Issue link: https://epubs.iltanet.org/i/98946
Social Media and New Business Opportunities A company profile page allows organizations to promote their services, attract followers and advertise job openings. Social Media Best Practices There is no denying that social networking and media sites present tremendous potential for the legal profession. But where does one start? And what actions are likely to yield the best results? The first step is to take the plunge and get involved by building out a social media profile. LinkedIn should be the priority social network for most legal professionals as it has the biggest potential benefit. Here are some recommendations on how to get the most out of your LinkedIn experience: • Complete your profile as fully as possible. In addition to identifying your job title and your work history, take full advantage of all of LinkedIn's other sections, such as publications, organization memberships and honors and awards. • Do not just copy and paste the bio hosted on your firm's website. Your LinkedIn profile should have the image of being maintained by you, even if you are not the one maintaining it. Consider writing your LinkedIn bio in first-person to give it a personal touch, and mention details beyond the scope of your work life. • Seek out endorsements and recommendations from colleagues, professional contacts and clients. LinkedIn allows other users to endorse your skills or recommend your services. However, before you allow others to endorse or recommend you, check with your state bar association's marketing guidelines to make sure that such actions don't run afoul of state bar ethics rules. • Link your profile to your company or firm's company profile page. You can do this by listing your company or firm as your current employer within your profile. If your organization does not have such a page, offer to help get one created. Besides linking all employee LinkedIn profiles together, a company profile page allows organizations to promote their services, attract followers and advertise job openings. • Join LinkedIn groups that are relevant to your practice. Groups are user-generated forums that allow individuals to share ideas and articles on a given subject. They are an excellent way to interact with like-minded people and can help position you as a thought leader in a given area. ILTA White Paper 13