<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Trost Report</title>
	<atom:link href="http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://trostreport.com</link>
	<description>Marketing news, tools and commentary for lawyers, by lawyers</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:34:37 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1</generator>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
			<item>
		<title>Pity Party or Hero&#8217;s Journey &#8211; Which Will You Choose?</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=531</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=531#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Mar 2010 17:32:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead Stories]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=531</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a reprint from an article I wrote for the American Trial Lawyer Magazine. Enjoy!
Quick. What is the sound most plaintiff’s attorneys make when discussing medical malpractice tort reform?
Blah, blah, blah. Boo, hoo, hoo. Blah, blah, blah. Waaahhh, waaahhh, waaahhh.
Is anyone tired of this pity party? I know I am. 
But, guess what I [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Lawyer-crying.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Lawyer-crying-150x150.png" alt="" title="Lawyer crying" width="150" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-532" /></a>This is a reprint from an article I wrote for the American Trial Lawyer Magazine. Enjoy!</p>
<p>Quick. What is the sound most plaintiff’s attorneys make when discussing medical malpractice tort reform?</p>
<p>Blah, blah, blah. Boo, hoo, hoo. Blah, blah, blah. Waaahhh, waaahhh, waaahhh.</p>
<p>Is anyone tired of this pity party? I know I am. </p>
<p>But, guess what I say when I participate in one of these conversations?</p>
<p>Blah, blah, blah. Boo, hoo, hoo. Blah, blah, blah. Waaahhh, waaahhh, waaahhh.</p>
<p>I chime in and shed alligator tears because I know what impact this conversation is having on attorney marketing around the country. It’s scaring away attorneys by the droves, creating a vacuum. And where there is a vacuum, there is opportunity. </p>
<p>The amount of ads focusing on medical malpractice has declined dramatically in this post-apocalyptic world of damage caps, proportional liability, and sliding scale attorney fees. Ask one of the plaintiff’s bar larger advertising agencies, and they will tell you as much. </p>
<p><a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/harlen.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/harlen.png" alt="" title="harlen" width="101" height="103" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-533" /></a>Harlan Schillinger at Network Affiliates says he has only a handful of clients in select states, like Washington and New York, who are advertising for medical malpractice cases.<br />
<a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/arnie.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/arnie-125x150.png" alt="" title="arnie" width="125" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-534" /></a><br />
Arnie Malham, at cj Advertising, where I spend my time, will tell you the same. As Arnie observes, “We just produced some medical malpractice spots a few months ago but it was our first new batch in several years.” </p>
<p>Everyone agrees it is an impossible situation. To market for this type of case you have to wade through 100 “bad” cases to find just one worth pursuing. To properly prepare that one case, you have to spend more than the caps allow. Justice is not served if taking these cases bankrupts the firm.</p>
<p>But before we turn tail and run away screaming like school kids, let’s take a closer look at medical malpractice because, as the radio preacher, Charles Swindoll, said, “We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.”</p>
<p>What is the “great opportunity” that presents itself to us as a result of the Medical lobby and the Chamber of Commerce kicking our butts in most every state of the union with the passing of these draconian laws? </p>
<p>Here is my list of the three best opportunities:</p>
<p>Opportunity #1 &#8211; Streamlining/Outsourcing<br />
Our profession is one of the most inefficient industries in our country. This is due, primarily, to the restraint of trade that has been imposed on our industry by the bar restrictions against ownership by non-attorneys. The margins are so absurdly large for most types of cases, and the competition is so vastly undercapitalized, who needs to be efficient to make a living? </p>
<p>But, if you have been following the conversation in this magazine about the opening of the Australia and England bars to outside investment, then you know that those “good ol’ days” are about to end in this country, as well. And pity the attorney who is not running a lean and mean 21st-century law practice when it happens.</p>
<p>A large study by the Harvard Medical Practice in 1990 found doctors were injuring one out of every 25 patients. This implies there is an endless supply of medical malpractice cases for the firms that streamline how they process these cases. </p>
<p>The opportunity is not in marketing. Any firms that advertises on TV knows that it could run an ad that says, “We only handle auto accidents” and it will still get a flood of med mal calls.  Rather, the opportunity is in operations. Only the firms with extremely efficient operations will survive the next 10 years. Why not take this opportunity to do the hard work and get your firm’s operations in shape before it is too late?</p>
<p>In this regard, I can’t resist another quote about opportunity. Thomas Edison said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”</p>
<p><a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lip.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/lip-150x150.png" alt="" title="lip" width="150" height="150" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-535" /></a>Some firms have a head start on you. These firms are outsourcing all their calls to trained legal intake folks, such as Legal Intake Professionals. In most cases, this greatly reduces intake costs while improving overall results. </p>
<p><a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/medview.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/medview-150x75.png" alt="" title="medview" width="150" height="75" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-536" /></a>Other firms have taken it a step further. Richard Harris in Las Vegas, the Joye Law Firm in South Carolina,  Carter Mario in Connecticut and other firms have outsourced all their medical malpractice calls to a new outfit called Med View Services (www.medviewservices.com), that uses clinically experienced registered nurses to screen these calls for medical merit.  So, instead of squandering money on hours of staff time sorting through those 100  non-cases, these firms can now focus their time and resources on that one potential new med mal case, while keeping the staff focused on their active cases.</p>
<p>Other firms have become efficient on the heavy lifting side of the equation. Texas, one of the worst hit states for medical malpractice tort reform, still has firms that know how to work a med mal case into a profit for the firm. Because almost every other firm has abandoned these cases, the last-man-standing firms get to pick and choose the best referrals.</p>
<p>Opportunity #2 &#8211; Micro-Niche<br />
Any good marketing book will tell you that finding and developing a niche market is one of the best ways to leverage your limited marketing dollars. </p>
<p>I was sitting in a focus group recently. The group was asked to watch and evaluate several attorney commercials. One commercial was by an attorney named Botkin who talked in his ad about representing burn victims. When we asked the group who they would call if they were in an auto accident and needed an attorney, one guy shouted out, “I’m not sure who I would call if I was in an auto accident but, if I was burned, I’d call Botkin!”</p>
<p><a href="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/brain-injury.png"><img src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/brain-injury-150x99.png" alt="" title="brain injury" width="150" height="99" class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-537" /></a>Some savvy firms are using the impetus of the tort reform crisis to push further into niche marketing. In some states nursing home cases that used to get lumped into medical malpractice are now separated by firms as worthy of niche marketing efforts. In other states, certain types of medical malpractice cases are still profitable and firms are focusing all their branding efforts to occupy that micro-niche. As macabre as it may sound, there is a firm that has found profitability and security by becoming the “Baby Brain Injury” law firm. </p>
<p>Opportunity #3 &#8211; Lesson Learned<br />
When the $4 billion Vioxx settlement was announced, I’m sure that many of you did what I did. I quickly calculated that this represented a billion plus dollars in attorney fees for the smart firms that marketed for these cases.</p>
<p>But I am guessing that few of you made the next calculation &#8211; wondering how much of this billion plus would be used to launch PR efforts to combat tort reform and build brand.</p>
<p>If those firms had joined forces and given a good marketing company just 10% of those attorney fees, say $100 million, the marketing company could have not only made a serious dent in tort reform but could have also built brands for those firms that were indestructible.</p>
<p>The firms that have hoarded all those mass tort dollars over the years are not just greedy &#038; selfish, they are stupid. Instead of building their yachts and sailing off into historical oblivion, they could have helped the millions who have lost their day in court due to tort reform and they could have built a brand. In short, instead of building a boat, they could have built a legacy.</p>
<p>What a novel idea. Fight tort reform and build a brand that thrives in the new world that is just around the corner. Find a small place for yourself in the history books.</p>
<p>Summary<br />
So, here is what I say to those of you with the heart for it. Let’s man up and find the inner resources to meet these challenges, embrace this demon and pass through one more gate on our hero’s journey. As the remarkable author, Joseph Campbell, said, “Opportunities to find deeper powers within ourselves come when life seems most challenging.” </p>
<p>But, if you misplaced your heart along the way and insist on standing on the side of the road wallowing in self-pity about tort reform, here is what I say to you:</p>
<p>Blah, blah, blah. Boo, hoo, hoo. Blah, blah, blah. Waaahhh, waaahhh, waaahhh.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=531</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Short Cut to Better SEO for your Website</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=515</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=515#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 22 Nov 2009 03:17:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taking Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=515</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;m not sure anyone is more skeptical than me about internet marketing firms who convince law firms to pay good money on the elusive promise of higher organic rankings on search engines like Google.
(Note &#8211; If you have no clue what I just said, my apologies. This discussion fits under the extremely arcane subject of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I&#8217;m not sure anyone is more skeptical than me about internet marketing firms who convince law firms to pay good money on the elusive promise of higher organic rankings on search engines like Google.</p>
<p>(Note &#8211; If you have no clue what I just said, my apologies. This discussion fits under the extremely arcane subject of SEO &#8211; Search Engine Optimization. In a nutshell, SEO, all about making sure your website shows up at the top of the list when someone searches on Google or another search engine for a personal injury attorney.)</p>
<p>I was recently approached by a friend who said he had developed a product specifically designed for the plaintiff&#8217;s bar that would dramatically improve Search Engine Optimization. Since he was a friend, I didn&#8217;t start badgering him like I normally do SEO vendors. But I did throw down the gauntlet. &#8220;Prove it,&#8221; I challenged him.</p>
<p>And so we agreed on a simple experiment. He is going to use the product on my website, TrostReport.com. We will measure the results. Will his product cause my website to rise in the ranks of relevant search results? Or, will it prove to be another empty SEO promise?</p>
<p>Caveat #1 &#8211; Since my website is not geared towards attracting potential PI clients, I am not attempting to rank high for the normal PI search terms like &#8220;auto accident lawyer.&#8221; I am more interested in climbing the ranks for search terms like &#8220;legal marketing&#8221;. There is less competition for the search terms I am vying for. So, even if the product is able to dramatically improve my results, it might not produce the same results for PI law firm websites. But not to worry. If the experiment is a success, I will put it to the test with a typical law firm website and see what happens.</p>
<p>Caveat #2 &#8211; This experiment will take two or three months. There are very good reasons for this that I will discuss as we go along.</p>
<p>So, what is the product and what does it do?</p>
<p>Stay tuned.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=515</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>LA &#8211; THE POWER OF MANY</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=471</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=471#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:49:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[featured articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=471</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Group Advertiser Dominates in the City of Angels
Here’s a question. Name me another city besides Los Angeles where the dominant TV legal advertiser is a group advertising effort&#8230;. in Spanish.
That’s right. Los Defensores, the brainchild of Walker Advertising founder Maryann Walker, has been the dominant #1 TV spender in the LA basin for several years. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-472" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=472"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-472" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.15.34 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.15.34-PM-300x201.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.15.34 PM" width="270" height="181" /></a></p>
<p><strong>Group Advertiser Dominates in the City of Angels</strong></p>
<p>Here’s a question. Name me another city besides Los Angeles where the dominant TV legal advertiser is a group advertising effort&#8230;. in Spanish.</p>
<p>That’s right. <a href="http://www.losdefensores.com">Los Defensores</a>, the brainchild of <a href="http://www.walkeradvertising.com">Walker Advertising</a> founder Maryann Walker, has been the dominant #1 TV spender in the LA basin for several years. In 2008 , Nielsen estimated this group advertising program spent almost $10 million on local broadcast TV in Los Angeles</p>
<p>But it doesn’t stop there. In 2002, Walker started a second legal group advertising Hispanic brand geared towards younger people &#8211; <a href="http://www.aliviolegal.com">Alivio Legal</a>. And, not to leave the non-Spanish speaking population without any choices, Walker also advertises under the English language group advertising brand &#8211; <a href="http://www.1800thelaw2.com">1-800-THE-LAW2</a>.</p>
<p>Nielsen estimated these two brands accounted for $1.5 and $2.5 million in TV spending in 2008. Do the math &#8211; that’s $14 million combined.</p>
<p>A quick look at the brands of the English-speaking law firms on TV reveal how thoroughly these group advertising programs have chocked off competition.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-473" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=473"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-473" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.23.44 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.23.44-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.23.44 PM" width="235" height="174" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.larryhparker.com">Larry Parker</a> has been around awhile and continues to spend at decent levels (Nielsen reported $3.7 million in 2008).</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-474" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=474"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-474" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.25.28 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.25.28-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.25.28 PM" width="264" height="99" /></a></p>
<p>Judging by its website, the law firm of <a href="http://www.rrexparris.com">R. Rex Parris</a> looks like it is attempting to brand a reputable brand.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-476" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=476"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-476" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.29.31 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.29.31-PM-300x90.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.29.31 PM" width="300" height="90" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.jacoby-meyers.com">Jacoby &amp; Meyers</a> throws just enough money into LA to lay a sliver of a claim to a brand there.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-475" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=475"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-475" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.30.45 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.30.45-PM-300x104.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.30.45 PM" width="300" height="104" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.russbrown.com">Russ Brown</a> appears to have carved out the motorcycle accident niche in this market. (If you have ever lived in LA, like I have, and seen how motorcycles weave through rush hour traffic, you know Russ has picked a good niche to practice.)</p>
<p>But, judging by their anemic advertising weight, none of these firms appears to have more than a toehold in the market and the falloff after them is stunning. There were several firms that spent over a half million dollars on TV in LA in 2008 that I can’t even find online!</p>
<p>For now the local LA firms can be lazy about building brands. They can find clients the old fashioned way &#8211; the honest ones with referrals and the dishonest ones with runners. If they need to supplement their caseload, I’m sure that Walker Advertising would be happy to put them into one of their group advertising programs.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-477" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=477"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-477" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.33.13 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.33.13-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.33.13 PM" width="156" height="170" /></a></p>
<p>But the most saturated attorney TV market in the country, Las Vegas, lies just 231 miles to the east. It’s packed with ambitious law firms that know how to throw their weight around on TV.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-478" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=478"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-478" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.37.10 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.37.10-PM-150x150.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.37.10 PM" width="150" height="150" /></a></p>
<p>And, some of the more savvy firms east of the Mississippi are setting out on the westward trails to seek their fame and fortunes.</p>
<p>It won’t be easy or cheap but Los Angeles is too promising a market to ignore for much longer. There are a lot of people in LA who don’t watch Hispanic programming. Some firm is going to make a play there. With the right branding and the right amount of cash, it will give Walker a run for its money.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-479" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=479"><img class="alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-479" title="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.38.55 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-28-at-5.38.55-PM-150x150.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-28 at 5.38.55 PM" width="150" height="150" /></a></p>
<p>But, what the heck, given the success of Los Defensores, why am I talking in English?</p>
<p>“La revolucion no es una manzana que cae cuando esta madura. Tu tienes que hacerla caer.” Che Guevara</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=471</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Best Return on Your Marketing Dollar</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=455</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=455#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:06:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taking Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=455</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The other day I was talking with a good friend whose primary practice is workerʼs comp, although he also does a fair bit of auto accident and other personal injury work.
He told me he ran into one of his former clients on the street. They exchanged pleasantries and then the former client dropped this bomb: [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The other day I was talking with a good friend whose primary practice is workerʼs comp, although he also does a fair bit of auto accident and other personal injury work.</p>
<p>He told me he ran into one of his former clients on the street. They exchanged pleasantries and then the former client dropped this bomb: “You know, my brother and his family were in a horrific car accident that was caused by this truck driver who fell asleep behind the wheel of his big rig. I thought of calling you but I wasnʼt sure if you were still practicing so we called someone else.”</p>
<p>I wish I could say I never hear stories like this but you and I know the truth &#8211; most PI attorneys do a terrible job keeping in contact with former clients.</p>
<p>Let me say this as clearly as I can &#8211; the biggest return you will ever make on your marketing dollar is on marketing to your former clients for future business.</p>
<p>Let me make two other points &#8211; Consistency and Quality.</p>
<p><strong>Consistency</strong> &#8211; Most of you, after reading this, will resolve to revive that monthly law firm newsletter. And you will, for a month or two. And then everyone will get caught up again in the daily crunch of activities and the newsletter project will get dropped again. That method is not going to get you the return business you are looking for.</p>
<p>You need an automated, consistent program that runs on its own, no matter how busy you get.</p>
<p><strong>Quality</strong> &#8211; I know your town has all kinds of great graphic designers but you are not going to find any of them. You are going to find one that, excuse the expression, sucks.</p>
<p>Lawyers are like magnets when it comes to attracting terrible graphic artists. I know this because Iʼm seen all the junk that lawyers send out. Itʼs awful.</p>
<p>The stuff you send out needs to pop, needs to show you at your professional best, needs to inform people what they should be calling you about.</p>
<p>One tool you should consider is<a href="http://www.marketingtools4lawyers.com"><strong> MarketingTools4Lawyers</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-457" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=457"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-457" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.28.57 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.28.57-AM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.28.57 AM" width="262" height="185" /></a></p>
<p>Custom-designed postcards, brochures, inserts, calendars, business cards.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-459" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=459"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-459" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.29.20 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.29.20-AM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.29.20 AM" width="147" height="251" /></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-460" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=460"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-460" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.30.13 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.30.13-AM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.30.13 AM" width="222" height="172" /></a></p>
<p>This is not the only game in town but it is a good place to start.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=455</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Little Tools Make Your Life Easier</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=442</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=442#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 13:03:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taking Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=442</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Let me warn you upfront that there is nothing cool or dynamic about what I am about to say.
But hereʼs what I can promise. I will tell about some tools that will:

Save you a lot of time,
Turn rejects into future clients, and
Increase the value of your cases.

1) Save you a lot of time
Here&#8217;s the scenario. [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Let me warn you upfront that there is nothing cool or dynamic about what I am about to say.</p>
<p>But hereʼs what I can promise. I will tell about some tools that will:</p>
<ol>
<li>Save you a lot of time,</li>
<li>Turn rejects into future clients, and</li>
<li>Increase the value of your cases.</li>
</ol>
<p><strong>1) Save you a lot of time</strong></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s the scenario. You need to give your new staff person an orientation about personal injury law. And maybe it wouldnʼt hurt to give a refresher course to some of your current staff.</p>
<p>Now, you can spend invaluable attorney time having yourself or one of your other attorneys do it. Or, you could simply buy <a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com/injury-law-101.php"><strong>Injury Law 101</strong></a>, a DVD series that covers everything you need to properly train your staff.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-444" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=444"><img class="size-full wp-image-444 alignnone" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 7.58.08 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-7.58.08-AM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 7.58.08 AM" width="112" height="137" /></a></p>
<p>Where do you buy Injury Law 101? <strong><a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com">At VideoTools4Lawyers</a></strong>.</p>
<p><strong>2) Turn rejects into future clients</strong></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s another scenario. You&#8217;re conducting that first intake interview. And, when you ask the person on the phone what kind of personal injuries they sustained, he says the one thing you know will turn this call in a polite reject, “No, thank goodness, no personal injury. But my car is pretty smashed up. Can you help me with that?”</p>
<p>But, wait. Why send that person packing when you can give them something simple to earn their good will and their business the next time when there is a personal injury?</p>
<p>How about a DVD called: <a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com/property-damage.php"><strong>Property Damage: How to Handle Your Own Claim</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-445" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=445"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-445" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.00.25 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.00.25-AM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.00.25 AM" width="98" height="128" /></a></p>
<p>Mail the person this DVD that gives them the information on how to negotiate and settle a property damage claim. You do a good deed, earn their trust, get their mailing address for future mailings. Thatʼs a win-win.</p>
<p>Where do you buy Property Damage: How to Handle Your Own Claim? At <a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com"><strong>VideoTools4Lawyers</strong></a>.</p>
<p><strong>3) Increase the value of your cases</strong></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com">VideoTools4Lawyers</a> </strong>has some DVDs that help your clients prepare for <a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com/deposition-basics.ph"><strong>depositions</strong></a> and <a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com/preparing-for-your-ssd-hearing.php"><strong>SSD hearings</strong></a>.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-448" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=448"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-448" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.01.25 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.01.25-AM1.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.01.25 AM" width="92" height="133" /></a><a rel="attachment wp-att-449" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=449"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-449" title="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.01.37 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-24-at-8.01.37-AM1.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-24 at 8.01.37 AM" width="92" height="128" /></a></p>
<p>These will help your clients put their best foot forward at those critical moments when the value of their case is up for grabs.</p>
<p>Iʼm guessing these DVDs will also save you some time and a few phone nervous phone calls from anxious clients.</p>
<p>If you want to build your practice, you need the right tools. Youʼll find a few good ones at <strong><a href="http://www.videotools4lawyers.com">VideoTools4Lawyers</a></strong>.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=442</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Top Dogs in 2009</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=324</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=324#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 Oct 2009 03:56:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Lead Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[featured articles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=324</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Someone asked me for a list of firms whose growth is worthy of study. I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ve missed a few but here is what I came up with on a first pass. Let me know who you think should be added.
I included some comments. Although some of the comments may be unfavorable, make no mistake [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-343" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=343"><img class="size-medium wp-image-343 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.25.15 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.25.15-PM-300x172.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.25.15 PM" width="300" height="172" /></a></p>
<p>Someone asked me for a list of firms whose growth is worthy of study. I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ve missed a few but here is what I came up with on a first pass. Let me know who you think should be added.</p>
<p>I included some comments. Although some of the comments may be unfavorable, make no mistake that all of these firms are top dogs. Any flaws or weaknesses I point out shouldn&#8217;t detract from what they have accomplished and will accomplish in the future. (Writer&#8217;s note &#8211; It&#8217;s a delicate balance between good manners and writing something that serves as more than just a fluff piece. If I have offended or mischaracterized anyone, my apologies in advance.)</p>
<p>You&#8217;ll also note that the two firms at the top of the list are from Australia. These firms have gone public and the heat is on to bring their resources and expertise to this country. I can guarantee you that some of the finest minds in the plaintiffs&#8217; bar are working overtime to figure a way through or around the bar prohibitions against non-attorney ownership of law firms. I know. I&#8217;ve talked to them.</p>
<p>Practice saying the name &#8211; Slater &amp; Gordon. It may be on your business card someday.</p>
<p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">National Firms</span></strong></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-344" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=344"><img class="size-medium wp-image-344 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.39.11 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.39.11-PM-299x265.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.39.11 PM" width="113" height="100" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.slatergordon.com.au"><strong>Slater &amp; Gordon</strong></a> (Australia)</p>
<ul>
<li>Went public two years ago. Reported to have raised over $35 million in a day on IPO. (A large amount in terms of population.) Has bought up several other firms to establish national footprint and engaged in branding marketing campaign. Biggest question mark is which country they will pick to expand into next.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-345" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=345"><img class="size-medium wp-image-345 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.40.35 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.40.35-PM-300x53.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.40.35 PM" width="240" height="42" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ilh.com.au"><strong>Integrated Legal Holdings</strong></a> (Australia)</p>
<ul>
<li>2nd firm in Australia to go public. Different business model &#8211; micro-branding. Looks like distant 2nd at this point.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-346" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=346"><img class="size-full wp-image-346 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.42.50 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.42.50-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.42.50 PM" width="152" height="127" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://sokolovesuccess.com"><strong>James Sokolove</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Boston based. Largest national advertiser for many years. Nielsen reports $20 million a year in national advertising (probably overestimated). Has recently de-emphasized consumer branding in favor of branding &amp; PR efforts within the bar.  Could be part of &#8220;going public&#8221; strategy where perception within the bar will be key. Cleverly disguised advertising agency that also operates as a law firm (this allows it to collect fees on much more profitable back end while establishing its brand). Sokolove has been one step ahead of everyone else for years.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-347" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=347"><img class="size-full wp-image-347 alignleft" title="Binder &amp; Binder headshot" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Binder-Binder-headshot.png" alt="Binder &amp; Binder headshot" width="149" height="122" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.binderandbinder.com"><strong>Binder &amp; Binder</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>In last year has upped national advertising to Sokolove levels. Niche practice &#8211; Social Security Disability. Could be called the Sokolove of Social Security Disability law.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-348" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=348"><img class="size-medium wp-image-348 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.46.55 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.46.55-PM-300x145.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.46.55 PM" width="210" height="102" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.weitzlux.com"><strong>Weitz &amp; Luxenberg</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>New York personal injury firm that engages in heavy mass tort national advertising. Also moving into other New York markets, like Syracuse.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-349" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=349"><img class="size-full wp-image-349 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.48.22 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.48.22-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.48.22 PM" width="128" height="137" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.goldwaterlaw.com"><strong>Goldwater Law</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Phoenix firm that recently begun more aggressive national advertising (probably mass tort). Also spends at various levels in random local markets. (What are they doing in Traverse City, MI?)</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-350" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=350"><img class="size-medium wp-image-350 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.50.03 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.50.03-PM-300x285.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.50.03 PM" width="108" height="103" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.legalzoom.com"><strong>LegalZoom</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Legal forms website that began heavy national TV advertising in 2008 with Robert Shapiro as spokesperson. Not technically a law firm but aggressively up-sells legal services on its website.</li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Multi-Market Firms</strong></span><br />
<strong> </strong></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-351" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=351"><img class="size-full wp-image-351 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.51.53 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.51.53-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.51.53 PM" width="101" height="133" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.forthepeople.com"><strong>Morgan &amp; Morgan</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Biggest spender in local markets. Spending about $20 million a year in 6 markets in Florida, Georgia and Mississippi. Also owns advertising agency that markets for several firms around country. Co-founder of Mass Torts Made Perfect Conference. Rumored to own part of Cochran Firm (although that may no longer be the case). Projects image of dominant alpha male and watertight operations but data and word on the street suggest a more complex picture.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-353" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=353"><img class="size-full wp-image-353 alignleft" title="Bernstein headshot" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Bernstein-headshot1.png" alt="Bernstein headshot" width="145" height="149" /></a></p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-354" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=354"><img class="size-full wp-image-354 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.54.54 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.54.54-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.54.54 PM" width="170" height="67" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.callsam.com"><strong>Sam Bernstein</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>King of Michigan by a wide margin. Covers 5 markets at very heavy TV weight. Best spokesperson on TV. The 2nd generation of his family is already in place in firm. Extremely nice guy. Only question is whether ambition extends beyond state borders. Everyone knows that, if you&#8217;ve been hurt in Michigan, you just &#8220;Call Sam.&#8221;</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-355" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=355"><img class="size-medium wp-image-355 alignright" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.56.48 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.56.48-PM-300x119.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.56.48 PM" width="300" height="119" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.morrisbart.com"><strong>Morris Bart</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Is the Sam Bernstein of Louisiana. Very dominant player. Innovator in affiliating himself with professional sports teams to build his brand.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-356" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=356"><img class="size-full wp-image-356 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.57.53 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-9.57.53-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 9.57.53 PM" width="245" height="114" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cochranfirm.com"><strong>Cochran Law</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Has offices in 30 cities but on TV in only 8-10 and in only 3-4 cities at a competitive level. Co-founder of Mass Torts Made Perfect and the new ATLA. Well-positioned for growth but word on street that parts of &#8220;franchise&#8221; structure may be problematic.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-357" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=357"><img class="size-full wp-image-357 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.01.13 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.01.13-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.01.13 PM" width="138" height="199" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.attorneykennugent.com"><strong>Ken Nugent</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Ken is a dominant player in Georgia. In Atlanta, he has held his own and more against Morgan&#8217;s invasion which could prove to be ground zero in the battle for Plaintiff&#8217;s bar dominance. Ken should be thanking Daniel Newlin in Orlando for putting competitive pressure on John Morgan in his home market.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-358" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=358"><img class="size-medium wp-image-358 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.03.20 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.03.20-PM-300x175.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.03.20 PM" width="180" height="105" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.edgarsnyder.com"><strong>Edgar Snyder</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Edgar has been quietly dominating western Pennsylvania for several years. An early innovator who has also stocked his firm with a next generation of high-end attorneys. Still waiting to see if firm makes a move into new markets.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-359" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=359"><img class="size-medium wp-image-359 alignright" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.04.37 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.04.37-PM-300x106.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.04.37 PM" width="300" height="106" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.jimadler.com"><strong>Jim Adler</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Adler one of few firms still standing in tort-reform ravaged Texas. Given challenges inside state, hard to imagine him moving beyond the borders but a smart marketer so you never know.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-361" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=361"><img class="size-full wp-image-361 alignleft" title="Jeffrey-Phillips" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Jeffrey-Phillips.jpg" alt="Jeffrey-Phillips" width="77" height="102" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.phillipslaw.com"><strong>Phllips &amp; Associates</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Dangerous player in the west especially since teaming up with another savvy marketing firm. One of few firms that is experimenting with expanding beyond personal injury cases (bankruptcy and criminal).</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-362" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=362"><img class="size-medium wp-image-362 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.07.42 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.07.42-PM-300x192.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.07.42 PM" width="192" height="123" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.hughesandcoleman.com"><strong>Hughes &amp; Coleman</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Savvy, visionary and aggressive player in three states &#8211; Kentucky, Tennessee &amp; New Mexico. One of few firms to skip into non-contiguous markets. The firm runs twice a year marketing conference which allows it to leverage its experience with other firms.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-363" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=363"><img class="size-medium wp-image-363 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.08.53 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.08.53-PM-300x80.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.08.53 PM" width="300" height="80" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.crumleyroberts.com"><strong>Crumley Roberts</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Advertising across the Carolinas. Visionary founder. Very strong brand. Positioned well for growth. Hard to imagine they will confine their ambition to just the Carolinas.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-364" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=364"><img class="size-medium wp-image-364 alignright" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.09.42 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.09.42-PM-300x232.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.09.42 PM" width="180" height="139" /></a></p>
<p><strong><a href="http://www.sinklaw.com ">George Sink</a><br />
</strong></p>
<ul>
<li>George is advertising at very heavy levels in South Carolina. He is smart, aggressive &amp; ambitious and a nice guy to boot. It is hard to tell where he will take his brand given how crowded this part of the country is.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-365" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=365"><img class="size-full wp-image-365 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.11.31 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.11.31-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.11.31 PM" width="169" height="176" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http:///www.isaacsandisaacs.com"><strong>Isaacs &amp; Isaacs</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Aggressive and ambitious marketer in Kentucky. Recent foray into Indiana may suggest larger ambition.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-366" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=366"><img class="size-full wp-image-366 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.12.33 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.12.33-PM.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.12.33 PM" width="234" height="133" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.cellinoandbarnes.com"><strong>Cellino &amp; Barnes</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Advertising at off-the-chart weight in western New York State. Hard to imagine they won&#8217;t look to more markets. (LATE BREAKING NEWS! &#8211; Just as I was getting ready to publish this entry I saw that Cellino &amp; Barnes has recently entered the Syracuse market. Whatever truce they may have had with the other big-time upstate New York firm, Alexander &amp; Catalano, must be off. Could be fireworks, especially since Weitz &amp; Luxenberg is testing the Syracuse market as well.)</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-367" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=367"><img class="size-medium wp-image-367 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.14.21 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.14.21-PM-130x300.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.14.21 PM" width="78" height="180" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.elkandelk.com"><strong>Elk &amp; Elk</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>All over huge population state of Ohio, albeit at less than average weight. Ability to increase TV weight and growth plans beyond the borders of Ohio are two biggest question marks.</li>
</ul>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-369" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=369"><img class="size-medium wp-image-369 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.21.06 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-23-at-10.21.06-PM-300x93.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-23 at 10.21.06 PM" width="300" height="93" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.nstlaw.com"><strong>Nahon, Saharovich &amp; Trotz</strong></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Firm&#8217;s record advertising weight in Memphis alone makes this firm worthy of study. Its heavy presence in other markets makes it worthy of watching for its next move.</li>
</ul>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=324</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Website Videos &#8211; Don&#8217;t Try This at Home!</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=311</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=311#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:26:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Commentary]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=311</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[
Here&#8217;s a quick word of warning.
I&#8217;m a big fan of video on websites. There are all sorts of reasons to populate your website with video. But, as I am spending today reviewing attorney websites, I&#8217;m reminded how dreadful most attorney website videos are.
These videos are sure to send potential new clients scattering, screaming into the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-312" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=312"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-312" title="Screen shot 2009-10-19 at 1.23.45 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-19-at-1.23.45-PM-300x273.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-19 at 1.23.45 PM" width="300" height="273" /></a></p>
<p>Here&#8217;s a quick word of warning.</p>
<p>I&#8217;m a big fan of video on websites. There are all sorts of reasons to populate your website with video. But, as I am spending today reviewing attorney websites, I&#8217;m reminded how dreadful most attorney website videos are.</p>
<p>These videos are sure to send potential new clients scattering, screaming into the night. If this is the best performance you can give on camera, why should someone trust you in a courtroom?</p>
<p>Come on, guys. You can do better than this.</p>
<p>Are you wondering whether the videos you posted are good or bad? Here&#8217;s a quick clue &#8211; If the video is your senior partner talking straight to the camera, without any cutaways, just the senior partner droning on about how great the firm is, your video probably qualifies in the dreadful category.</p>
<p>If you produced these videos yourself, why are you putting such an important marketing weapon in the hands of amateurs? If you hired someone to produce this dreck, fire them&#8230; today. And, ask for your money back.</p>
<p>Want to see what creative attorneys are doing with video on their websites. Here are a couple to check out:</p>
<p>One of my favorite ones is the introductory video on the <a href="http:///www.mcdivittlaw.com">McDivitt Law Firm</a> site. When you get to the home page, click on &#8220;View Media&#8221; just to the right of the picture of father &amp; son, Mike &amp; David McDivitt.</p>
<p>Another great one is on the <a href="http://www.joyelawfirm.com">Joye Law Firm</a> site. When you get to the home page, click on the &#8220;View Media&#8221; button that sits on top of the picture of Ken Harrel and Mark Joye.</p>
<p>Even if these two are not your style, there is no arguing that they do a much better job conveying the personality and passion of the firm. These are the types of videos that convert website visitors into new clients.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=311</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Trouble in the Big Apple?</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=282</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=282#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:24:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=282</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here’s a question for you.
Of the top 100 TV markets in the country, how many experienced a reduction of attorney TV advertising in the last five years?
How about seven. Just seven TV markets out of the top 100 saw a reduction in attorney advertising in the last five years. While the law firms in 93 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-336" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=336"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-336" title="new-york-city-300x199" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/new-york-city-300x199.jpg" alt="new-york-city-300x199" width="300" height="199" /></a>Here’s a question for you.</p>
<p>Of the top 100 TV markets in the country, how many experienced a reduction of attorney TV advertising in the last five years?</p>
<p>How about seven. Just seven TV markets out of the top 100 saw a reduction in attorney advertising in the last five years. While the law firms in 93 markets shifted into high gear and moved ahead at a blistering pace (70% average increase), the firms in seven markets slammed their marketing efforts into reverse.</p>
<p>Three of those markets were in tort reform happy Texas &#8211; Houston, Dallas and Austin.</p>
<p>The other four? Omaha, Honolulu, Boston and New York City.</p>
<p>I’ll save the first three for another time but what’s going on in the biggest TV market in the country &#8211; New York City?</p>
<p>Before you suggest that the problems are statewide, take a look at other New York markets? Buffalo, already one of the ten most saturated markets in the country grew by 31%. Rochester grew by 11%. Syracuse was up 26% and Albany was up by 32%.</p>
<p>Is there a dominant TV spender that is discouraging competition?</p>
<p>Not really.</p>
<p>The top TV firm &#8211; Trolman, Glaser, Lichtman &#8211; has not created any space between itself and the rest of the pack. It’s share-of-voice, i.e., the amount of its TV advertising compared to all attorneys on the air, has never topped 20%. In the first half of 2009 it stands at 16%. A 16% share-of-voice is not going to frighten away any competitors.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-339" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=339"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-339" title="Screen-shot-2009-10-17-at-9.32.47-PM-300x209" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-17-at-9.32.47-PM-300x209.png" alt="Screen-shot-2009-10-17-at-9.32.47-PM-300x209" width="300" height="209" /></a></p>
<p>Jacoby &amp; Meyers has kept pace with Trolman for several years. Other firms have remained within striking distance &#8211; firms such as Weitz &amp; Luxenberg, Wilens &amp; Baker, Ginarte O’Dwyer, Fitzgerald &amp; Fitzgerald, Parker Waichman, Silbowitz Garafola&#8230; the list goes on.</p>
<p>What about cost? Because New York City is such a large TV market, the cost just to get on TV can be prohibitive. But other big expensive markets have seen increases in attorney TV advertising in the last five years &#8211; #2 Los Angeles increased by 91%, #3 Chicago increased by 17%, and #4 Philadelphia grew by 68%.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-340" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=340"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-340" title="Screen-shot-2009-10-18-at-9.24.58-PM-300x210" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-18-at-9.24.58-PM-300x210.png" alt="Screen-shot-2009-10-18-at-9.24.58-PM-300x210" width="300" height="210" /></a></p>
<p>So, why the decline in attorney TV advertising in New York City?</p>
<p>Here are two possibilities:</p>
<ol>
<li><strong>The lack of strong brands.</strong> I won’t swear by this but just looking at the websites of the leading law firm advertisers suggest a problem with branding. The websites appear dated. None of these firms appear to have moved into 21st century marketing. The lack of strong branding makes growth problematic. New case acquisition hinges entirely upon direct response. This keeps the cost of acquisition high and vulnerable to changing market conditions. (I know that criticizing a firm&#8217;s website is like telling the emperor that he is not wearing any clothes or telling a new mother that her baby is ugly. But either I&#8217;m wrong, in which case these firms can ignore what I say, or I&#8217;m right and I&#8217;m doing these firms a huge favor by pointing out a huge &amp; expensive problem with their marketing efforts.)</li>
<li><strong>Operational inefficiency</strong>. Since I haven’t had an inside look into any of these firms, this possibility is entirely a guess. But, it true, it would explain why these firms have had difficulty sustaining growth. Operational inefficiency reduces profit margin and inhibits cash flow &#8211; both barriers to growth.</li>
</ol>
<p>But neither of these theories explains why smart attorneys who spend lots of money each year have not found the means to reach more people in the biggest market in the country.</p>
<p>If you have a theory, let me know.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=282</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>SSD EXPLODES!</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=208</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=208#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 19 Oct 2009 03:30:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lead Stories]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Marketing News]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=208</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Binder &#038; Binder Ups TV Spending 170%. Binder and Binder, the firm that specializes in Social Security Disability cases, has put an advertising blitz on the national airways in 2008 and the first two quarters of 2009. The firm has long played second fiddle to Jim Sokolove for network cable advertising (i.e. advertising that is aired across]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-220" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=220"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-220" title="Screen shot 2009-10-07 at 3.27.16 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-07-at-3.27.16-PM3.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-07 at 3.27.16 PM" width="236" height="67" /></a></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-224" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=224"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-224" title="Screen shot 2009-10-07 at 3.25.06 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-07-at-3.25.06-PM2.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-07 at 3.25.06 PM" width="236" height="242" /></a><br />
</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><strong>Binder &amp; Binder Ups TV Spending 170%</strong></p>
<p>Binder and Binder, the firm that specializes in Social Security Disability cases, has put an advertising blitz on the national airways in 2008 and the first two quarters of 2009.</p>
<p>The firm has long played second fiddle to Jim Sokolove for network cable advertising (i.e. advertising that is aired across the country on the cable networks). For several years, Binder &amp; Binder has been averaging about $125,000 a week on network cable advertising (in comparison to Sokolove who was spending close to $400,000 a week).*</p>
<p>But beginning in 2008, Binder &amp; Binder upped its weekly budget to around $190,000 a week and then, in the first two quarters of 2009, to around $335,000!!! This figure represent a 170% increase in just a year and a half and puts Binder &amp; Binder in position to challenge Sokolove for the top spot in national advertising.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-214" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=214"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-214" title="Screen shot 2009-10-08 at 7.40.03 PM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-08-at-7.40.03-PM2-300x216.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-08 at 7.40.03 PM" width="300" height="216" /></a></p>
<p>Most importantly, it signals a new phase in the firm’s attempt to establish a national Social Security Disability brand and capture a much larger market share of available cases. It may also signal the introduction of new equity into the firm.**</p>
<p>Given the economic downturn, it may have been a perfectly timed play for the Binder brothers.</p>
<p>Here are the two questions I will be asking as we move into 2010:<br />
Will Binder &amp; Binder attempt to use their brand to move into other areas of the personal injury market?<br />
Will Binder &amp; Binder’s play embolden any fast followers to make a move for a strong second position in this niche market?</p>
<p>*All figures are based on Nielsen data.<br />
**An intriguing possibility is that the firm has determined that a social security practice, in the proper form, is NOT subject to the same restrictions on non-attorney ownership and has, thus, brought in private non-attorney investors.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=208</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>TelMetrics4Laywers &#8211; Track or be Tracked</title>
		<link>http://trostreport.com/?p=245</link>
		<comments>http://trostreport.com/?p=245#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:00:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Trost</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Marketing Tools]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taking Action]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://trostreport.com/?p=245</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I’ve spent the last five years talking to and studying all the PI lawyers who have become the #1 firms in their towns. I’ve learned what they do and how they’ve grown.  And I’m about the share the #1 piece of wisdom that I have learned from these #1 lawyers - Here it is: It’s all ]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-246" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=246"><img class="size-medium wp-image-246 alignleft" title="Screen shot 2009-10-09 at 4.58.09 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-09-at-4.58.09-AM-300x298.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-09 at 4.58.09 AM" width="300" height="298" /></a></p>
<p>I’ve spent the last five years talking to and studying all the PI lawyers who have become the #1 firms in their towns. I’ve learned what they do and how they’ve grown.  And I’m about the share the #1 piece of wisdom that I have learned from these #1 lawyers -</p>
<p>Here it is: It’s all about the numbers.</p>
<p>If you can’t track your results, you will never know how to maximize your marketing dollar and grow your firm.</p>
<p>Now, I’m sure many of you are saying to yourself that you already track results. Every time someone calls, your secretary asks them &#8211; “Where did you hear about us?” That’s not tracking. That’s guessing. If you want to build your practice, you need the right tools. And to track results, the right way, you need the right tracking tool.</p>
<p>Here’s a tracking tool that the big advertising firms use but at a price you can afford.</p>
<p><a rel="attachment wp-att-247" href="http://trostreport.com/?attachment_id=247"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-247" title="Screen shot 2009-10-09 at 4.53.00 AM" src="http://trostreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Screen-shot-2009-10-09-at-4.53.00-AM-300x78.png" alt="Screen shot 2009-10-09 at 4.53.00 AM" width="300" height="78" /></a></p>
<p>It’s called <a href="www.telmetrics4lawyers.com" target="_blank">TelMetrics4Lawyers</a>.</p>
<p>The core of it is simple &#8211; the use of a different phone number for each advertising campaign, for each different ad you run. The art of it are the experts who consult with you and who know the right phone numbers to pick. And the genius of it, the genius of it is the reporting tool that gives you an easy way to determine what is working and what isn’t.</p>
<p>TelMetrics4Lawyers is a no-brainer. If you want to grow faster, grow smarter, you need a tool like TelMetrics4Lawyers.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://trostreport.com/?feed=rss2&amp;p=245</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>
