Marketing for Attorneys, Law Firms & Financial Professionals
Michael Thomas is Smart
I first met Mark Merenda by telephone in late July of 2002. I had a good estate planning practice (over 7000 plans completed), but I had watched it slow during 2001 and 2002. My emphasis has always been on helping people rather than making money, but they were getting harder to come by. I had been doing some elder law and decided to focus more in that area. I knew there was a need, but just couldn't get the clients in. I had to do something. I saw an e-mail from Mark on the Wealthcounsel listserv and I phoned him.
The phone call was quite incredible. He spent 15 minutes just asking me questions. He then took another 30 minutes and made some suggestions for making my office more efficient. I stopped him and reminded him he was giving me some valuable advice and I hadn't agreed to pay him anything. He said he knew that. His experience was that the more one gives the more one receives. And that describes Mark Merenda. One piece of advice incidentally reduced my voice mail messages from about 18 per day to 2 per day.
He sent me a portfolio of work he had done. When I saw the Medicaid promo (3 Big Lies), I was sold. It was genius. I engaged Smart Marketing on the spot. I won't kid you. Those first three months, it was not easy watching the money I was investing in marketing flow out the door. There was no guarantee it was going to work or that it would bring a solid financial return. But I held my nerve, and I'm glad I did. As I write this, it is April 2003. I had the best November I ever had, the best December I ever had, the best January I ever had, the best February I ever had, and now the best March I ever had.
"I don't worry about the ebb and flow of business the way I used to. I'm committed to a program of continual marketing and continuous results. I feel I am now in control of my practice, and have gained many new friends who come to me in emotional and financial crisis.
"But bringing in new clients — important as it is — is not the only strength that Smart Marketing can bring to an attorney. Their consulting and guidance concerning my internal office procedures have greatly enhanced my 'quality of life' in the office, freeing me to do more of what I enjoy doing (and like to think I do well) and less of what I did not enjoy (and did less well!). The result has been good for me, for my staff, and my clients. Smart Marketing is currently setting up a web site for me and gently pushing me to promote myself the way I should have been doing for years. My staff is grateful for the improvement in communication and work environment.
"Beyond that, the people at Smart Marketing are a pleasure: warm, courteous, prompt and responsive — but above all, effective."
Michael E. Thomas, P.C.
5206 Gateway Centre, Ste. 200
Flint, MI 48507
Phone: (810) 235-9000
Fax: (810) 235-9010
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