Here are 5 marketing best practices for a
divorce services business to get known locally.
Obtaining clients for your divorce services business depends on getting the message out about your business to the public. Word-of-mouth recommendations is still the best and least costly marketing, but proactive marketing activities are also vital to achieve new business. Based on 18+ years of experience running a successful peaceful divorce services business, we have found the following to be the best marketing practices in this field.
Have a plan, and be consistent in your marketing efforts.
Many divorce services’ providers believe that the bulk of their time should be spent on providing client services. This seems like an obvious “given”. But the reality is that small business owners need to spend between 50-80% of their daily activities on marketing. The percentage is toward the higher end of the range if you are just starting out.
So how do you know what you should be doing each day for marketing? That’s where your marketing plan comes in. Your plan should include a list of marketing goals and activities relevant to your business, and a schedule for when to accomplish them. Then break them down into individual tasks, and write these on a calendar. Aim to do something every day, and schedule a specific time to do it.
If you need help developing your marketing plan, you can get business counseling from your local Small Business Administration office or from your local SCORE organization.
Internet marketing should be the centerpiece of all small business marketing activities today.
We have posted several blog articles about the importance of Internet marketing using social media. It is one of the best ways to get the message out about your divorce services business. Social media is a very powerful tool with the ability to reach thousands of people. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. Internet users regularly use a social network.
Establish a Facebook business page, get listed on Google Places for Business, and if possible, start a blog. Block out some time at least 30 minutes a day to socialize and develop relationships on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google + or Twitter.
Networking is essential.
Every business owner must do some form of networking to spread the word about their business and get clients. This is especially true for those who own a service business, such as a divorce services business, and doubly true when first starting out.
In one of our previous blog postings, “5 Networking Tips For Independent Paralegals”, we shared some of our best networking advice. We mentioned joining several local networking groups like:
- Your local Chamber of Commerce
- A professional referral organization e.g. BNI
- Notifying local attorneys about various services you offer
- Volunteering your services through your local Bar Association
- Getting involved with a trade association such as CALDA (California Association of Legal Document Assistants)
- Approaching local mediators about contract paralegal work
All of these activities could gain you some excellent referral partners or potential clients. Just remember that the key to successful networking is reciprocity. Offer your assistance or referrals to others, and you are likely to gain advocates who will do the same for you.
Take advantage of free publicity.
There are a number of marketing activities that will cost you nothing. For example, a well-written LinkedIn profile can speak volumes for your business, and participating in LinkedIn groups where your potential clients or referral partners might be involved can help you get known.
Also look for ways to get your message out to your local community by:
- Writing an article for a local newspaper
- Offering to be interviewed by local newspapers & radio station
- Volunteering to give a short presentation at your local library
- Speaking at community groups such as women’s clubs or other civic organizations
Consider some low-cost publicity activities.
For just a small outlay of money you can have flyers or postcards printed up, or just use the business cards you’ve probably already purchased, and arrange with local businesses (such as beauty salons) to display them.
You might also consider sponsoring a referral reward program – perhaps a $20.00 gift certificate to a local restaurant for referring someone who becomes a client. This promotion could be made available to existing and past clients, Providers, and people you meet at networking events.
Take Away
To establish or grow your divorce services business, you need to spend at least half of your time on marketing activities. Having a well-thought out marketing plan coupled with a calendar of marketing tasks will help keep you on track.
The Divorce With Dignity Network can give you some valuable ideas and tips on marketing your divorce services business efficiently and profitably. Please visitPeacefulDivorce Business.com to learn more about how you can have your own successful peaceful divorce business or expand your legal practice to include peaceful divorceservices.
