The web has fundamentally changed the speed with which we can publish information as well as the access others have to that information. With these changes, it has become increasingly important that you not only make sure you are putting forth efforts to establish your reputation online, but that you monitor what is being said about you as well.
What follows are 4 suggestions to help you not only track what others are saying about you online, but also how you can help build your reputation and position yourself as a thought leader.
1. Create a blog and regularly contribute to it - By writing articles about the fields of practice you work in is a great way to build trust and reputation. Others will look to you as an expert and you will build a great catalog of material to "show off" to prospective clients.
2. Google Alerts - This handy, free tool from Google allows you to enter keywords you want to track online. It will then scour the internet looking for new instances when they appear. You can have the results emailed to you or connected through RSS to a reader such as GoogleReader. Start by entering your name, the name of your law firm, other employees, etc. This is a simple way to track when new discussions mentioning your arise.
3. Use Twitter Search - By searching in the Twitter stream for your name and your firm's name, you can track in real time when others tweet about you. You can also respond quickly if a criticism or complaint is found.
4. Get active on LinkedIn, Digg, and other social media - Taking the time to answer LinkedIn questions, submitting articles to digg, and joining LinkedIn groups you can actively participate in the conversation. This will help build connections....and your reputation.
The online community is an extension of how people interact in the real world. If you take time to establish yourself and gain credibility, it will benefit you should anyone attempt negative conversation about you.
When others write things that are negative or complain about and experience with your firm, this is an opportunity to track what is being said and respond accordingly. Most often, the situation can be diffused and turned into a positive for your firm.
If you take the time to establish an online reputation and follow up on monitoring it correctly, you will see gains in trust and ultimately more business coming your way.
What follows are 4 suggestions to help you not only track what others are saying about you online, but also how you can help build your reputation and position yourself as a thought leader.
1. Create a blog and regularly contribute to it - By writing articles about the fields of practice you work in is a great way to build trust and reputation. Others will look to you as an expert and you will build a great catalog of material to "show off" to prospective clients.
2. Google Alerts - This handy, free tool from Google allows you to enter keywords you want to track online. It will then scour the internet looking for new instances when they appear. You can have the results emailed to you or connected through RSS to a reader such as GoogleReader. Start by entering your name, the name of your law firm, other employees, etc. This is a simple way to track when new discussions mentioning your arise.
3. Use Twitter Search - By searching in the Twitter stream for your name and your firm's name, you can track in real time when others tweet about you. You can also respond quickly if a criticism or complaint is found.
4. Get active on LinkedIn, Digg, and other social media - Taking the time to answer LinkedIn questions, submitting articles to digg, and joining LinkedIn groups you can actively participate in the conversation. This will help build connections....and your reputation.
The online community is an extension of how people interact in the real world. If you take time to establish yourself and gain credibility, it will benefit you should anyone attempt negative conversation about you.
When others write things that are negative or complain about and experience with your firm, this is an opportunity to track what is being said and respond accordingly. Most often, the situation can be diffused and turned into a positive for your firm.
If you take the time to establish an online reputation and follow up on monitoring it correctly, you will see gains in trust and ultimately more business coming your way.
About the Author:
Jeff Berman is Co-Founder of AttorneySync's Lawyer Marketing Program. Having more and more online advertising for lawyers solutions out there, isn't it about time you tried one that works for you?
