Social Networking & Bar Association Communication -- What You Should Know About How to Use it to Your Advantage
Kathryn Grant Madigan, Esq. Past President New York State Bar Association and Ann Murphy Director of Communications The Bar Association of San Francisco
What is Social Media or Web 2.0? Any online space where people can interact with one another.
Social Media for Bars Networking MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter Collaborative Tools Wikipedia, Google docs RSS Feeds Really Simple Syndication Podcasts Audio broadcasts Blogs Printed journals Videos YouTube, Google videos
What is LinkedIn? A worldwide online network of people It is one of many professional networking sites LinkedIn is probably the best known and most widely used business networking site
What is LinkedIn? cont d When you join, you create a profile that summarizes your professional accomplishments Your profile helps you find and be found by former colleagues, clients, and partners
What is LinkedIn? cont d One of Kate s connections You can add more connections by inviting trusted contacts to join LinkedIn and connect to you
What is LinkedIn? cont d Your network consists of your connections, your connections' connections, and the people they know, linking you to thousands of qualified professionals
Through LinkedIn... You can search for jobs and form relationships that are critical to career success
Through LinkedIn NYSBA Is... Improving its visibility,, particularly among younger attorneys and non- members Improving its connectivity amongst members, non-members, and out-of of-state attorneys Providing an opportunity to learn and share (i.e. discussion features, news, etc.)
Twitter Twitter is the telegraph system of Web 2.0. -- Nicholas Carr, Author and Technologist
How Does Twitter Work? Messages are sent via: Cell phone text message Email Instant message The Web The recipient makes the choice
Is There Twitter In Your Future? Mini-Blogging Blogging Tool 5 Million+ Users Bursts or Tweets of 140 Characters or Less What Are The Rules? Time-Waster, Business Tool or News Source?
Use Twitter To Alert members to new information Send board members a tweet when board material is posted Distribute news and press releases Send a brief headline and a Web link Promote an event Use Twitter in conjunction with other marketing methods to reach a broader audience
Facebook Pages Using Facebook Give businesses a Facebook profile Followers of your bar or Section can become fans, and when they do, all their friends will see All activity gets posted for all your fans to see: store photos, videos, and information announce events! Groups Similar to Pages, but are meant to be built around a group of people (i.e. NYSBA s s Young Lawyers Section)
Using Facebook Reasons why you should start using it Appeals to a younger audience It s s viral More than half the people using it, use it daily Your competition may already be on Facebook Facebook friends are willing to continue the conversation Facebook is for social information sharing and interaction
To Blog or Not to Blog? Benefits Member only area a benefit of membership Vehicle to discuss current legal issues Archive postings for solo/small firm use Instant access to members Risks Monitoring requires staff Negative posts and their liability Lack of participation Do bars really need to be in this business?
NYSBA President s s blog President s s blog Launch and Promotion Frequency Topics and Commentary Member and Media Response
Health Law Section
Torts, Insurance & Compensation Law Section
Lessons Learned President s s Blog and President s s Page More frequent, shorter postings Staff support is key Significant time commitment Tips on enhancing blog interactivity
Collaborative Tools or Groupware Includes Wikipedia and Google Online tools or software which enables people to collaborate on a shared project Software includes electronic calendars, workflow systems and online spreadsheets
Videos A great way to communicate your message Can be done by staff with inexpensive equipment or professionally Posted on YouTube and/or on your Web site Can be included in electronic messages
What is a Podcast? A podcast is like a radio program except people can download a podcast to a portable media player (such as an ipod or other mp3 player) and listen to it at their convenience. -- Wikipedia
Podcasts Great inexpensive way to get audio material to your audience Equipment is inexpensive to get started Potential for increased revenue from continuing legal education and speakers Files can be hosted on your Web site
RSS Feeds Really Simple Syndication RSS is a family of Web feed formats used to publish frequently updated works such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video in a standardized format. -- Wikipedia
Where Do You Start? With limited resources staff and money, here s s where to start: Facebook LinkedIn RSS Feeds Podcasts
Then Move To Videos Blogs Twitter Wikipedia
For More Information Kate Madigan kmadigan@binghamtonlaw.com Ann Murphy amurphy@sfbar.org For a copy of this PowerPoint, go to www.sfbar.org/powerpoint/bli_2009.ppt