The virtues of old fashioned marketing (Guest Blog by Delia Venables)

(Posted on 26/03/13)

You might think that, because I have a web site about information for lawyers and individuals at http://www.venables.co.uk, and that I co-edit an online newsletter called Internet Newsletter for Lawyers at http://www.infolaw.co.uk/newsletter/ that I am all in favour of online marketing, with web sites, legal apps and all types of social media. Well, I am in favour of all these things, but not at the expense of old fashioned marketing.

Old fashioned marketing is about being known in your community because you actually are part of that community.

Here are some of the things which I count as old fashioned marketing, used in the most favourable sense:

You are on your children's school governors or coach the local school football team.
You play golf, or tennis, or go swimming, or attend yoga classes.
You assist the local Citizen's Advice Bureau, or work for other local charities.
You do free legal work for (just a few!) local charities and worthwhile organisations.
You are part of the Chamber of Commerce or Lions and attend their events.
You play in the local orchestra, act in the local amateur dramatics, or go to astronomy association meetings.
You use the local high street shops wherever possible, even when it costs more.

And here is one thing you do not do - change your firm's name with its several well known partner names (never mind if they are mostly dead) to "ABC Law". Yuc! Where is your sense of pride in yourselves and your community?

(With apologies to my many friends who have done exactly that. I have let my true feelings show at last).

Delia Venables