When I became a mediator at Upchurch Watson White and Max I am not sure that I fully appreciated the fact that I would be helping the firm launch their Web 2.0 efforts but now that am fully engaged in mediation AND online marketing, the aspect of Web 2.0 that I truly appreciate and enjoy the most is blogging. Our blog, the Strategic Mediator, is quickly becoming a “player” in international ADR blogging circles, if I do say so myself, and it is thrilling to watch it happen.For those of you that don’t know, blogging is not simply sitting down at a computer and writing about a topic of interest to you and your firm and posting it on your firm website. Blogging is a way to connect in a meaningful way with potential clients and like-minded people around the world.
To blog, you first need to lurk. Get on the internet and Google your area of practice followed by the word “blog”. You will be inundated with blogs that you will find intriguing, helpful, insightful, infuriating, and so much more.
The next phase of blogging is a bit more bold and requires that you become interactive. Once you have lurked to your satisfaction, begin posting comments at those blogs. Let the author know that you agree or disagree and why. Praise or condemn the piece but be constructive after all you are trying to build an online reputation and some street cred for you and your firm, you really don’t want to become that Facebook friend that everyone eventually blocks because of all the garbage they post.
Lastly, put pen to paper or in this case fingers to the keyboard. Begin writing a blog at your website. Your tech people that host your website will be able to get it set up for you so that you can post as often as you like. Comment about books you have read. Comment about an interesting thing that happened to you at work that day. Poll your partners on an issue and write about their feedback. Write an article about a specific legal problem you have encountered and solved. But, most important of all, begin linking to others’ blogs. In your blog refer to how an online colleague has addressed an issue and link to that blog. Those authors will begin returning the favor and that is how it all begins.
At our firm website we have three blogs: The Strategic Mediator, The Family Business and Wealth Mediation Blog and the Local Government Charette. If you would like to give blogging a try, consider becoming a guest writer on any of our blogs.
What blogs do we read? Well, we spend most of our time with Diane Levin at Mediation Channel Blog, Victoria Pynchon at Settle It Now Negotiation Blog, Tammy Lenski at Making Mediation Your Day Job, Christopher Annunziata at CKA Mediation and Arbitration, John DeGroote at Settlement Perspectives, Steve Mehta at Mediation Matters and Phillip J. Loree, Jr., at Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Law Forum. In my mind these are the blogging world’s best of the best in all things ADR. With any luck maybe someday people will say the same about our firm’s blogs. Only time will tell…
Sandra C. Upchurch
supchurch@uww-adr.com
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3 comments:
Sandra,
Many thanks for mentioning the Loree Reinsurance and Arbitration Law Forum and the other blogs, including the ones owned by other LinkedIn Commercial and Industry Arbitration and Mediation Group members!
I agree completely with your approach to blogging and starting up a blog (or in your case, three).
Keep up the great work you do for the Upchurch blogs!
Phil Loree Jr.
Sandra,
Thank you for reviewing my blog and enjoying it. I am glad that it has been of use and help. Blogging is very fulfilling and actually makes me feel like a better mediator. After all, we never stop learning. What better way than to learn from other great mediators.
That is why I am excited to see that you are blogging and look forward to seeing your posts.
Keep up the great work.
Steve Mehta
Sandra, I hope you'll forgive the delay in responding. It's been a hectic week or so for. But what a delight to come up briefly for air and find this beautifully written tribute to the value and meaning of blogging for the ADR professional. Thank you so much for your very kind words and including my blog in your list of sites you read regularly. What an honor to be included in such august company.
I'm so glad that blogging has connected me with wonderful people like you. Your writing is always informative, and I've come to depend upon you as a reliable source for relevant news. Thanks as well for your warmth and collegiality - you epitomize what social media is all about!
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