Mike Graner

Acquiring new customers is expensive and time-consuming. In fact, Forbes points out that it can cost five to seven times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one, depending on your industry. That means customer retention is as important as customer acquisition, or even more so. While retention involves taking the right steps throughout the client relationship, it all begins with onboarding. The right client onboarding process removes hurdles, sets the right expectations, and cements your business as the best answer to the client’s pain points.

Client intake is a critical part of operating a successful law firm. It’s also time-consuming and takes you and your staff away from serving other clients (billable hours). Of course, you can’t skip intake –– you’d never get new clients. You can outsource the process, however.

Unless you run a 24-hour business, chances are good that you let calls that come in after hours go to voicemail. That’s a pretty standard practice across most industries. It’s also a major mistake. Here’s the thing. Those after-hours calls? They’re legitimate prospects. Some might even come from current customers with serious challenges that only you can solve.

Missed calls mean missed opportunities. However, you also need your team to focus on mission-critical tasks. With the rise in robocalls and spam, it’s harder than ever to hit that balance. Using a call answering service is a great solution that ensures you never miss a call again, but your team can do what they do best without having to spend all day on the phone. But how do you stay in tune with your customer needs if you’re using a call answering service?

Often, “lead generation” and the practice of law seem unrelated. Isn’t generating leads something that salespeople need to worry about? Why should a lawyer be concerned?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere these days. It powers your Amazon search, helps you find the fastest way to work in the mornings, and helps you make shopping lists without having to use pen and paper. AI is also making inroads into the area of business services, including virtual receptionists. That’s a good thing because this technology can dramatically transform your workday. Here’s a look at a few of the ways it’s doing that.

Some businesses experience roughly the same level of calls all year long. However, many others see seasonal spikes. While that oscillating demand is a normal part of these industries, it creates challenges that business owners and decision-makers must deal with. These range from eliminating long hold times (which 78% of customers claim is the most frustrating part of communicating with a business) to ensuring you have enough staff on hand.

There are many steps to building a successful sales funnel — but the two primary components are building quality lead lists and performing strategic sales outreach.

These gifts are NOT for a homebody! Whether your loved one is a busy body always on the go, or a remote worker looking for new things to do outside of the house, you’ll find a gift on this guide for them!

Meet Smith.ai client Maria Jonsson of the Law Offices of Maria N. Jonsson, PC.