twofortueRecently, we discussed two ways that you could become the MacGyver of content marketing – using great visuals and writing excellent content. I want to continue breaking down Neil Patel’s article this week, to discuss two more ways to “MacGyver” your content – in case you’re still wondering what I mean by that, I’ll reference the Urban Dictionary’s definition:

Someone who can regularly cobble together solutions to problems using only the tools available at hand.”

Your content may not be a problem, but we know that in legal, we’re always being asked to do more with less. So as legal content MacGyvers, we’re taking what we know and creating valuable, substantive themes for consumption that provide a secondary benefit to our reputations.

All right, so let’s jump into our two tips for this week. Continue Reading Two More Ways to MacGyver Your Content Marketing

twofortueConsider today’s Two for Tuesdays to be your summer reading list – and it’s a short one. Sometimes, the best way to communicate someone else’s message is simply by sharing it with you, and that’s what I’m doing today!

When I’m looking for new ideas or inspiration in content marketing, I head straight to the articles section of the Content Marketing Institute. They know what’s going on. While not everything they say will always be applicable for lawyers and law firms, we can almost always extrapolate the message to fit with our day to day content marketing efforts.

One of the things that CMI does that I really like is that they do case studies of brands and their content marketing projects. Sometimes these ideas all feel a bit esoteric until we can see how other companies and firms have implemented it themselves. So the posts I’m sharing with you today in this Two for Tuesdays are just that – case studies for two brands that I hope you’ll check out and be inspired by, and maybe see how their content marketing projects can inspire your own efforts in your practices or firms.

Article One: ‘Will It Blend?’ Company Embarks on New Influencer Marketing Program

Article Two: Marriott’s Influencer Marketing Program Breaks the Mold: A Look at Their Strategy

You may notice a theme here – influencers. Content helps us to empower our audiences (in our cases as lawyers, law firms, legal marketers, etc. those are clients, potential clients, influencers and amplifiers) to share our content and become ambassadors for our reputations, our firms, and our work.

Take a look at what these companies are doing to achieve that, and think of how you and your firm could do the same thing – perhaps not in the same way, but how could you replicate the results (as they like to say on the Mythbusters)?  Feel free to share your suggestions in the comments!

111HWe’ve talked a lot about networking here at Zen, and covered a lot of the traditional ideas:

  • Use social media to prime your contacts before an event.
  • Don’t skip anything.
  • Don’t hang around with only the people you know.
  • Use the event organizers to help introduce you to people.

And more.

But these are fairly straightforward, right?

What if we turned networking on its head and gave you a few totally unconventional ways to network? These aren’t things you’d necessarily have  to advertise to anyone that you were doing, but they would challenge you out of a networking rut if you’re used to attending a certain organization’s events and talking to the same people, or networking in the same way.  Continue Reading The Unconventional Guide to Networking

twofortueIt’s time for another Two for Tuesdays, and I’ve just read an EXCELLENT article from Neil Patel over at the Content Marketing Institute. It’s quite a meaty one, so we’re going to dissect it a little bit over the next couple of weeks so that you, too, can become a MacGyver of content marketing (and really, who doesn’t want that?).

Patel is looking at five obvious content marketing strategies that most companies overlook, and despite the fact that law firms have been doing this content marketing thing much longer than most companies, they’re still very guilty of these things themselves. It’s a real shame, because if you can get these right, there’s huge opportunity to connect with clients, potential clients, influencers and amplifiers and get your message out there.

Today, we’ll look at two of these strategies in depth to discuss why they’re as important for law firms and lawyers as for any other company, and how you can be taking better advantage of them. Continue Reading Two Ways to Become the MacGyver of Content Marketing

eDLHCtzRR0yfFtU0BQar_sylwiabartyzel_themapToday, I had the pleasure of attending (via Skype along with the LMA NJ City Group) the Metro New York’s presentation of “Legal Marketing Goes Global: Maximizing International Success for your Firm.” The session was a panel discussion (with questions from the audience throughout) that featured moderator Bob Robertson, the Director of Strategic Business Development at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, LLP, and panelists, Howard Kravitz, the US Marketing Leader for PwC and Joanne Southern, the Chief Marketing Officer for Proskauer.

Without going through the entire panel discussion (which was excellent), I do want to offer some key takeaways that I thought were particularly poignant and valuable:  Continue Reading Legal Marketing Goes Global – A Panel Recap

twofortueNobody handles content marketing perfectly.

It’s not an exact science, and for the most part, it’s an ever-adapting process that we are constantly refining based on our current goals and audience needs.

But there are a couple of areas where lawyers and law firms go astray with content marketing, and that’s what we’re going to talk about in today’s Two for Tuesdays post.  Continue Reading The Two Biggest Content Marketing Blunders Lawyers Make

We’re delighted to announce that our firm of the month for July/August is Anad & Noraini, Malaysia!

July/August 2015

ILN Firm of the Month – Anad & Noraini – Malaysia!

The ILN is proud to announce our latest firm of the month, Anad & Noraini – Malaysia!

Anad & Noraini was established in 1975 by Tan Sri Dato’ James Foong under the name of James Foong & Company. Occupying a mere 500 sq. ft. at the basement of Yee Seng Building at No. 15, Jalan Raja Chulan, Kuala Lumpur and with a supporting staff of 2, the firm has grown to a partnership of 3 partners, 4 qualified lawyers and about 20 supporting staff in 1990.  In 1990 the name of the firm changed to Anad & Associates and in 1994 it was changed to Anad & Noraini. The firm has grown to 3 partners, 2 senior legal assistants and 10 legal assistants and 35 supporting staff. In March 2013, the firm opened a branch in Johor Bahru in the State of Johor, which is next to Singapore. That branch caters to the needs of overseas investors in real estate in the Iskandar region of Johore. Continue Reading Firm of the Month – Anad & Noraini, Malaysia!

twofortueThis afternoon, I read an article on content marketing that really got me thinking. The most important part was this:

[I]f the primary goal of your content is better SEO, then you’re an SEO practitioner, not a content marketer. If the primary goal of your content is to have something to put in your email newsletter, then you’re an email marketer, not a content marketer. And if the primary goal of your content is to attract more social media traffic, then you’re a social media marketer, not a content marketer.”

Of course, content marketers should still care about SEO, email, and social. But if you’re a content marketer, your content goals come first and everything else follows. The clue is in the name.”

I know all of these terms may give you hives, because what you’re really thinking is, “but I’m a LAWYER.” While that’s true, in addition to being a lawyer, you’re also in the business of selling legal services – that’s just how it is. So that’s where all of these other things that may give you hives to think about come into play. Continue Reading Two for Tuesdays: Tips for Promoting Your Content in Social Media

twofortueHere’s a scary thought – earlier today, a blog post caught my eye, talking about the “one content marketing question” we should all be asking ourselves. Remember, when we say “content marketing,” we’re talking about anyone who authors articles, writes a blog, presents at conferences, does informational videos, etc. – basically anyone who produces substantial content that is shared with others.

These days, that’s pretty much all of us, or a large number of us at least. So what’s this one content marketing question?

Would anyone miss your content if you did not publish it?

The question itself is less unsettling of course than the potential answer. But let’s consider that for a moment. If you stopped writing articles, blogging, presenting, or whatever you’re doing to provide others with your knowledge, would anyone notice?

Hopefully the answer is a resounding yes!

But what if it isn’t?

Continue Reading Two for Tuesdays: How to Make Your Content as Fierce as Beyonce

Welcome to ILN-terviews, a series of profiles of ILN member firm attorneys, designed to give a unique insight into the lawyers who make up our Network. For our latest interview, we’re continuing our Instagram video series!

Each of the videos below answers the questions that precede it – Marjorie Suisman of Davis Malm & D’Agostine in Boston, Massachusetts is the subject of our latest set of videos!

In one sentence, how would you describe your practice?

http://instagram.com/p/4EppuFJPht/

Continue Reading ILN-terviews: Marjorie Suisman, Davis Malm & D’Agostine