When people think about public relations (PR), images of schmoozing with clients and excessive amounts of champagne may come to mind.  But professional, properly-executed PR activities involve much more than a free lunch, and have the power to gain enormous exposure for your business, build your brand, attract new clients and customers, as well as improve internal relations between staff and management.

A basic definition of public relations is the establishment and maintenance of a good image for the company, its products and services.  If you search the internet, you will find many definitions of PR, but the key is to understand that public relations extends to all aspects of how a company deals with and communicates with its potential and existing audiences, including responsiveness, professionalism and presentation.

Public relations activities generally encompass the avenues you use to communicate with both your external and internal audiences.  Your external audiences may include your customers and clients (existing and potential), suppliers, share-holders, external stakeholders, the community, governments or authorities, the media, or the general public.  Internal audiences are usually your employees or contractors.  It is very common for businesses to concentrate on their external relations and ignore those people closest to them, but attention to your internal programs can mean the difference between highly-informed and motivated staff compared to employees who feel “they never know what is going on”.

Externally-focused public relations activities to help build your business:

• Websites and online activities
• Press releases to media outlets such as online publishers, newspapers, magazines, radio and television
• Professionally-written brochures and product flyers
• Newsletters, e-newsletters, company magazines
• Product launches
• Seminars, workshops, conferences and networking events
• Forums, blogs, and social media avenues like Facebook and Twitter
• Evaluation forms and customer surveys
• Thank you cards or corporate gifts

Internally focused PR activities to strengthen employee relations:

• Employee newsletters, memos, notice boards, emails
• Regular meetings, team training sessions
• Social club activities
• Employee feedback and suggestion boxes
• Staff-only website areas and intranets
• Company-funded dinners, celebrations, award ceremonies and achievements
• Employee of the month

Just like planning your business and your marketing, public relations activities, both internal and external, should be strategic and focused on achieving corporate goals.  Be consistent with your messages and activities, know what you are trying to achieve and why.  If you aren’t already doing so, take another look at your public relations activities, make an effort to give them the attention they deserve and you will see beneficial results as you improve your business both inside and out.

Maria Morton is a director of Plenty Systems, an Australian business development and marketing services business that assists companies to increase their revenue through strategic goal setting, marketing action plans and by providing the manpower to make it happen. Maria is a Certified Practicing Marketer and has almost 20 years of experience in marketing, public relations and corporate communications. For additional marketing resources, including her monthly newsletter Plenty News, visit her website at www.plentysystems.com.au

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/using-public-relations-to-its-full-potential-1735435.html

While fostering a legal marketing habit can often be a solo activity, there’s no better inspiration than enlisting the help and support of other firm members. Whether it’s other attorneys or staff, their help, encouragement and ideas are imperative to business development success. Collaboration with others can make your marketing efforts even more powerful, allowing you to keep each other on track, spark new ideas and even join forces in joint marketing efforts and strategies. A true marketing culture can’t be implemented overnight, like anything else it takes hard work, dedication and focused efforts. That being said, here are a few of our best tips for getting other members of your firm to join in your legal marketing journey.

Be a passionate leader.

If you’re going to talk the talk, you must walk the walk. If you’re not committed to marketing and business development, others won’t be either. Be vocal about your plans, your speeches, your networking events, your successes… it will inspire other attorneys and staff to join in your efforts. Enthusiasm is contagious.

Provide training and resources.

For larger firms that can mean working with firm leadership to host a seminar or workshop to kick off a marketing initiative…but it can be even simpler. Share your knowledge. Have you found a great website or blog (like inblackandwhiteblog.com!) that imparts helpful tips? Send it to colleagues. Read a great marketing or business development book? Pass it around the office. Exposure to ideas and strategies can spark action.

Create a forum for results.

Set up a monthly marketing meeting or lunch, where those participating in business development activities can get together to report on their initiatives, share leads and be held accountable for their efforts. It will encourage members to keep on track and make others wonder what they’re missing out on.

Hire extroverts.

Make marketing and business development a part of your hiring practices. Ask potential members what their thoughts on legal marketing are and how they plan to implement them. Bring in lawyers who are extroverted, flexible and able to embrace change. The same goes for support staff or anyone else who can contribute to firm marketing efforts.

Create a plan.

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again. Having plan is crucial to marketing and business development success. Work with other firm members to create an actual marketing plan… on every level. From individual plans to practice groups to an overall firm plan, it will help define what you plan to do and understand where you want to go.

Enlisting help and support in your journey may not be easy, what with billable hours and everyday excuses, but if you can get just a few outspoken and influential members on board it can reap serious rewards for all of you. Remember, marketing culture doesn’t just happen; it’s a process that requires time, effort and most of all FOCUS.

Paula Black has advised law firms around the globe on everything from powerful and innovative design to marketing strategy and business growth. She is an award-winning, Amazon-bestselling author and the force behind In Black & White, a blog dedicated to clear, straightforward advice and open discussion of legal marketing issues. For more information on Paula Black, her books and her company please visit paulablacklegalmarketing.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-tips-articles/how-to-inspire-your-firm-to-take-legal-marketing-seriously-1500418.html