Collin U
Appellate Attorney at Dechert LLP, US Supreme Court and federal Court of Appeals practice
Twitter for Lawyers
I'd like to hear from lawyers who are using Twitter for business networking -- is it effective and worthwhile? Fun? A distraction?
Answers (5)
Omar H
Law student, licensed nuclear medicine technologist, health management, writer, speaker
Some lawyers are, and in Canada we're probably ahead of the curve.
See resources and contacts attached.
I personally do not, but that's because my phone charges per text and I don't want to tweet while at work on my workstation.
Links:
Omar H also suggests these experts on this topic:
Gary C
Director Strategic Business Development - LibreDigital
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Just don't bill your clients for twitting
Doug C
Chief Compliance Officer at Beacon Capital Partners
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Twitter is definitely useful for networking. It is a great way to keep in touch with a network of people. Like any network it is only as effective as your audience and your participation.
If you only connect with two people in twitter, you have a small audience and it is probably not effective. If you connect with hundreds of people and some are clients, potential referrals or potential clients then it is very effective.
Twitter is no more a distraction than any other media. If the Wall Street Journal is keeping you from doing your work then it is a distraction. If American Idol on TV is keeping you from doing your work, it is a distraction.
Like everything in life, it is about balance.
Links:
I'm on Twitter. I think the jury is stilll out on how effective it is as a marketing tool. You have to make sure you don't get caught up in it. I have my tweets feed into may Facebook status, and use it primarily to point to my blog posts. I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum of those who tweet prolifically about their thoughts/activities. I suggest you give it a try within your posting comfort zone, and find some interesting people to follow.
Links:
Marissa B
I help you make room for tasks you love by tackling ones you don't. Effectively. Creatively. And often even cheerfully.
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I prefer plurk to twitter. I have met some very interesting individuals (not necessarily in the legal field), and have been introduced to some helpful, informative blogs and websites through it. I think twitter, plurk, and similar online services can be great for networking, but I think they have to be approached like a regional seminar for professionals--there will be a broad range of people there, some of whom will immediately connect with you on a professional level, and others that you may connect with personally, and later wind up benefiting one another professionally too. For me, I think the latter is more true than the former.
So... yes, can be very useful for networking. Can also become a distraction, though, as it is kind of addictive, especially if you get a good chain of plurks or tweets going with several folks. It's hard to fight the urge to keep checking back in to see if they've replied again!
