The podcast hosts talk about their woes in dealing with client communication. Some clients who after spending a lot of time with you, don’t retain you; others who don’t want to hear the information you are giving them; and still others who simply want to take up all of your time talking about things that are perhaps important to them but which don’t relate to the case at hand or advance their cause. Solo and small firms have to make sure to balance giving your clients enough time and opportunity to communicate with the other time demands facing your firm.
This episode discusses whether listeners should offer a free consultation to prospective clients or charge for them. Host Oscar Michelen recently started charging for initial consultations while Host Scott Limmer offers free consultations. The hosts engage in a spirited back and forth discussion as to why they chose each particular method and why works for them. Listeners can gain insight from the talk as to which method would work best for their practice.
Oscar gets the discussion going this week talking about what he learned from a review of old files from his prior firm that had been in storage in his house for the past seven years. In talking about it with Scott, he discusses what he should have been able to see about his practice and its marketing efforts had he paid attention. That leads to the hosts talking about the need to be mindful and to analyze what you are doing in your marketing efforts. Don’t just keep trying new things without putting in the effort of looking at what you have done before and what worked and didn’t. When starting a new marketing effort, don’t do it unless have you thought about:
There are many sources of information available to you to help you grow your practice: books, magazine articles, blogs, podcasts like this one. The hosts talk about sources they use to get thoughtful advice on business development. The material does not have to be law-firm related, in fact its better that your first foray into reading to improve your practice not be law-related. Books on entrepreneurship, money management and organizational methods are the most helpful at first to get you in the right mind set. Apply thought to your re-boot and look for advice that’s out there waiting for you to find it.