In a previous blog, I discussed the importance of knowing the ins-and-outs of how to properly submit an article for publication—but what steps should you take once the article has been published? Many law firms put the bulk of their work into getting the article written, reviewed, edited, submitted, and published, assuming that once published, the work is done. This however, isn’t true, as there are still several things to be done once your work has been published to ensure as many eyes as possible will see it.
Promote Your Article on Social Media & Your Law Firm Website
Once your article is published, you’ll want to make sure others see it. If you just let it sit on the publisher’s website or inside of the actual print publication, the chances of it getting read by very many people are extremely low. In order to avoid this, you should promote the article however you can.
One of the first things you should do is share the now published article on social media. But, don’t just post about it on Facebook and call it a day. Sharing your published article across your law firm’s social media channels, especially Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, will benefit your law firm the most. Within the social posts, you should consider including one or two hashtags related to your article or the publisher. Using hashtags is a great way to help users find your content and to increase your post’s overall engagement. Be sure to tag the publisher that posted your article within your social posts, thanking them to show you appreciate them showcasing your work. It also helps provides third party verification of your published piece.
For added exposure, you can also spend money on social media advertising to boost or promote the post. Boosting a post is essentially putting money behind a particular piece of content for added exposure. The amount you choose can range from approximately $20.00 up to even greater than $100.00. This way more people will see and engage with your article than if you simply posted it on social media without monetizing the content.
Don’t forget to include the now published article on your firm’s website as well. You can include the information on your attorney biography page and even write a blog post about it, linking to the published work. In doing this you show potential clients, referral sources, and other professional contacts who might not know you or your firm well that you were selected to be an author in this publication, and that you know what you are talking about when it comes to your area of expertise.
Don’t Miss Out On Media Opportunities
If the publication you’ve submitted to happens to be nationally or internationally recognized, you can even send out a press release regarding the recent article being published. This ultimately gives you and your firm more potential exposure from the media, especially if the piece that was written was over a topic that is particularly newsworthy.  Do everything you can to ensure your article’s publication leads you to be considered a thought leader in your practice areas.
Also, be sure to thank the editor of the publication that accepted your piece. You can and should also connect with them on LinkedIn and follow the publication on your social channels. Regardless of whether the editor responds, it shows your appreciation and could help you be considered as a future author. Maintaining a relationship with those who have published your work helps you get one step further toward future publication opportunities.
Don’t Be Shy About Your Accomplishment
This may seem like a no-brainer, but don’t forget to tell the people around you about your article being published. Word of mouth is powerful, and chances are your friends and family will help spread the word. Promoting yourself can be hard and you might feel a little pushy telling those around you to read your article, but those who care about you will generally want to know what you’ve been up to, including your recent accomplishments.
LET US HELP YOU
After your article is published it can be tempting to just sit back and relax. However, you’d be missing out on the opportunity to share your hard work with others. That’s why actually taking the time to promote your piece effectively is so important.
At Stacey E. Burke, P.C. we help our law firm clients with business development strategies, including submissions for publication. Contact us today for more information on how your law firm can get started!
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