Overwhelmed by social media? Here are some tips for getting started.

1. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Social Networking: Flash in the Pan or Here to Stay?Feb. 25th 2010 noon Randy Wilson & Kelly Savage Day

2. Bio Page Randy Wilson: Attorney, legal marketer and co-founder of DSD Law Site Solutions - dynamic websites and other online marketing solutions for solos and small firms Kelly Savage Day: Attorney who practices product and appellate law and is also an avid user of social networking to increase her visibility and to communicate her practice expertise. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450

3. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 How to engage in social networking Start with a strategy: what is the goal? Follow-up with deciding your level of commitment Is now the right time? Create your social networking operational plan Remember: social networking ISN’T advertising Interactivity required

4. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Blog Example

5. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Why Blog? It’s the fuel for your social networking outreach Visibility to clients, prospects and colleagues Credibility: shows you take your practice seriously Differentiation: Allow you to stand out from the crowd

6. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Where blog? Free blog sites: Blogspot, Wordpress, Typepad Legal blog platforms: Lexblog, Justia, Martindale, Findlaw etc. Blogging off your website vs. separate platform Make website more engaging, fresh, interactive Separate blog: can establish separate identity, distinct url, drive traffic to your website from your blog

7. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Getting started w/ blog No magic bullet Come up with concept or hook that will enhance your credibility, online presence, give value to potential clients. Make sure you are committed before setting up your blog Set up schedule: daily, several times a week, once a week Look at news sources, set up Google alerts, IGoogle page

8. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Example of IGoogle blog page

9. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 To Tweet or not to Tweet What is Tweeter? Described as a microblogging tool: limited to 140 characters but can link to longer articles You obtain followers – people interested in your opinions and you can become a follower Best practices: Create community: “retweet” to comment on other tweets and share with your community Downside: time intensive: worth the effort? Use as a news feed: if have blog, LinkedIn, Facebook can feed content to Twitter (I do this)

10. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Facebook: just for fun? Facebook is the largest social networking website (400 million worldwide) Used for businesses but heavily focused on recreational use Is Facebook’s recreational environment appropriate for your practice? (If you specialize in licensing, will people adding facial hair to their friends’ faces be in the mood to view your profile?) If your practice is security deals for private companies, does a Facebook profile convey the right message? What is true about Facebook now may not true six months from now so stay open to its promise

11. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Your website as a social networking platform Your website as your social networking hub: Make sure your website platform allows for blogging and embedded social networking links If your blog integrates with your website, its content can publish out to your LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter accounts etc. Your website and social media presence will enhance your online reputation

12. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Website Example

13. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Attorney specific social networking sites Avvo (Yelp for lawyers) Client reviews, automatically created, they sell premium listings Justia (provide you a blog platform – paid) Lexblog (provide you a blog platform – paid) E-circles: California State Bar networking site JD-Supra: legal publication platform Legal OnRamp: for in-house counsel and law firms Martindale – Connected: also for in-house counsel and law firms

14. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Disclaimers: need to have or nice to have? An ABA CLE seminar concluded that a professional blog should be treated just like a website – check state bar rules that apply to websites What about your LinkedIn profile? Some say that if you mention your website or your firm’s website, then the same disclaimer should be used (but where on the profile?) Common Sense approach: don’t solicit for business online, don’t hold your self as an expert if you aren’t, don’t post or tweet about confidential matters, don’t behave publicly online in anyway you wouldn’t in written communications Thoughts from Dana Schultz

15. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Kelly Savage Day LinkedIn profile

16. DSD Law Site Solutions: (510) 250-2450 Kelly Savage Day Avvo profile