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3 Replies Last post: May 14, 2008 5:41 AM by seeker

Advertising Ideas

Oct 12, 2007 3:57 PM

Click to view msparalegal's profile Start-up msparalegal 6 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
I opened a paralegal business out of my home a few months ago. I have received a few jobs from attorneys but hardly anything from the general public. I have a website but I don't know how else to advertise to the public. I sent flyers out to all the law firms around me and that helped some. I can't send flyers to everyone in the public. I can also help people in any state not just where I live. The town I live in is very small and mostly retired. I have talked to other business owners in this town and they said the newspaper was a waste. It doesn't cost alot to run the business but what expenses I do have aren't even being covered. I know there are alot of people who could benefit from using my services at half the price an attorney would charge. I need to find some way of advertising to the public or close the business down. At this point it won't even make enough money to pay the taxes on it. Any advice??
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Click to view DomainDiva's profile Mogul DomainDiva 1,732 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
1. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 13, 2007 6:14 PM
in response to: msparalegal
What 'kind' of assistance would you be offering? Most para-legals work under an attorney much as a medical assistant works under a doctor.

I am not sure what kind of advice to offer, it sounds like you may be practicing law without a license, but that conclusion on my part is due to the content in your post.

More context would be helpful.
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Click to view msparalegal's profile Start-up msparalegal 6 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
2. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 12:05 PM
in response to: DomainDiva
No I am not practicing law without a license. It is perfectly legal and extremely common for a paralegal to work on their own. I provide a document preparation service to the public. I provide wills, power of attorney forms, bankruptcy forms, divorce and many other legal documents. I am perfectly legal in doing so as long as I don't give legal advice to them. The people that come to me have already agreed on everything in their divorce or need bankruptcy forms prepared and already know what chapter they are filing.
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
3. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 12:18 PM
in response to: msparalegal
Msparalegal, What did you do before opening the business out of your house??
It must be very hard to get the general public to contact you.
Most paralegal's work for or get business from attorneys.
Think about a BUSINESS PLAN and a MARKETING PLAN
Re the Marketing Identify the services offered.
Identify the customers demand for your service.
(THIS SOUNDS LIKE THE AREA WHERE YOU ARE HAVING YOUR BIGGEST PROBLEM)
In your Bus plan, explain how your service will be advertised and marketed.
Also the pricing strategy.
Good luck, LUCKIEST
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Click to view msparalegal's profile Start-up msparalegal 6 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
4. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 12:32 PM
in response to: LUCKIEST
I was and am currently a paralegal for a federal agency. Freelance paralegals are extremely common the public just doesn't know alot about it. I receive overflow work from attorneys in my area and across the US. I work alot with attorneys doing veterans appeals which I end up taking most pro bono. I know that doesn't help business but that is a different issue. I have received some work from people who have seen my website. The problem I am having is advertising in my town. I live in a small town that is mostly a retirement community. The internet doesn't do alot of good when the majority of the town doesn't use the internet. I can do work in any state but it is just a matter of getting the word out. My pricing is extremely low compared to what they would pay an attorney. So my main question is how to advertise to the public besides the internet.
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Click to view WEBillions's profile Mogul WEBillions 154 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
5. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 12:43 PM
in response to: msparalegal
In a small town, it seems like fliers in some of the common places to visit (grocery, restaurants, court house, etc) should do the trick. Make sure your flier stands out (tag line that catches the eye and a bright color) but still looks professional.

For a bit higher of a price, you can get your flier distributed door to door. You might even want to do this yourself so that you can introduce yourself. It will take longer, but people will be more likely to trust you assuming you act trustworthy.

Good luck.
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Click to view LUCKIEST's profile SCORE LUCKIEST 7,935 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
6. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 12:57 PM
in response to: msparalegal
That was fast. 3 suggestions

Have important data on your home page

Make sure that the font size is significant

Hyperlink with relevant, creditable web sites

Good luck, LUCKIEST
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Click to view pam896's profile Start-up pam896 3 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
7. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 1:40 PM
in response to: msparalegal
Hi - [Sorry I put this in the wrong spot]

Just a thought but a way to provide exposure to your services may be to visit local company/corporation HR's or financial planners/investors and offer to give a free seminar on how to prepare for retirement, newly married (wills), parents (wills), etc on the type of legal paperwork that they may need. Many people don't think about it until they start to look at things like company benefits, life/medical insurance, soon-to-be retiring, etc. Then have promotional material available that tells them about the type of services you provide. In addition, you could continue to aprise the insurance/financial/HR gurus with a monthly (or quarterly) tips e-newsletter as a way of staying in touch.

Just food for thought.
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Click to view SAdams's profile Start-up SAdams 3 posts since
Oct 14, 2007
8. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 1:41 PM
in response to: msparalegal
Have you thought about contacting some private process servers in your area and letting them know your expertise? I would contact the process servers in your area that have a web site and talk with them about links or hiring your services through them.

Just a thought.
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Click to view DomainDiva's profile Mogul DomainDiva 1,732 posts since
Oct 10, 2007
9. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 1:49 PM
in response to: msparalegal
Please forgive my lack of knowledge on the subject of practicing paralegals. How much contact have you had with the local bar associations, how about national board certified attorneys in your specialty?
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Click to view SAdams's profile Start-up SAdams 3 posts since
Oct 14, 2007
10. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 2:36 PM
in response to: msparalegal
Another thought, in my city their is a Legal Secretaries Association and they publish a book every year with every Attorney in our city that elects to fill out the form and send it to them. They also have advertisment spots that you can purchase. When I worked in the law office, I made sure I had one of these books because it had all of the phone numbers, addresses, fax numbers, etc., it also had a list of the court clerks, their addresses and phone numbers to the courts, etc. along with a list of other legal support services that was always very useful.

Also a tip, the only people that I bill my services to are local attorneys, everyone else pays at the time I pick up the paper. Think about how you will collect for the work that you do.

Have a good day!!
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Click to view SAdams's profile Start-up SAdams 3 posts since
Oct 14, 2007
11. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 2:37 PM
in response to: DomainDiva
Great Idea!!
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Click to view score81's profile SCORE score81 76 posts since
Aug 6, 2007
12. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 14, 2007 9:13 PM
in response to: msparalegal

Followig are my suggeston on your advertising ideas:

  1. I will join the local chamber of commerce and the day of our first meeting introduce all startup attendee about your work and pass on your card and flyer.
  2. Chamber has monthly meeting of all different type of groups. Initially attend all meeting and give them your card and info.
  3. Contact your local library manager and ask her that you want to provide 3 hour service free of cost ever month, so people can come and get half hour free advice.
  4. Join the women association in the city and explain your role.
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Click to view msparalegal's profile Start-up msparalegal 6 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
13. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 15, 2007 11:15 AM
in response to: WEBillions
That is a good idea. Thanks
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Click to view msparalegal's profile Start-up msparalegal 6 posts since
Oct 12, 2007
14. Re: Advertising Ideas Oct 15, 2007 11:18 AM
in response to: DomainDiva
The local bar association won't advertise for a paralegal. I have no problem getting work from attorneys it is the public I am trying to target. Attorneys are never thrilled about freelance paralegals because we take business from them. They would never advertise for a paralegal.
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