Help Them Help You: Know What You Need, and Ask for It

Are you ready to answer this one key question?

Last week a client wrote me unprompted: "I’ve enjoyed working with you. Please let me know if there’s anything I can do to help boost your profile."

It's natural to deflect. After all, we're trained to be modest. "Oh, that's so kind. You've helped me already just by hiring me. Really, that's enough, but thank you." 

NO! Unless you are as busy as you want to be, it's not enough. Take the helping hand.

And then, make it easy for them: be ready to show clients, colleagues, referral sources, and networking connections exactly what would be helpful. 

Here's my response to my client, verbatim: 

[_____], the feeling is mutual. Thank you for offering to help me—I appreciate that! 

Below are four things you can do to help boost my profile. No pressure on any of these—I'm not looking for you to do anything you'd rather not. But what kind of marketer would I be if I didn't have suggestions?!  

1) Make coaching referrals to other lawyers, when you see an opportunity. 

2) Post on LinkedIn about our experience working together. That post to your network can go a very long way to increase my visibility to lawyers who don't know me and reinforce my name to those who do. (Skip ahead if a LinkedIn post is too direct for your taste.) 

3) Repurpose that post, or part of it, as a testimonial on my LinkedIn page. (Skip ahead if a LinkedIn testimonial is not to your taste.)

4) Email me a quote that I can add to the testimonials page of my website and use in my own social media, with your blessing. (I'll grab this from one of the above LI steps if you opt to do either or both of those.) 

Finally, if you want to offer a testimonial without sharing your name, that is a-okay and still helpful to me. 

I am delighted* that you see enough value in our work to offer to help me. It's affirming and inspiring all at once. 

Warmly,

Matt

*Yep, now I sound like my dad. Ack! 

____

Below are more ideas that you can rattle off when someone offers to help you. Be specific, and also consider how to make your requests easy on your helper.

✅ Can you introduce me to [_____]?

✅ Could you nominate me for an award (which I will draft for you, of course!).

✅ When it makes sense, would you suggest me to [client name] for [matter type]? 

The list goes on. Help your helpers, and watch your opportunities grow.