To Twitter or Not To Twitter?

The correct term for posting on Twitter is actually “tweet” so the name of this article could be: “To Tweet or not to Tweet?” I digress already.

Twitter is all over the place. Everywhere you look you see “follow me on Twitter” or “check the twitosphere.” Last year, revolutionaries in Iran used Twitter to let the world know what was happening in Tehran and made sure the government cruelty happening there did not go unnoticed. Twitter hysteria can be overwhelming and depending on who you ask, Twitter could be bound to change the world and become the most important medium of all time; even more important than books or Television or Radio. Ok, let’s get real, probably not. But Twitter has made it possible for anyone to have a real-time updating personal billboard where you can tell any group of people anything you want in 160 characters or less. That is pretty cool.

So should you use Twitter? Easy answer: Yes. There are a couple of reasons that every single lawyer should use Twitter. Let’s outline them.

1. Twitter is good for Clients

If your clients are people, there is a very good chance many of those people use Twitter. Include a question on your intake questionnaire that asks whether the client uses Twitter and what their Twitter name is and then follow them on Twitter. You might also want to let your clients know you use Twitter. I have my Twitter account info on my business card and ask everyone to follow me.

You rarely want to send a personalized client message on Twitter (that’s what email is for) but it may be helpful to post announcements to all your clients. For example, you could tweet the following: “The offices of Swindler and Scammer will be closed on Monday January 18th, in observance of Martin Luther King Day” or “Tax Season: Swindler and Scammer is offering free tax return reviews, call us for an appointment.” Both of these messages illustrate the massive marketing potential that Twitter provides lawyers. Don’t be afraid to experiment with content but use due care. You are a lawyer, you know what not to say in public. The same rules apply on Twitter.

If your clients are businesses, governments, or corporations, there is a very good chance they use Twitter too! Even the Office of Personnel Management OPM has a Twitter account these days. Using Twitter allows you to follow companies, governments, and important people within those agencies and organizations. Depending on who your clients are, tweeting yourself might not be a good idea but following them to keep yourself informed of the ‘how-goings’ of business, is definitely a good idea.

A client of yours might even say something stupid on Twitter and give you the opportunity to call them and say: “Hey, delete that tweet about so-and-so, it opens you up to serious legal liability and lawsuits.” Can you imagine how impressed that client would be with you?

2. Twitter is good for Business

Twitter can drive traffic wherever you direct it. I use Twitter constantly and it is one of the largest referer sites to both whoneedslawywers.com and my linkedin page. You can use Twitter to notify followers of changes to your website or blog, to notify them about special incentives or opportunities to consult with you, or simply to comment on current events. If your clients read your tweets on different issues, they might be able to identify both legal needs that they did not know they had, and the fact that you can help them.

Twitter is also a powerful medium for you to showcase your skills and experience. Let your clients know about your success or the difficult legal issues that you are working on. I follow several lawyers on Twitter just to know what’s on their mind and what they are working on. People will follow you for the same reasons.

Make sure you maintain a professional image at all times. Announcing that you have just won the National Championship for Beer Pong is a bad idea. Also, broadcasting specific client information is a VERY BAD IDEA. Imagine you are client and you check Twitter and see that your lawyer posted the following: “looking for ways to get clients to pay, one client owes me $10,000, loser.” Then the client checks the mail and he receives a bill from you for $10,000 . Not good. So please be careful how you post. Always ask yourself if your message can be interpreted in a negative way. If so, erase it and try again.

3. It is EASY AND FREE

Finally, Twitter is the easiest and most accessible social media site on the internet. All you need to sign up is a good email address. Twitter.com is a very simple website and once you set up your profile, tweeting is easier than email. You can also tweet from your cell phone. In fact, I rarely tweet from a computer. On my Iphone I use an app called Echofon which is straightforward and free. Echofon allows me to tweet and check to see what all my friends are saying all on my phone anywhere.

Literally, Twitter is social networking for dummies. Do not be intimidated. Just go check it out and use it. I promise it’s easy. Go ahead and follow a couple of your lawyer buddies. That way you’ll get a feel for how it works and what kinds of things you should be saying on Twitter.

I’m not the first to pitch the benefits of Twitter for lawyers. There are dozens of articles out there about Twitter for lawyers. Pistachio has a list of some other good articles for lawyers about Twitter here. Read through them and take the plunge. Get on Twitter. Go ahead and follow “whoneedslawyers.” We’ll be your friend.