New Twitter Features May Assist Lawyers

Twitter announced new features that may be a service enhancement to law firms, the ability to share location-based information such as your firm, event or even where you are Tweeting at.

Twitters new location-based API will be released to Twitter users who want to opt-in and post their location using both on the main Twitter site and through external applications like Tweetdeck and Seesmic.

The Tweet-level location data would allow users to switch from reading tweets of accounts they follow to reading tweets from anyone in the neighborhood or city-whether a follower or not.

Now, why is this is potentially good for lawyers and law firms?

At first glance this functionality can allow Twitter subscribers to view relevant, information based on location such as news and alerts. Of course the technology can be invaluable for receiving events like earthquake or tornado alerts, and view a spike in Tweets is around me, perhaps noticing a community or neighborhood event. But for law firms and lawyers, there may be a way to benefit from this.

Those of us in the legal community want to be kept informed of what is going on around us, the ability to receive specific information located near us can be of particular importance. Receiving a Tweet about a recently won case that a firm won against a city becomes even more relevant than perhaps a similar case 1,500 miles away.

Sending information that the firm is hiring paralegals is valid for those who reside in the area than those far and away.

The biggest benefit may be for the savvy lawyers who network and like to socialize.  With this new feature, you could track whether your associates and friends are somewhere near you and establish an impromptu meeting.

However, like everything else, there can be a drawback.  This can also pose ethical challenges and be abused by some.  A greater temptation to solicit business can result of location-based Tweets.

For example a lawyer may be tempted to respond privately to a Tweet from someone down the road who informs their followers that they’ve been in a car wreck and rear-ended by a commercial utility truck – “Are you okay? Make sure you call 9-1-1. BTW, here is my[phone number]“?

But by far the biggest advantage this creates is the geo-targeted advertising potential. Already firms use tools such as Google Adwords and phone directories to target their local audience, but depending on how Tweeter reveals the feature, this may be another source for firms to get their message out to their market.

In a further announcement, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone told VentureBeat that the company’s goal is to put out a revenue model that will involve offering paid accounts to businesses.

Hey did not elaborate on the specifics but said that it the new model will involve statistics and analytics and a possibly a complete separate “commercial API” for business-related applications.

Twitter, which has raised $55 million in venture funding, has yet to turn a profit, so the geo-advertising and commercial accounts would be good news for them.

Related posts:

1. Should Lawyers Use Twitter?
2. Midsize Law Firms In the Midwest Faring Better Than Large Urban Firms
3. Hey You, Be Careful What You “Tweet”
4. Lawyers, Should You Ask For Business?
5. Lawyers Warn: Bosses Who ‘Friend’ Face Liability Issues

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