MARKETING

Let’s Get Started!!!

By Debra Coulbourn, PLS, NALS Marketing Chair

 

            Why do I have to market?  I don’t even know what marketing is.  I don’t see how it will help my chapter.  We tried marketing once and it didn’t work, so it’s just a waste of time.  Marketing is just for big companies, it can’t really help little chapters like mine.  I wouldn’t even know how to start marketing. 

 

            Do any of the above statements sound like they came from someone in your chapter?  Well, if so, then you need to change some perceptions.  Marketing is VERY important to your chapter, no matter how small or large.  Marketing is the key to your chapter’s success or failure.  Marketing can help you:

 

            Get new members

            Keep the members you already have

            Let the rest of the legal community know you exist (including lawyers!!)

            Increase attendance at your educational functions

            Brag about accomplishments of your chapter and members!!!! 

 

            AND, marketing can do soooo much more.  But you have to actually try it.  You don’t have to be a novelist or an artist to market.  Your chapter doesn’t have to lay out oodles and oodles of money.  You don’t have to hire professionals.  In fact, there really are no hidden secrets to marketing.  You already have the most important tool -- word-of-mouth is the best way to market.  Open your mouth and talk to people about your chapter.  Tell them what is happening this month.  Aren’t you proud to be a member?  Are you going to the educational conference, to the scheduled NEI, to the lunch N learn?  Don’t you think your friends at work would be interested?  Why are you keeping us a secret? 

 

When you go to see a new movie, don’t you talk to your friends about how great that movie was?  Don’t you suggest that they go to see the movie?  Why aren’t you suggesting that they join NALS?  Stop keeping us a secret!!!

 

            Just by opening your mouth and talking to people, you’re not only marketing your association, you’re also helping the membership chair.  By talking to people about upcoming events, inviting them to the events, being enthusiastic about your association, you’re helping non-members to see everything they’re missing.  You’re making membership’s job easier.

 

            Just by opening your mouth and talking to people, you’re helping your events chairperson.  By inviting more people to the scheduled upcoming events, you’re increasing attendance, which can only be a good thing. 

 

            Just by opening your mouth and talking to people, you’re helping your ways and means chairperson.  The more people at your chapter events, the more likely those people will purchase raffle tickets, etc., and that means more income your chapter will generate.

 

            Just by opening your mouth and talking to people, you’re helping your whole chapter become more successful.  You could single handedly increase membership, increase attendance at educational events, and increase your chapter’s treasury.  What an accomplishment!!   

 

I can’t tell you how many times people have said to me “I didn’t even know your association existed.”  Let’s stamp out those words entirely.  Start talking about your association and upcoming events.  Tell your firm administrator; the attorneys that you work with every day; the ladies that sit at the desks around you; the ladies (and gentlemen) that you eat lunch with; the people you ride home on the train with; the people at church; etc.  Start bragging.  That’s the way to market!!