Community Involvement: 5 Ways to Build Your Client Base - Strategist

see - Community Involvement: 5 Ways to Build Your Client Base - Strategist


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Here's how you can get involved in your community to build your client base.

1. Guest Speaking Engagements

Organizations and clubs are always looking for guest speakers. Reach out to local groups to see if they'd be interested in hearing you speak about your practice area at their next general meeting, or event.

2. SCORE

The Small Business Administration is home to SCORE (Service Corp of Retired Executives). Unlike the name suggests, you don't need to be retired to volunteer and mentor local small business owners.

3. Writing for the Local Paper

Our local paper has a column written by a "local legal expert" who answers residents' legal questions. See if your paper has such a column, and if not see if there's any interest in starting one. If it already exists, see if you can get involved too. Think of it as free advertising. Just be sure to follow ethics rules about informing people about legal representation.

4. Host Workshops

Town public libraries often host many types of workshops geared toward business owners or local concerns. For example, perhaps you have a trusts and estates practice and want to host a workshop on the importance of estate planning. Going through your local library may be a great way to start, and publicize a workshop.

5. Volunteer

Whether it's on the board of local non-profit organization, or a local city government commission, volunteering your efforts (even if non-legal) opens the door to you meeting many potential clients.

If you're trying to think of ways to get more clients, start by walking out the front door. Your community is an asset that is full of potential clients. The beauty ofgiving to your community is that it will all come back to you.

How has your firm expanded its client base through community involvement? Tell us how by tweeting us @FindLawLP.

Related Sources:

• Five Ways to Work on Your Law Firm's Business Today (FindLaw's Strategist Blog)
• 5 Cheap (or Free) Ways to Market Your Legal Practice (FindLaw's Strategist Blog)
• 10 Tweets of Advice: Social Media Lawyer Marketing (FindLaw's Strategist Blog)

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