Let the nominations begin!

As we begin prepping for our Spring 2024 client meeting, we turn our attention
to… drum roll please…The NetAffies! As a reminder, The NetAffies are own very own
version of the Oscars. We gather up the “best of the best” campaigns submitted by each
of our clients, we give them a grand showing at our private client meeting and then each
attendee votes for their favorites.

With so much amazing creativity and client collaboration, the field will be tight this year.
And that’s the way we like it! Just like last year, dazzling trophies and generous prizes
will be awarded. Here are photos of last year’s winners; Carr & Carr, Aaron Sachs &
Associates and Colombo Law.

The NetAffies are a fun way for our clients to share their successes and receive some
well-earned recognition amongst their peers. While not everyone gets a trophy,
everyone’s a winner at NetAff!

Network Affiliates… where collaboration and creativity redefine legal advertising.

Behind the Scenes with Dino Colombo

Puppies, Babies, and Ugly Christmas Sweaters”– not your typical trial lawyer’s
day at work! Our production day with Dino Colombo, his son Nathan, also a trial lawyer,
and attorney Travis Mohler was a blast! Together, we’re creating unique advertising
campaigns, building the Colombo Law brand and awareness like no other! Oh, the
stories we could tell!

You may wonder why we occasionally post pictures from “behind the scenes”. At Netaff,
we’re incredibly proud of the relationships we have with our clients. These commercial
shoot days may be long and arduous, but we have a lot of fun along the way, and the
end-product is unparalleled. We will do everything we can to make sure you’re as
comfortable, relaxed and feeling as confident as possible. And… for those of you who
request a little extra performance coaching, we can provide that too! Before you know it,
you’ll be taking home your own NetAffie!

Great performances may take time, but, with the NetAff family, you will most definitely
have a blast along the way.

Netaff: where collaboration and creativity redefine legal advertising.”

Reinforcing Your Brand Series #1 – Campaigns That Make Us Laugh

Legal advertising is often perceived as a serious and somber realm, where
weighty matters of the law take center stage. While the gravity of these issues should
never be undermined, there’s a compelling case to be made for infusing a touch of
humor into your overarching creative strategy in this otherwise firm advertising
landscape.

  • Societal experts agree that one of the things that truly connects us as human
    beings is laughter.
  • Emotional reactions such as smiling or laughing releases endorphins, creating
    a positive association with what we just experienced.
  • Humor is an attention grabber in a crowded advertising landscape, whether
    that’s on-air or online.
  • It allows for enhanced message recall.
  • Humor triggers an effective response. When people find an ad funny, they
    experience positive feelings, leading to a favorable attitude towards the brand.
  • Amusing commercials are up to 80% more likely to be shared either by word of
    mouth or social media, creating a greater impact.
  • Because humor in legal advertising is unexpected, the impact tends to be more
    memorable.
    The emotional connection triggered by a gentle smile or hint of amusement between
    brand and viewer is exactly what you want to achieve!
    Let Network Affiliates’ targeted results bring a smile to your face. Give us a call at
    800-525-3332 and ask for Tammy Kehe!
    Network Affiliates… where collaboration and creativity redefine legal advertising.

Shoot… that was fun!

According to Scientific America, the average person typically uses about 16,000 words
a day. Add timed scripts, scheduling constraints, travel fatigue and glaring lights to your
day and at least some of those 16,000 words occasionally come out a little
gollywampus. Here is a quick video showing some endearing bloopers from our last few
months of shooting. Notice how many NetAff employees are in there? Yeah. It happens
to us too. And a big shout out to our featured clients for being such good sports!

Connecting your marketing efforts into a single mission

On November 3rd, the world unites to celebrate One Health Day. It is a day
dedicated to acknowledging the profound connections between health disciplines
affecting humans, animals, and the environment.

But you might be wondering, how does One Health Day relate to the world of legal
advertising? Here’s how:

Shared Values: One Health Day reminds us that our shared environment has a
profound impact on human health. Resolute and devoted lawyers and law firms
recognize the interconnectedness of their marketing, creative and brand promise to their
audience. A consistent voice builds trust and authority in the eyes of your audience. If
your message is all over the place, you weaken your position.

Ethics: Just as One Health Day highlights global connectedness, lawyers must
consistently demonstrate that they will ethically and responsibly represent their clients,
aligning their brand with their core principles.

Advocacy: Personal injury law firms play a pivotal role in advocating for justice and
equity for clients who have been injured through no fault of their own. Whether through
television, billboards, digital media, social media, or direct community involvement, all
points should lead to the singular message that you are the lawyer to choose for help. A
diversity of approaches is vital, if the messaging has meaning to the audience you are
trying to reach.

Every step you take in your marketing strategy is part of an intricate web of information
and support that advertising weaves for your brand. Whatever you define your brand
voice to be, do your marketing strategies and messaging fulfill that mission? Legal
advertising and its incumbent messaging aren’t just about promoting a brand; it is about
creating a network of support, understanding, and justice for your clients no matter
where they find you.

Network Affiliates… Our Network. Your Move.

A Halloween to Remember

Another fun filled NetAff Halloween party is in the books! There was a lot of
laughter, a companywide costume contest, a few rounds of Bootastic Bingo and snacks
galore today, as some of our agency’s more passionate trick-or-treaters got our party
on! It’s such a gift to work with people you genuinely enjoy hanging out with. We even
had some of our remote folks join via Zoom! Thanks to everyone who worked so hard!
Contest winners were: Greth Patterson (most creative-Miss Argentina/Beetlejuice),
Emily Frickey (scariest-FrankenBroad), Brian Hutchin, Sonya Harms & Katie Vosik
(funniest-Golden Bachelor) and Mocchi (best pet-Bad Dog).

Fall Convention 2023

Woot woot! Another successful and fun-filled client meeting is in the books… 43
consecutive years of Network’s “meeting of the minds”! This fall we were at the elegant
Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C., where we hosted several compelling speakers, had a
wonderful time visiting the sites and best of all, we got to connect with many of our
clients. Not only did we get to spend quality time with the OGs, but we also got to
welcome some new faces as well, including a few next gen legacy attorneys. Welcome
home to all!
If you are interested in becoming part of the Network Affiliates family, we’d love to hear
from you! Give us a call at 800-525-3332 and ask for Tammy Kehe!
Network Affiliates… Our Network. Your Move.


Social Media is More Than Selfies. Engage With Your Audience Today!

Too often, when we think of social media, we still think of teens taking selfies or posting funny pet videos. But that isn’t the case at all. Building a robust and informative online presence can absolutely elevate your brand in your market. However, having a large social media following isn’t enough – you also need an engaged community. What does that mean? It means that your audience is reacting to your posts by liking, commenting, or sharing those posts. They’re thinking about you, they’re learning about you, and most importantly… they’re talking about you. Your online content and actions are laying a foundation of trust; an investment in your firm that can’t be matched by any amount of money.

Professionals in the legal industry need to be in the loop of the latest legal marketing trends to optimize their advertising efforts and gain new clients. In a survey by HubSpot – which reached out to 1,283 social media marketers from around the globe – 90% of respondents say building an active online community is critical to success in 2023.

For example: Nine out of ten consumers read ratings, comments, and reviews (also called engagements) before deciding to contact and do business with a company. What’s being said about you and your firm online is enlightening on two fronts. Not only do these talking points teach your audience something about your firm (Does this law firm really care about me? Do they win? Do they have a good reputation? Do people recommend them?), but they can also teach your firm about your audience (Are there areas we can improve? Are there problems we aren’t aware of? How’s our reputation? Are people recommending us?).

Bloomberg Law recently spearheaded a study which shows that hosting events and community involvement are still an effective way to create new business.

Community engagement can maximize your efforts in getting your community to know you, trust you and like you. As part of your efforts to keep your law firm relevant, make sure that your marketing strategy includes in-person events. Find authentic ways to engage in what really matters to your community, such as sponsoring and supporting charity events and organizations, or perhaps start holding your own local events such as bike helmet giveaways or school supply drives. But be real about it. By investing in a variety of marketing strategies, including social media & outreach, your audience will be watching you. Let them know who you are and what your firm stands for, so that someday, when they DO need a lawyer, they already feel like they know and trust you. Remember… Communication = Community, and your community is your future.

Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends – Accelerating Growth and Recognizing the Trends that Drive Our Industry

As with any business, it is critical to the growth and success of your law firm that you spend time planning for the future. But, how do you know what the future will look like for your practice? This is where understanding Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends will make a HUGE impact on the decisions you make. According to prominent futurist Daniel Burrus:

A Hard Trend is a future certainty (90%+) … A “WILL happen”. For example, auto accidents will continue to happen.

A Soft Trend is a future probability (10%-89%) … A “MAY or MIGHT” happen. For example, an increase in the use of autonomous cars may mean that you’ll need to up your product liability practices in accident cases involving a motor vehicle.

If you want your practice to remain relevant, now is the time to elevate your strategies to take the greatest advantage of whatever opportunities these trends may present. Why play catch-up when you can lead the way! That includes how you craft your marketing strategies, what creative direction you choose, how you might predict future staffing needs and areas of practice to target or focus on to positively impact your business down the road.

If you’d like to know more about how Network Affiliates can help you identify new opportunities for growth and dominance in your market, we’d love to hear from you. Give us a call at 888-461-1016 or visit us at www.Netaff.com.

The Creative Process: From Idea to Action

When it comes to the creative process, if you let a creative team run amok without any sort of road map, you will spend a LOT of time reeling them back in. The creative process ultimately hinges on defining a clear idea of what you want to say to resonate with your audience and to whom you want to say it.

Once a direction is strategized and your creative team is given time to percolate some ideas, they will delve into deeper thinking:

  • Does the concept fit the firm’s brand?
  • Does the concept serve the brand?
  • Can your budget support the concept?
  • If not, what creative ways can you explore to solve the cost issue?
  • Who are you trying to reach, and does the concept speak to your audience?
  • If not, is it really the right concept?

As much as concepting and ideation is critical to the creative process, trust is also a huge issue! Your creative team (if they’re any good) will understand your business, your target audience, and your firm. As a client, are you willing to trust their expertise? On the flipside, are you prepared to share your expertise to fine tune theirs?

You are as much a part of the creative process as the creative team is. Clarity of goal, an open mind and working with a team you can trust will help get you where you want to be, every single time. If you’d like to know more about how Network Affiliates can help you elevate your brand and your creative, we’d love to hear from you. We’ve been helping law firms turn ideas into success since 1981. Give us a call at 888-461-1016 or visit us at netaff.com