Social Media and Your Small Business: You Asked, We Answered!

When I bring up social media as a marketing tool, a lot of podiatrists and lawyers immediately dismiss it. They don’t think it has anything to do with their practice. They don’t believe anyone would hire a lawyer or choose a podiatrist on Facebook. They think social media is only for kids and flashy start-ups. They worry that it’s too personal or casual for a professional business. 

In short, they think it's kind of a waste of time!

However, social media is no longer just a place where people go to share pictures of their cat and talk about their lunch. It’s no longer just a place to market trendy digital products or quirky local restaurants! In reality, around 75% of Americans are currently social media users, and studies reliably show that what they see on social media sites has a huge impact on their buying decisions. 

Still don’t believe me? Well, let me give you a little more food for thought. 

According to the American Bar Association, around 42% of small law firms (between 2 and 9 attorneys) that use social media gained new clients from their efforts. And according to Health Research Institute, around 41% of patients said that social media influences their choice of podiatrist, hospital, or medical facility—and around 42% go to social media to look for health-related consumer reviews! Of course, none of those statistics even touch on some of the more indirect benefits of getting involved. 

So, if you’ve been hesitant in the past, it’s time to reframe how you think about social media. Here’s what you need to know to start putting it to work for your practice. 

Why Social Media Is Actually Your “Secret Weapon” for Marketing

Social media can be directly responsible for new leads and clients, but that’s not all it can do for you. Some of its biggest benefits are the ones that are hard to measure, including:

• Getting your name out there. Social media is now a place where people make serious buying decisions and do serious research about their medical and legal questions. If you have a positive presence and some education to share, it’s going to make an impression. Social media puts you in front of your community, and a regular posting schedule keeps you at the top of people’s minds. As people start to recognize you and learn about what you do, you’ll gain an edge over bigger businesses, drive more word-of-mouth referrals, and grow your audience of potential clients. 

• Building trust and connections. Especially in the anonymous world of the internet, people want to buy from people they like. They want to buy from brands they trust and understand! This is especially true for the legal and medical industries, where people are looking for help with potentially sensitive concerns. If they regularly see your posts, see positive reviews, and think of you as part of their community, they’re going to feel more comfortable reaching out to you or referring a friend.  

• Building excitement about campaigns and offers. Social media offers some unique opportunities to support your other marketing efforts and harmonize the whole. For example, sharing your blog posts on social sites can increase traffic back to your website. Promoting your current marketing campaigns and offers on social media opens them up to new audiences and builds excitement. Feedback through comments and “likes” shows you what people respond to best. And—as a bonus—social signals may improve your performance in Google Search. Some social networks, like YouTube and Twitter, are even indexed by Google!

Of course, the price is also right. Getting involved with social media is cheap, and it can actually save you money by making the rest of your marketing machine work better. It’s one of those rare occasions where you can get “powerful” and “cheap” in the same package!

So, make it your secret weapon, and start reaping the rewards. 

How to Get Serious About Social Media Marketing

If you don't yet have an account on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, or Twitter—or if you do, but you never do anything with your accounts—here’s how to get going:

• Do some groundwork. Take a look at what other practices are doing. Are they active on Facebook? Do they tend to Tweet more? What do they post? How often do they post? If your competitors already seem to be getting good results—lots of comments, likes, and shares—on a particular social media site, start there. Or, if you don’t see a big presence on a particular social media site, you might even take advantage of the lack of competition. It can be a risk, but just start small and see what happens. One of our attorney clients surprised everyone by slaying it as an early adopter on TikTok! 

• Set yourself up for success. Don’t think you can just post on social media when you “feel like it.” Social media marketing works best when you have plans and processes in place to make it happen. So, make your social media posts a part of your regular content calendar. Assign a specific person to do it, and make sure they have what they need to do it effectively. There are many social media tools available that let you track progress, schedule future posting dates, and overall make your social strategy faster to work through and easier to maintain. 

• Concentrate on building a following. It takes time and consistency to build up a social media following, so post regularly and create engaging social media content that people want to read and respond to. Ask people to like and share your posts, and be responsive in the comments. Brand your profile pages using the same color, logo, and image styles you use on your website so that people recognize you—and don’t forget to let your personality shine through. Over time, you should see your audience grow. 

And, finally, don’t be afraid to get some advice from the experts. There’s a lot to learn about using social media the right way, and there are lots of ways to optimize what you’re doing. Just give us a call at 888.886.0939 with your questions, or request a personalized marketing analysis to get pointed in the right direction. 

If you take it seriously, you CAN achieve social media success—and we’re here to make it happen for you.

 

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Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.

There’s no doubt that YouTube is the most popular video hosting site on the whole internet, and it’s held that position for quite some time. But what if I asked you to guess the most popular social media site in the United States? 

Would you say Facebook? Would you say Instagram or Twitter?

Well, you’d be wrong. 

YouTube has firmly established itself as a social media site over the years, where people regularly share videos with others and make connections. And, according to a Pew Research survey conducted at the start of 2021, YouTube is now the most popular social media site in the nation. 

That’s right! It’s not even by a slim margin—around 81% of Americans report using YouTube, while only around 69% report using Facebook. The study also shows that YouTube is at the top of the list for fastest growing social media sites, while Facebook and most other social media sites have stayed stagnant since 2019.  

That means the most popular video-sharing site in the world has now officially edged out Facebook to become the most popular social media site, too!  

And that’s not even all. YouTube is ALSO one of the most popular search engines in the whole world, second only to its parent company Google.

Whew! That’s a lot of things for one site to be to a lot of people. And, if YouTube doesn’t figure into your social media marketing plan, then you’re missing out on something BIG.  

How to Get Social on YouTube as a Business Owner

A lot of lawyers and podiatrists are hesitant to get involved in YouTube. They think, “my video will never go viral, so what’s the point?”

But—news flash—getting a million views on your video is not the goal. It might be nice, but going viral with one video doesn’t necessarily further your goal of getting more leads and clients for your business. Besides, videos often go viral for all the wrong reasons. 

Instead, like all true social media sites, making YouTube work for your business is really about making connections. You want to cultivate a loyal group of viewers that tune into your videos every week, and you want to create videos that attract good leads because they answer the right questions at the right time. 

So, if you want to make connections that turn into clients, you have to put yourself out there and show yourself at your best. Not sure where to get started? 

Here are some of our best tips for getting social on YouTube:

• Personalize your YouTube Channel. Your Channel is the hub of all the videos you post to YouTube, so make sure you use the options available to make it truly yours. You can curate your videos, create playlists, choose featured videos, and more. Not sure how to make it happen? Get step-by-step instructions for creating and personalizing a YouTube Channel for your business. 
• Answer questions. Since YouTube is also an important search engine, you should approach your video creation a lot like you approach the content on your website. You need to make it about your perfect clients! If you can answer the questions they’re asking, then you’ll make instant connections with the people that truly need your services, right when they need you. Learn more about meeting your potential clients in micro-moments. 
• Post quality videos on a regular basis. If you’re going to put the effort into using YouTube as a marketing tool, aim to keep a consistent publishing schedule. Whether it’s twice a week or once a month, a regular schedule will keep your subscribers interested and go a long way toward establishing you as the go-to expert in your area of expertise. 
• Optimize your videos. YouTube also gives you a fair number of built-in options to personalize your videos and optimize them for search. If you can do this masterfully, your videos will look a lot more professional, and they’ll perform a lot better in YouTube searches. Find out more about how to optimize and promote your videos to get more viewers.
• Make friends with others in your field. Again, social media sites are all about connections. So, reach out to other creators you really enjoy, as well as other experts in your field. “Like” their videos. Subscribe to their Channels. Leave them a comment, and get a great conversation going. Interview them on your Channel, or collaborate in another way. It’s not just a great way to network—it’s also a great way to show your expertise and share it with new audiences. 
• Ask for what you want. Adding a quick reminder in your video to like, subscribe, and hit the bell for notifications will drive more people to do so. The same goes for your own offers, services, and goals. So, mention your free book and other promotions. Put your phone number at the bottom of the screen. Invite viewers to visit your website or schedule a consultation. Briefly ask again in the description section of your video. It’s such a simple thing to do, but it makes a huge difference in the success of your videos. 
• Encourage and respond to comments. Ask questions in your video that encourage people to leave comments. And make sure you reply to their comments if they do take the time to say something! Thoughtful responses to viewer comments humanize your channel, increase trust, and show that you’re a pro that cares about what your viewers have to say. 

Not sure you have a handle on your social media marketing efforts? Our marketing experts would love to show you how to make the most of your social media accounts, including YouTube. 

Just join us for a hands-on analysis of your website and marketing efforts, or give us a call at 888.886.0939. 

You can also try out our social media tool if you sign up for a free DSS software demo!

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Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.

It’s remarkable how quickly one boorish social media post can ignite a “flame war.” Rather than embarrass one of our law firm or medical practice partners, let’s take an example from college sports. An exchange between rival fans might go like this:

• Michigan Wolverines Official Site of Awesomeness: “Way to go U of M for your non-stop determination and drive. There’s definitely a reason we’re a Big 10.”
• Buckeyesforlife83: what are you even talking about? Wolverines? You should be called the “Woeful Latrines.” #Ohiorules
• MWOSA: We’re sorry you feel that way Buckeyesforlife83, obviously you’re confused on where you need to be. Go home and take your attitude with you.
• Buckeyesforlife83: figures. You can’t even come up with a decent response. Just like a Michigander to take their ball and go home.
• MWOSA: Whatever, at least we’re not from Ohio. Where do you think the toilet water goes—South. #mittenslap #FootballersGoHome-We’llTakeItFromHere

Does this type of banter look familiar? How many times have you seen similar posts on the social media pages of friends and colleagues? How many times have you engaged in a similar (yet I’m sure more eloquent and grammatical) debate on your own site?

Probably way more than you’d like to admit.

Unfortunately, many businesses allow personal feelings and opinions to outweigh the purpose of their networking sites. As a professional, you don’t want to attract social miscreants to your site as if it were a cage match. Sure, your page’s popularity may increase as a result of curious readers coming to see what low blow you may deliver next, but they’re not going to respect you as a professional. If they can’t respect you, then they’re definitely not going to hire you, so what’s the point?

Thankfully, even if your reputation may be tarnished from past posts, tweets, or memes, you can still dig yourself out of the rubble and rebuild a mature and successful social media platform for your businesses networking needs.

The Tools to Rebuild Your Social Media Reputation

Social media is an excellent way to promote yourself and your business. Unfortunately, it’s also an excellent vehicle to advertise your flaws. It isn’t as forgiving of the latter as it is of the former. It can be difficult to build your reputation as a smart and focused professional in a place where kitten videos and trolling are the norm. Thankfully, by knowing how to combat negative situations and baited comments, you can not only showcase your strengths, but also build a strong and supported networking platform for your business.

Here are some ways to get you started on rebuilding an otherwise tarnished social media reputation:

• Start fresh by refocusing on your ideal client. Making some questionable mistakes in the past doesn’t mean you need to continue upsetting or belittling your viewers. Take a step back and focus your social media encounters on those you want to help. By streamlining your focus, you’ll not only speak to your target audience but you’ll minimize the risk that unwanted viewers will leave negative comments.
• Stay calm. The odd negative response or poor review is bound to occur—don’t let it get to you. The fastest way to ruin your reputation is by addressing a problem when you’re ill-prepared. Take a moment to calm down before you decide how to approach the situation or comment.
• Respond positively. When and if you choose to respond to a negative remark, do so politely. Although this may be difficult, stooping to a Neanderthal level of name-calling and insults will only hurt you; you’ll give other readers the impression that you can’t be professional when confronted. However, if you take the high road and simply thank the negative commenter for taking the time to write, you’ll showcase your maturity…with the added bonus of preventing the curmudgeon from baiting you further.
• Use hashtags judiciously. When you choose to hashtag (#) a phrase or word, make sure that tag doesn’t mean something disrespectful. Otherwise, you’ll end up looking insensitive, cruel, or out-of-touch.
• Use information, not threats, to encourage likes and shares. When you include informative and entertaining content on your site, viewers will naturally like and share it. There’s no need to bait “likes” and “shares” by deceptively promising good fortune or threatening bad luck. Stand behind your content and trust your viewers to know what they like and what they don’t like

Wrecking Balls: Actions to Avoid

As long as you stay calm and positive when maintaining your social media sites, then successfully rebuilding your reputation should only be a matter of time. However, one false-sounding comment or ill-conceived post can reverse your progress. This is why it’s important not only to know what to do but also what not to do. When updating your posts or checking your tweets, stay away from these common faux pas:

• Piggybacking on negative news. Stay away from using someone else’s tragedy as a way to promote yourself. For example, refrain from posting a story about a celebrity’s car accident with the remark, “He’ll be needing help from us.” Not only is this tactless, but it could also snarl you in legal trouble.
• Falling for the baited troll post. You need to remember that a lot of people on social media have way too much time on their hands. Many of them pass their time by “trolling” websites—posting outrageous comments in the hope of starting a fight. Don’t encourage this practice. If someone leaves a ridiculous comment or opinion, either ignore it or politely respond; anything else is just a disaster waiting to happen.
• Edgy humor. Although you should try to add appropriate wit and humor throughout your website and posts, make sure you stay mature and respectful. Everyone has their own trigger points. If you’re unsure of whether a joke goes too far, it probably crosses the line for some of your readers. Use a different joke instead.
• Shaming potential clients. Everyone has the right to his own opinion and the right to express that opinion. Although sometimes you may not agree with a comment, you need to respect the exercise of free expression. Refrain from belittling readers or starting a fight just because you disagree.

Above all, don’t try to turn negatives into positives; looking on the bright side of things is a useful tool, but should not be used to call extra attention to negative comments. If you’re getting a lot of negative remarks or disinterest, don’t point that out to future clients. Instead, root out the problem and fix it. Once fixed, you can then politely draw attention to the fact that you were made aware of the issue and had the good grace and ability to right the wrong.

Sailing the seas of social media can be a perilous journey. We’d be happy to help you navigate those treacherous waters. Contact our social media marketing team at 866-460-3724, and let us map you out a course to the destination you desire.

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Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.

Not really. This tactic was adopted in the early days of social media as a fast way to make a new enterprise look more established. Unfortunately, many firms are still buying into this ineffective advertising trick, suffering the loss of their marketing capital and no real gain.

Buying Fake "Likes" on Facebook Won't Get You Real Clients

Before you pay to add followers to your Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or YouTube pages, you should be aware that these followers are:

• Not real people. There are companies that exist solely to create false online identities—complete with email addresses, social media accounts, and even phone numbers—that are then sold to digital middlemen, which are commonly called “click farms.” These identities are then sold by the bundle to unsuspecting companies looking to pad their online audiences. Put simply, your 1,000 new followers are no different than the spambots that plague an unprotected comments section.
• Unable to engage. Although your new followers are not real people, some can be used to go beyond a one-time interaction—liking a new post or even commenting on a thread. However, these robots can only talk, not listen, making any engagement they do with your website generic and irrelevant. You have paid to perform to an audience of imaginary friends (who will never hire you) instead of finding a local, interested audience.
• Throwing off your marketing numbers. Buying social media followers can turn your marketing data upside-down. From location (many “click farms” are based overseas) to age and income, you will no longer be able to trust any of the demographics collected by your social media accounts, making your real customers lost in the crowd.

These “click farms” stay in business for much the same reason people who sell fraudulent diet pills do—because desperate people can be conned into taking the easy way out. A few thousand “likes” on your Facebook may boost your self-esteem, but if nobody knows who these people are, they’re not likely to trust your business any more than if you had three followers who are actual human beings.

What Else Can I Do to Get People Interested in My Business?

There are nearly limitless ways to interact with your flesh-and-blood followers on social media—and best of all, most of them won’t cost anything. Simple actions such as “liking” other neighborhood business pages, responding to inquiries and comments on your posts in a timely manner, and posting information to entertain and inform your audience are great ways to engage with your target audience: actual people.

When it comes to social media, quality will always trump quantity. To find out how to interact with your audience in an effective and organic way, contact us today at 866-460-3724 to discuss ideas for a robust social media strategy.

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Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.

Although time restraints and a desire for consistency often mean that offering completely different content on your website, blog, and social media pages is nearly impossible, there are definitely benefits to offering at least a little unique content on your attorney social media pages. Here are just a few of the benefits of developing some unique, social-media-only content for your law firm: 

• Social-media-only content helps bring your audience back for more. If your social media pages only offer the exact same information you already offer on your website or blog, then it is unlikely that your clients and potential clients will bother checking in. 
• Social media content starts conversations. The best social media content tends to engage users, who will then “like,” share, and comment on your posts. You can respond to questions from potential clients, and you get a chance to actually ask your audience questions about what they want, need, or would like to see. Create your social-media-only content with a conversation in mind.  
• Social media can be a great place to talk about current events. Most people these days check their social media accounts more often than they check their email. Talking about relevant local news or changes in the law can be more engaging and interactive when presented “live” through Facebook, Twitter, etc. 

Do you need more content ideas or want to learn more about social media for attorneys? Reach out to the friendly attorney social media team with Foster Web Marketing today to learn more!

Although it’s definitely not the only factor, the number of “likes” your attorney Facebook page collects can be a tangible (and, let’s face it, exciting) sign that your social media audience really does like what it sees. If it seems like interest in your social media content is waning, here are a few ways to encourage more people to read, “like,” and share your attorney social media content:

• Add social media sharing buttons to your attorney website and blog. It’s easy to add social media buttons to your law firm’s website, blog, or videos, and the buttons make it easy for your audience to “like” and share your content on social media site. Plus, it’s a great reminder that you’re available on social media sites, too. 
• Offer some unique social media content. If you aren’t getting “likes,” it may be because you’re not offering anything special for those who go to the extra trouble of engaging with you via social media. Create some social-media-only content, and give people a reason to follow you on Facebook and click that “like” button. 
• Get involved with your audience. If you don’t respond to comments, ask for opinions, or create content that people want to talk about, then you’re missing out on a lot of what makes social media great. And, if you feel like your audience isn’t very excited about what you’ve tried so far, consider just asking them what you could do better!  

Do you need help developing effective Facebook content for your law firm? Or are you interesting in learning more about social media for attorneys? Talk about it today with the friendly attorney social media team at Foster Web Marketing—just give us a call at 1-888-886-0939!

Yes. Increasingly, Google and other search engines are factoring social media activity into their ranking formulas. The ways social media factors include:

• The number of times a site or a page on a site has been liked, shared, retweeted, stumbled upon, or +1'ed
• The number of mentions on Twitter
• Increased brand awareness and loyalty
• More inbound links
• More positive reviews
• Decreased bounce rate
• Increased time on page

Because of this, our team encourages you to go out and embrace attorney social media. Besides being powerful, a major benefit of social media is that it's free!  Create an account today. Or, if you already have an account, dust it off and begin using it again. Start by posting a link to your newest free offer or an interesting blog post. Follow up by asking a question of your audience or posting an updated picture of your office or staff. Facebook and other sites will make you appear accessible, easy to talk to, and knowledgeable. If you do it right.

But...There Is Always a But

Social media has the potential to boost your SEO power and increase awareness of your practice, but only if you do it right. Getting social media for attorneys just right isn't simple. But, once you get the hang of it, you will be able to quickly shoot out a new post or tweet, reaching potential clients who wouldn't have heard of you otherwise.  

Call 888.886.0939 to speak with our social media super team about the right—and wrong—ways to engage your audience and attract new clients.   

These days, about 90 percent of businesses are taking advantage of social media marketing opportunities, especially on social networking platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. However, fewer businesses – and even fewer law firms – have experimented with newer and more abstract social media websites. For example, Instagram is a popular photo-blogging website with over 30 million users, but few businesses have tapped into the marketing potential of the visual social media website.

How can attorneys use Instagram to boost their social media marketing plan?

• Take interesting pictures from you day – certainly at the office and perhaps outside of the office.
• Create hashtags for your photos that are relevant and that will attract new followers.
• Follow the Instagram accounts of those in your industry and community.
• Share Instagram photos on Facebook and Twitter.
• Get others in your office to post relevant images to Instagram.
• Check out how other businesses are utilizing Instagram to help their brand and strengthen relationships with customers and clients.
• Geo-tag your pictures to attract local attention and engage in location-specific marketing.
• Get creative with your photos!

Studies have shown that images attract more attention than plain text when it comes to social media. In addition, it’s likely that your competition hasn’t taken advantage of Instagram for marketing purposes. Get ahead of the crowd, start an account, and begin posting pictures today.

Need help with your social media marketing campaign or want more ideas about how to tap into visual social media marketing? Contact our team at Foster Web Marketing today by calling 888-886-0939.

Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.

You may have decided that social media marketing is good for your law office and your attorney website. But you may not have decided who should be in charge of managing your social media accounts and developing a social media marketing plan. 

For many attorneys, focusing on their cases and clients comes first, but delegating your social media marketing updates, your online promotions, and your social networking strategy can prove tricky. Giving the job to an intern can mean that your social media marketing strategies lack a long-term goal or big-picture thinking. Handing it to another employee in your office might mean that social networking tasks – like Tweeting news or communicating with potential clients on Facebook – gets put on the back burner. 

Some companies, including law firms, choose to outsource their social media marketing. This option comes with benefits and drawbacks. Having someone who is fully invested in looking after your social media marketing plan can make a huge difference in the success of your online marketing strategies, but having someone not intimately connected with your law firm can make interactions less personal and less effective. 

Whoever you put in charge of managing your social media accounts, be certain that you have a specific strategy in place and that each of your social networking sites are updated and checked on a daily basis. It can and will make a difference to your law firm. 

Do you need more guidance on how to manage your social networking accounts? Call Foster Web Marketing today at 888.886.0939 to talk to one of our team members. 

Is Your Law Firm Or Medical Practice Getting Leads From Your Social Media Marketing Efforts?

Not convinced your current social media marketing is converting leads into clients? No worries! Foster Web Marketing can help. Please contact us online or call our office directly at 888.866.0939 to schedule your free consultation with our experienced marketing team. We have been helping clients throughout the United States and internationally since 1998 and are confident we can help you not only reach, but exceed your goals.