If you ask attorneys about marketing, many will tell you, “I don’t have time for marketing”. But this isn’t true. If you tell yourself this, frankly, you’re lying to yourself. 

Because you do have the time.

Marketing doesn’t only mean going to networking events, conducting seminars, writing a blog or newsletter, or taking business associates to lunch. There are many things a lawyer does that qualify as marketing that take no time at all. 

And you already do them every day.

Here are a few (in no particular order): 

• How you describe your services 
• Your fee structure and billing practices
• The way you greet new clients at your first meeting
• Your appearance (clothing, grooming, demeanor) and office 
• How long you put callers on hold
• Your website (or lack thereof)
• Your voicemail greeting
• What you say in your letters and emails 
• Thank-you notes and what you write in them
• The holiday cards you send 
• Your level of energy and enthusiasm for your work
• Your retainer agreement 
• Your new client onboarding process
• The confidence you inspire in people who meet you
• The way you respond to inquiries via email or phone—what you say, how long you take to reply
• The quality of your marketing documents
• How often you stay in touch with clients and prospects
• The causes and charities you support
• The professionalism displayed by your staff  
• How encouraging you are when delivering bad news
• How consistently you meet deadlines 
• Your sense of humor (or lack thereof)
• Your smile (or lack thereof) 
• Talking about politics or religion with the wrong people or at the wrong time
• Letting others do the talking while you do the listening
• The stories you share to make your points and/or to comfort or encourage your clients
• And the list goes on. And on. 

It’s all marketing. Every bit of it. 

You’re giving people an image and story about your practice, setting their expectations, and building trust. You’re showing the world what’s important to you and what it’s like to work with you.

That’s marketing. And it doesn’t take any extra time to do it.