While forgetting names is not the worst thing you can do socially, conversely, remembering names is one of the best. It eases social situations, sets you apart from the other bumbling schlubs, lets your companion know that they had a positive impact on you, and, face it, is just plain old good manners. But let’s get real. Unless you have a photographic memory, you’re going to have to work at it a little. PJ McGuire, owner of Chicago-based Modet, offers her top tips for remembering names.

If you think winning the game doesn’t get you a media attention, just contemplate the name “Tim Tebow” for a few seconds. Yep. Everyone loves a winner. (Or someone who loses spectacularly!) Fortunately, in the world of enterprising lawyers, you don’t have to endure a torn ACL or spectacular sack to make the headlines. Each year, high-profile competitions promise all sorts of public attention—and the opportunity to include your new-found recognition in your online biography or firm marketing materials. Why not take the opportunity to make the big time? This week’s Friday Five delivers key deadlines for five great competitions.

Andrea Cannavina has advice on how to be in this strange land of the internet, without being a stranger.

The start of a new year—along with pretty much any other date—is a good time to assess your marketing position and plan for the future. What's going well? What isn't? And how to distinguish critical information from the superfluous? One time-tested approach is to do a SWOT analysis—strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Here are the basics.

The grumpy Gus in the crowd who resists creating a simple LinkedIn profile would be blown away by all the things you can do with this most popular of professional social networks. But you, savvy user that you are, are probably still overlooking some nifty tricks. To see what you’ve been missing, check this week’s […]

Short is the new black. In a society where each and every one is frenetic, overworked and overwrought, the most effective marketing, then, is compact and to-the-point. But, even if you can write it, they will not come unless you choose the most effective platforms for delivering your message. Enter the micro-, micro blog.

We live in a ratings-focused economy. Never has it been easier for consumers who’ve experienced bad service to share their stories—in near real-time—with the world on Facebook, Yelp, Angie’s List or Twitter. And attorneys are not immune. Clients can just as easily voice their displeasure with your failure to return phone calls as they can about their last bad meal at your town’s “best” restaurant. While you can’t completely immunize your firm from annoyed clients’ online rants, you can begin to improve their service experience by annoying your clients less. Here’s how.

If you're a smartphone or tablet user—veteran or newbie—you know there's nothing better than a delicious new list of apps to explore. It was pretty great, then, when National Purchasing Partners and Verizon offered to share their brand-new list of the top iPhone and iPad apps being used by lawyers at the start of 2012. Here's the rundown on the top 10 apps lawyers love for getting organized, doing a bit of research and, yes, remembering where they've parked their cars. Plus, NPP compiled a bonus download just for us—more than 30 of the most popular iPhone and iPad apps for lawyers—organized by trial and pretrial apps, reference and research apps and apps to aid your productivity. Be sure to click the free download link at the bottom of the post to get the bonus guide.

“If you want your law practice to survive, you’ve got to network!” When I was starting out as a solo, I heard that hundreds of times. And every time, my stomach turned. I'm not a natural networker, at least not as I understood the term. To me, the term itself was a turn-off, because it reeked of insincerity and an attitude of “what can this person do for me.” I’m just not wired that way.

So many say “just do it” when discussing "new normal" pricing strategies in the legal market. The thinking is that you should just pick a number that meets a client’s value proposition and go with it. While the simplicity of this is compelling, however, covering some fundamentals before you "just do it" will pay off handsomely for both law firm and client alike. The effort doesn't need to be overly complicated, but it does need to focus on three things that truly matter.