Delaware, Oklahoma, and North Carolina as well as big corporations like Ford Motor Company, FedEx, and Coca-Cola. Many more have been collected for review by Chris Boudreaux at SocialMediaGovernance.com, an excellent go-to site for those interested in learning more about the evolving trends in controlling social media today.
Lawyers and Ethical Rules, Social Media Guidelines
Does the attorney have to know these social media guidelines? No, the lawyer will not be controlled by these policies; however, he or
she should be able to explain why they disagree with a particular
guideline if a client, potential client, or referral source asks about
it after reading the lawyer's blog or social media tweets, pokes, etc. Having access to this information when creating an internal set of online social media guidelines as part of law firm policy will also be very helpful.
Does the lawyer need to know about ethical rules? Yes, they do need to know what their local and state bar associations have defined as acceptable online communications. Lawyers and law firms should be aware of the ethical rules and regulations that apply to their online activities: they may be disciplined for violating them (e.g., reprimand, suspension).
In some states, a broad brush is applied to blogs, Twitter accounts, and pages on LinkedIn, Facebook (and now Google+) where the governing body attempts to regulate these new marketing avenues using the same solicitation rules already in place for things like web sites and direct e-mail communications. Comments and guidelines to existing ethical codes need to be monitored.
For example, the State Bar of Texas has tried to keep up with the rapid changes in social media by issuing an "interpretive comment" to work in conjunction with Part 7 of the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct.
Another example: the State Bar of Florida, which has passed specific regulatory language that applies specifically to the growing use of social media by attorneys and law firms. Shown below is the Florida Bar's Guideline for Networking Sites, note how Florida goes into detail about such things as LinkedIn professional pages and Instant Messages:
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9/26/11
2/28/11
Tweets as Evidence: Authenticating and Admitting Twitter Tweets and Facebook Pokes
The State Bar of Texas has been offering continuing legal education for awhile now on how attorneys can use tweets as evidence. That's right: the 140 character tweets (or retweets) that millions are publishing on Twitter 24/7, and sharing with more and more followers, will be appearing in the future as evidence for jurors to consider in their deliberations.
Next month, a replay is being offered by the Texas Bar of a Summer 2010 presentation entitled "Authenticating Tweets: Use and Admission of Social Networking Evidence," where attorney John Browning of Dallas shared with his fellow Texas lawyers all about not only authenticating tweets but getting them admitted into evidence under both state and federal law. (Of course, we all know that authentication and admission are two different hurdles ....)
2012 UPDATE: See my article in Florida Defender, "Twitter at Trial: Tweets and Messages as Evidence 2011" which includes discussion of evidentiary rules and issues of admissibility and authentication.
It also looks like Mr. Browning will be covering more than just Twitter - the outline of his speech references Facebook pokes, as well as a general discussion of social media as fodder for discovery and evidence in civil cases. He should know: John Browning has also written a book on the legal ramifications of social media entitled The Lawyer's Guide to Social Networking: Understanding Social Media's Impact on the Law published by West in December 2010.
Of course, this isn't news to some. Paris Hilton faced having her tweets used by Las Vegas prosecutors in the drug charges she faced last year. But then again, Paris Hilton is always trendy right?
For more on authentication and admissibility of social media:
Next month, a replay is being offered by the Texas Bar of a Summer 2010 presentation entitled "Authenticating Tweets: Use and Admission of Social Networking Evidence," where attorney John Browning of Dallas shared with his fellow Texas lawyers all about not only authenticating tweets but getting them admitted into evidence under both state and federal law. (Of course, we all know that authentication and admission are two different hurdles ....)
2012 UPDATE: See my article in Florida Defender, "Twitter at Trial: Tweets and Messages as Evidence 2011" which includes discussion of evidentiary rules and issues of admissibility and authentication.
It also looks like Mr. Browning will be covering more than just Twitter - the outline of his speech references Facebook pokes, as well as a general discussion of social media as fodder for discovery and evidence in civil cases. He should know: John Browning has also written a book on the legal ramifications of social media entitled The Lawyer's Guide to Social Networking: Understanding Social Media's Impact on the Law published by West in December 2010.
Of course, this isn't news to some. Paris Hilton faced having her tweets used by Las Vegas prosecutors in the drug charges she faced last year. But then again, Paris Hilton is always trendy right?
For more on authentication and admissibility of social media:
- New Jersey Criminal Defense Lawyer - using tweets, Facebook pix in NJ criminal trials
- South Carolina Family Law Blog - using social media in family law cases
- U.S. Department of Justice - Directives on use of socia media in the courtroom
6/30/10
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers just released its latest study -- and it's fascinating. Seems that 81% of top divorce lawyers in this country report that since 2005, they've experienced an increase in family law (divorce) cases using social networking evidence.
And by "social networking evidence," they mean Facebook.
Facebook, according to the divorce attorneys responding to the AAML survey, was the source of this divorce case evidence 66% of the time. (Tweets on Twitter became evidence in only 5% of the lawsuits.)
Apparently, savvy divorce lawyers are checking the Facebook pages of both petitioner and respondent, and more likely than not, they're discovering useful information there. Specific case examples weren't provided with the survey, but it's easy enough to imagine the kinds of things that "social networking evidence" involves.
This impacts more than family law matters, of course.
Looks like savvy attorneys in lots of cases other than family law matters should be - and probably already are - checking social media sites for possible evidence to use in a variety of matters. Defense attorneys in personal injury matters will be reading social media for evidence of fraudulent personal injury claims. Personal injury attorneys will be reading social media for evidence of advance warning of product defects. You get the idea.
Now, savvy law firms will be looking not only at entering Web 2.0 (social media) for their own marketing purposes, but they'll be surfing around Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. as part of their standard discovery practices, as well.
Looks like the need for law firms to master social media just became a lot more clearer to lots of folk.
And by "social networking evidence," they mean Facebook.
Facebook, according to the divorce attorneys responding to the AAML survey, was the source of this divorce case evidence 66% of the time. (Tweets on Twitter became evidence in only 5% of the lawsuits.)
Apparently, savvy divorce lawyers are checking the Facebook pages of both petitioner and respondent, and more likely than not, they're discovering useful information there. Specific case examples weren't provided with the survey, but it's easy enough to imagine the kinds of things that "social networking evidence" involves.
This impacts more than family law matters, of course.
Looks like savvy attorneys in lots of cases other than family law matters should be - and probably already are - checking social media sites for possible evidence to use in a variety of matters. Defense attorneys in personal injury matters will be reading social media for evidence of fraudulent personal injury claims. Personal injury attorneys will be reading social media for evidence of advance warning of product defects. You get the idea.
Now, savvy law firms will be looking not only at entering Web 2.0 (social media) for their own marketing purposes, but they'll be surfing around Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc. as part of their standard discovery practices, as well.
Looks like the need for law firms to master social media just became a lot more clearer to lots of folk.
12/3/13
RebelMouse Review: What is RebelMouse, Anyway? Is RebelMouse Worth My Time - or Yours?
A notice hit my Gmail inbox today: BisnarChase, a California personal injury law firm, has joined RebelMouse.
Now, I recall joining RebelMouse, too, several months ago. And I’ve never gone back to the RebelMouse since then.
However, this notice made me think I might want to give RebelMouse another looksie, so today I went over to RebelMouse and looked at my RebelMouse page.
This afternoon, I added my Pinterest feed to RebelMouse as well as my LinkedIn feed. (I had originally added only Google+ and Twitter). I added my blog feeds, too.
What does this mean? RebelMouse Collects Your Social Media Stuff
It means that when you go to my page on RebelMouse, you will see a nice display of all the things that I’ve added recently on all these sites: my pins, my tweets, my G+ posts, my LinkedIn updates.
Which seems like a nice thing to have all in one place, I suppose. I get why it's being described as a "social aggregator."
Yes, I can go to other RebelMouse pages and see what someone else (or something else - like HuffPo) is posting on these various social media pages - but will I?
Posting on RebelMouse - It's a blog, too?
RebelMouse also offers the opportunity to post on RebelMouse. So I did. And I shared that RebelMouse post on Google+ using the RebelMouse share feature.
However, I’m not sure what I’m suppose to get from RebelMouse. It’s easier for me to post on Google+ and have that post automatically appear on RebelMouse than vice versa (I had to enter new text for the shared post to G+ from RebelMouse).
Also, there’s not an option to share to LinkedIn from RebelMouse, a decided disadvantage but understandable given LinkedIn’s reclusiveness, social-media wise.
Will I return to RebelMouse? That’s a big question. I'm not tempted to do this; there is no siren's song akin to Pinterest.
I’m going to play around with RebelMouse for a couple of days or so. However, I’m not breathless with anticipation of a Great New Find here.
Maybe I’ll learn more this week to change my mind. I’ll keep you posted.
Here’s what RebelMouse explains about itself:
Now, I recall joining RebelMouse, too, several months ago. And I’ve never gone back to the RebelMouse since then.
 |
| RebelMouse is a Social Media Aggregator. |
This afternoon, I added my Pinterest feed to RebelMouse as well as my LinkedIn feed. (I had originally added only Google+ and Twitter). I added my blog feeds, too.
What does this mean? RebelMouse Collects Your Social Media Stuff
It means that when you go to my page on RebelMouse, you will see a nice display of all the things that I’ve added recently on all these sites: my pins, my tweets, my G+ posts, my LinkedIn updates.
Which seems like a nice thing to have all in one place, I suppose. I get why it's being described as a "social aggregator."
Yes, I can go to other RebelMouse pages and see what someone else (or something else - like HuffPo) is posting on these various social media pages - but will I?
Posting on RebelMouse - It's a blog, too?
RebelMouse also offers the opportunity to post on RebelMouse. So I did. And I shared that RebelMouse post on Google+ using the RebelMouse share feature.
However, I’m not sure what I’m suppose to get from RebelMouse. It’s easier for me to post on Google+ and have that post automatically appear on RebelMouse than vice versa (I had to enter new text for the shared post to G+ from RebelMouse).
Also, there’s not an option to share to LinkedIn from RebelMouse, a decided disadvantage but understandable given LinkedIn’s reclusiveness, social-media wise.
I’m going to play around with RebelMouse for a couple of days or so. However, I’m not breathless with anticipation of a Great New Find here.
Maybe I’ll learn more this week to change my mind. I’ll keep you posted.
Here’s what RebelMouse explains about itself:
RebelMouse organizes your social presence into a beautiful, dynamic and social site -- in seconds. It's based on the idea that people are proud of what they share on social networks, but are starting to feel embarrassed about their websites. RebelMouse is your social front page and automatically updates as you post on social networks as well as when you blog directly on your site.
7/2/10
Web 2.0 for Lawyers - What Is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Web 2.0, otherwise known as "social media," is the second generation of internet marketing, where legal service providers communicate directly with clients and potential customers, building personal relationships as well as growing a web presence and expanding their brand and business reputation. For attorneys and law firms, Web 2.0 can be a unique marketing opportunity.
Blogs ("Blawgs"), Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn
There are various components to Web 2.0; however, for the legal profession, the top four internet social media platforms are: (1) blogging; (2) micro-blogging via Twitter™; and the interactive websites of both (3) Facebook™ and (4) LinkedIn™. Currently, most law firms prefer the more professional atmosphere of LinkedIn™ to the privacy-challenged Facebook™, but many firms are taking advantage of the Facebook™ option of creating a "company page" on the Facebook™ site.
Why do law firms spend valuable time and money on social media?
Through social media, law firms (and individual attorneys) can do four important marketing tasks:
(1) build their brand;
(2) market their business to potential clients and referring attorneys;
(3) network with colleagues; and
(4) gather and share information regarding their practice areas and specialties.
For more information:
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
Blogs ("Blawgs"), Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn
There are various components to Web 2.0; however, for the legal profession, the top four internet social media platforms are: (1) blogging; (2) micro-blogging via Twitter™; and the interactive websites of both (3) Facebook™ and (4) LinkedIn™. Currently, most law firms prefer the more professional atmosphere of LinkedIn™ to the privacy-challenged Facebook™, but many firms are taking advantage of the Facebook™ option of creating a "company page" on the Facebook™ site.
Why do law firms spend valuable time and money on social media?
Through social media, law firms (and individual attorneys) can do four important marketing tasks:
(1) build their brand;
(2) market their business to potential clients and referring attorneys;
(3) network with colleagues; and
(4) gather and share information regarding their practice areas and specialties.
For more information:
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
5/16/11
Finding the Time to Blog or Tweet: 30-Minute Social Media Marketing by Susan Gunelius Helps You
Read the book, and you've got the ground rules - along with lots of links to check out, tips to try, and tricks to streamline things. The 80/20 Rule is great. The Quick Tips throughout the text are good.
If your goal is to invest long-term in a social media marketing plan, or if you are just getting your feet wet at Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, this book is worth your investment of time and money.
There are two limitations, though: first, times are changing so fast that some of the information is already dated. Of course, this isn't the writer's fault, but it does limit the usefulness of the book.
Second, I question some of the times within the schedules here - particularly for the newbie. There are nifty schedules here, ready made for you, and that is a wonderful idea. However, take for example Chapter 22's sample 30 Minute Marketing Plans where one plan has a mere 5 minutes allotted to write a post including an image.
Me? I’m thinking 5 minutes to tweet (start to finish) seems reasonable - write the tweet, gather your hashtags, shorten the URL, edit as needed to meet that 140 character limit - but a quality blog post?
I dunno about that. Hasn't been my experience with my clientele - or with me. Still, tweaking and personalizing these schedules to fit the individual is an obvious need here. Doesn’t mean that what’s provided here isn’t a great help.
I recommend this book.
2/10/14
Hashtag Tip: Hashtagify.Me is Great Help in Choosing Great Hashtags (for Lawyers and Everyone Else)
Hashtags have to be somewhat of a common denominator among lots of folk's vocabulary or they’re not doing much good.
Suffering Hashtag Frustration?
Which brings me to a conversation I had with a frustrated client a couple of weeks ago who is a lawyer dipping his toe into Twitter. Hashtags? If he had any hair left on his head, it would be gone now just over his frustration of finding hashtags to include with his tweets.
Hashtags are Important to Twitter and Google Plus and Facebook and More
One of the hurdles lawyers face with Twitter or Google+ (when they decide to delve into social media at all) is that lawyers think like lawyers. I remember being told by a UTLaw professor (Treece, Torts) that the theme of law school wasn’t to learn the law, it was to learn to think like a lawyer. To think differently when I left the building than when I first entered. Every lawyer out there has heard the same thing, countless times. “Thinking like a lawyer” - the reason for the Socratic Method, right? (Or at least one of them.)
It’s true, too. Lawyers do think differently, and this is great when considering all the potential ramifications of a contract being negotiated or when negotiating the settlement of a wrongful death case - but it’s sometimes problematic when attorneys are hunched over their keyboard, deciding what terms they should use to index their social media post or tweet.
Hashtags are tools you can use to index your tweet or post to help others find your content even if they aren’t following you, aren’t in your community, etc. Hashtags are helpful.
In indexing their social media with hashtags, lawyers may toss off a couple of words with an “#” in front and think “that’s that.” However, those hashtags may not be as advantageous to the attorney as other choices can be.
Lawyers tend to use words with which they are familiar, or which apply to their particular case or deal, rather than stopping to consider that these words may not be the best choice in drawing potential readers to their content (even sophisiticated ones).
Hashtags, after all, are just ways to index what you’ve written so others can find what you’ve shared. Consider these alternatives: Litigation vs. Lawsuit; Coverage vs. Insurance; Mortgage vs Loan; Housing vs. Property or RealEstate; Accident vs. Crash.
Lawyer or not, anyone using hashtags should be choosing words that they believe are familiar to their intended reader. If you are writing for teenagers, then consider what words will work best as hashtags for them, not the words that work best for you and your peers. You get the idea.
Try Hashtagify.me
One option? Synonyms, sure. However, there’s a free service online that can help you find hashtags to use as well as discovering trending hashtags and more. It’s Hashtagify.me - try it and see if what your chosen hashtags provide as options when you input them into the Hashtagify.me word machine. (By the way, Hashtagify.me has the Highest Trust Rating at ScamAdviser).
3/29/09
Social Media for Lawyers: Attorneys Take Note - Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Law firms are still getting used to websites, and from what I've experienced, the leaders of the pack are getting comfortable with blogs. Which is just so sad.
Social media is the place to be and the Biggies know it. I've already posted about Martha Stewart's tweets (I just learned today that she bathes her cats. Of course she does. She's Martha.) -- but did you know that Ford Motor Company has a man on its payroll whose job is "head of social media" for the company.
That's right. Head of social media. His name is Scott Monty and he can be found here on Twitter.
Social media is the place to be and the Biggies know it. I've already posted about Martha Stewart's tweets (I just learned today that she bathes her cats. Of course she does. She's Martha.) -- but did you know that Ford Motor Company has a man on its payroll whose job is "head of social media" for the company.
That's right. Head of social media. His name is Scott Monty and he can be found here on Twitter.
8/13/10
Law.Com: Tim Corcoran Writes About Law Firm Blogs as Marketing Tools
There's an article at Law.com today which is worth your time: it's entitled "Marketing Your Law Practice With a Blog," and it's written by Timothy B. Corcoran, the man responsible for the site's Marketing the Law Firm newsletter as well as Corcoran's Business of Law blog. Two things to take away from today's read:
1. The Importance of a Savvy Ghostwriter for Law Firm Blogs.
Corcoran discusses content and the need for blog posts to give a glimpse into the blogger's personality and character. He doesn't dismiss ghostwriting, but he suggests that ghostwriting doesn't provide this vital component.
I think he's partially right: most don't. Ghostwritten blog posts need to be written by writers who understand the lawyer's (or law firm's) worldview and can write from that perspective. To me, this means not only does the ghostwriter need to understand both (1) the law and (2) the practice of law but the ghostwriter needs to take the time to get to know (3) their client, the attorney that's hired them to write those posts.
For example, I've written posts for an attorney who is an active and outspoken Libertarian. I'm not a Libertarian, but I understand his political outlook; we've discussed the approach he wants to take with his blog posts; and he's very happy with the aggressive stance his posts have taken on a variety of legal issues. It's a compliment when your client tells you that "this is exactly what I'd write if I could figure out how to do this [blog]."
2. Return on Investment On Law Firm Social Media Can't Be Measured By Number of Widgets Sold
Corcoran also writes on the vital issue of financial investment. How to measure the return on a law firm's blogging dollars is a big concern to many -- and there are lots and lots of articles out there giving mathematical formulas and MadMen ratios to explain how a dollar spent in this month should return this many client revenue dollars by X month.
I think Corcoran provides needed guidance on Law Firm Social Media ROI. Law firms have never sold products, they've sold services. Professional services. The attempts to fit law firm social media techniques into standardized products' marketing formulas is simply trying to wedge square pegs into round holes. Doesn't work.
So, how to insure you're not throwing good money after bad? Read what Mr. Corcoran has to say, for one thing.
1. The Importance of a Savvy Ghostwriter for Law Firm Blogs.
Corcoran discusses content and the need for blog posts to give a glimpse into the blogger's personality and character. He doesn't dismiss ghostwriting, but he suggests that ghostwriting doesn't provide this vital component.
I think he's partially right: most don't. Ghostwritten blog posts need to be written by writers who understand the lawyer's (or law firm's) worldview and can write from that perspective. To me, this means not only does the ghostwriter need to understand both (1) the law and (2) the practice of law but the ghostwriter needs to take the time to get to know (3) their client, the attorney that's hired them to write those posts.
For example, I've written posts for an attorney who is an active and outspoken Libertarian. I'm not a Libertarian, but I understand his political outlook; we've discussed the approach he wants to take with his blog posts; and he's very happy with the aggressive stance his posts have taken on a variety of legal issues. It's a compliment when your client tells you that "this is exactly what I'd write if I could figure out how to do this [blog]."
2. Return on Investment On Law Firm Social Media Can't Be Measured By Number of Widgets Sold
Corcoran also writes on the vital issue of financial investment. How to measure the return on a law firm's blogging dollars is a big concern to many -- and there are lots and lots of articles out there giving mathematical formulas and MadMen ratios to explain how a dollar spent in this month should return this many client revenue dollars by X month.
I think Corcoran provides needed guidance on Law Firm Social Media ROI. Law firms have never sold products, they've sold services. Professional services. The attempts to fit law firm social media techniques into standardized products' marketing formulas is simply trying to wedge square pegs into round holes. Doesn't work.
So, how to insure you're not throwing good money after bad? Read what Mr. Corcoran has to say, for one thing.
10/8/10
Twitter Wants To Be Viewed as a News Source - and Maybe Twitter 4 News Isn't So Farfetched
A couple of weeks ago, ReadWriteWeb posted on Twitter's Kevin Thau (he's Vice President of Business and Corporate Development for Twitter.Com) big announcement during Nokia World 2010 that Twitter isn't a social media site so much as it is a news site. That's right: a source for breaking news on the web.
Now, there's lots of commentary at ReadWriteWeb about Mr. Thau's promotion of Twitter as a news feed (41 comments as I type this) and you may have your own two cents' worth on this issue.
My Clients Don't Respect Twitter as Social Media - They Use it to Share Information (i.e., as a News Feed)
Most of my law firm clients either know zip about Twitter - or they know something about it because their kids tweet. Many lawyers that do know about Twitter consider it silly, something that self-absorbed people do with too much time on their hands. Who has time for it?
Clients that are acquainted with Twitter don't use it for discussion. They zip bursts of information onto Twitter, tweeting about firm news, new blog posts, and the like. From the comments on ReadWriteWeb, this seems to be the experience of many other individuals out there: "no discussion" is a common refrain by the commenters.
Discussion vs. Information: The Fork in Twitter's Road
Which means that Twitter needs to be seen as a news source, because that absence of discussion is sorta a death knell for a site touting itself a social media application. Which is fine, because I think that Twitter IS a news source. I recommend that my clients set up professional Twitter accounts and tweet regularly about business topics.
Tweets as free, fast news releases: the Jackson Walker example.
Especially law firms; after all, consider Jackson Walker. Jackson Walker was fast to jump on the Twitter train and provides an excellent example of how tweeting is beneficial for law firms and other companies.
Today, for example, Jackson Walker is tweeting its congratulations to the 40 firm lawyers that have been named 2010 Super Lawyers, with the tweet providing a link to more information. Smart. Tweet as news release.
MSNBC's Breaking News vs. Twitter Trends
Breaking News, an MSNBC attempt to follow Twitter and organize news stories, isn't the best source of breaking news in my experience. I've found that actually following trending tweets, or searching for a specific phrase regarding a news story, does give me the latest information on a news story.
The Trends tool is especially useful on Twitter, since you can choose its scope -- from national news down to your local community. Handy.
Often, it's Twitter Trending Topics are the most interesting, as well -- people tweeting from the hurricane's path, the football stadium, the crash site. Remember following the Balloon Boy on Twitter?
The Bottom Line: Consider Twitter as a News Source -- Because Twitter is a News Feed.
Twitter is a good news source. Smart to start promoting as such -- because here's where Twitter really provides a unique, valuable service for us all.
Now, there's lots of commentary at ReadWriteWeb about Mr. Thau's promotion of Twitter as a news feed (41 comments as I type this) and you may have your own two cents' worth on this issue.
My Clients Don't Respect Twitter as Social Media - They Use it to Share Information (i.e., as a News Feed)
Most of my law firm clients either know zip about Twitter - or they know something about it because their kids tweet. Many lawyers that do know about Twitter consider it silly, something that self-absorbed people do with too much time on their hands. Who has time for it?
Clients that are acquainted with Twitter don't use it for discussion. They zip bursts of information onto Twitter, tweeting about firm news, new blog posts, and the like. From the comments on ReadWriteWeb, this seems to be the experience of many other individuals out there: "no discussion" is a common refrain by the commenters.
Discussion vs. Information: The Fork in Twitter's Road
Which means that Twitter needs to be seen as a news source, because that absence of discussion is sorta a death knell for a site touting itself a social media application. Which is fine, because I think that Twitter IS a news source. I recommend that my clients set up professional Twitter accounts and tweet regularly about business topics.
Tweets as free, fast news releases: the Jackson Walker example.
Especially law firms; after all, consider Jackson Walker. Jackson Walker was fast to jump on the Twitter train and provides an excellent example of how tweeting is beneficial for law firms and other companies.
Today, for example, Jackson Walker is tweeting its congratulations to the 40 firm lawyers that have been named 2010 Super Lawyers, with the tweet providing a link to more information. Smart. Tweet as news release.
MSNBC's Breaking News vs. Twitter Trends
Breaking News, an MSNBC attempt to follow Twitter and organize news stories, isn't the best source of breaking news in my experience. I've found that actually following trending tweets, or searching for a specific phrase regarding a news story, does give me the latest information on a news story.
The Trends tool is especially useful on Twitter, since you can choose its scope -- from national news down to your local community. Handy.
Often, it's Twitter Trending Topics are the most interesting, as well -- people tweeting from the hurricane's path, the football stadium, the crash site. Remember following the Balloon Boy on Twitter?
The Bottom Line: Consider Twitter as a News Source -- Because Twitter is a News Feed.
Twitter is a good news source. Smart to start promoting as such -- because here's where Twitter really provides a unique, valuable service for us all.
1/13/12
Recommended Read: “ETrouble” and 4 Things Companies Can Do About It
Great article in Corporate Counsel discussing the risks of social media these days. Etrouble, they call it.
I read it via Law.com: “From the Experts: Your Company Tweeting its Way into Trouble? Four Steps to Safely Engage in Social Media,” by Judah Lifschitz and Laura Fraher.
Now, this article is written from the perspective of the corporation and the risks of social media upon the company when Twitter, Facebook, etc. is used by employees, etc.
Worth your time to read, even if you read it as the lawyer for The Man pondering the impact of free speech among the little people.
Employers do have a right to wonder what their exposure is legally when their employees do things like the Starbucks guy who tweeted about “…shoot[ing] everyone.”
Good read.
1/1/14
Google+ : One Very Big Reason Why Bloggers Should Use Google Plus
Google Plus is getting more and more traffic and more and more users … and while lots of my clients tell me that they don’t have time, and don’t see the need, to get involved in social media, it’s important to remember that Google+ is not the same as other forms of social media out there.Lawyers blogging on the web, as well as other bloggers, may not have time for Twitter or the desire to be personally involved on Facebook (or trust Facebook, for that matter), and these are valid concerns.
However, in 2014, it’s going to be good for anyone committing time and money to blogging to become involved on Google+.
Which means, even if you ignore Twitter and LinkedIn and Facebook and Pinterest and all the other social sites out there, you might want to consider Google+ as being worth your time investment.
Why Is GooglePlus important for Bloggers?
Report Finds Google+ Plus Ones Second Only to Page Authority in Getting Ranking in Google Search Results
Here’s how: when content is mentioned in Google+, those in the know are reporting that Google Search Results will rank those GooglePlus mentions higher in the search results than the original content source site. Content is mentioned in Google+ via “plus ones”— this is where a Google+ post (and remember GooglePlus is a blog post really, see my earlier post on this here) placed upon GooglePlus and published there in a Google+ profile entry is then “liked” via some other GooglePlus member (or you, because you can +1 your own fine self).
Moz.com has studied Google search results, and has found that +1s (plus ones) on GooglePlus are very (VERY) high in getting content to the top in Google Search Results.
In fact, Moz.com found that Google Plus Ones are the SECOND MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR in how a site is ranked in Google Search. Only page authority has more power. Here’s an excerpt from Moz.com’s chart showing how Google+ impacts Google Search Results:
 |
| Screenshot of the Moz.com 2013 Report |
Want to place an invitation to "plus one" your blog content in Google Plus on your blog? Here are the instructions from Google's Developers for placing a PlusOne button on your site.
7/7/10
Twitter is a Bigger Search Engine than Yahoo or Bing: How Many Law Firms are Excluding Themselves From the Search Results?
This morning, I learned via a tweet from Ford Motor Company's social media guru, @ScottMonty, that there was an article worth reading over at Fast Company. As usual, Mr. Monty proves he knows his stuff.
Austin Carr's article, "Twitter Now the World's Fastest Growing Search Engine," is definitely worth your time. Carr is reporting from the Aspen Ideas Festival -- and he's giving the information shared there by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.
Twitter is getting 800 million search queries every day. Do the math, and Twitter search exceed 24 billion/month -- according to Stone, that number is higher than the total monthly searches at Yahoo and Bing combined.
If you want to get down and dirty about what all this means, SearchEngineLand's Danny Sullivan has a great article written back in April 2010 giving lots of the details here, "Twitter Does 19 Billion Searches Per Month, Beating Yahoo & Bing, Sort Of." In his post, Sullivan quotes Doug Cook of Twitter as predicting they'll hit 1 billion searches per day very soon.
Wow.
For lawyers and law firms, take the hint. It's important to be included in those Twitter search results, and unless you have one or more Twitter accounts, you're excluding yourself.
For an easy step by step, practical guide for lawyers and law firms on Twitter -- how to join, how to tweet, etc. -- please feel free to download my free e-book, Twitter Nuts n Bolts 4 Lawyers: a How-to Guide for Law Firms. The price is right, and I hear good things about this short little book being very helpful.
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
Austin Carr's article, "Twitter Now the World's Fastest Growing Search Engine," is definitely worth your time. Carr is reporting from the Aspen Ideas Festival -- and he's giving the information shared there by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone.
Twitter is getting 800 million search queries every day. Do the math, and Twitter search exceed 24 billion/month -- according to Stone, that number is higher than the total monthly searches at Yahoo and Bing combined.
If you want to get down and dirty about what all this means, SearchEngineLand's Danny Sullivan has a great article written back in April 2010 giving lots of the details here, "Twitter Does 19 Billion Searches Per Month, Beating Yahoo & Bing, Sort Of." In his post, Sullivan quotes Doug Cook of Twitter as predicting they'll hit 1 billion searches per day very soon.
Wow.
For lawyers and law firms, take the hint. It's important to be included in those Twitter search results, and unless you have one or more Twitter accounts, you're excluding yourself.
For an easy step by step, practical guide for lawyers and law firms on Twitter -- how to join, how to tweet, etc. -- please feel free to download my free e-book, Twitter Nuts n Bolts 4 Lawyers: a How-to Guide for Law Firms. The price is right, and I hear good things about this short little book being very helpful.
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
3/9/09
Social Media for Lawyers: Attorneys Take Note - Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
The word "brand" isn't new to you. Brand names were there in your childhood, and you knew them.
Barbie. Band-Aids. Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.
Then, branding got bigger. There was the brand image versus the brand experience. There was attitude branding and brand management and the relatively recent "no brand" strategy.
Attorneys are ignoring the opportunity to build their personal brand.
Lawyers and law firms need to start thinking about branding. Because in today's marketplace, you need to be conscious of your brand or lack of it. And, there's just not that much good attorney brand building out there right now.
If it helps you any ... maybe you could just remember that old, archaic term from back in the day: do you really know your reputation out there?
Don't think because you've ignored your brand that you don't have one.
Today, what with the speed of telecommunications and the advent of social media, what your business (and you, individual lawyer as well as incorporated law firm) has, like it or not, is a BRAND out there in the marketplace.
There's a public perception if you're big firm or solo. If you're plaintiff's PI or exclusively tax law. If you're male or female, AV rated or you got no rating at all.
Sure, it sounds a lot like a reputation of old.
Here's where it gets different. You can build a personal brand via the internet in ways that you could never build a reputation in the olden days.
If you aren't on the net at all, or if you've got a 5 year old website that has never been updated, you're communicating something. Your fellow attorneys may understand and appreciate your position. To the client, however, you may look dated, behind-the-times, or just plain cheap.
Building Your Personal Brand Isn't As Hard As It Appears. It's Actually Cheap and Easy - if You're Smart
Strategically place yourself on Facebook and LinkedIn, start a blog, begin tweeting on Twitter, and you've got the ball rolling. You're filling in lots of personal information about yourself, for potential clients and referring attorneys to use in assessing whether or not to hire you, and you're in total control of what they see and when they see it.
Want to appear as an expert in your area of law? Start a blog. Post regularly. Sound authoritative. Give lots of info. Link to other sites that are scholarly and helpful. Start comment-communications with bloggers who are similarly situated - like professors, for example. Email the agency reps who handle the government websites. Provide good information, stuff that is quality and builds a conversation and a camaraderie.
You know, NETWORK.
Want to build personal relationships with your clients? Start Tweeting. Tweets let you provide more personal, informal, friendship-building information than other web vehicles. Check out Martha Stewart. Check out William Shatner. These are two masters of this type of communication. (And let's not forget Pres. Obama whose tweets were very, very helpful during the election.)
For a divorce attorney, or personal injury lawyer, tweeting can build a rapport with clients that is easy and fast -- and without much investment of time and NO money. (Twitter is a free service.)
What all does this mean?
By creating profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the like, you are building an image of yourself that distinguishes you from the pack. You are revealing yourself to those who may need your services. People tend to connect, and to contract, with those whom they feel a connection.
It's all about finding something upon which to build trust.
Be honest, be forthright, and be brave. Put yourself out there. Get your personal brand out there and build what your grandpa might call your "online reputation."
It's not that hard.
Barbie. Band-Aids. Kellogg's Frosted Flakes.
Then, branding got bigger. There was the brand image versus the brand experience. There was attitude branding and brand management and the relatively recent "no brand" strategy.
Attorneys are ignoring the opportunity to build their personal brand.
Lawyers and law firms need to start thinking about branding. Because in today's marketplace, you need to be conscious of your brand or lack of it. And, there's just not that much good attorney brand building out there right now.
If it helps you any ... maybe you could just remember that old, archaic term from back in the day: do you really know your reputation out there?
Don't think because you've ignored your brand that you don't have one.
Today, what with the speed of telecommunications and the advent of social media, what your business (and you, individual lawyer as well as incorporated law firm) has, like it or not, is a BRAND out there in the marketplace.
There's a public perception if you're big firm or solo. If you're plaintiff's PI or exclusively tax law. If you're male or female, AV rated or you got no rating at all.
Sure, it sounds a lot like a reputation of old.
Here's where it gets different. You can build a personal brand via the internet in ways that you could never build a reputation in the olden days.
If you aren't on the net at all, or if you've got a 5 year old website that has never been updated, you're communicating something. Your fellow attorneys may understand and appreciate your position. To the client, however, you may look dated, behind-the-times, or just plain cheap.
Building Your Personal Brand Isn't As Hard As It Appears. It's Actually Cheap and Easy - if You're Smart
Strategically place yourself on Facebook and LinkedIn, start a blog, begin tweeting on Twitter, and you've got the ball rolling. You're filling in lots of personal information about yourself, for potential clients and referring attorneys to use in assessing whether or not to hire you, and you're in total control of what they see and when they see it.
Want to appear as an expert in your area of law? Start a blog. Post regularly. Sound authoritative. Give lots of info. Link to other sites that are scholarly and helpful. Start comment-communications with bloggers who are similarly situated - like professors, for example. Email the agency reps who handle the government websites. Provide good information, stuff that is quality and builds a conversation and a camaraderie.
You know, NETWORK.
Want to build personal relationships with your clients? Start Tweeting. Tweets let you provide more personal, informal, friendship-building information than other web vehicles. Check out Martha Stewart. Check out William Shatner. These are two masters of this type of communication. (And let's not forget Pres. Obama whose tweets were very, very helpful during the election.)
For a divorce attorney, or personal injury lawyer, tweeting can build a rapport with clients that is easy and fast -- and without much investment of time and NO money. (Twitter is a free service.)
What all does this mean?
By creating profiles on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and the like, you are building an image of yourself that distinguishes you from the pack. You are revealing yourself to those who may need your services. People tend to connect, and to contract, with those whom they feel a connection.
It's all about finding something upon which to build trust.
Be honest, be forthright, and be brave. Put yourself out there. Get your personal brand out there and build what your grandpa might call your "online reputation."
It's not that hard.
9/12/11
Anonymous Comments: Should You Block Them From Your Blog?
Anonymous comments did not start with the World Wide Web; they've been around for centuries and they've always been a headache at times. For an interesting read about anonymous comments, check out the Online Journalism Review's article on traditional journalism's take on anonymous commenting -- you'll learn a lot: for instance, did you know that Benjamin Franklin wrote many an anonymous comment under the psuedonym "Silence Dogood"?
The position of many print publishers is this: if someone wants to have their words published in their publication, then the publisher feels that the writer should have the cojones (yes, I'm in Texas) to put their name right up there with their comment. Of course, the publisher's lawyers have pointed out that there may be legal consequences to the words printed in the publication; therefore, having the ability to find that potential co-defendant if the comment proves litigious is important to the legal team.
I get it. And I'm still in favor of allowing anonymous comments on your blog (or blawg).
Here's why: technology being what it is today, right now there are all sorts of hurdles to leaving a comment on a blog or newspaper or online magazine. Just this past week I experienced the following:
However, it is just too darn easy to surf away if the blog (or blawg) puts up a hurdle for the reader to jump in order to write a short thought or two about the post. Who wants to spend all that time and effort just to leave a little message?
I know I don't. I leave anonymous comments when it's too much burdensome to get through the blogging platform's hurdles ... maybe I will leave a signature within the comment itself. If I remember. For something like, "thanks for sharing this" I may not.
Bottom line:
The position of many print publishers is this: if someone wants to have their words published in their publication, then the publisher feels that the writer should have the cojones (yes, I'm in Texas) to put their name right up there with their comment. Of course, the publisher's lawyers have pointed out that there may be legal consequences to the words printed in the publication; therefore, having the ability to find that potential co-defendant if the comment proves litigious is important to the legal team.
I get it. And I'm still in favor of allowing anonymous comments on your blog (or blawg).
Here's why: technology being what it is today, right now there are all sorts of hurdles to leaving a comment on a blog or newspaper or online magazine. Just this past week I experienced the following:
- I had a devil of a time trying to leave a comment to a Typepad post - I was requested to sign in via Twitter or Facebook or Google to leave the comment, or alternatively leave my name and address (for the blog's growing email marketing list). If I used Twitter, I was asked to agree to allow the platform to post its own tweets on my Twitter feed. That's right. Their stuff. On my Twitter feed. Without my prior looksie. I was left with two options, well three: (a) agree to be on their mailing list; (2) allow the platform to be my Tweet-partner; or (3) not leave a comment. Surprise: I didn't leave the comment.
- A client in Florida wanted to put a comment at one of the top Florida newspaper's online sites. Same platform issue. After much time (that we both could and should have dedicated to other things), her comment was left on the news article -- and now, she is watching her Twitter feed, to see what they are going to do (and I hope she's got her finger on the Application Approval button at the Twitter settings page).
However, it is just too darn easy to surf away if the blog (or blawg) puts up a hurdle for the reader to jump in order to write a short thought or two about the post. Who wants to spend all that time and effort just to leave a little message?
I know I don't. I leave anonymous comments when it's too much burdensome to get through the blogging platform's hurdles ... maybe I will leave a signature within the comment itself. If I remember. For something like, "thanks for sharing this" I may not.
Bottom line:
- blocking anonymous comments doesn't help your reader (or your social media dialogue, if that is the terminology that floats your boat) and may alienate some of them, since it's the fastest and simplest way of leaving a comment online.
- forcing readers to allow third party access to things like their Twitter feeds just to have the joy of leaving a comment on your blog is just plain disrespectful and manipulative and wrong in my humble opinion, and I'm sure I'm not alone here.
- blocking anonymous commenting is not going to prevent you from getting troublesome comments: it's just as easy for troublemakers to create online pseudonyms with fake online email accounts, etc. as it was for Ben Franklin to sign "Silence DoGood" to his letters long ago -- you're not stopping the dedicated writer who doesn't want to leave his real name.
- in the event of a huge lawsuit, techies may well be able to track down the source of the comment anyway: how anonymous that writer really is in today's technological world is debatable.
7/6/10
Lawyers and Social Media: Examples of Law Firms on LinkedIn
When it debuted, LinkedIn was a free online service focused upon helping employers and employees: members could search the site to find new jobs or new hires. LinkedIn was smart to change with the times, and not limit itself to a job search site.
Today, LinkedIn is more of a professional networking service. Most larger law firms and legal professionals are likely to have a LinkedIn membership.
On LinkedIn, professionals “connect” with each other and the LinkedIn service then notifies its members of those who may know each other – or have connections with friends of friends. You link with an old friend from law school, and suddenly, you are given lots of potential "connections" through that friend's network of contacts. LinkedIn afficianados can have 500-1000 connections.
LinkedIn information such as Specialties, New Hires, Firm Size, Firm Revenue, and individual resume pages of firm partners and associates are provided for marketing purposes via Linked In.
Examples of law firms currently on LinkedIn:
Baker & McKenzie
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/baker-&-mckenzie
Clifford Chance
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/clifford-chance?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_2
Holland & Knight
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/holland-%26-knight-llp?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_1
Jones Day
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/jones-day?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_2
WilmerHale
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/wilmerhale?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_1
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
Today, LinkedIn is more of a professional networking service. Most larger law firms and legal professionals are likely to have a LinkedIn membership.
On LinkedIn, professionals “connect” with each other and the LinkedIn service then notifies its members of those who may know each other – or have connections with friends of friends. You link with an old friend from law school, and suddenly, you are given lots of potential "connections" through that friend's network of contacts. LinkedIn afficianados can have 500-1000 connections.
LinkedIn information such as Specialties, New Hires, Firm Size, Firm Revenue, and individual resume pages of firm partners and associates are provided for marketing purposes via Linked In.
Examples of law firms currently on LinkedIn:
Baker & McKenzie
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/baker-&-mckenzie
Clifford Chance
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/clifford-chance?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_2
Holland & Knight
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/holland-%26-knight-llp?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_1
Jones Day
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/jones-day?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_2
WilmerHale
http://www.linkedin.com/companies/wilmerhale?trk=co_search_results&goback=%2Ecps_1269812930126_1
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
11/7/11
Google Alerts, Social Mention, and Spiral 16: Tracking Topics and Trends on the Web
Hopefully, you are aware of Google Alerts, a tool provided by Google, for free (as always) that notifies you when your name, your product, or just about anything under the sun is being discussed online. Google Alerts will let you know if your name has made the local news, for example, or if your daughter's soccer team got mentioned for winning regionals.
There are other sites that can help you keep track of things, too - Google isn't alone out there. Here are two for you to try:
1. Spiral 16
2. Social Mention.
Both of these services provide similar information to Google Alerts, but they target social media and they give more info to you than just links. Check them out, they are useful tools for you.
How? Names are just one thing to search. I have alerts set up, for example, under the phrase "death penalty" because I co-author a blog on capital punishment. (FYI, I also have an alert set up for that topic at Google Scholar, it's proven to be very helpful, too.)
There are other sites that can help you keep track of things, too - Google isn't alone out there. Here are two for you to try:
1. Spiral 16
2. Social Mention.
Both of these services provide similar information to Google Alerts, but they target social media and they give more info to you than just links. Check them out, they are useful tools for you.
How? Names are just one thing to search. I have alerts set up, for example, under the phrase "death penalty" because I co-author a blog on capital punishment. (FYI, I also have an alert set up for that topic at Google Scholar, it's proven to be very helpful, too.)
7/5/10
Jackson Walker on Twitter: Example of How Law Firms Build Reputations via the Web
The internationally known law firm Jackson Walker has been aggressive in building its Twitter presence. By entering the game early, Jackson Walker was able to create separate Twitter accounts for each of its practice areas, using topic headings for the Twitter names.
Brilliant.
Now, anyone looking on Twitter for things like “ERISA” or “First Amendment” will quickly come across the Twitter feeds of Jackson Walker.
Currently, Jackson Walker is tweeting as follows:
Jackson Walker (News about the firm)
• http://twitter.com/Jackson_Walker
JW Law (Legal updates in all categories)
• http://twitter.com/JW_Law
Corporate Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_CorporateLaw
Energy Law
• http://twitter.com/Energy_Law
Entertainment Law
• http://twitter.com/entertainlaw
Environmental Law
• http://twitter.com/Enviro_Law
ERISA
• http://twitter.com/ERISA
Financial Recovery Solutions
• http://twitter.com/FinanceRecovery
First Amendment
• http://twitter.com/FirstAmendment
Health Care Law
• http://twitter.com/HealthCareLaw
HIPAA
• http://twitter.com/HIPPA
Intellectual Property Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_IPLaw
International Law
• http://twitter.com/InternationLaw
Labor and Employment Law
• http://twitter.com/LaborLaw
Litigation Alerts
• http://twitter.com/LitigationAlert
Media Law
• http://twitter.com/Media_Law
Real Estate Law
• http://twitter.com/RealEstate_Law
Tax Law
• http://twitter.com/Tax_Law
Technology Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_Technology
Wealth Planning
• http://twitter.com/Wealth_Planning
JacksonWalker tweets within these separate Twitter accounts with bits of information pertaining to that topic, focusing upon educating or informing others. Check it out.
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
Brilliant.
Now, anyone looking on Twitter for things like “ERISA” or “First Amendment” will quickly come across the Twitter feeds of Jackson Walker.
Currently, Jackson Walker is tweeting as follows:
Jackson Walker (News about the firm)
• http://twitter.com/Jackson_Walker
JW Law (Legal updates in all categories)
• http://twitter.com/JW_Law
Corporate Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_CorporateLaw
Energy Law
• http://twitter.com/Energy_Law
Entertainment Law
• http://twitter.com/entertainlaw
Environmental Law
• http://twitter.com/Enviro_Law
ERISA
• http://twitter.com/ERISA
Financial Recovery Solutions
• http://twitter.com/FinanceRecovery
First Amendment
• http://twitter.com/FirstAmendment
Health Care Law
• http://twitter.com/HealthCareLaw
HIPAA
• http://twitter.com/HIPPA
Intellectual Property Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_IPLaw
International Law
• http://twitter.com/InternationLaw
Labor and Employment Law
• http://twitter.com/LaborLaw
Litigation Alerts
• http://twitter.com/LitigationAlert
Media Law
• http://twitter.com/Media_Law
Real Estate Law
• http://twitter.com/RealEstate_Law
Tax Law
• http://twitter.com/Tax_Law
Technology Law
• http://twitter.com/JW_Technology
Wealth Planning
• http://twitter.com/Wealth_Planning
JacksonWalker tweets within these separate Twitter accounts with bits of information pertaining to that topic, focusing upon educating or informing others. Check it out.
For more information:
Web 2.0 for Lawyers: What is "Social Media" for Law Firms and Why Bother?
Facebook and Divorce: the new AAML Study and the Need to Know Client Web Chatter
Attorneys Take Note: Major Corporations Pay People Just to Tweet
Twitter for Biz Pros: The Debut of ExecTweets
Attorneys Take Note: Yesterday's Reputation is Today's Personal Brand
3/24/09
Social Media for Lawyers: Twitter for Biz Pros - The Debut of ExecTweets
I'm still new to Twitter, and I'm not sure what I think about it yet. I know that John Tesh's tweet about fecal matter on shopping carts (which got lots of national media coverage) has got me using those free antibacterial wipes at the grocery store.
And, I know that it's somehow eerie to get tweets from Martha Stewart about what's she is fixing for lunch, and whether or not she's going riding today. It's almost like you know her, somehow.
But how does this work in a business environment? Tweets seem so friendly, so informal, so MySpace versus Facebook.
Well, today I learn that Twitter's addressing that issue with its new ExecTweets....
ExecTweets boils down to tweets from business executives. CEOs and the like. Talking shop.
Which sounds good in one way, and bad in another.
I doubt these folk are going to be very revealing in their tweets -- their lawyers wouldn't like that -- and let's face it: part of the fun of Tweeting is the silly stuff, like Martha Stewart's two pugs (Francesca and Sharky) who've just started their own blog.
I dunno. For me, the jury's still out on Tweets, much less this new ExecTweet business. We'll see.
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