28
Aug

How to grow your law practice with a podcast

August 28, 2023
by: in Law , Content marketing , Lead generation No comments  

When our Principal and President Michelle Calcote King began Reputation Ink’s “Spill the Ink” podcast in November of 2020, she wanted to try something new. Over several episodes, she began to see the benefits of the podcast, and stuck to it. Now with more than 70 episodes, Michelle has learned a lot about the benefits of podcasting, particularly in the legal field. Her number-one benefit she says? Networking. 

There are many other benefits as well – here’s Michelle’s top five reasons why law firms and attorneys should consider creating a podcast: 

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26
Jul

How law firms can utilize Mansfield certification to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives

July 26, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations No comments  

In the legal profession, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have become crucial focal points for organizations striving to create a more equitable and representative environment. One prominent initiative attracting the participation of more and more firms is the Mansfield Rule Certification, created by Diversity Lab. 

What is the Mansfield certification?

Named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the United States in 1869, this certification program aims to promote diversity and inclusion by ensuring equal opportunities for underrepresented groups in leadership positions within law firms and legal departments. More specifically, it measures whether law firms have affirmatively considered at least 30% women, lawyers of color, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities for leadership and governance roles, equity partner promotions, formal client pitch opportunities and senior lateral positions. 

The first cohort in 2017 involved 35 American law firms. As of this year, there are now more than 300 Mansfield-certified firms in Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as more than 80 legal departments. 

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29
Jun

Media exclusives: how and when to use them

June 29, 2023
by: in Law , B2B , Public relations , Architecture, Engineering and Construction Comment (1)  

Media exclusives: how and when to use them

When I was working at a television station, the first question the news director would ask after a reporter came in with a juicy story was, “Is it exclusive?”

She wanted to know if her station was the only place viewers could find the story or if they would at least be the first to break the news. In a time when just about everyone has 24/7 access to information at their fingertips, regardless of when the 5 o’clock newscast airs, media outlets are looking for any edge they can get over their competitors.

For PR purposes, exclusives can help you squeeze all of the “juice” you can get out of a story and make sure it’s placed with an outlet that will give it the coverage you think it deserves.

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29
Jun

Chambers and Partners: Law firm submissions 101

June 29, 2023
by: , in Law , Public relations No comments  

Two years ago we published our original Chambers and Partners 101 blog post.

Does the memory echo like a gong throughout your bones?

I lean towards the dramatic because deciding to submit to Chambers can feel dramatic. And my goal is certainly not to peer pressure you to submit.

Not all law firms have the bandwidth to support the robust submissions required by Chambers, which is why many of our clients submit for the first time with our support. We recommend pursuing a Chambers ranking to clients because it’s considered one of the most weighty of law firm recognitions by in-house counsel.

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31
May

8 reasons law firms should work with a specialist legal marketing & PR agency

May 31, 2023
by: in Law No comments  

If your law firm has a marketing team and needs a little extra help, or you’re starting from scratch and want to build brand awareness and credibility for your firm, hiring an agency can be extremely beneficial. 

Maybe you’ve already decided you want to hire an agency and have started to search for one, but how do you find one that is right for your firm? Consider hiring an industry specialist agency. 

This is an agency, like Reputation Ink, that focuses on one or a few particular sectors, such as the legal industry (and we work with AEC clients, too). These agencies typically only take on clients in a few focused industries, which offers many benefits over working with one that represents clients across a variety of fields. 

So, what are the benefits? 

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11
May

The do’s and don’ts of lawyer cross-marketing during PR opportunities

May 11, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations No comments  

Humor me a hypothetical. 

Let’s say your law firm’s publicist secures you a guest appearance on a leading podcast that caters to one of your primary practice areas. It’s the day of the podcast, and you’re three-quarters through an in-depth Zoom interview. Of course, you’re nailing every question and hitting your talking points — all while showcasing your extensive legal experience and knowledge.

As you relax in your chair (or adjust your feet, for you standing-desk folks), a question arises that brings to mind one of your colleague’s recent successes. But you don’t mention it. The host moves on to the following questions, and the banter continues.

Minutes later, as you close out of your Zoom room and throw on a more casual top, some nagging questions cross your mind:

“Should I have talked about my colleague’s case? Did I miss a big opportunity to promote other attorneys at my firm?”

The answer to both, unfortunately, echoes a trite but true phrase known well to those in the legal industry: “It depends.”

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28
Mar

Benchmark Litigation: Law firm submissions 101

March 28, 2023
by: in Law , Public relations No comments  

Class is back in session!

It’s been a minute, but I’m back to pontificate about the wonders that are legal awards and recognitions.

Did ya miss me?

(If you’ve been studying up, you know we’ve already chatted about The Legal 500, Law360, Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers in America and Chambers.)

Okay, with a dash more seriousness: There are pages upon pages of legal recognitions that I’m sure you get spammed with often. Some pop up on social feeds while others have a more personalized touch by sliding into your inbox and addressing you by name.

We’re here to help separate the grit from the gold.

One legal award ranking that always makes our short list is Benchmark Litigation. 

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09
Mar

What legal marketers should know about Google’s ‘helpful content’ algorithm update

March 9, 2023
by: in Law , Marketing strategy , Content marketing No comments  

Google recently launched a “helpful content” update to its search algorithm to prioritize unique and thorough content for its users. In addition, it will now automatically identify content that seems to have little value, low added value or is otherwise not particularly helpful. When Google identifies what it considers deficient pages and websites, it automatically moves them to the bottom of the search results. Think of it as a way for the search engine to separate the wheat from the chaff in the infinite web of information (and misinformation) that is the internet. 

For those in legal marketing and thought leadership, the update could mean fewer users will see your content if it’s not up to snuff. Cue the panic amongst content creators and SEO marketers.

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17
Feb

What to do when a thought leader leaves your law firm

February 17, 2023
by: in Law , Content marketing , Public relations No comments  

It’s no fun trying to replace a law firm’s in-house superstar. Think of all the countless hours of written-off billable time that the firm’s leaders likely spent mentoring that next partner-to-be, only to let that candidate — and the substantial book of business they initiated and nurtured — slip into the hands of a competitor or solo venture. However, this is precisely a status quo situation that most law firms must navigate, as roughly 36% of law firms reported seeing an increase in associate turnover in 2021 compared to 2020. 

Losing a leading professional hurts, especially if that lawyer or team member left an indelible mark on the firm. But they must still address the potential fallout from the departure, including how it may affect the reputation of its practice groups, team morale and how existing clients interface with the firm. An effective PR strategy — particularly one prepared by an experienced legal PR team — can help bridge these gaps and help the firm move onward and upward. Some considerations on how they can address this is presented below.

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22
Dec

Why editorial calendars are a legal PR crystal ball for 2023

December 22, 2022
by: in Law , Marketing strategy , Content marketing , Public relations No comments  

“If only reporters and editors would just tell us what they’re covering next.”

How often does this thought run through your head as a legal PR professional or marketer? Weekly? Daily? Hourly? Does it haunt your dreams? Your nightmares? Do you wake up in a cold sweat each morning worried you missed getting your sources into the next Big Story? 

If so, you are not alone. Most of us spend way too much time obsessed with what’s going to catch the media’s attention. Some days I wish I had some kind of crystal ball that could help me peer into the future and see the stories to be written that need my clients as sources. 

And then I remember there is such a crystal ball, and I can access it anytime I want. It’s the humble editorial calendar (also known as an edcal). What’s that, you ask? Well, it’s only the best way to predict some of what a target media outlet will cover in the coming 12 months. If this is news to you — or it’s a reminder of a tool you once used but have forgotten while pursuing shiny new whizbangs — have I got a blog post for you.

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