Writing Articles to Increase Your Client Base – Do You Need a Shift in Your Mindset?

I often recommend writing articles as one way that my clients can reach their clients and increase their reach and their reputation in their field. Some of my clients love to write and are eager to use this skill in furtherance of their practice. Others dislike it, but realize that it’s an important part of their marketing, while still others can’t stand it and have no desire to undertake writing as a marketing strategy. While I recognize that not all tools or marketing strategies are right for every client, I read something in this week’s RainToday.com that might help those of you that would like to write, but struggle to do so.

Aaron Joslow, the editor of RainToday.com, suggests in his article, “A Paradigm Shift for Your Articles” that writing isn’t something that you ‘just do.’ Joslow recognizes that the writing process can often be an agonizing one, fraught with self-doubts and frustrations. He suggests that a shift in your thinking, from “what’s wrong” to “what’s possible” can make all the difference.

Joslow goes on to suggest some questions to help you shift you out of the “something’s wrong” mindset:

• How do I view my writing?
• What persistent complaints do I have about my writing?
• What thoughts limit what I have to write?
• If someone else had those thoughts, views or complaints, would I believe that they were valid?
• Would I recommend a friend or student use the same lens I use when I look at my writing?

In addition to asking yourself these questions to get past negative thinking about your writing, consider this: rather than thinking that writing ‘should’ be easy or that it ‘should’ just flow, and that somethig is wrong if the writing isn’t flowing easily, you may benefit from the realization that sometimes the struggle is just part of the process, and that the struggle makes the writing better.

Although writing does become easier over time, there will always be those bumps in the road and negative thoughts that crop up from time to time. But if you think writing might be helpful for your practice, why not give it a try – you never really know what’s possible.

If you’re interested in learning more about writing and other marketing tools that you can use to increase your profitability, visibility and credibility, feel free to take a look at my Home Study Course: “How to Grow Your Law Practice on a Shoestring Budget.” If you’re interested specifically in writing, see session #6, “Writing: Get Noticed and Get Business” with Paramjit Mahli of Sun Communications Group, which can be purchased individually or as part of the complete home study course.