As a legal professional, building and nurturing valuable connections is crucial for sustaining and growing your practice.
LinkedIn, known as the world's largest professional network, can be a powerful platform to accomplish that. According to LinkedIn, there are over 900 million members in 200 countries with the Asia Pacific region accounting for 254+ million.
Starting out as a recruitment site in 2003, LinkedIn has always retained these roots but morphed into a professional network along the way.
There is nothing quite like LinkedIn out there and the fact that there almost a billion members means not having a presence seriously dilutes new business development activities, profile raising, recruitment & retention, industry updates etc.
This guide will help you elevate engagement with your network and potential clients, generate leads, and establish a top line strategy for your legal career.
1. Account Optimization
Creating a professional and updated profile is the first step, as it's your digital business card. Be sure to include:
a. A high-quality profile photo featuring you in professional attire
b. An attention-grabbing headline with keywords related to your practice area
e.g. Experienced M&A Lawyer specializing in Asia Pacific Transactions | Skilled in Negotiating and Managing Cross-Border Deals | Lawyer of the Year 2023
c. A well-crafted summary that highlights your expertise and accomplishments
d. Relevant work experience, followed by an education and certification section
e. Endorsements and recommendations from clients and colleagues
[Eight PR: We can audit your existing LinkedIn profile, provide recommendations, then fill in all the information for you once approved. Nothing is posted live unless approved by clients in writing.]
2. Curate Valuable Content
Sharing relevant content is essential for earning credibility and establishing thought leadership in your practice area. Consider posting:
a. Legal updates and analyses of the latest industry news
b. Insightful case studies or success stories of your practice
c. How-to articles addressing common challenges faced by your target audience
d. Opinion pieces on legal issues and industry trends
e. Personal achievements, such as speaking engagements, publications, or awards
[Eight PR: Aim for 1-2 videos for every 3-6 static posts. Video does not require the full Hollywood treatment to produce a quality 2-3 minute vid.]
3. Engage Frequently
Networking on LinkedIn requires consistent effort in order to maximize results. 'Frequently' means at least once a week. Dedicate time to:
a. React to and comment on posts shared by your connections
b. Join and contribute to industry-specific groups populated with your target audience
c. Search for potential clients using LinkedIn's advanced search feature and extend connection invites
d. Send personalized messages to new connections to establish rapport
e. Share your new posts on a regular basis to keep your profile fresh and visible
4. Utilize LinkedIn's Features
LinkedIn offers a range of features that can help propel your engagement strategy:
a. Publish articles on LinkedIn's blogging platform to reach a wider audience
b. Share captivating multimedia content to boost engagement
c. Use LinkedIn Analytics to measure engagement with your content and make improvements accordingly
d. Consider LinkedIn's paid features, such as Sales Navigator, to improve your lead generation efforts
[Eight PR: If all this sounds too much, speak to us! We know our way around LinkedIn! We offer training too!]
5. Maintain Relationships
LinkedIn is about fostering meaningful relationships and is a key platform benefit:
a. Leverage LinkedIn's messaging platform to deepen relationships with individual connections
b. Congratulate connections on their achievements and milestones
As a lawyer, leveraging the power of LinkedIn for engagement can lead to long-lasting, fruitful relationships, helping you expand your network, generate leads and establish yourself as a key industry player.
By optimizing your profile, sharing valuable content, engaging daily, utilizing LinkedIn's features, and maintaining relationships, you will be well on your way to elevating your legal career on this powerful platform.
Talk to us about your LinkedIn profile. We can provide an audit and submit a report we have developed for this purpose. Even if you just want to get to a stage where your profile stands the test of time with little tweaking, we can help.
Contact us at eight@eightpr.com