In business development, the past, present and future all hold valuable lessons. Past habits can sometimes haunt us, current best practices keep us on track and emerging trends offer a glimpse into what’s next. By learning from each of these, legal marketers and lawyers can craft strategies that are thoughtful, forward thinking and responsive to the times. Let’s explore the “ghosts” of business development past, present and future, and discover what each can teach us.
Business development can sometimes feel like walking through a haunted house, especially in the high-stakes environment of big law. Just as you think you’re making progress, opportunities seem to vanish, conversations go cold and the outreach you thought was vibrant appears to drift into the business development graveyard. For legal marketers and lawyers, keeping outreach efforts alive is essential to sustaining growth and client relationships. Here’s how to avoid the dreaded graveyard and keep your business development initiatives breathing with life.
Here’s the truth: if you’ve been invited to pitch, they already know you’re qualified. Instead of spending your time proving your worth, you need to focus on building a relationship, understanding their needs and showing how you can provide solutions.
While pitch materials, like bios, decks or brochures, are nice to have, they’re often skimmed at best. The real opportunity lies in the conversation and connection you build with the potential client. So, how do you shift your approach to make a lasting impact?
In today’s legal market, standing out from the competition is more challenging than ever. To succeed, law firms need more than legal expertise—they need strong relationships with their clients and a clear strategy for growing their business. Whether you’re running a small boutique firm or managing a large practice, developing new business and keeping current clients engaged is key to long-term success. Here are 10 practical strategies to help your firm strengthen client relationships, attract new business, and continue to grow in a crowded market.
When it comes to optimizing your LinkedIn profile, most people focus on their headline, profile picture and work experience. But one of the most impactful sections often goes unnoticed—the LinkedIn Featured section. This underutilized section is a hidden gem for showcasing your work, highlighting achievements and driving more engagement to your content.
Building a successful business in any field takes more than just doing great work. It’s about taking proactive steps to get your name out there, staying top-of-mind with key contacts and showing up where it matters. Sitting at your desk all day won’t get you the clients you need, and in today’s world, simply relying on referrals or word-of-mouth isn’t enough. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to expand your established business, these practical, effective strategies will help you attract clients and grow your network. The key is to take action – consistently and confidently. Here’s how you can do it.
Asking for business isn’t always easy, even for lawyers who prefer to let their work speak for itself. Whether it’s worrying about sounding too pushy or not knowing how to start the conversation, it can feel uncomfortable. But if you want to grow your practice and strengthen client relationships, learning to confidently ask is essential. It’s about offering value, choosing the right time and staying authentic—because, in the end, people prefer to work with those they know, like and trust.
Client events have long been a staple of business development, but let’s face it—not every event hits the mark. You might pull together a fancy venue with great food and drinks, but is that enough to build real business connections? For firms looking to strengthen relationships, boost engagement, and ultimately drive revenue, you need more than just a good setting. To truly make an impact, your events should focus on exclusivity, delivering real value, and providing strategic networking opportunities that lead to meaningful conversations and business growth. Here’s how you can level up your client events and turn them into serious business development engines with a clear return on investment (ROI).
As we move into the last quarter of the year, it’s a great time for business professionals and lawyers to step back and think about how to set themselves up for success, not just for the end of 2024 but well into 2025. While the holiday season often leads to a natural slow down, it also provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on your strategy, refine your approach and plan for a stronger year ahead.
In a crowded field where many firms offer similar services, figuring out what truly sets you apart can feel daunting but its essential for success. Whether you’re running a business, building your personal brand, running a law practice or working in marketing, knowing your competitive advantage—that unique edge you have over others—can make all the difference. But how do you figure out what that is? And once you do, how do you use it to get ahead? Here’s how you can identify your competitive advantage and use it across your marketing efforts to truly set yourself apart.