Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 51 articles from the past week worthy of your attention, including our Post of the Week. Here's a sample:
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TechnoScore: 2.0
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
I like when a lawyer gives helpful information in their title. It encourages me to click on their video. Before watching the video however, I look to the sidebar to see how they describe their video. Attorney Mark Humphreys gives limited information, but still provides his phone number and Web site for easy contact.
As soon as the video starts to play, he introduces himself. I like that and he's off to a good start. "If you or your business has been harmed by a big insurance company, there's a good chance we can help you make it right." Ok, I'm listening.
"Keep in mind that insurance companies make money when they don't pay a claim." Interesting information. He then offers viewers five tips on what to do when your claim is denied. Even better. So what's the problem with the video?
Here's what I didn't like:
The attorney slouches during his video, giving a lackadaisical feel to his message.
The background color is totally washed out, providing no contrast between the attorney and the background.
The sound quality is not good.
Later in the video he's seated in front of a bookcase filled with law books -- created by a green screen, which serves no real purpose especially when the other scenes are in front of a non-descript, washed-out background.
The last four seconds of video are static.
This week's TechnoLawyer score comes in at a 2.0 for technical errors.
Tip #1: Sit Up!
Didn't your mother tell you not to slouch at the table? Bad posture can be easily corrected with a stool or a low back chair. It'll give a totally different feel when you're sitting up straight and projecting your message with confidence. If a client came into your office and saw you sitting like that, what would they think?
A viewer watching your video wants to see a strong and confident attorney. When you slouch, you appear as if you do not care about your appearance. (I assume that the attorney does not have a physical disability that prevents him from sitting up.)
Tip #2: Color It Up
Remember when I said not to rely on your Web video producer for your music? The same holds true for your backgrounds and your finished product. Don't be content when your producer tells you "Don't worry, it'll look great."
In the post-production phase, while editing your video, you must color-correct your video if you see the washed-out colors which are so visible in this video. If you fail to color-correct the video, you leave your viewer with the impression that either you didn't care to spend the time to correct the colors, or your editor didn't take the time to do it.
Tip #3: Make Sure Your Clothing Fits
While watching the video I got the impression that Attorney Humphrey's tie continued south for another two feet. I also couldn't see his hands during the wide scene in which he talked about his 5 tips, which gave me the impression that his sleeves were way too long. Sort of like a little kid who tries on his father's clothing.
Tip #4: Show Me Your Hands
Body language tells a lot, at least according to people who study such things. When we meet someone for the very first time, what do we typically do? We thrust out our hand to shake someone else's hand. Why? Historically, it showed that we had no weapons in our hands. Now, it's cultural.
If you don't show your hands during a video, a viewer might assume that you're trying to hide something. If you're going to use a wide angle shot, then let's see what you have in your hands.
Don't believe me? Watch the nightly news. Look at the camera shot and notice that when they shift away from a close-up head shot, they revert back to a shot that includes the hands. Keep this in mind the next time you decide to change the angle of your video shot.
Conclusion
Good try for Attorney Humphreys. He had some useful information to offer his viewer, and his title got me to click on his video. But poor use of background colors and wide angle shooting turned this video into one that needs significant improvement.
Till next time, see you on video!
The Back Bench
Certified Family Law Specialist and online video producer Kelly Chang Rickert says: "This video would probably appeal most to the locals. Mr. Humphreys has a very distinct accent, which does not get portrayed well on video. I lose track of what he is saying because of the southern accent. It is also too long."
Lawyer, journalist, and legal media consultant Robert Ambrogi says: "Apart from the fact that this guy could have played George W. in a Saturday Night Live skit, I think the video is effective at positioning him as someone a consumer could trust to take on the big mean insurance company. I wouldn't even change his slightly disheveled, hunched-over appearance, since it helps to set him apart from how his bespoke adversaries at the insurance companies would appear. One element I would change is the blank backdrop — he could have had a more interesting background and highlighted his text in a more visually effective way."
TechnoLawyer publisher and online video producer Neil Squillante says: "Mark Humphreys' effective presentation is marred by his attire and poor production values. But thanks to the preparation and thought he put into the video it's much better than most. If he regularly beats insurance companies, he should have enough money for a well-tailored suit."
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 50 articles from the past week worthy of your attention, including our Post of the Week. Here's a sample:
This issue also contains links to every article in the July 2009 issue of Law Technology News. Don't miss this issue or future issues.
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Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. To stay on top of all the noteworthy articles published in blogs and other online publications you could either hire a research assistant or simply subscribe to BlawgWorld. The BlawgWorld newsletter has received rave reviews and is free. Please subscribe now.
Coming today to TechnoFeature: Google is like Hollywood. There's an A List, B List, etc. Law firms on the A List appear on the first search results page for keywords relevant to the legal services they provide. These firms receive many inquiries from prospective clients at virtually no cost. Money for nothing. Meanwhile, law firms on the D List are virtually invisible. In this TechnoFeature article, technology consultant Seth Rowland explains how to get on Google's A List using nothing more than common sense and a content management system.
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Our flagship newsletter never disappoints thanks to its in-depth reporting by leading legal technology and practice management experts, many of whom have become "household names" in the legal profession. It's in TechnoFeature that you'll find our oft-quoted formal product reviews and accompanying TechnoScore ratings. The TechnoFeature newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
TechnoScore: 2.5
1 = Lowest Possible Score; 5 = Highest Possible Score
Ron Kramer of The Kramer Law Group in Utah creates an "out-of-the-box" way to teach us about the time limit to bring a lawsuit for personal injury in Utah.
The setting is the front seat of an attorney's car. The camera is somehow placed on the dashboard. Kramer appears to be parked somewhere and has a few minutes to spare; hence the quick and dirty video about the time limit to bring a personal injury or medical malpractice lawsuit in Utah. However, 37 seconds into the video we are rudely interrupted by a tinny sounding voice saying "Thank you for choosing (something I can't hear) can I help you?" The attorney says to the camera "Umm one second," then proceeds to turn and lean out his open window and give this woman his order: "Can I get a large 32 oz Dr. Pepper please?"
Huh?
We now realize that he is in a drive-through line at a fast food restaurant. The attorney finishes placing his order, then turns back to the camera on the dashboard, and continues as if nothing has happened. "As I was saying …"
What was that about? Has he heard of video editing? You would think that he would have edited the entire "Can I help you?" sequence. But alas, no. This is akin to being on the telephone with someone when call waiting alerts you. Instead of ignoring the intrusion, you tell the person you're talking to that there's somebody else more important on the phone on call waiting and that you have to take their call. That's what I felt like while he was ordering his thirst-quenching diet Dr. Pepper.
I'm all for thinking outside the box and coming up with new ways to get your message across. In fact I contemplated creating a couple of quick and dirty video tips myself while vacationing on the beach in Naples, Florida. Thankfully, I didn't. The fact that Kramer left this sequence in tells me that he did not want to spend the time to properly edit this video. It sends a bad message to potential clients looking for answers.
In fact, in another video of his, Kramer explains that he doesn't edit his videos so that what you see is what you get. But you don't have to engage in life casting to provide an accurate portrait of yourself and your legal knowledge.
Tip #1: Watch Your Video Before Uploading It
If you're going to find a new and creative way and location to create your video, make sure you watch the video in its entirety first before automatically uploading it to YouTube and to video sharing sites. Some Web-oriented video cameras upload directly to YouTube. I suspect that's what this attorney did instead of taking the time to put it on his computer and edit it first.
Tip #2: Choose Your Video Location Carefully
Casual versus formal attire. You must make your own decision as to whether your potential clients will feel comfortable if you are casually dressed in an unconventional setting. Remember the public has a general perception of how attorneys should look and what their offices should look like. Some people may be turned off by the casual dress of this attorney and may not appreciate the unconventional location of being in the front seat of the car.
During the entire video, I was constantly looking out the car's back window and out of the passenger window to see if somebody would jump up and say something hilarious just to break the monotony. Unfortunately, a clown with a red nose never appeared. The problem with creating a video in an unconventional setting, is that the viewer is typically looking for something unusual to happen. If their attention is diverted even slightly away from the message you are trying to get across, you lose them.
Tip #3: Introduce Yourself
Come on now. You're going into someone's home. You're invading their private time and personal space. At least have the decency to introduce yourself. Don't you introduce yourself when you meet someone new? The same etiquette applies in a video.
Conclusion
Want to try something new? Great. Want to get your video uploaded quickly? Great. Want to provide useful information for your viewers? Excellent. Want to waste your time? If you're creating a video, spend a few more minutes to edit it to produce a great video instead of one sprinkled with distractions.
I want to thank Seattle personal injury Attorney Chris Davis for pointing me to this video.
Till next time, see you on video!
The Back Bench
Certified Family Law Specialist and online video producer Kelly Chang Rickert says: "Atrocious video! The only part I remember about this video is Mr. Kramer going through the drive-through to order his food. His knowledge of the law (and statutes of limitations) is completely erased and replaced with his completely unprofessional demeanor throughout this video. We all judge a book by its cover; and I am going to pass on his drive-through attitude and services."
Lawyer, journalist, and legal media consultant Robert Ambrogi says: "The only kind thing I can say about this video is that the lawyer had the good sense to take it down. Perhaps if he made a better video, he could then afford a better office than his car and spring for a sit-down lunch."
TechnoLawyer publisher and online video producer Neil Squillante says: "I couldn't help but think of Jeff Spicoli ordering a pizza in Fast Times at Ridgemont High. A simple edit and we would have never known he was waiting to order at a drive-through. Instead, he seems inconsiderate. Besides, real lawyers don't drink Diet Dr. Pepper."
About YouLaw
YouTube offers law firms a free advertising platform with tens of millions of potential clients. But a poor video can hurt more than help. In this column, lawyer and online video expert Gerry Oginski reviews and rates the latest law firm videos. A panel of fellow experts (The Back Bench) add to Gerry's reviews with pithy remarks. We link to each new YouLaw column and all other noteworthy law firm marketing articles in our weekly BlawgWorld newsletter, which is free. Please subscribe now.
About Gerry Oginski
New York trial lawyer Gerry Oginski has created more than 150 informational online videos for his medical malpractice and personal injury practice. Realizing that most video producers don't have a deep understanding of the practice of law and what potential clients look for, Gerry launched The Lawyers' Video Studio, which provides free tutorials and video production services. If you need help producing a video, please contact Gerry now.
Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 51 articles from the past week worthy of your attention, including our Post of the Week. Here's a sample:
How to Receive BlawgWorld
Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. To stay on top of all the noteworthy articles published in blogs and other online publications you could either hire a research assistant or simply subscribe to BlawgWorld. The BlawgWorld newsletter has received rave reviews and is free. Please subscribe now.
Last month I wrote about what happens when too many demands vie for the time and attention of your prospective clients, and referred to it as the recommendation economy. For this second installment, I promised you tips on how to use Twitter to establish a compelling presence online, resulting in press coverage and new clients. Here we go.
Twittermania Means Software Developers Are Busy
Getting the inside story from a trusted source can prove invaluable. That's why Twitter's ability to capture the public zeitgeist is priceless. Used in conjunction with its ever-growing list of free third-party applications, Twitter enables you to monitor multiple conversations at once, send and receive files instantly, limit conversations to a few participants or throw them open to the world, create instant communities, and more.
It would be easy to dismiss Twitter as kid stuff, but that misses the point. By inspiring an entire ecosystem of extensions, applications, and mash-ups, Twitter has motivated developers to create applications that enable:
Once you've decided which applications help you tweet better, it's time to show off. Start by reading what others have written. Once you find a discussion or post that interests you, offer an opinion or pass on a post by someone else. Follow tweeters that you like. In no time, you will have created a community of people who write about, or are interested in, what interests you.
But what about prospects, you ask? Meeting prospective clients on Twitter is even easier than exchanging views with other lawyers because the minute you offer relevant information and solutions to their problems, they will find you. Better yet, be proactive — search Twitter for keywords relating to your practice area, and then follow those tweeters. It could be that your niche is just waiting for you to fill it.
The only catch to all this Twitter happiness is that you need to decide which audience you want to address or at a minimum you'll need to separate your tweets so that you're not boring your colleagues or confusing prospective clients with jargon. Personally I use multiple Twitter identities to keep my discussions separate. Increasingly, other lawyers are doing the same, creating a personal identity for friends and family, a professional identity representing their office, and an identity within a group so they can seek advice from other members of the profession.
Keep These Tips in Mind — and Remember to Breathe
Despite the potential of it all, don't try to conquer Twitter in one sitting or even one week. Give it time and build your follower-base one interesting person at a time. While you're at it, here are some of my suggestions to keep things interesting:
Consider a "secret identity" to find out what people really think.
Mix it up — private conversations versus public ones (which work better?).
Broadcast your professional accomplishments and cheer on your followers.
Create a firm "identity" on Twitter consistent with your Web site and blog.
Use your Twitter background as a business card, a news source, a wish list.
Use your Twitter background to promote causes that deserve your support.
Post questions and then post answers — prospects will appreciate your advice.
Search for your name, your firm, and phrases related to your practice area.
Be generous with less experienced users — be fast to cheer and slow to criticize.
Don't just make friends, make the right friends; numbers don't tell the whole story.
Follow the leader, but not too close. Soon enough you will be the leader.
There Is No Wrong Tweet
Ultimately there is no "wrong" way to use Twitter. Whether you want to take advantage of its hyperactive network to gauge the public mood about a politician, share files, brag about your favorite Ska band, or find killer dim sum, Twitter can meet all your needs because it is what you make it. By the same token, you can be whatever you want on Twitter — but be careful what you wish for. You might get it.
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Coming today to Fat Friday: Mark Raby reviews his first week using the Palm Pre, YouLaw columnist Gerry Oginski reviews Avvo from a lawyer's perspective, Philip Franckel discusses running Dragon NaturallySpeaking on Linux, Ann Byrne discusses Microsoft Response Point and Aastra telephone systems, and Harvey Ash shares some news about the new Palm Pre's ability to sync with iTunes. Don't miss this issue.
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Coming today to BlawgWorld: Our editorial team has selected and linked to 57 articles from the past week worthy of your attention, including our Post of the Week. Here's a sample:
How to Receive BlawgWorld
Our newsletters provide the most comprehensive coverage of legal technology, practice management, and law firm marketing, but not the only coverage. To stay on top of all the noteworthy articles published in blogs and other online publications you could either hire a research assistant or simply subscribe to BlawgWorld. The BlawgWorld newsletter has received rave reviews and is free. Please subscribe now.
Today's issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire covers an online marketing service for law firms (see article below), a Web-based replacement for Microsoft Exchange, two Outlook plugins that prevent you from making embarrassing mistakes, and an iPhone app for editing Word documents. Don't miss the next issue.
Sit Back, Relax, and Grow Your Law Firm Practice
Law firms interested in growing must engage in marketing. That is a fact. Marketing dollars are moving online, primarily because it's cheaper and more measurable than traditional marketing. That is a fact. But popular online advertising vehicles such as Google AdWords favor businesses with the expertise and resources to leverage their many intricacies. That is unfortunately a fact as few law firms can play this game. Instead, law firms need more of a set-it-and-forget-it approach to online marketing.
ExpertHub Online Legal Network … in One Sentence ExpertHub Online Legal Network (ExpertHub) is an online marketing service designed to funnel prospective clients to law firms in a wide variety of practice areas.
The Killer Feature
ExpertHub consist of a network of legal sites such as LawFirms.com, AccidentAttorneys.com, BankruptcyLawFirms.com, TechnologyLawyers.com, and many others. These sites contain a growing collection of articles and other information about their respective areas of law.
Thanks to a combination of content, site architecture, and some alchemy (a.k.a. trade secrets), ExpertHub's legal sites appear on the first page of Google for searches such as "personal injury lawyer" and "bankruptcy filing." As a result, the sites receive lots of traffic from people seeking legal services.
ExpertHub transforms this traffic into qualified leads for your law firm using a questionnaire. When a prospect's legal needs match your law firm's profile, you receive their name, email address, and telephone number. ExpertHub tells us that it delivered more than 14,000 leads last month.
Other Notable Features
To get started with ExpertHub, you use the expertPLANNER proposal generator to figure out what type of subscription would best suit your firm and its marketing goals. Before you spend a dime, expertPLANNER will tap into ExpertHub's historical data to predict the number of leads you'll receive and how much it will cost. You can run "What Ifs" to see how changing geographic location, practice areas, case types, etc. impacts these numbers.
While you can simply create a profile and then sit back and collect leads, more proactive firms willing to do a little work can take advantage of ExpertHub's expertSYNDICATION service through which you can publish articles on ExpertHub's sites and also link to these articles in your profile.
ExpertHub does not charge for its expertSYNDICATION service so it costs only your time. The articles add depth to your profile and can also generate more leads. If you're too busy to write articles, ExpertHub can write them for you for a fee.
Once you start working with ExpertHub, you can track performance using the expertSTAT dashboard, which shows you profile and article views, lead volume, and more.
What Else Should You Know?
ExpertHub's subscription prices are based on historical lead volumes for your geographic location(s) and practice area(s). Learn more about ExpertHub.
How to Receive TechnoLawyer NewsWire
So many products, so little time. In each issue of TechnoLawyer NewsWire, you'll learn about five new products for the legal profession. Pressed for time? The "In One Sentence" section describes each product in one sentence, and the "Killer Feature" section describes each product's most compelling feature. The TechnoLawyer NewsWire newsletter is free so don't miss the next issue. Please subscribe now.
