The inaugural Legal Marketing Technology Conference/Midwest, produced by the Legal Marketing Association's Midwest Chapter, took place June 23, 2016, in Chicago. While all attendees gained insights on a host of sophisticated tools that legal professionals can use to identify, attract and support clients, the presenters also helped law firm marketers understand how to work with our law firms to turn those insights into actions. Here are five takeaways from the conference.

An infinitive is the barest form of a verb. Usually, we refer to a verb form as an infinitive when we use “to”: to go, to run, to think. If you studied a foreign language, you probably learned the infinitive form of verbs and then how to conjugate them. In English, we don’t need the “to.” We can refer to a “bare infinitive” without the “to.” But some sentences do require infinitives.

Most law firm websites have similar issues when it comes to search engine optimization — some major, others that are relatively simple fixes. But almost half of the websites I see are missing the basics. Title tags, for example, can have a huge impact on your rankings. While Google looks at over 200 metrics to rank a website for certain keywords and phrases, the title tag is still one of the most important factors.

Who are these “enterprising lawyers”? Look for the more engaged and happier lawyers in the crowd. Deeply invested in the power of the work they do, they have ample interests beyond the practice of law as well. And they seem to have more energy for getting things done than anyone in the crowd. You probably know one — you may even be an enterprising lawyer yourself! Google "low bono lawyers" and Salt Lake City firm Open Legal Services shows up near the top of the list every time. Launched in 2013 ago by Shantelle Argyle and law school classmate Daniel Spencer, Open Legal Services is Utah’s first nonprofit law firm for clients who "earn too much to qualify for free/pro-bono legal services, but also earn too little to afford a traditional private attorney."

Presentation technology has come such a long way, “Death by PowerPoint” should be a thing of the past. How can you be sure the new visual and audio aids you are using enhance your message — and don’t detract from it? In addition to having a well-organized and thoughtful presentation, here are a few basics […]

Work can be stressful. Sure, sometimes you really enjoy your work, particularly when things are going your way. And, of course, you know the things you can do to reduce and manage your own stress levels. (Don't you?) But is it possible that you are a source of stress for the people who work for and with you?

To dramatically enhance your productivity, zero in on the biggest source of stress and wasted time: toxic clients. Some lawyers fight to hold on to business at all costs. After all, it’s an article of faith that it’s easier to retain a client than to win a new one. As a result, many lawyers are loath to fire clients, even when it’s the right move.

I don’t know about you, but I’m freakishly busy. I welcome any life hacks that let me be more efficient. I recently met Paula Rizzo through my mastermind group for entrepreneurs. She’s an Emmy Award-winning TV producer who attributes much of her success to compulsive list-making. She wrote the book "Listful Thinking: Using Lists to Be More Productive, Highly Successful, and Less Stressed," in which she shares her techniques with others.

As private practice attorneys, we’ve all been on the receiving end of lawyer jokes — sometimes by well-intentioned family members, other times by members of the community. You may feel as though the people around you believe your sole focus is money. As you build and market your practice, it’s important to actively fight that perception. Ultimately, prospective clients want an attorney who makes them feel comfortable. They want someone who is trustworthy, with a "human touch" as well as the knowledge and experience to do the job.

Here inside counsel “asks,” that can help make you their favorite lawyer.