Beyond Twitter: Why Lawyers Are Expanding Their Social Media Presence

By now, you’ve likely read a news article or two regarding Twitter’s change in ownership in October 2022 and concerns regarding content moderation.

In response, many large companies—from General Motors to Wells Fargo—paused their advertising on Twitter. Others have left the platform entirely.

Despite concerns regarding the future of Twitter, it’s still one of many valuable social media tools at a lawyer’s disposal. Interestingly, however, lawyers choosing to leave Twitter or expand their online presence are diversifying their social media platforms by finding community in other areas.

So, where are all the lawyers going?

Below, we’ll cover just a few of the social media platforms that have become increasingly popular among lawyers over the past months—along with some helpful tips for making the most of your online presence.

Substack for lawyers 

Substack is a publishing platform that—for the most part—puts its readers and writers in charge of censorship. 

With Substack, users can publish posts, emails, and podcasts (and, where appropriate, monetize them). Substack also has a feature called “discussion threads” which allows users to start and engage in conversations with subscribers, similar to Twitter threads. 

Mastodon for lawyers 

Mastodon runs on independently-managed servers, known collectively as the “federated universe” (or “Fediverse”). Each server has its own moderation policies, codes of conduct, and privacy options, but users on one server can still connect with users on other servers. 

Anyone can set up a Mastodon server or join others. From there, Mastodon offers microblogging features that operate similarly to Twitter. 

Discord for lawyers 

Discord is a messaging app that also supports video calls and voice chat. Geared towards gamers, Discord has become a popular platform for people from all walks of life. Users can create or join both public and private servers. 

Slack for lawyers 

We’ve previously written about Slack for lawyers—it’s an excellent option for communicating with clients, increasing productivity, and staying connected within your firm. 

Slack is a messaging app that you can access on your desktop, through a web browser, or on your phone. With Slack, you can set up channels to streamline your communications (for instance, you might set up a Slack channel for your direct team, or have a larger Slack channel that everyone in your law firm uses). You can also set up Slack channels and communicate with people outside your law firm. 

How lawyers use social media and communication platforms

Like Twitter, Mastodon and Substack are great networking and advertising tools for lawyers. Creating a presence, posting, and engaging with a larger community are key to a good law firm social media strategy. 

Communication platforms like Discord or Slack aren’t exactly tailored to client recruitment, but the benefits of joining them go much further. It’s about community—easily connecting and networking with like-minded legal professionals.

For example, some Slack groups are created specifically for lawyers in different practice areas, international Discord servers for lawyers, and many lawyers with their own Substack pages. Participating in online legal communities can help lawyers stay up-to-date on news, ask questions, or connect with like-minded legal professionals. 

Finding other lawyers with an expanded social media presence 

On some platforms, you can easily upload your contacts to find out whether anyone in your address book is also using the platform (there are third-party options for importing your Twitter contacts to Mastodon, for example). Or, you can ask your followers where they’re going. 

Ultimately, diving in is the most exciting way to find your community—whether legal or otherwise. Explore the platforms and their communities, and consider which best suits your interests and needs. 

Finding clients with an expanded social media presence

Winning clients is all about meeting them where they are—and, with more and more prospective clients looking for legal options online, having a solid social media presence can help expand your online reach. 

And, with Clio Grow, it’s easy to expand your online presence. Our law firm website builder helps lawyers create a simple, professional website with automated booking, a client-attorney portal, and online payments. Linking to your website in your social media profiles is a great way to lead prospective clients to your website—and win them over with seamless options for booking and interacting with you. 

Final thoughts on expanding your social media presence

Social media is so much more than a distraction—it’s a valuable digital marketing channel and, when used strategically, can help you expand your legal network and help clients find you. 

In particular, expanding your social media presence can help funnel clients to your website to learn more about your services. And, with an intelligent, straightforward webpage built with Clio Grow’s website builder feature, new clients can easily book appointments, pay retainers, and communicate with you. 

Learn more about Clio Grow’s website builder feature. 

We published this blog post in January 2023. Last updated: July 11, 2023.

Categorized in: Clio