social-networking – In Brief Legal Writing Services

Why I haven’t I created a Facebook page for In Brief Legal Writing Services — yet

Posted on October 3, 2016 by alexb2448

This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

As a new business owner, I’ve had a lot to do over the past year.

I created this website, and began blogging regularly. I opened a Twitter account. I have a (minimal) presence on Google+. I am building a client base through Upwork.com.

The only thing I haven’t done is start a Facebook page. Some people — including “the experts– (whoever they are) say it’s the single most important thing all new business owners should do. “They” are probably right (whoever “they” are).

Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

So why haven’t I done it? Why wasn’t it my first priority?

Call me a rebel. Call me an individualist. Call me a big fan of critical thinking. Call me stubborn. Call me obstinate. Call me pig-headed. Call me an idiot. Call me anything you’d like.

It won’t change how I feel about Facebook. I hate it. I always have — and I always will.

I hate it because I value my privacy. I hate it because it seems inane. I hate it because “everyone” participates — although I must confess, I don’t know who “everyone” is.

I hate Facebook because I had to post stories (or links to stories) there when I worked at various newspapers. It was time-consuming and it was a pain in the butt — to put it nicely.

I hate Facebook so much that I never created a page to promote my book, Truth Be Told: Adam Becomes Audrey, even though “everybody” insisted that I should. I suppose “everyone” will say that I would have sold more books if I had started a Facebook page to promote my memoir. But here’s a newsflash: I don’t really care.

All of that being stated, I suppose I will have to put my personal feelings aside sooner or later. After all, this is about business.

So yes, I am planning on creating a Facebook page for In Brief Legal Writing Services. I’m determined to do it by the end of the year. And when I do, I hope to see you there.

Starting from scratch

Posted on December 16, 2015December 15, 2015 by alexb2448

I did it.

On Tuesday afternoon, I set up a new Twitter account to be used solely for my business. It makes sense. It was the right thing to do.

This will eliminate the confusion that resulted when I tweeted about business matters from my personal account. As I mentioned on Monday, I created that account when I was building my brand as an author and promoting my book. I also use that account to post photographs, chat with friends, share meaningful quotations and so forth. So you can see why it caused some consternation when I started tweeting about something entirely different out of the blue.

Speaking of confusion, I must admit I’m having a hard time setting up my new Google+ page, navigating all the nuances of Google My Business, etc. I don’t know why that’s the case. I had no trouble with the set up for my personal page. At any rate, I appreciate your patience and hope you’ll bear with me until I get everything sorted out.

I’m still debating whether or not to build a Facebook page. I’ve heard it’s a good idea, but I’m not convinced it’s the right thing to do. As I said on Monday, I’ve got my hands full as it is.

I’ll let you know what I decide to do. In the meantime, please feel free to follow me @InBriefLegalWS on Twitter if you’re already there. You can also view my profile by clicking on the link at the bottom of my website.

Social networking

Posted on November 17, 2015November 23, 2015 by alexb2448

“…at the end of the day, nothing beats a firm handshake, direct eye contact… and a smile.”

There’s a lot to learn when you’re starting your own business.

Trust me. I speak from experience.

Just deciding to take the plunge is scary. Then you’re confronted with all of the legal and technical aspects of getting your new venture off the ground. Throw in the 21st century emphasis on branding –especially branding through digital marketing — and it’s easy to feel completely overwhelmed.

Does your new business have a Facebook page? How about LinkedIn? Speaking of LinkedIn, how do you build a winning profile? Once you’ve done that, how do you optimize it? That’s just the beginning. Do you have a website? If you build a website, should it include a blog? Is blogging really an effective marketing tool?

Should you tackle all of this yourself, or hire someone to do it for you?

Are you intimidated yet?

Personally, figuring all of this out wasn’t as hard for me as it would have been if I didn’t have prior experience creating an online presence and building a brand. I did that after my memoir, Truth Be Told: Adam Becomes Audrey, was published in 2012. As an indie author, you learn to do everything yourself.

Yes, book promotion resulted in a healthy appreciation for social media. On the other hand, launching In Brief Legal Services resulted in renewed appreciation for good old-fashioned social networking. There’s a lot to be said for getting out and meeting new people with common interests and experiences. There’s even more to be said for meeting new people with different interests and experiences.

To that end, I’ve joined the Central Connecticut Paralegal Association, and I had a blast at its annual Employer Appreciation luncheon in Hartford. Because I’m a firm believer in active participation in any group I join, also I’m writing an article about the event for an upcoming edition of the CCPA’s newsletter, Paraphrase. I’ll let you know when it comes out. In the meantime, I am sure I’ll get involved in more groups as In Brief Legal Writing Services grows.

Of course there are no guarantees. Sometimes old-school networking pays off. Sometimes it doesn’t. But at the end of the day, nothing beats a firm handshake, direct eye contact… and a smile.