8 Social Media Myths That May Be Holding Your Law Firm Back
Over the past few years, social media has become an increasingly important marketing tool for law firms. But even now, plenty of myths about social media marketing still persist, many of which could keep attorneys from reaching their full potential online.
Here are eight myths about social media marketing that may be holding your law firm back.
Myth #1: Social Media Isn’t Worth It for Law Firms
If your law firm isn’t taking advantage of social media, there’s no question that you’re missing out on leads. People are used to doing everything online—and that includes hiring attorneys. In fact, social media has become one of the top lead sources for small firms across the country.Here are a few revealing statistics:
- 96% of people who need legal advice search for it on Google
- 74% of prospects who begin a search online end up calling an attorney
- 87% of people who contact an attorney go on to hire that attorney
If your law firm isn’t leveraging social media marketing, it’s costing you clients. Social media is the perfect channel for:
- Increasing brand visibility
- Growing your professional network
- Demonstrating expertise in your legal niche
- Drawing more traffic to your law firm’s website
- Staying top-of-mind with potential clients and referrers
Obviously, if you’re not on social media at all, you’re not going to be able to take advantage of the many benefits it has to offer.
Myth #2: Your Firm Will Just Get Lost in the Noise
Yes, social media is a crowded space. Just about everyone uses it these days. And while that does create a broad audience for your firm, it does make it harder to make yourself heard online.
But you might be surprised how little it takes to cut through the noise. By implementing a few basic strategies, you can stand out from the crowd and reach your target audience. Even something as simple as using visual content can be enough to put you ahead of the competition.
And as we’ve already discussed, the benefits you can gain from an effective social media marketing campaign will be well worth the effort.
Myth #3: You Have to Be Active on Every Social Media Platform
Many law firms think that in order to see any results from social media, they’ll have to sign up for virtually every platform. These firms often end up spreading themselves too thin. It’s much better to have fewer profiles that you can actually manage than to create a dozen accounts that you’ll never have the time to keep up with.
When it comes to social media, quality beats quantity every time.
So if you have too many accounts to handle, you should consider shutting a few down. That way, you can focus your attention on the platforms that will help your law firm the most.
Myth #4: A Large Following Means Your Profile Is Successful
Having lots of followers on a given social media platform might seem like a clear indication that you’re succeeding. But once again, quality wins over quantity. Before celebrating your large following, ask yourself:
- Do your followers represent my target audience?
- How much are they engaging with your posts?
- Are they clicking on your links?
- Are you getting any solid leads from your profile?
These metrics all matter much more than your follower count. If you have a crowd of followers, but no one is interacting with your posts or clicking through to your website, you’ll need to optimize your approach to see any real results.
Myth #5: Law Firms Should Only Post About Law
Nothing sabotages social media marketing like being all business, all the time. To truly connect with prospects, you have to build trust—and that means getting a little personal.
So rather than constantly pitching your services or talking about the law, throw in a dash of personality. Don’t be afraid to post about:
- Your firm’s culture
- The great attorneys and staff who make up your team
- Local events or community outreach programs that you’ve taken part in
- The annual office Christmas party
- Fun office traditions, such as a bring-your-pet-to-work day
This will help humanize your firm and make prospects more comfortable reaching out to you.
Myth #6: You Should Ignore Negative Feedback
Social media opens the door for others to leave public feedback for your firm, whether through comments or reviews. And when someone leaves negative feedback, it can be tempting to just ignore it. Worse still, you may want to get angry and lash out.
These responses are never wise. Studies have shown that 87% of consumers read online reviews when assessing a local business. If potential clients and referrers see you disregarding criticism or losing your temper, they may view you as callous and unprofessional.
Instead, you should respond courteously to the negative comment or review and offer to resolve the situation if possible. This will show everyone watching that you take your feedback seriously.
And in cases where a review violates the terms of the platform, such as Google, you may be able to have it removed.
Myth #7: Social Media Marketing Is Completely Free
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While signing up for most social media platforms is entirely free, investing in your online marketing can help you reach new heights. Even allocating a small budget for things like boosted Facebook posts or Instagram ad campaigns can make a big difference.
Of course, you have to make sure that you’re getting a worthwhile return on your investment. But as long as you track your expenses and the value your firm is getting in return, you won’t have to fly blind.
Myth #8: Your Law Firm Will See Easy Results Right Away
There are some instances where law firms have seen tremendous growth immediately after launching a new social media marketing drive. These cases are few and far between, though. Most of the time, social media success takes plenty of time, effort, and patience.
But if you can stay the course, the benefits will more than make up for the headaches.
How about letting someone else deal with those headaches? We’d be happy to lend a hand. At Let America Know, we help trial attorneys take their online marketing strategies to the next level.
Just contact us, and we’ll make sure you get the most out of your social media presence.