Aristotle still rocks: Ethos, logos and pathos = Effective persuasion

For ten years, I taught persuasive writing in the College of Communications at Marquette University.  The primary text was Aristotle's Rhetoric.  As someone who uses the principles of ethos (shared values), logos (demonstration of expertise) and pathos (acknowledgement of feelings) every day to create persuasive content and copy for my clients in the legal industry, imagine my pleasure when I saw this great post by fellow copywriter Amy Harrison on Copyblogger!

Aristotle's Ancient Guide to Compelling Copy

Fleischman: Eleven reasons why content is king

As a writer of copy and content for lawyers and law firms, I couldn't have said it better myself.  Jay Fleischman, author of the Legal Practice Pro blog, has posted an excellent article -- 11 reasons why content is king -- on the value on content in online legal marketing efforts.  He states:

Online legal marketing, if it's going to be effective, must be formed around a content-based strategy.  That's anathema to most lawyers because there's still that annoying voice in their heads that says:  If you give prospective clients a ton of information for free, why would they pay you for it?

Fleischman continues:

My law practice has engaged in online legal marketing using a content strategy for five years, and it's paid off in myriad ways:  people come to me with more information under their belt, a sense of confidence in my abilities and, to a large extent, a level of preparation I'd never seen before I started marketing my law firm with content.

Take a few minutes to read his post!  Each of the 11 reasons makes a lot of sense.

 

"Self-broadcasting" in the world of social media

Here is part four of my article on broadcast journalism for lawyers and law firms:

Using the Internet, lawyers and law firms can bypass the traditional mainstream media entirely and self-broadcast their own video and audio – on their own Web sites or on sites that accept user-generated broadcast content.

 

When lawyers appear on television or radio, law firms can post links on their Web sites or blogs or even request the files for posting.  In addition, using inexpensive equipment and applications, they can easily create their own video and audio podcasts for download from law firm Web sites.  It helps to have a good video/audio editor on staff.  In this day and age, no lawyer presentation should go unrecorded.  Law firms can also “broadcast” these reputation-building podcasts to clients and prospects via email alerts.

 

Once created, law-firm-generated video and audio can also be posted on a wealth of online content sites, which provide automatic RSS feeds that attract search engines.  (RSS should also be added to any of your own Web site content.) 

 

The line between print, broadcast and online news has become increasingly blurred.  Print publications host audio and video on the Web sites – some of it generated by professionals and some of it contributed by “citizen journalists.”  Television and radio station Web sites also include text and photographs.

 

A law firm, for example, that cannot get the local TV station to cover the opening of its remodeled lobby can now make its own video and post in on the station’s well-optimized Web site.

 

All modern media sites host blogs by their reporters, which can include links to video and audio.  All of them offer versions for mobile devices.  All of them offer subscriptions via Facebook, Twitter, RSS, email or text.  All of them accept user contributions.

 

Law-firm-produced video and audio can also be easily posted on a wide range of social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook and Martindale-Hubbell Connected.  It can be added to social content sites like JDSupra, Legal OnRamp and HubStreet.  Legal Talk Network is a “talk radio” vehicle for lawyers and law firms.  Savvy lawyers and law firms are even posting their own videos (and broadcast ads) on YouTube.

 

Finally, use Twitter to send out a short notification and a link every time you appear in the traditional broadcast media or self-broadcast your own video and audio content.

 

Be that lawyer!  By consistently and carefully pitching, catching and self-promoting -- using traditional and online broadcast media -- lawyers and law firms can optimize search engine results and successfully spread the word about their professional expertise.

Here is a link to the entire article:

Lawyers and law firms:  Broadcast your expertise, build your reputation

Services

Constant content for the Internet

In the Internet age, clients and potential clients (or reporters or program organizers) will put your name or practice area into a search engine as part of their hiring or decision-making process. The first page of search-engine results equals your professional reputation online -- and determines whether or not you get the call.

Janet Ellen Raasch works closely with professional service providers – especially lawyers, law firms, legal organizations and consultants to the legal industry -- to enhance your online reputation by creating informative, keyword-rich content that appears on the Internet under your own name. She writes in a style carefully crafted to appeal to the Internet reader and attract search engines.

This content can be posted on your own Web site and/or electronic newsletter – and syndicated over the Internet via RSS feed. It can be contributed to the social media Web sites where your clients congregate – blogs, content sites, social networks and wikis. 

 

Constant copy for print 

A well-written, published article with your name at the top is perceived by clients and potential clients (or reporters or program organizers) as a reputable third-party endorsement of your expertise in a particular subject area.

Janet Ellen Raasch works closely with professional service providers – especially lawyers, law firms, legal organizations and consultants to the legal industry -- to successfully bridge the communications gap that often exists between the jargon and writing style of a professional practice area and the language and style preferred by business and consumer publications and their readers.

Raasch uses her journalism education and experience to help you create interesting, informative articles and white papers that will resonate with publishers and readers. In addition, she writes press releases, client letters, newsletters and the full range of print marketing collateral. Most print copy will also be posted as Internet content – so there is value in working with a writer who works in both media.

 

Constant marketing context

The writing and publication of content for the Internet and copy for print should take place within a comprehensive marketing and business development agenda. Professional service firms “sell” the expertise of their practitioners -- and good published content and copy provide an example as well as a third-party endorsement of this expertise.

Janet Ellen Raasch is an active member of the Legal Marketing Association – and has participated in this organization as both a consultant and as an in-house marketing director. She is widely published (see "Writing Samples") on subjects at the core of legal marketing. Many of these articles are based on presentations by experts to the LMA Rocky Mountain Chapter.

Because of her dual strengths as an experienced journalist and a professional services marketer, Janet Ellen Raasch can help you create the articles, white papers and marketing collateral that enhance your reputation within an overall marketing context.