Facebook for lawyers can be a great way of boosting business, so every law firm should considering signing up with a social network and marketing themselves online.

As a law firm Facebook can bring in new clients and referrals by connecting your firm with interest groups, colleagues, and even old friends who might find you on the site. It allows you to create dialogue through formal private messages, or through the more informal way of posting on your wall.

Facebook pages can be used to market your firm in many different ways. You can post blogs or notes, or even upload photos or videos that promote your work. Once you have uploaded content you can promote your page through Facebook’s social advertisements and target certain markets.

Recently, Facebook changed its layout, so there are now even more ways to make your firm’s Facebook page look interesting to clients.

The new time line layout allows you to add a cover photo at the top of your page. Use this for a picture of staff or a graphic showing which services you offer. Then add your firm’s logo or a picture of individual attorneys for a smaller firm in the profile picture section. Note that Facebook does not allow price information or contact details in the cover photo. These should be placed in the About section.

The About section offers a place for listing all your firm’s contact details and can include your company’s own website address if you have one. You can also list any special offers or services here, but remember to keep it brief as the About section is restricted to only around 100 characters. You may find it easier to add only brief details here and refer clients to your website or Facebook wall postings for more information.

If you want to add more background about your law firm Facebook can create a series of milestones on your page. You need to include photos in milestones but can include any other information you wish, such as when your firm started, particularly big cases or any awards or special recognition.

One way to promote the work of your law firm is to write general content for your Facebook page. The Facebook Apps section allows you to add photos, YouTube videos or links to reports or events your firm is hosting. You can also pin posts at the top of your law firm Facebook page for seven days. Use this post to update clients on how a new law affects them, an event you are running or a new service your firm has added.

Facebook also allows your firm to communicate with potential clients in a relaxed and non-threatening way. Many people are reluctant to telephone a lawyer, but by allowing private messaging through Facebook, your firm can build relationships it might not otherwise develop.

It is important to keep your law firm Facebook page professional, although it can have a friendly tone, but if you post relevant content and manage your page well it can be an invaluable marketing tool.