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Author: Allan Colman

The 50% Value of Client Retention

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Client Retention, Marketing for Law Firms.

According to a Harvard Business Review blog, at least 50% of new business every year, for professional service firms, should come from clients and referrals—that’s right 50%!

* Turn your clients into important advocates and spokespeople for your firm.
* Know what’s working and what could be better.
* Focus on more than what you are doing now.
* Keep adding benefits to your services.
* Participate rather than just attend.

We’ll discuss each of these in more details in the following posts. You can also obtain lots of additional ideas from www.allancolman.com/services.

Client Retention – 3 Reasons Why Clients Leave

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Business Development, Law Firms.

Understanding why clients leave is critical to knowing how to retain clients. According to Jay Abraham in his book “Getting Everything You Can from Everything You’ve Got”, there are 3 primary reasons even long term clients leave:

1. Lack of contact leads to their forgetting you;
2. Their situation changes;
3. They become dissatisfied.

As discussed in an earlier column on why clients leave, COMMUNICATION is the key.

3 Laws of Client Retention

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Law Firm Leadership, Marketing for Law Firms.

Our newest business development workshop is on keeping your clients. Entitled 3 LAWS OF CLIENT RETENTION, we identify what drives clients crazy and how to apply the 3 rules to keep them and actually grow more business.

Here’s a hint to the 3 rules from LEGACY by James Kerr, “What is the food of the leader? It is knowledge; it is communication.”

Go to www.closersgroup.com/services.

GREAT MARKETING BOOKS

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Business Development, Law Firms, Managing Partners, Marketing for Law Firms.

In one of the LinkedIn groups, there has been a lively discussion of recommendations for “great marketing books” for new marketeers. But while they all address marketing, there is nothing moving the reader out into actual business development. This provides me with a very self-serving opportunity to offer OWN THE ZONE – Dominate the Competition, published by Made For Success Publishing and found at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kindle, Itunes, etc.

“The real impact of the book is about transforming your business culture, erasing the artificial boundary between sales and professional service, and understanding the bottom-line benefits of speaking directly and honestly to client needs.” Larry Smith, Sr. VP LEVICK.

If you are on allancolman.com, download a free chapter. And for the first 10 people who send in the contact form, I’ll foward the book to you at no cost.

You can also reach me at acolman@closers group.com.

Win and Keep New Business – Webinar -November 6th.

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Law Firm Leadership, Law Firms, Marketing for Law Firms.

NOVEMBER 6TH, 12 noon Eastern Time; WIN AND KEEP NEW BUSINESS – GOAL Webinar
This webinar for Global Outsourcing Association of Lawyers will address the following key elements of business development:

* Why should your firm be hired?
* Doubling the number of prospect meetings;
* Retaining clients;
* 12 steps to ASKING FOR BUSINESS;
* Building opportunities.

Register at – https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/965647478 or contact me at www.allancolman.com.

The World Series and 7 Steps to Accelerataing New Business

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Managing Partners, Marketing for Law Firms.

The World Series of baseball is upon us with one surprise team in the finals. It points out that even a “non-big-name” firm can win. All too often we hear law firm excuses that “they want a name-firm so if things go bad, the client can tell the Board of Directors “we got the best.”

More importantly, in the U.S. and Canada, 3 major new campaigns have begun, National Football League, National Hockey League and National Basketball Association. You won’t hear any of them with excuses as to why they can’t beat the big guys.

Our BUSINESS ACCELLERATOR WHEEL c, has 7 steps to get you ROI.

1. Opportunities;
2. Communications;
3. Anticipating and overcoming objections;
4. The “ask”;
5. The “close”;
6. Results;
7. Pipeline.

Let us help you put this to work for your firm.

Managing Partners Leadership

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Attorney Marketing, Law Firm Leadership, Managing Partners.

A PROBLEM IS SOLVED BY CONTINUING TO FIND SOLUTIONS

This message from LEGACY, James Kerr’s book, reminds us to build on successful problem solving. For law firm managing partners, practice area leaders and office managing partners, where a client’s problem has been solved, make sure all of your group knows about it and looks to their own clients for similar issues.

One of the strongest tactics to build great client relationships is when they identify a problem with your work, or timing, or budget, or etc., solve it quickly. And then periodically double check with them on whether other issues are brewing and solve them before they boil over into a retention-threat.

This strategy from the All Blacks professional rugby team from New Zealand also applies to staying on top of your clients’ businesses, their competitors, new legislative requirements, etc. Look for ways to identify possible issues your clients may face and raise them early. Prevent problems from developing.

Law Firm Managing Partners

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Law Firm Leadership, Law Firms, Marketing for Law Firms.

Continuing our messages for leadership from James Kerr’s book, LEGACY,

“FOCUS ON GETTING THE CULTURE RIGHT; THE RESULTS WILL FOLLOW.”

All too often, law firms are managed by consensus or collegiality, both of which inhibit strong decision making. By demonstrating that leaders listens before making decisions, they need to learn when there is enough information and input to make the decision. And once made, it needs to be clearly communicated and accountability designated for its implementation. Remember, taking too long making a decision is, in itself, making a decision; or worse, just letting it happen.

Welcome to the new Closers Group website

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Allan Colman, Asking for Business, Attorney Marketing, Business Development, Marketing for Law Firms.

We’ve learned from others the importance of simplifying and clarifying what clients come to us for and how we can help new business development. Whether you enter www.allancolman.com or www.closersgroup.com, you will find us ready to assist you in accelerating business, presenting keynotes on Leadership, Winning New Business, Client Retention, etc.

Deepest thanks to DeeDee Heathman from Made For Success. As the publisher of my books and future book, CRAZY IMPACT, she brought a unique view into building our new website.

We get measurable results for our clients.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT IN 5 MINUTES A WEEK

Written by Allan Colman on . Posted in Marketing for Law Firms.

MOST FIRMS who approach us looking for business development and sales training want fast results. Many of them are surprised when we say that a dedicated 5 minutes per week is all it takes to put a plan into motion:

** It takes 5 minutes a week to make a phone call or touch base.
** 5 minutes a week is long enough to send an email to a client or prospect.
** In 5 minutes, a meeting can be arranged.
** Committing to writing an article and jotting down a list of topics —
can be made in 5 minutes.

THE ACTIONS themselves will take longer, but by dedicating just 5 minutes per week to generating new business, you will be setting a course marked by true efficiency and will be on the path to business development success.