How do I maximise client engagement with our law firm’s newsletters?

Business development and marketing efforts have been evolving for years. Professional service providers can't solely rely on lunches, networking events, and overseas conferences etc for visibility. This is why we are working hard on content marketing - blogging, social media, email newsletters, podcasts, e-books, videos, and webinars. 

A post on business development for law firms stated, “law firm newsletters are a lot of work. And honestly, I don’t know any firm that does them well. In fact, you probably should not send a boring newsletter stuffed with tidbits about your firm’s new staff members and sales pitches”. We couldn’t agree more.

If emails remain the most popular way of communicating with people, how can law firms ensure that clients appreciate the newsletters you send them? Everyone is inundated with marketing messages, so why are some emails a ‘must-read’, and not others. And how do you guarantee that yours is in the first category?

Turn your newsletter into a conversation starter

Regardless of industry or practice area, it is possible to create a newsletter that people will want to read. If you imagine it as an example of networking, what would people think of your topics of conversation? You want to come across as knowledgeable and informed, well rounded in an entertaining way, but above all, interested in what the other person has to say.

An instagram influencer is going to have different expectations compared with a senior banking regulator. Your newsletter would need to reflect their business - and personal - ethos with a different balance of conversational content. Which individual would want to read commentary about industry news? Or a ‘chatty’ newsletter with an emphasis on social events and alumni? The answer may surprise you. 

Ensuring your newsletter content will resonate

Finding the right balance of interesting and informative content in your newsletters and alerts can be tricky. As the quote above makes clear, ‘salesy’ newsletters will bore your client, so information you produce for marketing purposes cannot be just about your firm. You must provide content that addresses the needs and interests of others. 

Will something affect my business?

• How will items in the news affect my business? Current awareness with expert commentary is the backbone of law firm newsletters. Show you’re ahead of the game and demonstrate your expertise and do it in plain English!
• How will new legislation affect my business? Not all new laws will impact your clients but as legal counsel, it’s your job to work with them when it does.
• How can recent industry surveys and trends inform my business? Very often academic institutions, business consultancies or quality newspapers will commission a ‘state of an industry’ survey. These contain a lot of useful information and it’s your role as legal adviser to make considered use of this information on behalf of your client. 

Will something affect me?

• How can my legal adviser entertain and inform me? Newsletters are a perfect way of highlighting events relevant to your contacts list. There is usually an element of learning and information sharing as well as professional networking so make sure your event is in their calendar well in advance.
• How does my legal adviser make a difference? Your contacts want to know how you give back to the community through charitable events, sponsorship, or fundraising. If it coincides with their interests, clients and contacts will want to know - the perfect opportunity to meet up.
• How can my legal adviser make me more personally productive? Sharing best practice is an important part of networking, so if you’ve found a way of improving productivity, let your clients and contact know! It could be a great app, something that inspires your team, or a simple “life-hack”.
   

It’s not just about content

If only it was as easy as creating a balance of fantastic content! Now that we have agreed that boring sales pitches and new joiners are out, business development teams have to think about the way the information is presented in the newsletter. Again, this depends on the recipient. Think about:

• Subject headings: something catchy or keep it serious?
• Use of graphics: time to move away from stock images and be more creative?
• Format: make it attractive, brand-recognisable, quick to download, and mobile friendly. Ask your clients about multimedia options - podcasts etc
• Length: attention spans are limited but if you keep it relevant and well designed, it’s a winner!

And finally, the right call-to-action (CTA) is essential if you want readers to make contact with you. CTAs should be easy to find, well-designed, and interest your readers so much that they immediately want to click on it! Ideas include links to a recently published white paper, or to register interest in an event.

The conversation I had with my BD contact made it clear that the law firm newsletter has evolved over the past 20 years. We are subject to legal requirements under GDPR and we no longer send out expensive paper newsletters. As a society, we are so used to sophisticated marketing campaigns, that second-rate efforts can be damaging.

Organisations owe it to themselves and their clients to be smart with email marketing.

It is hard work but if it is done right you are connecting with people in a more meaningful way. An email newsletter isn’t simply an electronic communication. It’s a chance to deepen your and your firm’s connection with your network on a personal level. Use that opportunity to its fullest and reveal the people behind your ‘must-read’ message.

The key to a successful law firm newsletter to clients is more than just the right content. Include information that is relevant to the clients’ business, as items that may be interesting on a personal level. Then ensure you present it in the right way and remember to include a meaningful CTA - to have conversations further down the line.