Windels Marx utilizes LinkedIn and Twitter to disseminate news and important developments to its followers. These social media platforms also serve as important sources of information to drive business development. It's important that all lawyers and staff use common sense and are aware of the ethics surrounding use of social media. When in doubt, err on the side of discretion, consult the rules of your bar association, or contact Lianne Cospito.
LINKEDIN - Lawyers and staff are encouraged to develop and maintain a current profile on LinkedIn and to follow the firm's page entitled "Windels Marx Lane & Mittendorf, LLP." Creative ways to utilize your personal profile and the information available via LinkedIn include:
Status updates - Insert a link to an article written by you or a colleague, promote a new practice area, mention a deal or case on which you were counsel, or ask a business-focused question to garner responses from your target audience.
Connections - Take a few minutes every day to account for the new people you met via phone, email or in person. Solicit their LinkedIn connection and make a note on their record about how you met them and any useful information to jog your memory in the future. Every month, review your contacts and make a habit of reaching out to those who you haven't heard from in a month or two. Share interesting articles. Mention something noteworthy about their industry, company or line of business. Request a meeting and always send a note of thanks.
Experience - Be sure to replicate the deals or cases from your web bio within your LinkedIn bio. Use as many key words as possible to increase the chances of your name appearing in a client or target's search query.
Endorsements - One of the features recently integrated into LinkedIn is the ability to endorse a connection, based on key words. Endorsements can help jump start a conversation and are at your discretion. A good rule of thumb is to endorse only those with whom you've worked directly or have some knowledge of their work product. To get started, go to a contact's profile and the 'Can you endorse this person?' window should appear at the top with prepopulated key words (it may also appear as you scroll down), such as: banking, loans, litigation, etc. Click on the areas you want to endorse, which will trigger an automated email to the person.
Groups - Join groups that correlate with your academic, practice or industry expertise. Monitor the groups and consider questions or information you can share to generate conversation with clients or targets.
Companies - LinkedIn is fantastic for keeping abreast of client or target company developments. Identify a few that are primary and secondary targets for business development, search for the company via the LinkedIn search tool, and "follow" the company. By following the company, you will receive any updates they post to their page. Be sure to check the company page for any interesting developments before calling your contacts.
Research - LinkedIn is, arguably, the largest repository of professional profiles available at no cost. Before new business meetings, networking events or casual get-togethers, search for key people, make notes about their experience and you'll be able to talk about more substance than the weather or the winning sports team.
Alumni - Former colleagues are often the best resources for referrals. They need expertise outside of their domain, a lawyer in a different jurisdiction, and (often) are in search of a sounding board. Alums can be the ultimate "warm door" to help you advance business development. Now, alums, current lawyers and staff of Windels Marx (and our predecessor firms) have a new way to connect with one another and share information --- our LinkedIn alumni group page! Visit Windels Marx Alumni - Lawyers + Staff to solicit membership into the group. Do you know alums who may be interested in joining the group? Send them an invite or give their name to Lianne Cospito!
TWITTER - The firm's Twitter address is @WindelsMarx. To view our tweet feed, download the app to your smartphone and follow our Twitter address.