"Become the Go-To Authority" caught my eye, so I placed the book on my Amazon list and finally got around to reading it a few months later. Ken Lizotte's book, The Expert's Edge, is about how to become a "thoughtleader" and authority in your field. Although not all of it is applicable to expert witnesses because of the unique nature of the legal field (not being an advocate, possible contradictions in opinions, etc.), much of his advice is at least thought-provoking.
The book centers around the five pillars of thoughtleading:
Pillar 1: Publishing your ideas
Pillar 2: Speaking before groups
Pillar 3: Keeping your edge with fresh thinking
Pillar 4: Creatively leveraging the Internet
Pillar 5: Making vigorous use of the media
A quick, worthwhile read.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Your Expert Witness Practice & The Unexpected
What happens after the unexpected? I know I harp on preparing for disaster, the future, and the unexpected, but I was recently reminded of another factor in the equation.
The wife of an expert witness who died unexpectedly contacted me last week. She was trying to close his practice in the most responsible way possible - contacting clients, trying to refer them to other experts, returning files to attorneys, etc. It was overwhelming, especially trying to collect unpaid fees and expenses. I helped her as much as I could, but it served as a reminder that we should think about who will handle what we leave behind and how we can make it easier on them.
If you are uncomfortable discussing such things, write some instructions to be available after the "unexpected". Perhaps even try to divide duties among more than one person. Please give it some thought.
The wife of an expert witness who died unexpectedly contacted me last week. She was trying to close his practice in the most responsible way possible - contacting clients, trying to refer them to other experts, returning files to attorneys, etc. It was overwhelming, especially trying to collect unpaid fees and expenses. I helped her as much as I could, but it served as a reminder that we should think about who will handle what we leave behind and how we can make it easier on them.
If you are uncomfortable discussing such things, write some instructions to be available after the "unexpected". Perhaps even try to divide duties among more than one person. Please give it some thought.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Expert Witness Practice a Little Quiet?
If your practice is less busy than you would like right now, make use of the extra time by spiffing up your database of contacts. Enter those business cards you collected at your last association meeting. Scroll through and see if a referral source deserves a thank you. Are there lists of prospects you could buy or compile for your database? As Rosalie Hamilton says in The Expert Witness Marketing Book:
"Communication is the lifeblood of promotion. A well-built, well-maintained database is one of your most valuable businss assets. Possibly you could even sell the information to a younger expert witness in your field when you retire. For now, your database is your field of prospects. The better you create and cultivate that field, the greater will be the crop you harvest. "
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Marketing Resolutions
Have you made any marketing resolutions for the New Year? This post from Lyne Noella might spark some ideas for your own practice. She listed her Top 5 New Year's Resolutions, all applicable to expert witness/professional services marketing.
(Hat tip to Michelle Golden for the heads ups on this post)
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