AN APPEAL TO REASON

In a recent post on Law.com Legal Blog Watch, blogger Elefant asks about "The Demise of the Legal Blogsophere." She refers to another blogger, Mike Cernovich, who believes the blogosphere is overrun by "shallow marketing and exclusive cliques." While I am always on the lookout for a great appeal, you won't find any "shallow" marketing here; my marketing plan is much more elaborate.

These bloggers have noticed changes in blogging over the years. I agree. Several years ago I attended a State Bar Convention and one of the speakers asked how many people had blogs or even searched blogs. Only a few people out of hundreds raised their hands. I was not one of them.

I think lawyers generally are behind the times when it comes to marketing, but one thing we seem to instinctively understand, and that's competition. If one attorney comes up with an inventive marketing plan, then we are all for it. We don't like being left out.

I started my blog for primarily two reasons: (1) as an appellate attorney I had observed trial attorneys making the same mistakes over and over again, and those mistakes jeopardized the clients' chances on appeal, and (2) I was (and am) working on a book that tries to summarize my advice to trial lawyers. I tried to balance my blog entries between giving solid advice and writing about the lighter side of appellate cases. When I finish my book, perhaps I will just write about humor and the law.

I have been blogging for a short period of time but I have noticed that the field is becoming inundated with experts and expert wannabees. Frankly, I can't read every blog, no matter how much I want to. I like to see the sun outside. There are blogs that are simply marketing tools and I shy away from those. On the other hand, I am not one to read about an attorney's most recent ski trip or daughter's birthday party. Sorry but that's just me.

As much as I try to stay on top of new ideas, including social networks, my profiles remain unfinished (at least I started) and I have yet to follow anyone on Twitter. I am not particularly excited about the posts I read on Facebook and other networks. Perhaps I am following the wrong people.

In any case, I am going to keep blogging away, at least until I finish my book. If I seem like I am living in a shell, you may be right. Occasionally, however, I do find some blogs very interesting - I am rather fond of Law.com Legal Blog Watch - and have to admit that the Internet is an amazing tool.