Google+ + Law Firm Marketing = Increased Firm Income?

Maybe your law firm already has a good social media presence: a blog, a website, a Twitter account, a Facebook page. But, now that Google+ has entered into the fray, does Google+ + law firm marketing = a good deal?

One thing to be sure of is that Google+ operates differently than other social media sites, including its closest competitors like LinkedIn or Facebook.

Instead of adding users to one generic "friends" list or "followers" list, you can actually sort different people into different "circles."

"Circles" can be made for people like clients, friends, followers and employees. Basically, if you can think of a category, you can create it on Google+. And the interesting thing about the circles is that you are able to share information with specific circles. Want your clients to know about a new case that can be beneficial to them? Share it to your "client" circle.

The other interesting thing about Google+ is that it has the potential to integrate some business applications into the social network. Google Documents already has a vast array of business tools: word processing, spreadsheets and the like.

And, Google+ has a "hangout" feature that lets you video chat with multiple people at once. With both business applications and a video chat at your fingertips, Google+ could potentially turn into a useful platform to actually get some work done.

Plus, the marketing side of Google+ can generate a good buzz for a law firm, if used correctly. Google+ is offering a "Sparks" feature, which lets user share topics of interest to their circles. "Sparks" is also supposed to generate a feed of relevant news and stories, so if your firm is focused on family law, a "family law" oriented "Spark" could let you legal updates and interesting news stories to your clients.

Of course, Google+ is still in its infancy phase. And, Google+'s business profiles are still under wraps. But, Google+ and law firm marketing may really be an interesting combination, once the internet giant finally releases its business-oriented profile pages.

Related Resources:

• Google+ Social Media Is Poised To Change Your Law Firm's Web Marketing Strategy (Digital Media)
• Should You be Using Facebook for Jury Selection? (FindLaw's Strategist)
• Judges Use Facebook, Too. But Should They? (FindLaw's Strategist)