Social Network Lawyer Marketing

With social networking websites like Facebook.com and MySpace.com being the latest way to connect with friends, it’s no surprise that businesses (including lawyers like you) have started joining social networking websites, too. Business men and women are using the popular professional networking website, Linkedin.com in an effort to expand their professional set of contacts. Other popular social networking websites include Twitter.com, YouTube.com and AVVO.com.

What are the advantages of joining a social network as it relates to your practice?

Lawyers are finding it extremely beneficial to joining online social networks because it’s a great place to exchange ideas. In fact, lawyers are searching for other lawyers online so that they can connect with them and do just that. The State Bar of Texas has even started its own social networking website that’s exclusive for lawyers who practice in the Lone Star State.

To ensure that only Texas lawyers can access the website, the State Bar of Texas requests that visitors enter their bar number if they want to join. Since its inception, this social networking website has seen thousands of lawyers sign up for membership. Like any social networking website, this website that’s exclusively for lawyers allows law firms or individual lawyers to set up a homepage, trade information and ideas on the website and increase their network by adding “friends.”

The do’s and don’ts of social networking

Since you’re interested in growing your professional network, it’s best to not display information that may be portrayed as controversial or irrelevant. For example, while it may be appropriate to show pictures of your family and gush about your dog on a social network website like Facebook, you may not want that type of information available on your professional network page. However, if think that conveying yourself as a lawyer that is devoted to family (for example you practice family law) then perhaps it would be beneficial to include such information. You know your law firm best, so just be sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully before posting information about yourself.

Remember, the best thing about joining a social networking website is that it can increase your exposure on the Internet, bring you more clients and grow your professional network.