The LinkedIn Lawyer

Thursday, October 15, 2009

The Digg Widget

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Lawyers Discuss the Lawyer Referral Exchange

LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook for Lawyers

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Social Media Planning for Lawyers

I was pleased to see my Facebook friend Francis Flynn Thorsen's Slideshare presentation (proud to be on page 11) on "Social Media Business Planning and Time Blocking."

Although this presentation was developed with real estate professionals in mind, the message for busy lawyers is the same - if you are to achieve ambitious goals with social media you will need an organized and time saving approach.

I do an entire webinar about social media systems and balancing social media and practicing law.

Real Estate Social Media Business Planning and Time Blocking

View more documents from Frances Flynn thorsen.

Thank you for visiting The LinkedIn Lawyer blog.

David Barrett

Let's Connect on Social Media
http://davidbarrett.mylinkinvitation.com
http://twitter.com/barrettdavid
http://www.facebook.com/barrettdavid

Marketing Resources

Free Guide - 5 Easy Steps to Create Your Law Firm Marketing Plan
Rainmaker Institute Law Firm Marketing Newsletters
Free E-Book "Top 10 Marketing Mistakes Attorneys Make and How to Avoid Them"
The Rainmaker Retreat - July 17/18 Las Vegas, Nevada

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

A Twitter Interview with LinkedIn Lawyer David Barrett

Many thanks to Lance Godard of The Godard Group for including me as the 22nd interviewee in his creative Twitter interview series, "22 Tweets - Real Time Twitter Interviews with Lawyers Who Tweet."

Godard uses a series of questions posed via Twitter and a threaded conversation hashtag (#22twts) to allow his subjects to tell the story of their law practice.

You can click here for the full interview with LinkedIn Lawyer David Barrett.

Godard includes particular questions about law practice, and more broad questions about the legal profession as a whole. As patterns emerge, he is able to bring together the common views of his interviewees.

Godard proves that Twitter is only as innovative and powerful as we are, and that this rather simple internet interface has significant creative potential.

Follow David Barrett on Twitter here.

Lawyer Rainmaking with Social Media - LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook

The Secrets of LinkedIn, Twitter and Social Networking Systems for Lawyers and Busy Professionals

View more OpenOffice presentations from David Barrett.

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Twitter for Law Firm Business Development

A Conversation Among Legal Marketing Brands

As lawyers continue to navigate the unchartered waters of social media, online networking, and social media legal marketing, it is inevitable that as these new and evolving tools will engender considerable debate as to their most effective use.

A controversial position in two recent blog posts by legal marketing consultant Larry Bodine, Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing and Twitter Defenders Miss the Point together with his subsequent presentation at the Get a Life Conference sponsored by Total Attorneys has created considerable uproar and debate on the issue: “Is Twitter an Effective Law Firm Business Development Tool.”

Unfortunately and maybe understandably, Mr. Bodine was thrown under the bus for his opinion by many members of the legal Twitterverse.

A look at the #GAL09 hashtag (which tracked conversation on Twitter about the Get a Life Conference) or a Twitter Search of “Bodine Twitter” shows that many legal tweeps view his philosophies about business development as outdated, if not simply off-target.

Certainly, Bodine's arguments ring familiar to lawyers and legal marketers who have been swimming upstream on lawyers' view of the usefulness of social media legal marketing for some time. Nearly a year ago stories like "Lawyer Social Networking Not Just a Craze" were skeptically reviewed, and Bodine renews this attack on the value of social media before legal marketing programs which seek to leverage this technology have gotten off the ground.

However, Mr. Bodine is not only a nice man by many accounts, but he has solid reputation, a track record of success and he may have forgotten more than most legal tweeps ever knew about law firm business development. As I discuss below, this is just the kind of dialogue that gives consumers on social media the ability to get past company advertising in order to get a more transparent look at the nature of a given brand.

Consider the following points made by Bodine:

(Twitter has) “always been a good place to learn what sandwich someone had for lunch and when someone changed a baby's diapers.” – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

There is a lot of noise and useless drivel on Twitter. Twitter made an excellent business move by adopting “What are you doing” as the prompt on the Twitter interface in order to help first time users, folks without content to share, and social media newbies learn “to use” Twitter in the sense of gaining a basic literacy and sending a tweet. This attempt to draw a large percentage of the general population into opening a Twitter account should not be mistaken for a mini-tutorial on how to effectively use Twitter, even if few resist the urge to tell the world about their coffee.

Although it may be interesting to learn what Aston Kutcher, Britney Spears, or Shaquille O’Neal had for breakfast, Larry Bodine is right – you’re likely not going to develop new business for your law firm either tweeting about what you made for dinner, or reading what other self-absorbed tweeps had for lunch.

Many users do drop out of Twitter when they are unable to advance past the “having a cup of coffee” stage, however let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Twitter has a multitude of practical and productive business development uses, to include: lead generation, relationship enhancement, professional branding, demonstration of expertise, and viral marketing – discussed further below.

“At the recent Total Practice Management Association in Chicago, I debated ABA Journal Editor Ed Adams. Ed asserted that the 40% who stay on Twitter are the influencers and key people who are worth following. I responded that I'd rather focus on an online resource where most people remain, as opposed to drop out.” – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

Users are dropping out of Twitter, but what are the alternatives? LinkedIn and Facebook are online resources where most people remain as opposed to drop out, but both of these social media platforms are weak where Twitter is strong.

LinkedIn is unrivaled in the professional online environment it creates, however it is nowhere near as quickly interactive as Twitter, nowhere as immediate as Twitter, and assisting others in your Twitter network is far less clunky than helping out fellow LinkedIn connections.

Facebook has a huge number of users, is wonderfully interactive, and users seem to not only remain but feel comfortable after a short time of using Facebook. However, Facebook can be rather limited for lawyer marketing in its historical perception as the domain of “college kids,” the focus of most Facebook applications on fun rather than professional uses, and the privacy issues involved with taking on unknown “friends” into your online world of family photos, romantic relationships and college drinking buddies.

On the other hand, the “follower” nature of Twitter allows users to establish relationships with previously unknown professionals and potential clients without the foul smell of spam or the discomfort of a cold call. It is flattering for many people to gain a new “followers” who they have never met on Twitter, when that person may question or even become hostile towards people previously unknown to them “friending” them on Facebook.

During his presentation at the Get a Life Conference in Chicago Larry Bodine “did not recommend” cold calling, but offered nothing in its place as 2009’s version of lead generation. Twitter (along with LinkedIn, Facebook, blogs, and viral marketing) can fill that void for lead generation, and social media marketing as a whole is a creative response to the distaste most people have for cold calls, junk mail, and other old-school interruption advertising.

Finally, there are business development applications of Twitter that cannot be found elsewhere – for example if there is a more effective microblogging platform out there I’m not aware of it. Lawyers may have put food on the table before anyone worried about microblogging, but in today’s competitive environment educated consumers often seek a demonstration of a law firm’s expertise – and not just take the marketing department’s word for it.

Microblogging is a very important step that lawyers should take as they develop content for their own blogs, as finding and rebroadcasting high quality content demonstrates how a given lawyer is current with the law and public opinion in a given area. Keeping abreast of such legal news and jurisprudence acts as an ongoing “literature review” before a lawyer blogs and publishes his/her own “journal.”

“You know that I am online and talking to lawyers and law firms every day - on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, by email, even - gasp - sometimes by telephone ... Real marketing is getting face-to-face with people.” – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

Social media doesn’t replace the telephone. Social media doesn’t replace in-person meetings.

However those who say social media does “replace” the telephone and in-person meetings may be making reference to the vast number of contacts around the world that we would not otherwise have were it not for social media – I’m in Boston and I just can’t get over to the guy from California I just met on Twitter for lunch. Twitter and other social media provide networking and business development opportunities that we simply did not have previously.

Twitter is a big deal. Although Jaffe Legal Marketing's approach with the article "Quit Fretting About Twitter!" doesn't target Twitter as a potentially counterproductive activity like Bodine does, their position is hardly an endorsement of the power of this new technology. Jaffe's view that Twitter is not a "silver bullet" of legal marketing may be true, but like Bodine's analysis of Twitter as a sales closing tool (see below), I don't think any prudent law firm marketers believed that to start out with.

Jaffe seems willing to add Twitter use (like Bodine's "Twitter is an add-on") to the mix of traditional legal marketing approaches, but given the worldwide buzz about Twitter and its obvious persuasive communication potential this hardly seems to be an approach that actively and intelligently leverages the power of this new technology.

Even for business development with other professionals and potential clients locally, Twitter and other social media can be a great way to initiate new relationships. No one likes cold calling, and I have often found that a relationship can start on the rather static media (i.e. LinkedIn) progress to an interactive online media (i.e. Twitter or Facebook), continue to a well-prepared telephone call, and finally blossom as a very productive business lunch or professional in-person relationship.

Frankly, I’m a little surprised that Mr. Bodine would even think that anyone would seriously consider Twitter to be a tool used to close sales – might it “help to close sales” – sure and 35% of those marketers surveyed in Mr. Bodine’s data assert that it does help. But I really can’t imagine anyone closing sales on Twitter, and pointing out this fact borders on silliness.

Twitter with worthwhile to lawyers only if they actively marketing face-to-face, have a website that generates leads, write a blog, send out e-newsletters, and have a brand in the marketplace. Once all that's in place, use your remaining time for Twitter. – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

However the world today is not so one-dimensional. As this debate was raging on Twitter, legal marketer Nancy Myrland was capturing the debate in her article "Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing - Not So Fast !!!" which artfully expresses one of the most important marketing uses for Twitter - monitoring what is being said about your brand.

Ms. Myrland is using Twitter to listen to her potential customers, and this should not be written off as inconsequential. Marketing has changed and evolved for good, and we don't need Twitter as an example - consumers throw out junk mail, statutes are written to prohibit cold calling and electronic mail spam, television viewers use Tivo to get around the commercials, and news readers are so adept at finding their own content online that the entire newspaper industry is crumbling. Listening to one's potential client base, and engaging in conversations that lead to delivering products that building on their existing knowledge is something traditional broadcast marketing can not do. If Bodine says people can better "listen" without Twitter and in a face to face meeting, he's confusing marketing and sales.

“Tweets Can Cause Legal Liability” – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

What law firms publish on social media should be taken as seriously as what law firms publish in law journals, in print media or in the yellow pages. Irresponsible use of social media can cause big headaches for law firms. This report by the New York Bar Association touches on some of the traps for the unwary, and if a law firm can afford malpractice insurance – the same firm can afford some interaction with a social media consultant.

Peter Berge directly addresses Bodine’s argument head on in his article
Response to Larry Bodine on Twitter

“I haven't heard of a lawsuit yet, but litigation trouble can be found in emails, telephone calls, letters, and words shouted in anger - I don't see how Twitter is different.” While Mr. Bodine continues to make his case based on a fictitious worst case scenario – a law firm without a social media strategy, without a social media firm policy, and individual lawyers Tweeting away about confidential issues instead of working to produce billable hours – “Twitter is different because it creates another discoverable record, just like email.”

Sure there are plenty of solo and small firm lawyers going “on their own” to experiment with Twitter, and there have been some mistakes made. However, dumping Twitter altogether is like advocating the use of horse-drawn buggies because automobiles are too dangerous.

Cars can also cause legal liability too, but when used responsibly cars can be very effective and a low litigation risk. Don’t drink and drive, and also importantly – don’t drink and tweet. Hire a law firm social marketing consultant, get a marketing plan, develop a social media strategy, adopt a social media policy, and get everyone in the company on board.

“Twitter is a distraction.” – Larry Bodine

Larry Bodine has a point.

I for one was semi-addicted to www.espn.com well before Twitter came along. Computer addiction is real for sure, and many lawyer support groups have set up workshops to help those who have let their computer use adversely affect their professional and personal lives.

Mr. Bodine provides a very interesting analysis about “continuous partial attention” but if you put the computer addicted aside, I would suspect the majority of lawyers could relate better to the continuous partial attention they give to their upcoming vacations, their romantic relationships, or the need to pick up the kids from school rather than any continuous partial attention given to Twitter.

In his conference presentation, Mr. Bodine explained that “four hours spent on Twitter would be better spent going out and meeting with people in real life” and he is correct. ROI diminishes significantly for Twitter users who do not have a marketing plan, do not have a social media marketing plan, who have a low-level of computer literacy, and who generally have no clue or direction about what they are supposed to be doing.

However, just because many lawyers waste time on Twitter, it does not mean that all time spent on Twitter is a waste. Social media consultants can help professionals identify a lawyer’s particular goals for social media, and how to effectively leverage social media to help achieve the organizational mission. Once the goals are identified, individual tasks can be systematized to fit into the regular routine of the professional work day, and even broken down into tasks that can be delegated to administrative staff. Social media can be a very effective "virtual handshake" and can lead to productive telephone calls, focused in-person meetings and other business activity that is generally better informed.

“I like Twitter, have a few hundred followers, but I read the research and act upon it. Twitter is a competition to amass followers.” – Larry Bodine

Someone missed the point, and it isn’t the Twitter defenders.

Sam Glover on the Lawyerist blog challenges whether Bodine knows enough about Twitter to be a critic by looking at this Twitter history, and many Tweeps in the 140 character conversations on this topic declare Bodine "just doesn't get it."

Obviously Bodine took himself out of the running for new Twitter consulting contracts with his articles, but the "competition to amass followers" comment is not only sour grapes. That comment indicates he in fact doesn't understand what can be the unparalleled potential power of social media marketing, viral marketing. Turning millions of social media users into volunteer marketers for a particular business has been accomplished frequently, and a simple look at Wikipedia explains how people with large social networks, or a high "Social Networking Potential" drive viral marketing messages. If you have your own community of followers, well primed with a high opinion of you because of all the high-quality content you provide them every day, you do not need to look elsewhere to get viral marketing campaigns started.

But Twitter is supposed to be "all about the conversation," and I see few conversations that lead to new business. – Larry Bodine

Someone missed the point, and it isn’t the Twitter defenders.

Apparently Larry Bodine doesn’t see even THIS conversation – between himself and potential customers - between various law marketing brands – and between groups of potential customers and the brands they have to choose from. His recent Tweets acknowledge that he is listening, and after staking out such a controversial position it may be hard to re-engage with this conversation.

This conversation isn’t a “bad rash that won't go away” but rather this conversation (via Twitter, blogs, and online video) is what social media is all about – consumers have an opportunity to converse and interact with various brands in order to gain a better understanding of which brand they would like to select.

Consumers who use social media are sophisticated. These consumers will not only find a legal marketer's web page using Google, but they will check out the people involved with that company on LinkedIn (and look to see if they have professional references that are worthwhile or from friends). These consumers will learn about a company or a brand by reading the company blog, subscribing to the company Twitter feeds, and possibly even friending the brand on Facebook. Consumers have their own education (often considerable education) and expertise that they bring to this brand evaluation process, and any sales pitch is reviewed with considerable skepticism.

Is Your Legal Marketing Brand Moving Towards the Future or the Past?

Using Twitter in the context of effectively operating the business of a law firm is complex. "Adding on" social media tools to traditional marketing approaches not only ignores why social media marketing has gained momentum in the first place, but a band-aid type approach fails to effectively leverage the power of social media.

After the Get a Life Conference in Chicago, Stephen Fairley of The Rainmaker Institute and LinkedIn Lawyer David Barrett got together for two days of meetings to form an unparalleled partnership, and to talk about how legal marketing in 2009 needs to bring together lessons from both traditional approaches and new media in creative, intelligent ways that leverage the special power of emerging technologies.

The results of these meetings will be rolled out over the next few months as educational products and legal marketing services, and lawyers can rest easy that there is a legal marketing brand that builds on what we all know to be true,

1. that traditional marketing techniques are proven, AND

2. Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, blogs and other social media can be used to leverage a super power previously unseen, in ways that match customers' preferences for gaining information about products and brands.

Stay tuned.

Articles that are Part of This Conversation

Twitter Not Effective for Law Firm Marketing
Response to Larry Bodine on Twitter
Twitter Not Effective For Law Firm Marketing - Not So Fast!
Twitter Defenders Miss the Point
What Twitter can–and can’t–be for legal marketing
Twitter for Lawyers: One Benefit You Might Not Have Considered
Quit Fretting About Twitter!
Legal Marketing, Statistics and Hard Work
Aren't you on Twitter yet?
Law Firm Marketing: Does Twitter Change the Game?
Legal tweeters respond to recent barbs at Twitter
Bodine to Twitter: You Ugly and You Dress Funny
More Reasons for Lawyers Not to Use Twitter
Twitter's Growth Screeches to a Halt - It Was All Hype
Twitter is like the Macarena?

Other Related Articles
Top Reasons for Using Twitter
when was the last time you had a conversation with a brand?
ThreadedTweets: Turn Your Twitter into a Realtime Conversation
Lawyer Twitter Practices: 29 Do’s and Don’ts
10 Awesome Ways to Integrate Twitter With Your Website
BusinessWeek: Learning, and Profiting, from Online Friendships

Continue this Conversation on Twitter

David Barrett on Twitter
Stephen Fairley on Twiitter
Larry Bodine on Twitter
Nancy Mryland on Twitter
Jaffe Associates on Twitter
Peter Berge on Twitter
Lawyerist on Twitter
Edward Adams on Twitter
JDSupra on Twitter
Heather Milligan on Twitter
Lance Goddard on Twitter
Lawyers USA on Twitter

David Barrett on Twitter for Law Firm Business Development - The Blog Talk Radio Show

Monday, June 1, 2009

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets" - Top of June Edition

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).
David A. Barrett's Recent Most Popular Twitter Messages

"Top Tweets"

@barrettdavid proud to be on "20 Twitterers Lawyers Should Follow on Twitter" - http://twurl.nl/uol4em (via @GinaRubel)

Most Influential "lawyer" Tweeting @ABAJournal @lawtweets @barrettdavid @rex7 @gma_news - http://twurl.nl/14gngx

How To Be A Rainmaker In 2009: LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook & Blogs - http://twurl.nl/i4nyl5

The Anatomy of a Twitter Tweet - Twitter Basics for Lawyers on The LinkedIn Lawyer blog - http://twurl.nl/zi5nmn

6 Keys to Becoming a Recognized Expert in less than 180 Days - http://twurl.nl/mtvsfa (by @StephenFairley)

Rainmaker Institute Law Firm Marketing Newsletters - http://twurl.nl/1uc2r2 (by @StephenFairley)

Found JDSupra: Emotional Intelligence for Lawyers http://twurl.nl/nt8r4i (best lawyers are people smart who understand and manage emotions)

Twitter for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/1g16g2 (via @Pistachio) "There’s a growing body of articles about Twitter for Attorneys ..."

Free E-Book "Top 10 Marketing Mistakes Attorneys Make and How to Avoid Them" http://twurl.nl/7zzrio (by @StephenFairley)

15 People All Securities and Corporate Litigators Should Follow on Twitter - http://twurl.nl/lv3n3z (by @SecuritiesD)

The Web 2.0 Revolution: Lawyer Marketing fuses with Social Media - http://twurl.nl/naedv7

5 Tips to Grow Your Twitter Presence - http://twurl.nl/bt171y (via @problogger)

4 Myths Attorneys Believe About Referrals - http://twurl.nl/hsvl20 (via @StephenFairley)

The Rainmaker Retreat - San Francisco and Las Vegas - http://twurl.nl/miecp1 2 Day Marketing Boot Camp for Small Law Firms

Web 2.0 and David Barrett in the Maryland Bar Bulletin - http://twurl.nl/qifuyy

Any Tweeps out there using Hummingbird for Twitter? http://twurl.nl/doz8in

RT @TotalAttorneys: Crain's Chicago Business Fast Fifty - # 2 - Total Attorneys!! http://tinyurl.com/nxlsgs (via @edscanlan)

Daily reminder: take 5 mins to reply/retweet others. Nothing about you. Engage, interact, build. (via @unmarketing)

RT @BostonBar 100 Twitter Sites for Law Students and Twitter Newbies http://bit.ly/uY9Eu (via @OklahomaBar)

RT @Law_Practice JDSupra: It's Time to Teach Marketing and Sales in Law School http://tinyurl.com/lt4st5 (via @AdvertisingLaw)

Web of Justice?: Jurors' Use of Social Media - http://twurl.nl/wtjans #lawyer #law

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

The Anatomy of a Twitter Tweet - Twitter Basics for Lawyers

A few weeks ago while checking email I noticed via a email update that one of my favorite colleagues, Attorney Tom McLain, was following me on Twitter.

Although Tom is an attorney in the Greater Atlanta area, and I practice in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, I have had the opportunity to get to know Tom just a bit via social media.

In addition to the typical pleasantries exchanged upon making a new LinkedIn connection, Tom responded to my call for help in response to the major change in the group policy by LinkedIn.

In a rather short amount of time, I had to “share” my nationwide network of lawyer networking groups, and Tom was both courageous enough to take over ownership of a group and willing to keep the group in part of the larger MyLinkLaw family of lawyer networking groups. (I still "give away" LinkedIn lawyer networking groups as a networking activity itself, but the time pressure has passed.)

After looking at Tom’s Twitter page (which has since flourished), I noticed that he was rather new to Twitter.

I was confident Tom would be able to share interesting content on Twitter, and I knew he was sincere about his use of social media for professional networking. Also because Tom had done me a big favor, I thought I might repay the favor by attempting to attract him some followers to his new account by Tweeting about him.

My Twitter message was –

Follow @TomMcLain Chair, Corporate Lawyer Network on LinkedIn (1700+) - http://twurl.nl/qr2mry #followfriday

… and Tom responded with a private DM (Direct Message) full of honesty and a great question -

“I think I may be in over my head . . . The message you posted - - what does it do?”

Although Twitter messages are only 140 characters, Tom’s question was a good one since there are a few elements included in this Tweet.

Let’s deconstruct:

1. “Follow @TomMcLain” – in addition to the general suggestion for others to follow Tom, including the “@” sign together with his active Twitter account name allows users to easily click through to his Twitter home page, where viewers may learn more about Tom, click through to his website, or choose to follow him on Twitter.

2. “Chair, Corporate Lawyer Network on LinkedIn” – is my attempt to tell others something about Tom. You see … I happened to create and send this Twitter message on a Friday, and I did so with the Twitter meme (the term Internet meme is a phrase used to describe a catchphrase or concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet, much like an inside joke) “Follow Friday” in mind.

“Follow Friday” can be found as its own Twitter page and its “bio” reads as basic instructions on how to execute the concept (“Tweet the names of Twitter users you'd like others to follow and tag it with #followfriday”).

One "Follow Friday" Tip -

Some folks pack in as many Twitter addresses as possible in 140 characters for their “Follow Friday” messages:

@barrettdavid, @jdtwitt, @tommclain, @stephenfairley, @bambrogi, @rkodner, @massgovernor, @barackobama, @rex7 #followfriday

However, “Follow Friday’s” are more effective if you include fewer people in each Tweet, and if you explain something about why you think others should follow this person. For example:

@barrettdavid – World’s Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network, One of 20 Twitterers for Lawyers to Follow #followfriday

3. The “tag” (i.e. “#followfriday”) typically is found at the end of the Twitter message, and this refers to the “#” symbol used to create a searchable term (i.e. distinguishing it from a simple word search, which may have an alternate meaning) by using a service such as Twitter Search. These tags are commonly referred to as “hashtags” and are collected and observed at the Hashtags website.

4. The “(1700+)” adopts some LinkedIn shorthand typically used to show how many LinkedIn connections one has (LinkedIn changed its initial policy and now only shows the number of connections a given member has up to 500) and refers to the number of members in the aforementioned Corporate Lawyer group on LinkedIn,

5. and “http://twurl.nl/qr2mry” is a quick link to the group, should others be interested to join.

One should note that the "real" link to the Corporate Lawyer group on LinkedIn is:
“http://www.linkedin.com/groups?gid=117520&trk=anetsrch_name&goback=.gdr_1240602125088_1”

However, this link is way too long for a Twitter message of 140 characters or less. So I plugged that link into Tweetburner, a free website service which produced this shorter link (i.e. http://twurl.nl/qr2mry) while also tracking how many people “click through” that link.

Now, looking at a Twitter message (or “Tweet”) such as this –

Follow @TomMcLain Chair, Corporate Lawyer Network on LinkedIn (1700+) - http://twurl.nl/qr2mry #followfriday

Should no longer seem as intimidating.

I hope this helps explain a little bit of the foreign language of Twitter. Twitter can be a great networking tool when used wisely.

Follow Boston Attorney and Legal Social Media Consultant David Barrett on Twitter.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Do Lawyers Have Good Facebook Manners?

Although these etiquette tips are in the context of the relationship between Timmy and Alice on Facebook “The Electric Friendship Generator,” there are many lessons here that apply to a professional networking presence on Facebook.

Connect with David Barrett on Facebook here.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets" - May Day Edition

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Lawyers Exploring Twitter Communities

A large online legal network is a useful tool when taking the social media pulse of lawyers nationwide, and there seems to be a current buzz around lawyers making sense of the various Twitter communities online, and how to use them effectively.

This buzz first bubbled up to me when Robin Kobayashi of the Lexis Nexis Workers Compensation blog asked if I had written anything or had an opinion about Tweetlaw.

Smelling the potential interest in a larger blog post not only on Tweetlaw, but Tweetlaw and other Twitter communities for lawyers, I used Twitter to solicit a little feedback –

@barrettdavid Working on a review of Twitter lawyer communities for The LinkedIn Lawyer blog - might you @me a Tweet about your faves?

The response was tepid, like swimmers testing the water with their toes in the springtime … not sure if it is warm enough to dive in and start swimming.

For example, @KMarvel a somewhat anonymous child support enforcement lawyer from San Antonio Texas responded:

Still trying to find good lawyer communities -- not much out there for family lawyers. I'd love some ideas, please!

and apparently responding to one of my subsequent tweets:

@barrettdavid - Just joined a twibe. Visit http://twibes.com/attorney to join

The “fairly uppity business and tax lawyer” @CynthiaRRowland

Asked: @barrettdavid I don't get it, what's the point of Twibe?

So first, I would generally describe “Twitter communities” or “Twitter Lawyer communities” as self-selected sub-groups of the larger “Twitter Community” (i.e. everyone on Twitter) who join such groups via websites independent of the official Twitter interface. Generally these websites re-broadcast the Twitter feeds of the members, and allow members to find other Twitter users who may be lawyers, legal professionals, or whatever shared interest of the group.

Historically, these communities were not so fancy, and Adrian Lurssen’s hyper-linked article “145 Lawyers and Legal Professionals to Follow on Twitter” (now at 703 members) was a ground-breaking tool assisting lawyers to find other lawyers and legal professionals on Twitter.

Slick website Twitter communities were soon to follow, including Kevin O’Keefe’s “LexTweet,” Justia’s “Legal Birds” and the aforementioned TweetLaw.

These communities further evolved to be defined by the users themselves, and leading the charge with the use of “Twibes” is legal marketing guru Stephen Fairley with his “Attorney Twibe” and “Law Marketing Twibe.”

So @KMarvel - here’s an idea for you, go to the Start page on Twibes and start a Twibe of Family Lawyers. I started a Twibe for Legal Professionals, but like any social media group for lawyers, recruitment is a considerable challenge.

Really a similar result could be achieved by using an existing LinkedIn group, say American Divorce Lawyers and organizing all the members to provide the group manager with their Twitter feed RSS to that the manager may re-broadcast the Twitter feeds of all the members.

However, this will never work. One secret to getting lawyers and other busy professionals engaged in your particular social media activity is to keep the engagement process as simple as possible.

Social media group organizers need to anticipate that folks are not going to just join because you created a group (i.e. “if you build it they will come” doesn’t work), and getting over the considerable barriers of limited time and varying degrees of techy skills requires you to make the sign up process quick, easy and low-tech.

What is the point of Twibes and other legal communities on Twitter @CynthiaRRowland????

There are a few reasons to join:

1. You may want to find other lawyers or legal professionals who you may want to follow on Twitter. This can help supplement your efforts to crib followers off of other people’s Twitter friends lists, and is easier than going through the trouble of running two internet browsers on your desktop and using Google as a sort of third party Twitter Search.

2. You may want to be found by other lawyers or legal professionals who are interested in what you have to Tweet, and you may gain followers.

3. You may want another venue to re-broadcast your Tweets. Much like the static lawyer directories like the Cornell Law School Directory re-broadcasts of your Tweets can enhance your exposure and your presence in search engines.

4. You likely won’t use these communities as a new place to view a Twitter stream, but you could. Most Twitter users want to follow a Twitter stream that relates directly to them.

Generally I would say that Twitter communities for lawyers are very useful, and very helpful when it comes to networking with folks who are your networking targets, not just any Twitter user who may come along.

Related Articles

For the Birds: LegalBirds: Twitter Directory for the Legal Community

Lawyers Are Building Community Online

Follow David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Monday, April 13, 2009

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets"

Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Powerful Networking Synergy of Martindale-Hubbell Connected and LinkedIn

In Beta, Martindale-Hubbell Connected is Valuable Resource

There have been a few highly-regarded squeaky wheels blogging in order to get their oil from M-H Connected as LexisNexis slowly rolls out the social networking for lawyers website (currently in Beta), but let’s face it – all online social media tools have their quirks, and dealing with those is part of being a cutting-edge early adopter.

I was ranked #23 on LexTweet before Twitter mysteriously wiped out half of my follower/following connections, LinkedIn scrapped who knows how many hours of work by changing their group policy out of the blue, and who can even think of writing a how-to book about Facebook when dealing with the new interfaces is a constant re-education process? It is an imperfect world and social media websites are not always an artful example of the inclusive, transparent and democratic values that many associate with “the internet.”

I admit that I used some of my social media connections in the legal community to get my second M-H Connected application approved, but let’s focus on the important part – Martindale-Hubbell Connected is a super social networking resource for lawyers, particularly when used together with a strong lawyer network on LinkedIn.

Although the Compliance Building blog calls it “sparsely populated,” as I log into M-H Connected today my screen indicates a membership of nearly 3500 lawyers.

Certainly 3500 people is not an incredible number, but one should remember that these are lawyers - a group who are widely regarded to be slow to embrace the worldwide frenzy over social media. After all, my modest personal network of 4000 lawyers is still “The World’s Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network” and until many more lawyers not only set up profiles on social media websites, but actively network using online social media, any group of attorneys over a couple of thousand is a pretty substantial online lawyer networking resource.

However, rather than the sheer number of lawyers on M-H Connected, the social network has considerable value because of the kind of lawyers in the network rather than the volume. Although there are many exceptions to broad generalizations, it appears to me that many of the lawyers on M-H Connected are the kind of lawyers who wouldn’t be caught dead on MySpace, who don’t spend much if any time on Facebook, but who may have entered their rolodex into the professionally focused environment of LinkedIn.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for using “cross-over connections” on various social media websites in order to enhance my knowledge of the people in my network, and my interaction with them. I love getting my LinkedIn connections into my Facebook network, so that my connections can learn more about me, and so that I can interact with them using the multimedia tools Facebook offers. I generally view my LinkedIn network as a “virtual handshake” and use Twitter and Facebook as “relationship enhancers.”

At the same time, I believe building fresh professional relationships is the greatest asset online social media has to offer. Certainly one can connect with a legal community of social media savvy legal professionals who are on blogging, using LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter very very frequently but unless you provide services to the people who provide services to lawyers, why invest so much time in building professional relationships with only such a similar and tight-knit group?

Simply put, you can find lawyers in M-H Connected that you may not so easily find in other areas of the social media universe. But I digress … in addition to a fresh group of online networking targets, there is a powerful synergy between LinkedIn and M-H Connected, and it exists in one function on most M-H Connected profiles. If a M-H Connected user has a LinkedIn network, and that person has enabled their M-H Connected profile to share their LinkedIn connections – the networks work together, in effect making one network from the two social media websites.

So for example, if I am browsing the members of M-H Connected, and I find a lawyer I would like to initiate a professional relationship with – I can click on a LinkedIn link in order to see how we are connected to each other (whether by first, second or third level connections) on the more populated professional networking website LinkedIn.

To their credit, much like LinkedIn the stated M-H Connected policy seeks to rein in out of control connectors who send invitations that smell much like spam –

“Quick Tip! Since Martindale-Hubbell Connected is a trusted online community, members should take care to extend invitations to people they already know. Remind potential connections how you know each other by including a personal note.”

… and even I of 8300 LinkedIn connections would agree that invitations to connect are most effective when they include a personalized message and a reminder about some commonality between you and the target connection.

But the integration of LinkedIn into M-H Connected helps to develop a commonality that would not exist on M-H connected alone. M-H Connected invitations may include something like –

“I noticed that we’re both connected to Barack Obama on LinkedIn, and I would be interested to learn more about your practice as I may be in a position to make legal client referrals in your area.”

Another area where users can leverage a synergy between M-H Connected and LinkedIn (not to mention another commonality with fresh target contacts) is with lawyer groups on both social networks.

M-H Connected seems to encourage users to set up new lawyer networking groups, and much like LinkedIn, groups on M-H Connected can be powerful networking tools. Certainly if a lawyer were to set up law school alumni groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and M-H Connected, s/he would get an assortment of networking contacts who all share a common history. Practice area or geographically focused groups have flourished by utilizing more than one social media portal for some time (historically LinkedIn and Facebook), and attracting members who have different social media starting points.

I appreciate it when social media experts like Chris Brogan advocate for websites like LinkedIn to adopt new features that may enhance our user experiences, and M-H Connected seems genuinely interested in user feedback. At the same time as lawyers, why not leave the geeky website development stuff to the pros – and just focus on using available technologies for networking and developing new business?

Connect with David A. Barrett on Martindale-Hubbell Connected

Connect with David A. Barrett on LinkedIn

A Martindale-Hubbell Connected promotional video -

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Building relationships With Linkedin

Bill Price does a great job here getting across LinkedIn lessons with visual communication. Often, LinkedIn "training" is about adjusting our attitudes more than learning new technical skills. Enjoy.

Building relationships With Linkedin

View more presentations from Bill Price.

Friday, April 3, 2009

Lawyers Seek to Grow Online Networks

Recognizing the Business Development Potential of Social Networks

Everyone has their own philosophy when it comes to “effectively” using social networking. Social networking is so new, and is used by such diverse groups of professionals, that there is not really a “user manual” nor a clearly defined set of “best practices.” Many of these answers are still up for debate.

However, it does seem to be a trend that lawyers are seeking to grow their online networks.

One can think of the styles of online networking as a sort of continuum, where on one side “open networkers” willingly connect to anyone who asks (and to many who don’t), and use social networking websites as “relationship initiators.” While on the other side of the spectrum “closed networkers” only allow those who they know well, or those who they have an existing professional relationship with, into their online social networks, presumably in order to enhance those relationships.

Lawyers, being the cautious and exclusive breed they are, have generally been somewhere of the mind of “closed networkers” in the past, and have often been unwilling to connect without a pre-existing relationship.

However, such attitudes among lawyers seem to be changing.

Law and Legal Open Networkers – Not just for LIONS anymore

One barometer of such a change I see is the increase in the number of lawyers, and the number of large firm lawyers, who are interested to join the LinkedIn group Law and Legal Open Networkers. At one time this group was full of non-lawyers associated with the legal profession seeking to build new business relationships, however recently lawyers from nationwide firms such as Mintz Levin, Nutter, McClennen & Fish, and Duane Morris have applied for and gained admission to this group.

Although as a group, lawyers are still somewhat apprehensive about the potential havoc an untrusted contact may wreck in one’s online network (please contact me with examples if you know of any – I have yet to hear of one), lawyers do seem to be catching on to the business development potential that building new relationships via social networking offers.

Building Connections is not a Self-Executing Process

It is important to remember that although you may have decided to change your social networking philosophy, simply joining a group of open networkers, adding your email address to your profile, or even adding a message like “INVITE ME” to your profile will not dramatically increase the size of your online network. Many LinkedIn users are busy people, and they incorrectly assume that by taking one or more of the aforementioned actions that the entire online world will come after them seeking to connect as if they have the name recognition of Barack Obama.

It is important to remember that although some connections may come to you by joining such groups as Toplinked, Open Networker, or the Dallas Blue Business Network, most connections (particularly most targeted or high quality connections) will not just come to you as you are engaged in other work activities.

If online networkers are sincerely interested to build their connections in a substantial way, they should:

1. Identify their networking targets
2. Locate groups where their networking targets may be found
3. Initiate contact with their networking targets

Always be careful not to send messages that smell like SPAM, always be a “networking giver” by sharing resources, and seek to initiate a conversation or a relationship rather than delivering a sales pitch.

Click here if you are interested to join David Barrett’s online network on LinkedIn – the World’s Largest LinkedIn Lawyer Network.

The LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets" - April Showers Edition

David A. Barrett's Recent Most Popular Twitter Messages

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Hear "Lawyers and Social Media" blogtalkradio show on The LinkedIn Lawyer blog - http://twurl.nl/q8dzcz

DAB is #47 on Top 100 Twitter Feeds for Law Students - http://twurl.nl/cwg2va

Sending a Tweet in the Right Direction (Michigan Lawyers Weekly) - http://twurl.nl/grqc0b

Health and Hospital Lawyer Network on LinkedIn now feeds health law news and articles from JDSupra - http://twurl.nl/ntfxcx

How to Build a Social Marketing Plan - http://twurl.nl/abpool

Copyright And Libel Questions Hit The Twitterverse - http://twurl.nl/lko30r

LinkedIn for Lawyers Guide from AttorneySync - http://twurl.nl/beiteq

Courtney Love Gets Sued For Tweets - http://twurl.nl/4jc8ai (Don't Drink and Tweet)

Environmental and Land Use Lawyers on LinkedIn now feeds legal news and articles on topic from JDSupra - http://twurl.nl/2me72t

Real Estate Lawyer Network on LinkedIn now feeds hot legal news and articles from JDSupra - http://twurl.nl/chj7ig

Building a new profile on Martindale-Hubbell Connected - http://twurl.nl/m065aq (and is seeking connections)

Updating juror instructions for the era of Internet 2.0 - http://twurl.nl/moidf4

Think of Tweeting about work as "publishing" and remember "Cisco fatty" cautionary tale - http://twurl.nl/y7alb0

Employment Law Network on LinkedIn now feeds news and content from JD Supra - http://twurl.nl/ruhcmq

RT @JDTwitt Social media is seen by many marketers as the next gold rush - http://snurl.com/exp8a

Ambrogi: Social Networking for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/z7n6w7

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Lawyers and Social Media blogtalkradio show

Monday, February 23, 2009

What Were We Tweeting When the Human Rights Lawyers Were Killed?

Advanced Topics in Twitter and Human Rights Law

Amidst this worldwide economic downturn, and in The Year of Twitter it is certainly understandable for us all to get excited about the inherent business potential of this new online social media.

However, although the practice of law is a business, lawyers have a particular responsibility to stand up for the rule of law – and for those lawyers who dedicate their professional lives to protecting the fundamental human rights of themselves and others.

Although I aspire to use Twitter to support Human Rights Lawyers more than I have, my work to do so has been an informative journey in advanced topics in using Twitter, particularly hashtags and retweeting.

Hashtags

Hashtags are a tool to help those using search together with Twitter to have a conversation on a limited topic. Hashtags are included in Twitter messages, and can be recognized with the pound sign attached (i.e. "#lawschool"). The Twitterer using a hashtag may seek to enter an existing conversation, or that person may seek to start a conversation on a particular topic.

The great thing about hashtags is that you can just make them up, once you follow the @hashtags Twitter user from
http://hashtags.org/ and it will automatically will follow you back.

As I was working on developing the hashtag for Attorney Gao Zhisheng, I initially came up with “#zhng” or an abbreviation of his last name.

Now that I have seen hashtags such as “#americanidol” and “#oscaradwatch“ I realize there was little reason to abbreviate the name, and I have come to learn that popular terms without the "#" will also come up in hashtag searches, or Twitter Searches.

At the same time, the publications were referring to Attorney Zhisheng as “Mr. Gao” and I wondered if this was the same phenomenon I have never clearly understood that allows Ichiro Suzuki to be the only player in Major League Baseball to put his first name on the back of his jersey.

Whever the reason, I figured a “#gao” hashtag may personalize Attorney Zhisheng for American Tweeple, and make the effort to spread word of his situation on Twitter more effective.

However, I should have used the search function on hashtag.com to check before creating the hashtag, as another Twitter user had already used “#gao” in an unrelated way when tweeting about the Government Accounting Office (and their reports on the lack of paid health care benefits for U.S. Soldiers).

ReTweeting

The other Twitter topic I got to know better in my quest to spread the word about human rights lawyers unjustly detained or killed was the art of asking others to "Retweet" my Twitter message. Although I'm not sure that all of the involved government and military officials are on Twitter, there have been a number of Twitter campaigns that have had a real world impact.

How to Retweet is best covered the Related Articles below, but in brief there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. You "ask" people who see your Twitter message to "Retweet" (or cut and paste and then re-post on their own Twitter page) by including "Pls. RT" in your message (i.e. Please Retweet)

2. Those who are kind enough to Retweet your message, do so with attribution, starting with "RT" or "Retweet" or "Tweet Tweet" and then the address from where they found this 140 character informational jewel (i.e. "RT @barrettdavid") before the text of the message.

3. You have limited Re-tweet capital, so spend it wisely. Folks who see your request may think to themselves, "what has s/he done for me lately" and opt to ignore your plea. As @guykawasaki says "We all want to be Retweeted."

4. You may have to educate your followers on what retweeting is, how to do it and why to do it.

As examples, I have listed my "Top Human Rights Tweets":

Nobel Contender Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Disappears - http://twurl.nl/qn8l7e (pls RT) #zhng

Markelov Assassination Tied to Release of Budanov? - http://twurl.nl/vnq5gf #mrklv (pls RT)

Markelov Killed For Human Rights Law Work - http://twurl.nl/toum6j (Please ReTweet) #mrklv

(Pls ReTweet) Russia: Investigate Murder of Prominent Rights Lawyer http://twurl.nl/uvhpvq #mrklv

BonnieRN: RT @barrettdavid Nobel Contender Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Disappears - http://twurl.nl/qn8l7e(pls RT) #gao

Related Articles:

How to Start a Twitter Hashtag

An Introduction to Twitter Hashtags

Hashing Through Twitter Hashtags -- a Look at Structured Conversation

Explore the Twitter Hashtag

The Art and Science of Retweeting for Twitteraholics

Retweet: The Infectious Power Of Word Of Mouth

How to Retweet

How to Retweet: Format and Convention

International Human Rights Law Resources

PROFILES IN COURAGE - China's rights defenders

Human Rights Watch, Stay Informed - Get action alerts, breaking news and updates

Beyond Obama’s Order to Close Guantanamo

International human rights law

Human Rights First believes that building respect for human rights and the rule of law will help ensure the dignity to which every individual is entitled and will stem tyranny, extremism, intolerance, and violence.

Interested to Discuss this Blogpost? - Connect with David Barrett on Twitter

ABA CLE Online Social Networking Gets Professional

Social Media for Lawyers Seminar Online Success

The American Bar Association Continuing Legal Education Seminar, "Online Social Networking Gets Professional, the Pitfalls and Rewards" had a number of very pleased seminar/webinar attendees, and a considerable following on the social media website Twitter.

Seminar faculty set up a hashtag of #LPMSM for the online event, allowing another mode of communication for seminar attendees, and for other interested people to follow along and even participate without signing up for the entire seminar. At one point, @RealTimeTrends found the hashtag "#lpmsm" to be the #4 trend on twitter.

Online Social Networking Gets Professional

View more presentations from David Barrett. (tags: social media)

ABA CLE Online Social Networking “Top Tweets”

As partially tracked with the assistance of Tweetburner.

Connect with David Barrett on LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/dke3nk #LPMSM

barrettdavid: Social Media Pitfalls: 5 Lessons Learned - http://twurl.nl/7vir0n #LPMSM

List of 350+ Social Networking Sites - http://twurl.nl/vx1ey3 #LPMSM

Find more social media information and links on The LinkedIn Lawyer http://twurl.nl/xld62v #LPMSM

50 Social Sites That Every Business Needs a Presence on - http://twurl.nl/apfeia #LPMSM

@heathermilligan: $250,000 worth of patent work! via LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/yeftdw #LPMSM

Professional Social Networking or "Facebook for Suits" http://twurl.nl/nhcyd2 #LPMSM

Twitter 101 for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/8xgdqp #LPMSM

Law Marketing on Ning - http://twurl.nl/w58w4g #LPMSM

To friend or Not to Friend – Social Media for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/kmjzsz #LPMSM

Twitter Basics for Curious Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/4pt3ua #LPMSM

LinkedIn Lawyer Networking groups by practice area and location - http://twurl.nl/klg0d0

Social Media Marketing for Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/i620ho #LPMSM

How Sociable is Your Brand Online? http://twurl.nl/5hizh1 #LPMSM

Highlights from the “#LPMSM” hashtag Twitter Tweets during the Seminar

JDTwitt: 42% want to reach new clients with SM - biggest challenge: developing a strategy/ #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @stevematthews: blog is the hub for lawyers - every else pushed out to the networks. #LPMSM

barrettdavid: @tamerabennett - if you're losing ROI don't read every tweet - following more builds more new relationship opportunities #LPMSM

molecule18: #lpmsm Important to own yr domainname and website, for SEO purpose, as well as so not to be at the whim of Google,Wordpress etc...

heathermilligan: @barrettdavid - LinkedIn is a "relationship initiator" #lpmsm

matthomann: It's easy to learn how to use Twitter, but it's hard to learn why. Once you get it you'll move from skeptic to disciple overnight. #lpmsm

JDTwitt: @barrettdavid makes nationwide litigator referrals using LinkedIn - has largest network of attys on LI -"even modest newtork" good #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @barrettdavid to sum up: want to understand LinkedIN? Connect with David Barrett #LPMSM (join groups, associations, practice g's)

JDTwitt: @heathermilligan: Linkedin allows a small firm to make a big impact. "Have fun" Connect with colleagues, friends, former clients #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @stevematthews: Connect with as many relationships as you can, even childhood friends. Power of "who knows who" Again: join groups.#LPMSM

leahcdaniels: @JDTwitt Yep, LinkedIn is a relationship building tool that can be used to disseminate content which can lead to virtual referrals.#LPMsm

alinwagnerlahmy: #LPMsm @barretdavid: “ twitter great way to make and enhance relationships you have made on other sites”

barrettdavid: High quality Twitter posts are appreciated. Think before you Tweet. #LPMSM

alinwagnerlahmy: #LPMsm @heathermilligan "Twitter expanded my presence across country, world, practice area – building my reputation very quickly ...

nicolecaccamo: If you are using multiple SM sites - FB/Twit/LI create similar brand throughout to create a well-rounded & prof image of yourself #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @stevematthews: OK to display your professional work to personal network. Show people what you do. Opportunity for referrals #LPMSM

nicolecaccamo: RT @barrettdavid: Twitter is a local networking event without a particular time and location - always open, always on. #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @barrettdavid Facebook and Twitter connections aren't necessarily the same. OK to tether - have Twitter updates appear on Facebook #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @barrettdavid uses JD Supra app to stream documents from JDS to Facebook. "Connect one to another" #LPMSM

nancymyrland: I LOVE your 4 point 2.0 plan! :-) RT @heathermilligan: Here's my 4-point 2.0 plan. http://tinyurl.com/crcek3

JDTwitt: RT @matthomann Friends more likely to recommend you than colleagues who do same thing you do. Let friends see your professional side #lpmsm

JChristi: RT @stevematthews: "Write once, publish often." This is one value of social media/networking. Allows for presence in multiple places #LPMSM

barrettdavid: Individual Facebook pages and firm pages can work together to compound online presence - must be personal but professional. #LPMSM

eschaeff: RT @matthomann From my LTNY Presentation: Ten Tweets about Twitter http://is.gd/i8PA #lpmsm

DebraTuomey: RT @JDTwitt: RT @barrettdavid What is a Ning site? http://www.ning.com/ Create your own social network for anything. #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @stevematthews distinguish between formal pieces of content (articles, case law, etc.) and then the informal conversation #LPMSM use both

JDTwitt: @davidbarrett: lawyers should think of social media participation the way you think of publishing. follow same standards. #LPMSM

barrettdavid: Is it worth paying for LinkedIn account? Absolutely. Pay for an account and delegate administrative tasks to staff. #LPMSM

barrettdavid: @lancegodard - Plan first, then pay for LinkedIn - need a plan to make it worthwhile, but if you have a plan is very valuable. #LPMSM

barrettdavid: @lancegodard - building relationships with referral attorneys and potential clients is more important than one communication. #LPMSM

barrettdavid: @lancegodard - building relationships with referral attorneys and potential clients is more important than one communication. #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @barrettdavid think of it like a party. No one likes guy at party who goes around saying "Hello I'm a lawyer, why don't you hire me" #LPMSM

barrettdavid: @claxtonlegal - Many aspects of difference between paid and free LinkedIn accounts - search results, # invitations, mail messages #LPMSM

JDTwitt: RT @SCartierLiebel Have social media plan to develop relationships. Give first. Be generous w/tools for others benefit. It comes back #LPMSM

JDTwitt: @stevematthews: Google yourself. Connects to everything. If you're saying nothing, that's your fault. SM participation allows control #LPMSM

stevematthews: RT:@matthomann Twitter is also a great way of incubating ideas that will later grow into a full blog post. #lpmsm Completely agree.

leahcdaniels: Attys have to be very careful about sending private DMs . Don't want to inadvertently create an attorney-client relationship. #LPMSM

molecule18: #LPMSM Thanks! Most fun CLE ever!

stevematthews: @fredabramson RT: "I practice under my name, I twitter under my name... my name is my "brand" Great approach, I think. #LPMsm

stevematthews: @fredabramson I don't think either strategy is 'wrong'. I just happen
to think investing long term in your name, is never a mistake. #LPMsm

heathermilligan: @jonlin98 I find that clients "interview" the firm, but "hire" the lawyer. Both brands are equally important. #LPMsm

heathermilligan: @JDTwitt twttr is like wlkng into a cocktail party / million ppl, shouting "who wants 2 talk abt legal mkt, & having 1200 ppl respond #LPMSM

heathermilligan: @LarryApple for a lawyer, it is always advisable to have a disclaimer on your page somewhere re: creating att/client relationship #LPMSM

LindsayGriffith: RT @nancymyrland: Not that u asked ;-), but here are my Twitter strategy & goals #lpmsm http://bit.ly/VCFHB

nicolecaccamo: RT @stevematthews: @kdtalcott has a good foundation article on the use of twitter by lawyers #LPMsm http://is.gd/kaH6

dhowell: What firms (as opposed to individual lawyers) are doing social media best? Thx, I'll put you in my talk notes. #lpmsm http://ff.im/-18WZE

goldenm: RT @matthomann People want to know you before they hire you. Be yourself in SM, unless you don't expect to be yourself with clients. #lpmsm

JDTwitt: One value of @nikiblack's LegalTweets.com: see stevematthew's summary of the recent #LPMSM webinar & tweetapalooza ... http://is.gd/ktMH

Connect with David Barrett on Twitter here.

Monday, February 9, 2009

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer Social Media "Top Tweets" Stimulus Package

Click here for a video introduction to David Barrett's Twitter profile.

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Client Referral Strategies For Attorneys - http://twurl.nl/1fmhpz

Massachusetts Fee splits require up-front written client consent - http://twurl.nl/pisqms

Superstar Article: How to be a LinkedIn Superstar - http://twurl.nl/687pfl

BubbleTweets for Distinguished Social Media Lawyers - http://twurl.nl/46zggq

Video Welcome to David Barrett's LinkedIn Network - http://twurl.nl/zz3ggx

Are Lawyers Taking Full Advantage of Slideshare? - http://twurl.nl/vp5fta Via LinkedIn, blog widget, Twitter, Facebook? #slideshare

Hello LegalTech New York from the LinkedIn Lawyer - http://twurl.nl/w7wvow #ltny

The travelers guide to Twitterverse - http://twurl.nl/di0qz1

"145 Lawyers to Follow on Twitter" by JD Supra now 563 - wow http://twurl.nl/tmxtti

Social Media Legal Marketing on the Law Marketing Network - http://twurl.nl/xwtfha

Nobel Contender Chinese Human Rights Lawyer Disappears - http://twurl.nl/qn8l7e (pls RT) #zhng

Rights groups: China rights lawyer released (!!!!) - http://twurl.nl/lvfs31 #gao

Twitter: It's Not You; It's Me... http://twurl.nl/wg3ak3

Online social networking is the beginning of a relationship that can develop - http://twurl.nl/lkxxmr

MySpace And Facebook Becoming Evidence In Court - http://twurl.nl/n6ussn

Duke University Law Library on Facebook - http://twurl.nl/k1aldu

LinkedIn Legal Networking Groups at MyLinkLaw.com - http://twurl.nl/ck13wj

Nancy Gertner: New Media Judge - http://twurl.nl/llobu7

NY Times Twittering Tips for Beginners - http://twurl.nl/r552xc

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

David A. Barrett's Representative Legal Clients

Slideshare is a great application that allows users to get powerpoint presentations out to social media portals such as LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and blogs.

Representative Legal Clients

View more presentations from barrettdavid.

Related Twitter Chatter:

barrettdavid: Are Lawyers Taking Full Advantage of Slideshare? - http://twurl.nl/vp5fta Via LinkedIn, blog widget, Twitter, Facebook? #slideshare

cableandclark: @barrettdavid Looking forward to trying out Slideshare in overhaul of web site. Thanks for the links!

BillTilley: @barrettdavid I have not used it but have been thinking about it, are you having success?

RecruiterEsq @barrettdavid i browsed through slideshare for "law" & "legal" & (lack of) results surprised me. also, why isn't law its own category!

stephkimbro: I try! RT @barrettdavid : Are Lawyers Taking Full Advantage of Slideshare? Via LinkedIn, Twitter, etc? #slideshare

gerkmana: RT @StephKimbro : RT @barrettdavid : Are Lawyers Taking Full Advantage of Slideshare? #slideshare
about

Friday, January 30, 2009

BubbleTweets for Distinguished Social Media Lawyers

Names like “Tweetbubble” or "BubbleTweet" can make even the toughest trial lawyers’ eyes roll back in the head. Much like the International House of Pancakes patrons ordering the “Rooty Tooty Fresh N’ Fruity” with an embarrassed whisper, many of today’s distinguished attorneys use the new nouns and verbs of social media with some trepidation.

While waiting in line for the court clerk, during a break at trial, or when counsel awaits the verdict of a jury deliberation, the shift to this new whimsical language can be downright amusing:

“hey um … have you started using Tweeter … Twitted … I mean Twitter?“

“well I just started that stuff … I guess yesterday was the first time I Tweeted, but I felt pretty good about it. I figure the more Tweeple I get, the more well known my new DUI defense practice will be.”

“nice going … the other day I Facebooked someone, but I just about lost it when I got a message on LinkedIn from this guy who had a Twitter-bubble or something … um, did I miss this class in law school?”

Counsel, hang tough. Just like learning the new vocabulary of the law when we were just starting to quack like a duck as first year law students, seeing the social media forest through the trees can enable you to overcome this foreign landscape for your profit – this time by taking advantage of some of the most cost-effective legal marketing available.

Bubble Guru Kevin Sherman’s BubbleTweet is not only worth a try, it may have a huge online social media impact.

His primary product of self-executing videos is the BubbleTweet – which makes a great introduction to your Twitter profile. It is great because BubbleTweet puts the people in the media, and does so very effectively.

Even as Portalfuse's Social Media Blog cautiously and critically reviewed the article "How Will Social Media Change in 2009?"

they had to “agree the most with her #1 point: It’s About People:

…(S)ocial media is bringing back the human element to all digital interaction. People now deliberately seek meaningful connection, self-expression, and a relevant and receptive community.”

Feedback on my Tweetbubble from New Media Product Manager at LexisNexis, Alin Wagner-Lahmy (who also blogs at Sleepless in NY and Virtually Social) struck a similar note:

“Seeing your (BubbleTweet) clip brought a huge smile on my face and I hurried up sending it through to all my friends and connections - it was one of those rare moments on web when two media formats were sitting together in such harmony, complementing each other in a perfect mix. Just a drop from each, and voila - there's a real taste of personality here!

Seems like Twitter's nuggets-sized content bits form a perfect base for different formats to be layered within and/or on top of one another - and what a tasty dish it is! [I could go on and on here about Jeremiah Owyang's "Content like Shish Kebob - bite sized media" theory (see Slideshare presentation under “Appendix A - The Future of Social Media in the Social Era" below), but maybe best to chew one idea at a time...).

I am always very curious about the role of video with 'conversational' communities, I think this is a great example of a simple yet brilliant start: will it just remain an introductory video or will it develop into a 'status update' either in its own right or complementing textweets, and how will that work with 12seconds.tv ? that, I guess, remains to be seen - and we'll all be watching every second of it. literally.”

Thanks for the conversation Alin.

BubbleComment may Revolutionize Micro-blogging

Bubble Guru Kevin Sherman has another similar product, BubbleComment, which is very similar to BubbleTweet but allows one to create a webpage overlay – so that a bubble video can allow users (and micro-bloggers) to provide a video comment to any existing web page.

Let’s face it, as we use Twitter more our demand for quality Tweets increases. We are quickly becoming bored over Tweets like “having lunch” or “having a ham sandwich for lunch … mmmm” or “boy I’m tired … having coffee” and a recent Retweet from Adrian Lurssian of JD Supra captured the need for high interest content well -

@JDTwitt RT LOL @davewiner Twitter should replace the question 'What are you doing?' with OMG NWAY!

“Micro-blogging is a form of multimedia blogging that allows users to send brief text updates (say, 140 characters or fewer) or micromedia such as photos or audio clips and publish them, either to be viewed by anyone or by a restricted group which can be chosen by the user.“

But it wouldn’t really take much to “revolutionize” micro-blogging, as after a while many folks sharing links get around to sharing the same ones – and scanning websites in the race to be first isn’t always the best use of a lawyer’s time.

However, adding a BubbleComment to a shared website link, not only allows an added human factor, but it adds an ability to comment on, add to, or interact with the content on the shared link to add value.

For example, I was able to get involved with Larry Bodine’s blog post on Are (Law) Marketers Really Using Twitter? - even apparently after having missed his solicitation for comments.

Pointing out links I haven’t seen is great, and I appreciate those who do share interesting and useful content. At the same time, I would love to see a quick comment from many of the professionals I follow in response to many of those links, as the social media landscape is forever evolving and there are few authoritative resources. Publishing about social media is just becoming "part of the conversation."

Creative uses for combining BubbleComments seem to be only beginning. I have added them on my own blog posts (LinkedIn QuickLink Invitations (Quicklinks are Great!)) and I have added one to my own LinkedIn profile.

Still skeptical?

I have noticed on Twitter Search that there has been some favorable buzz on Twitter about the BubbleTweet that I use as a profile introduction -

@econwriter5: RT @JDTwitt if you haven't seen it - go to @barrettdavid and click on the link in his twitter bio. grab some popcorn, oda & turn off yr cell

@JDTwitt: if you haven't seen it - go to @barrettdavid and click on the link in his twitter bio. then grab some popcorn and a soda & turn off yr cell

@JDTwitt: @barrettdavid that bubble tweet on your twitpage is COOL. wild, crazy, cool. i'd imagine as the concept spreads it'll become like

alinwagnerlahmy: started writing a comment 4 @barrettdavid 's fab bubble & got so carried away I almost wrote a booklet. no worries ive cut it into a par ...

"Appendix A - The Future of Social Media in the Social Era"

The Future of Media in the Social Era

View more presentations from jeremiah_owyang. (tags: socialmedia media)

Related Articles:

BubbleTweet

Is BubbleTweet The Coolest Twitter App Yet?

Personalize Your Twitter Page with BubbleTweet!

What is Microblogging?

Your Guide to Micro-Blogging and Twitter

Interested to Discuss this Blogpost? Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer Social Media "Top Tweets"

Click here for a video introduction to David Barrett's Twitter profile.

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Here are the "Top Tweets" from the last week (partially as tracked with Tweetburner).

"Top Tweets"

Thank you for following me on Twitter, welcome and enjoy - http://twurl.nl/rx2acv

Preparing materials for ABA CLE Online Social Networking - http://twurl.nl/sm8ik4 - Any requests?

LexisNexis Insurance Law Center is LinkedIn - http://twurl.nl/vkcxre

LinkedIn QuickLink Invitations (Quicklinks are Great!) http://twurl.nl/hwfpox

Six Elements of a Great LinkedIn Profile - http://twurl.nl/84n618

Mina Sirkin’s Law Marketing group on Ning is hot! - http://twurl.nl/jgkfdz

Lawyers Get Snippy on Twitter / Inside the "Effective Use" Debate - http://twurl.nl/1evjm7

Human Rights Lawyer Stanislav Markelov and Russian Journalist Killed http://twurl.nl/8zsxt1 Please Retweet. #mrklv

How Search-Like Are Social Media Sites? http://twurl.nl/wep85q

I Did Not Get the Value of LinkedIn … Do You Get It? - http://twurl.nl/updh67

"The biggest mistake I see - many lawyers are not on LinkedIn" - http://twurl.nl/0l8dl6

Micro-blogging is an effective lawyer use of Twitter - http://twurl.nl/523v0u - private chats are boring for rest of followers.

LinkedIn on Workers' Compensation Law Center from LexisNexis - http://twurl.nl/ktu2zr

LinkedIn Clamps Down On Super-Connected Users - http://twurl.nl/2t8o0k

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Friday, January 23, 2009

Lawyers Get Snippy on Twitter

Inside the Debate on “Effective” Twitter Use for Lawyers

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

Figuring out the social media landscape in this ever-changing environment is not always easy. Social media mavens of all stripes, including lawyers, have differing philosophies regarding many many issues involved with the use of various social media.

Some of these differences are fundamental (i.e. “Facebook is my personal network – not business” or “I only connect with people I know personally and would recommend on LinkedIn”), however other social media philosophical differences are more subtle.
One such nuance recently debated on Twitter, was regarding “effective” use of Twitter.

This first came to my attention by a ReTweet by Kevin O’Keefe of LexBlog:

RT @collinudell: lawyers using twitter effectively: @kevinokeefe @dougcornelius @nikiblack @lisasolomon @ctemplawyer @dancanon @vpynchon

Which Mr. O’Keefe well balanced with Twitterers of a different opinion:

RT @danielschwartz: It depends. Lawyers use twitter differently based on the audience they are trying to reach. No 1 right way.

Followed by a solicitation of more views:

@kevinokeefe Anyone else with 140 character answer on how lawyers use Twitter effectively?

I first touched on this issue while putting together my list of “10 People All Lawyers Must Follow on Twitter” and although I recognize that a variety of styles of Twittering may be used, I have a humble opinion about what is the most useful and productive approach.

As such, I offered my 140 character answer on how lawyers use Twitter effectively:

@barrettdavid Micro-blogging is an effective lawyer use of Twitter - http://twurl.nl/523v0u- private chats are boring for rest of followers.

Which received a quick comment in support:

dancanon @barrettdavid A-freakin'-men, brother. Some tweeps seem to forget they have email, IM, phones, etc. God love 'em.

As an early adopter of social media among lawyers, a social media consultant, and as a former teacher and trainer, I habitually seek to educate with my social media activities, whether those are Facebook posts, LinkedIn questions, or Twitter Tweets.

I happened to be writing another blog post about micro-blogging, and checked Wikipedia for a general definition. Both in an effort to streamline work activities and educate others on how they may use Twitter for micro-blogging, I used this Wikipedia (http://twurl.nl/523v0u) link as explanatory information in my Tweet.

However, challenges to this view of “effective” Twitter use for lawyers soon approached:

vpynchon @barrettdavid what do you consider a "private chat"?

As I am something of an advocate for a microblogging rather than open email approach, we took the debate to Twitter Direct Messages (DM’s).

DM to vpynchon I think its pretty self-explanatory. I said M-blogging "an" effective use - not "the only" effective use, but my bias is obvious.

DM from vpynchon wikipedia . . . is there an article there by you?

DM to vpynchon http://tinyurl.com/65k4g4 but maybe I'll write another. is there a need to insult me?

DM from vpynchon are you talking to ME? insult you? link was to wikipedia . . . didn't see article by you will check this link

DM from vpynchon lose nuance in 140 chars but truly was asking Q 4 clarity; sorry u felt insulted; wld love to know what I sd 2 insult

This may not exactly be a Heavyweight prize fight, but an interesting debate remains. Is Twitter best for relationship building and networking, or as a microblogging tool?

If both, what kind of mix would be most effective?

Some call a conversational style "engaging" while others call it "Serial Twittering" and cite it as a reason to un-follow someone.

Is is possible to microblog and relationship-build/network on the same Twitter account, or should lawyers use two accounts differently in order to maximize the benefits of each? One Twitter marketing guide thinks so, but it may be possible to balance well with one account while keeping one's larger audience in mind.

I would suggest that your social media marketing activity be part of your overall legal marketing plan, and that lawyers match each social media technology with specific goals and specific opportunities offered by a particular technology.

Appendix A

“A Micro-Blogging Twitter Style by David Barrett”

Are Law Marketers Really Using Twitter? - http://twurl.nl/45s7bs 5:00 AM Jan 20th from Tweetburner

LinkedIn QuickLink Invitations (Quicklinks are Great!) http://twurl.nl/hwfpox 4:35 AM Jan 20th from Tweetburner

Thank you for following me on Twitter, welcome and enjoy - http://twurl.nl/rx2acv 2:43 AM Jan 20th from web

Human Rights Lawyer Stanislav Markelov and Russian Journalist Killed http://twurl.nl/8zsxt1 Please Retweet. 10:05 PM Jan 19th from Tweetburner

Les aficionados de twitter, facile à trouver difficile à conserver - http://twurl.nl/1dpzu7 9:46 PM Jan 19th from Tweetburner

Law Marketing group on Ning - http://twurl.nl/jgkfdz 9:41 PM Jan 19th from Tweetburner

Six Elements of a Great LinkedIn Profile - http://twurl.nl/84n618 8:18 PM Jan 19th from Tweetburner

This Week's LinkedIn Lawyer "Top Tweets" - The MLK Day Edition - http://twurl.nl/6dyl1a 9:53 AM Jan 19th from Tweetburner

@barrettdavid is giving away 3 x 1 hour LinkedIn consults - http://twurl.nl/cxn6c8 - Just RT this to enter, will Tweet the winners 10:57 PM Jan 18th from Tweetburner in reply to barrettdavid

Using LinkedIn as a Small Business Owner - http://twurl.nl/nr8ojj 10:32 PM Jan 18th from Tweetburner

7 Critical Elements of Your Social Media Strategy - http://twurl.nl/wij8r1 10:29 PM Jan 18th from Tweetburner

Appendix B

“A Conversational Twitter Style by Victoria Pynchon”

@nomadtoes tiers so crazy; we're the most status obsessed profession I know of though the top biz school ppl & places like McKinsey ditto about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to nomadtoes

@gerkmana imagine what ppl with Ph.Ds do abt school debt; when I was teaching at Univ. felt sorry for profs who couldn't moonlight like me about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@gerkmana also much greater distance between attys and teachers/nsures than b4; trite to say middle class disappearing but true about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@gerkmana yes; there's the 2 professions problem too: one range for top of class; another 4 rest at much greater distance than when I began about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@gerkmana everyone sd market flooded in '80 when I grad: always work for attorneys & if can't get "job" always able to hang out shingle about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@gerkmana $700/yr 3 yrs at U.C. Davis; Adam's tuition at UCLA started around $25K & increased over his time there: I grad '80; he grad '06 about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@idealawg I left a comment on the post on law school debt/disclosure by law schools: Stephanie's post here: http://westallen.typepad.com/ about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to idealawg

@charlesthomas what percentage of your criminal clients have drug/alcohol problems associated w/ crimes? about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to charlesthomas

@gerkmana as atty for nearly 30 years now, in taxes & pro bono services, State has more than recouped $$ on my education about 5 hours ago from TweetDeck in reply to gerkmana

@gerkmana Cal severely contracted funds for education, public libraries, etc; not smart in democracy requiring critical

Many Thanks to Attorney Victoria Pynchon for her engagement in this debate.

DM to vpynchon Interesting issues to blog about. Would you like me to leave your identifying info in or out?

DM from vpynchon feel free to leave it in

Related Articles –

http://www.buzznetworker.com/how-to-use-twitter-effectively/

http://scottmeis.com/2008/10/20/beyond-the-tweet-how-to-effectively-use-twitter/

http://thatsgreatprblog.com/2008/10/13/learning-how-to-use-twitter-effectively/

http://www.davidtinney.com/abcs-of-using-twitter-effectively.html

Analysis from "Mr. Tweet" -

My Twitteristics: Tweets more than the Twitter founders(3.7/day), Conversational(20%), Hyperlinked(95%)! http://mrtweet.net/barrettdavid?t

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid

Click here for a video introduction to David Barrett's Twitter profile.

LinkedIn Trainer Chip Lambert's #LinkedInTips from Twitter

Twitter is a free and easy-to-use "micro-blogging" site that allows you to send and receive short updates from multiple users. David Barrett, The LinkedIn Lawyer is "Twittering" -- follow me here -- and keep up to date with news about Web 2.0 social media and the legal profession, with a particular focus on LinkedIn.

LinkedIn Trainer Chip Lambert @chiplambert73 has started a new Twitter thread - #LinkedInTips

Here are some highlights –

chiplambert73: @bgdtcoaching - Yes - Use http://hellotxt.com or http://ping.fm to update status on FB, LinkedIn, twitter & More #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @MNHeadhunter: JobMob: Everything You Need to Know About Finding Jobs with LinkedIn Groups http://cli.gs/XAmpBn #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @indymike: 12 ways to fail at LinkedIn. Spectacularly fail. http://ping.fm/H1Gcw #LinkedinTips

chiplambert73: RT @retwigger: Top RT @katie_mccartney: LinkedInTip: Sharing News On Web easier with Plugin to browser: http://is.gd/gUjB #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: Free Report : Top 10 Ways to Use LinkedIn® to Generate More Referrals In Uncertain Times - http://budurl.com/smto9li #smt09 #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @dulcitalove: @chiplambert73 Do I have this right? Internal pages on LinkedIn are crawled by Google? #smt09 - YEP #LinkedInTips #smto9

chiplambert73: Find LinkedIn Groups that are full of your perfect client and begin to engage them. Don't just sell. Really learn your market #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @ReferralAdvisor: figured out how to add video to my LinkedIn profile - http://tinyurl.com/a7ypfu (expand ) #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @mitziszereto: LinkedIn Clamps Down On Super-Connected Users - CIO.com - Business Technology Leadership http://ff.im/GM6I #LinkedInTips

mikeoneildenver: XOBNI, www.XOBNI.com is the best thing to happen to LinkedIn users that use Outlook EVER. #linkedintips

chiplambert73: #LinkedInTips - Get out of your comfort zone - ask for intros to the ppl you want to meet. Inspired by @WardBriggs - Way to use LinkedIn!

chiplambert73: RT @KoryeLogan: If friends ask how to use SM in their careers, here's a post about LinkedIn for novice: http://budurl.com/fjax #LinkedInTips

mikeoneildenver: #linkedintips A large LinkedIn network not only helps you find a job, but makes you more successful AT the job when you get it.

mikeoneildenver: #LinkedInTips Using all 110 characters of the Header/Headline is most effective. Yep - You get 110. Makes Twitter seem large, doesn't it?

chiplambert73: LinkedIn and Twitter is work - it doesn't inturrupt work. Relationships are capital. It takes something to build them #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: RT @WayneLiew: New on LinkedIn like me? 6 Tips for You to Expand Your LinkedIn Network. http://adjix.com/dng - #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: #LinkedInTips - send personal notes with invites - it's called Social Media for a reason - build relationships, not just connections

chiplambert73: @JeffreyJDavis - Done! Added my Twitter Address to my LinkedIn Profile. Great Tip! #LinkedInTips

chiplambert73: #LinkedInTips - Strategically build your profile - let your connections know how to help you explicitly

You may find an RSS Feed for the #LinkedInTips search here.

Find David Barrett on Twitter @barrettdavid
Click here for a video introduction to David Barrett's Twitter profile.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

LinkedIn QuickLink Invitations

Click here for David Barrett's video comment on this blogpost.

The most important consumable commodity on LinkedIn is a user’s “invitations to connect.” Invitations to connect are extremely valuable to LinkedIn users, and the LinkedIn company restricts the number of invitations a particular user may use.

Once you use all your invitations to connect, you may (or may not) be granted a small amount of new invitations upon request from LinkedIn customer service – only after you run out.

However, with a properly utlized Quicklink, LinkedIn users are able to conserve their invitations, in order to use them when most appropriate, and also to maximize the size and quality of their LinkedIn network.

Super-networker Marc Freedman says Quicklinks are "the professional, convenient, and personal way to invite your business contacts and open networkers to connect on LinkedIn. QuickLinks encode your personal info and takes the user direct to a LinkedIn invitation page. MyLinkInvitation delivers the service and image that you need to represent yourself and your business. It's the least you can do to ensure your success in a hypercompetitive business world where there are millions of other networkers.

It's Convenient. Your contacts can send you an invitation in only three clicks with a QuickLink. There is nothing to search and nothing to type. The invitation process takes several seconds, not several minutes.

It's Personal. DallasBlue provides you a branded secure URL with your personal or company name instead of a meaningless or unwieldy address with up to 100 characters.

It's Professional. When you share a QuickLink you show that you're a considerate and knowledgeable business person, someone people want to business with and have in their network.

It's Powerful. DallasBlue provides a range of services to supercharge your LinkedIn neworking, including this site, branded QuickLinks, and a QuickLink directory. We're commited to keeping QuickLinks easy to use and up to date."

You may connect with David Barrett on LinkedIn using the QuickLink below –

http://davidbarrett.mylinkinvitation.com

The LinkedIn Lawyer

Thursday, October 15, 2009

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Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Friday, April 3, 2009

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

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Friday, January 30, 2009

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Friday, January 23, 2009

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

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