19 Steps To Building A Nationwide Law Practice Part 2

By: Trey Ryder

Step #8: Educate your audience with written information and advice. Write your marketing message in a form that you can send to anyone who calls your office. Then, by offering to send copies without charge, you attract calls from genuine prospects. When prospects call, they give you their names and addresses (or e-mail addresses). Then you add these prospective clients to your in-house mailing list.

Important Note: The longer your materials, the better. The longer you keep your prospect's attention -- and the more facts you provide -- the more likely your prospect is to hire your services. Fortunately, prospects will read long materials, provided they are well written and relevant to their problem. The fact kit I used for 15 years varied from 40 to 50 pages in length. And many lawyers (my prospective clients) told me they read every word. I have now included all this information on my web site and in the article packet I send by e-mail, so I no longer use a printed fact kit.

Step #9: Define the geographical area from which you want to draw clients. Geographics identify individual prospects by where they live, where they work, and where you can find the prospective clients you want. Geographics identify companies by where they are based, where they have facilities and where they do business.

Step #10: Compile a media list of newspapers, magazines, newsletters and other media you want to receive your news releases and query letters. Your articles will appear in national, regional and local publications in all the states where you hope to serve clients. You can usually find current media lists online and at the library reference desk.

Step #11: Launch an aggressive publicity campaign by sending news releases, feature articles and query letters to your entire media list. If you send articles 4 or 5 times each year, you could have an ongoing flow of articles appearing in various parts of the country.

Step #12: Contact high-profile publications and interview shows on an individual and exclusive basis to gain the highest level of nationwide publicity. Offer to write ongoing columns for publications, and appear as a periodic guest on interview shows. You might offer to host your own legal, news-talk or interview show.

Step #13: Compile a list of trade associations that serve the prospects you want to attract. Keep these trade groups on your mailing list. Offer to present seminars that are sponsored or co-sponsored by these trade associations, in hopes that they will mail seminar invitations to all of their members.

Step #14: Compile a list of referral sources in the states you serve. Send them your packet of information so they understand what you do. Invite their referrals and offer referral fees, if appropriate. Keep these referral sources on your mailing list.

Step #15: Compile a list of past clients. Send them a letter announcing your regional or national practice and a copy of your information packet. Most people have friends and colleagues in other states. Keep these past clients on your mailing list.

Step #16: In all of your marketing materials, make sure you tell prospects the geographical area from which you accept clients. You might say something like: "Serving clients in the United States and Canada". Or, "I welcome inquiries from clients in (name the states)." If you don't mention the area you serve, prospects could easily conclude that you limit your services to your city or county. So be sure to tell prospects where you practice and put this information throughout your marketing materials.

Step #17: Establish a web site. The easiest way to reach prospects in different states is to establish an Internet site. This puts your materials at everyone's fingertips 24 hours a day, whenever they want it. The more information you provide, the more likely you are to win a new client. So be generous with the information you post.

Step #18: Market your seminars and speaking engagements nationwide. Make sure everyone on your mailing list knows you offer seminars. While they might not be the contact person, they can make your seminar known to the right people, who may get in touch with you. This is the most common way I receive invitations to speak to lawyers. Also, thanks to technology, now you can offer seminars over the telephone, by video conferencing, and over the internet.

Step #19: If you can collect e-mail addresses from people on your mailing list, send an e-mail alert or briefing every week or two. The more often you stay in touch with everyone your mailing list (prospects, clients, past clients and referral sources), the more new clients you'll attract.

After your law firm marketing efforts take root, and your publicity starts to appear, you'll get inquiries from prospective clients. Trade and professional associations will invite you to speak. And, one by one, you'll start getting clients from throughout the geographical area you wish to serve. Soon, you'll have a profitable, prestigious nationwide law practice, thanks to the energy you've invested in attorney marketing.

Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com


TREY RYDER LLC Education-Based Marketing for Lawyers. Lawyer Marketing Advisor www.TreyRyder.com Trey Ryder is the Lawyer Marketing Department Sponsor For Jersey Justice. www.JerseyJustice.com Source: www.isnare.com

19 Steps To Building A Nationwide Law Practice Part 1

By: Trey Ryder

We're seeing substantial changes in attorney marketing programs. Thanks to sophisticated law firm marketing efforts, many lawyers are now expanding their practices beyond state boundaries, building regional or national practices. In some cases, they provide narrowly focused services; in others, they offer broad-based skills with the hopes of attracting a handful of the best cases in the country.

I urge attorneys to go beyond their state boundaries, for four reasons:

Reason #1: You have more opportunities to attract the types of cases you want. When you draw clients from 50 states, you have a much greater selection than when you limit your field to your home state. If every state has three really good cases, you can compete for the three in your own state -- or you can compete for your share of 150 from across the U.S.

Reason #2: You have many more opportunities for media publicity. Gaining publicity outside your state is often easier than getting attention in your own state. This is because nearly every business wants to be featured in your local newspapers. But when you pursue articles in regional and national publications, you often find yourself competing with fewer businesses and fewer lawyers.
Most businesses and lawyers get customers from within a few-mile radius, so they don't need attention beyond their local boundaries. Plus, businesses often assume that gaining national publicity would be much harder than gaining local attention. But, in fact, when you go beyond your state's boundaries, you have access to hundreds of additional publications at the state, regional and national levels, all of which could be suitable targets for your publicity effort.

Reason #3: The mystery of distance@ results in your being perceived as the authority in your field because you're from out of town. You have probably heard of this marketing principle, but you may not have used it as part of your marketing strategy. The mystery of distance says: The farther you go to get a product or service, the better and more valuable it is.

Here's an example:
You can buy a pair of binoculars at your local sporting goods store. Or you can buy them online from a company in Switzerland. Which pair is better? Obviously, the binoculars from Switzerland.

There's no logical reason to believe that something that comes from far away is better than something that comes from down the street. Still, subconsciously, we think it is.

Reason #4: You can live wherever you want. Many lawyers don't need to see their clients often. Some never see them at all. If you can service clients by phone, fax, mail and e-mail, then you don't need to work with them in person. And if you go to trial in their state -- or if you need to meet with them -- you can always travel. Technology has changed how we market and deliver services.

Here are 19 attorney marketing steps to building a respected regional or national practice.

Step #1: Identify the niche you want to fill and the services you want to market. When clients hear your name, you want them to associate you with a specific type of legal services. For example, John Wilbanks is a personal injury attorney. Karen Ambrose is a tax lawyer. Mark O'Connor is a corporate lawyer. Consider whether any lawyer in your market area immediately springs to mind when you mention your area of law. If so, that lawyer owns a very strong position. If no lawyer comes to mind, an effective marketing program will help you build the perception that you are the leader in that practice area.

Step #2: Identify the type of clients you want to attract. You must know where to aim if you expect to hit your target. List the types of people or companies you want to attract that are ready, willing and able to hire your services. Identify your prospective clients by who they are and what they have. For individuals, consider things such as gender, age, marital and family status, education, occupation, income and home ownership. For companies, consider things such as industry, gross sales, number of employees, level of risk or whatever makes a client attractive to you.

Step #3: Identify how you and your services differ from those of your competitors. Positive differences are your competitive advantages. Negative differences are your competitive disadvantages. Identify both so you'll know your strengths and weaknesses. Evaluate your qualifications, background and experience. Evaluate how you serve clients. Evaluate the environment in which you serve clients. Look at your strengths and weaknesses from your prospects' point of view because prospects evaluate you based on what is important to them. Every time you talk with prospects, make sure you emphasize your competitive advantages so prospects appreciate how you differ from other lawyers.

Step #4: Identify ways you can add value to your services so prospects eagerly choose you over all other lawyers. What can you add to your services to make them more attractive than they are now -- and more attractive than services offered by your competitors? If you were in your prospect's shoes, what could your lawyer provide that would cause you to choose him or her over every other attorney? Review how you currently provide legal services. Then ask yourself how you could provide services more efficiently, more effectively, more completely, or faster -- with your client benefiting from less risk and more value. Then, in addition to what you listed in step 3, the ways you add value to your services now become more competitive advantages.

Step #5: Compile and keep on computer a comprehensive mailing list. Your most important business asset is your mailing list. It's your own personal area of influence. It should include your current clients, past clients, referral sources and prospects. Whether your list contains 20 names -- or 2,000 names -- these people are the core around which you build a prosperous firm. As you attract an ongoing flow of new inquiries, keep all of your prospects' names and addresses on your mailing list.
The critical element in your marketing program is your ability to add new names of prospective clients to your mailing list. You want to attract names at whatever rate will bring you the number of new clients you want. How long you leave names on your mailing list will depend on how long your prospects need to make their decision and at what point the list becomes unmanageable.

Step #6: Make sure prospects and clients can reach you easily and without hassle. As distance increases, prospects often grow concerned about their ability to contact you. To reassure them, explain the many ways you invite contact from clients, like these: Toll-free direct line, cell phone, pager, fax, e-mail, mail, courier, as well as intake and contact forms on your web site.

Step #7: Compile your information and advice into your own unique educational message, built on this proven five-part framework:

Part #1: Identify and explain your prospect's problem. People won't pay for a solution until they understand their problem. The bigger the problem -- and the greater the risk of allowing it to persist - the more they will pay to solve it.

Part #2: Prove the problem exists. Prospects know you earn your living from solving problems. Skeptical prospects may think you are overstating the depth of the problem. You can overcome this sometimes-hidden suspicion by taking time to prove the problem exists and to prove that it is serious enough to warrant your client hiring your services to solve it.

Part #3: Identify and explain one or more solutions. Prospects want a clear understanding of what you recommend to solve their problem.

Part #4: Prove the solution works. Prospects may be skeptical as to whether your recommended solution will actually do what you claim. You can expect an even higher level of skepticism if the solution you recommend is perceived by your prospects to be expensive.

Part #5: Build yourself into the solution. You don't want prospects to agree they have a problem but then hire another lawyer to solve it. You must do everything possible to make sure that your prospects conclude you are best equipped to provide the solution.

Your marketing message is the same as your educational message. You build your message on a foundation of information that explains your prospect's problem and the solutions you can provide. Then you support your message with proof documents that further add credibility to everything you say. Proof documents include your photo and biography, article reprints, schedule of services and fees, and references. Testimonials help a great deal, but some jurisdictions do not allow their use. Check your rules of professional conduct before using testimonials.

In this way, you create a powerful, competent message. And the result is that your message is much more compelling and credible than messages used by other lawyers.

Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com


TREY RYDER LLC Education-Based Marketing for Lawyers. Lawyer Marketing Advisor www.TreyRyder.com Trey Ryder is the Lawyer Marketing Department Sponsor For Jersey Justice. www.JerseyJustice.com Source: www.isnare.com

The Law of Attraction and Weight Management

The Secret, it is called. It lay practically dormant since its inception, long before the Knights of Templar and the Code named for a Tuscan Renaissance man, artist and inventor; long before any void of noble blood would know of its existence.

Then, because of a small, made-for-television movie produced for Australia's Channel Nine, the secret was out.

Thank goodness, and a willing media.

Beth and I have been practicing, living, and teaching The Secret - its true name is the Law of Attraction - for ten years when the rest of the world caught on. And we whole-heartedly believe that if there is one true law that can heal the world and put and keep all of us who inhabit it back on track, it is the Law of Attraction. It is the one, true earthly (actually, Universal) law that fits all, because the pure tenet of this ancient "New Thought" is that everyone - regardless of race, religion, geography, or political ideology - deserves a happy, secure life where all wants and needs are available for all.

Sounds good - too good, we know... we hear it all the time. Yet if this law - and it is a law, not unlike any other physical law of the Universe - has no bearing in everyday reality and human existence, why has it spanned ages and appeared to work for some of the most revered in our societies? It has clearly ignored borders, religions, and political affiliations over the eons it has been recognized.

Is there something to it?

Yes, there is. Just ask us, and the hundreds of thousands around the world who have connected with all that is good through the Wonderful Law of Attraction. And if you don't believe us, just ask Oprah.

American cultural icon Oprah Winfrey has openly hailed the Law of Attraction on her highly rated syndicated talk show, as well as in print, on her radio network, and as a guest on the Larry King Show. She is the walking, talking poster child of the Law of Attraction, and she has the successful, happy, giving, and full life that emotes everything that is The Secret. And like all who truly practice the Law of Attraction - present company included - she wants everyone including you to know about it.

A WEIGHTY LOA QUESTION

At our many lectures, meetings, and seminars that we appear at each year, the inevitable question is raised by an audience member. "Can I lose weight with the Law of Attraction?" The answer is a clear and concise Yes!

How do we know this? Because using the Law of Attraction, and the Universal methods of thought to emotion to end result, Beth lost 50 pounds and I lost over 100 pounds. When I began using the LOA for weight loss, I weighed in at 440 pounds. And I continue to lose and manage my weight. My Law of Attraction success in this, my most lifelong troubling struggle, erased any atom of lingering doubt I ever harbored concerning LOA.

First, in case you are a little confused by The Secret, and are perhaps new to the idea of it, we'd better explain how the Law of Attraction works. Everything in the physical world where we exist vibrates. EVERYTHING whether it be dirt, a tree, a human being—these all emit a vibration. Even a rock vibrates—albeit at a much slower and barely perceptible pace—and a human being vibrates at a far more rapid rate.

These vibrational patterns translate to everything that you are feeling, which moves the Universe to, in turn, attract exactly what those feelings are. So if you are thinking (feeling) about how angry you may be at someone, the Universe takes that emotion and emits (returns) directly back to you what you happen to be feeling. You always attract exactly what you are feeling. THIS IS THE LAW OF ATTRACTION.

So if you are feeling wonderful, and thinking about how great your day is, and you are happy and grateful for that wonderful day, the Universe attracts (returns) to you exactly what you are feeling —more days of joy and wonder. What could be better than that? However, as is usually the case, there are a few problems with us humans when it comes to attracting what we desire.

In society today, people usually don’t listen to their intuition. We instead rely on other people to tell us “what is." It's kind of like old fable, “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” when an entire kingdom was convinced that despite naked truth, they all agreed that His Majesty's new clothes were all the rage — the living end! How often do we see our fellow citizens jump into line like lemmings to the sea, and how often do we accept the opinions of others as uncontestable fact? We think you would agree that the fashion mavens have accomplished that, much to the chagrin and disappointment of the fully two-thirds of the American public that cannot fit into the clothes they market.

It’s time that we listen to ourselves and stop listening to what is really just other people’s opinions telling you what to think. This brings us to our first, and most important, question that we will ask of you this lesson: Who are you losing this weight for? Is it for you? Is it for someone else? Are you losing it because you want to feel better, or do you simply want to lose a few pounds for a swimsuit that is calling your name?

The right answer — and in this case there is a right answer — is: FOR YOU. You must only lose weight for you. If you are not losing the weight for you, then you might as well grab a gallon of Baskin-Robbins and go sit in a corner with a big spoon and a TV remote control. It doesn’t matter what anyone thinks you should do. You must commit to losing the weight only for you.

If losing the weight will make you happy, then that is the biggest reason for you to lose the weight. Sure, losing weight for health reasons is always good and noble, but the main reason we want to help you to lose weight is because it will make you happy. See, that's how the Law of Attraction works. It is all about what you desire; what will cause you to be happy. This, by the way, is not greedy… no matter what the Nay Sayers say. (And they DO love to say, say, say!) This is the Wonderful Law of Attraction, and to be able to create whatever life you want for your self is the Universe's greatest gift to you.

DOWN GO THE POUNDS (OR KILOS!)

We were at a Wellness of the Mind retreat and we talked about the Law of Attraction and losing weight. There were many people there who lived their life through the Law of Attraction and, as always, there were people new to the LOA, and the usual weight loss questions were posed.

Weight loss through the Law of Attraction will take some of you a shorter amount of time, and for others it may take a little longer. It all depends on your mindset. LOVE yourself, ENJOY yourself, YOU are a wonderful person who creates your Universe. Isn’t that powerful? Your own body regenerates every second. You are a part of that. YOU can regenerate your body to be what you want, you can!

Maybe this is the week that you have a night that you treat yourself for just being you: The you that you are right now, and think about all the things that make YOU happy and joyous.

A doctor once asked Beth if she exercised and she said, "I walk about a half a mile each day.” The doctor replied, "Is that all? You need to exercise AT LEAST a mile each day!” Beth looked at the doctor and said, "Is that all? Are you kidding me? I didn’t move at all before. This half-mile is a big deal for me. When I am darn good and ready to go a mile, when I FEEL like I WANT to, then I will. I know that a half-mile is better than none at all, and my body knows it. Don’t make me try to feel bad. I’m proud of myself!”

Remember to continue doing what is working for you. Just those little steps help immensely over a year’s time, and if that ‘normal’ mind is feeling deprived, eat one bowl of popcorn instead of two, or eat half a candy bar instead of a whole one and save the rest for a couple of hours later. Your ‘normal’ mind will be appeased.

Listen to your body before you eat something. Sometimes it isn’t hungry, but we feed it anyway. ENJOY every bite! Try not to rip-snort through a whole meal in ten seconds flat. ENJOY every little thing that you put in your mouth and be thankful for that wonderful body of yours. You created it with help, and you can fine-tune it just as easily.

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Beth and Lee McCain are full time instructors and lecturers in applying the Law of Attraction, or better known as the Secret, in your life to attain whatever you desire. They have a great radio show on Youtube every Saturday that is both entertaining as well as informative on the subject of the Law of Attraction. Beth and Lee are real people with real answers. For more information, please visit: Beth and Lee McCain Law of Attraction Web Site

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Homeschooling Laws - What You Should Know

By: joshuap

Your legal situation as a homeschooler depends largely on what state you live in and how state and local officials enforce the laws concerning compulsory attendance, private education, and homeschooling. Whether they require registration, a notice of intent, regular evaluation, or advance approval, the statutes take in your state can be less important than how they are enforced.

To keep your homeschooling legal worries to the minimal level they deserve, here are some things which you should bear in mind:

1. Know what your state’s law says. Read the applicable statutes for yourself, talk to other homeschoolers, and join a state homeschooling organization that monitors the regulations affecting homeschoolers.

2. Learn what potential problems for homeschoolers exist in your state. Learn how other homeschoolers have dealt with them successfully, and plan how you’d respond if faced with them yourself. Don’t wait until after the fact to learn what your options could have been.

3. Do not automatically assume that any explanation of home-schooling legal issues you hear or read is correct. Whether the opinion is that of a school official, a lawyer for a home-school legal defense organization, a legislator, or another homeschooler, you need to check it out for yourself. Laws concerning homeschooling are usually complex; clear and definitive statements on legal issues usually leave out something important.

4. Do not let worry about legal issues distract you from the everyday business of homeschooling. When homeschoolers object to rules that require them to document their children’s learning or to have their kids tested on a regular basis, it’s because such requirements often interfere with that learning. If you are changing your whole approach to homeschooling because of your state’s legal requirements, you are probably worrying way too much about the law.

5. Do not be shy about your homeschooling. You don’t have to announce it to everyone you meet, but visible home-schoolers help make homeschooling familiar and acceptable to the general public. With enough of us around, the, public may eventually understand that homeschooling can be fun and exciting, as well as effective, and we’ll find we have active support even from families who would never homeschool themselves.

Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com


Joshua Poyoh is the creator of homeschoolingreport.com He writes and researches into the area of the Benefits Of Homeschooling

Lemon Law : Keep Records To Win

By: Charles Stubbs

Although the Lemon Laws are there to protect you, the one thing you don't want is to actually have to use them, because that means you've gone and bought yourself a 'sick' car. Odd squeaks and rattles don't count as they're just fair wear and tear, but if you are experiencing major vehicle defects (such as with the engine, drive axle, brakes, steering or radiator, for example), you might want to start a paper trail. You could have a lemon.

As with any problem that occurs with a product soon after purchase, check your warranty first. Always give the manufacturer an opportunity to put things right, and give them adequate time to do so - some defects can take 3 or 4 attempts to put right.

If you are experiencing major problems with your car, however, the most important thing you can do is keep all receipts and records concerning your vehicle. Be sure you have a copy of the car guarantee in a safe place. Keep all receipts concerning repairs that have been made to your vehicle. You might also want to consider keeping a log or notebook that contains all of this relevant information, including the number of days as a running tally that it was kept in the shop for a related problem. Start to research the Lemon Law in your state.

Start to research the Lemon Law in your state, and get hold of any 'service bulletins' that have been issued for your make and model of car. Do your homework - quite often it's simplest to do much of it online - and copy any information you find into your diary.

In most states, the Lemon Law provides a legal remedy for consumers who purchase a car that turns out to be a lemon. Dealers are required to give you a written car warranty under which a dealer must repair, free of charge, any probkems in covered parts. In some cases, the dealer may have the option to reimburse you for the reasonable cost of repairs; check your car guarantee to see if this applies to you.

However, whilst that's fine for relatively minor cases, if your car needs major repair work then start researching the Lemon Law statutes in your state. Certain problems during the car guarantee period, such as noises and the odd rattle, usually don't constitute a defect, but a major problem will usually be in breach of the Lemon Law. Keep notes of the dates of all the repair work to your car and especially how long your vehicle was off the road being repaired. Keep the receipts for the repairs in a safe place.

It won't normally be long before you've made up your mind if you really do have a lemon and then is the time to start getting your notes and receipts all together. You should become familiar with your state's Lemon Law statute and put together a list of local Lemon Law attorneys. Check with the Attorney General's office in your state for more information.

Besides the car service contract, be sure you have each and every work order performed on your car, as well as any service bulletins issued that may relate to the problem or defects you're having. Nearly every Lemon Law statute will include a list of records that are important to keep. Any reports or correspondence you've received from the dealer will also be important in case you decide to make a claim under your state's Lemon Law.

It makes for a long paper trail, but, as with all legal matters, the devil is nearly always in the detail and you can never keep enough details to ensure a successful Lemon Law action.

Article Source: http://www.content-corral.com


The Lemon Laws are there to protect you but to get a successful outcome you need to do your homework. We've got the full lowdown for you at Lemon Law Advice Made Easy together with all those tips and tricks you really do need to take care of if you want to ensure a successful outcome.