Gone are the days when clients need to be physically present with their lawyers to discuss a case. Nowadays, emails, online calls, and messaging apps are the norm.
One of the most popular forms of the latter is Whatsapp. Whatsapp is used by over two billion users all over the world, making it not only an effective communication tool, but also a good way to grow your bran d.
For legal practices, Whatsapp Groups can be beneficial in a variety of ways. However, due to certain issues with confidentiality, there may be some caveats as well.
Here, we will discuss the pros and cons of Whatsapp groups for legal practices, as well as how to get you started in using Whasapp groups and take advantage of technology to make a bigger impact in the market.
What are Whatsapp Groups?
Whatsapp Groups is a feature within the Whatsapp messaging service where communication within multiple users can be possible.
Whatsapp Groups is different from Whatsapp broadcast in various ways, such as two-way communication, more engaged participation, and public knowledge of who is a member of the group,
What are the Advantages of Whatsapp Groups?
Whatsapp groups are an easy way to communicate with clients in a public setting. You can share updates about your business, provide useful information such as new policies in the industry, or share documents and files, among others.
Whatsapp groups can also be used to build a community, such as for your clientele. Using Whatsapp group links, you or your group members can invite other members that can either be current or future clients.
These types of groups can also be a great way to highlight your competence and experience. Using Whatsapp groups to your advantage can help greatly in increasing your practice’s reputation and marketability.
What are the Disadvantages of Whatsapp Groups?
One of the main concerns when it comes to Whatsapp groups for legal practices is confidentiality. There might be instances where information about a case may be inadvertently shared in the channel.
Another danger is the sharing of information between the different members. This can pertain to your rates, comparing with a competing practice, and various others.
As such, proper moderation and administration is required. It is also necessary to lay out all the rules that all members should follow and ban members whenever necessary.
How to Get Your First Whatsapp Group Started
It is very easy to start a Whatsapp Group. Just follow the prompts in the app and you are all set to go.
However, make sure to check the settings of your group to ensure its security, such as whether it is a public or private channel. You can also set administrators to help you with managing the channel.
Once the group has been set up, you will need to send out invite links for potential members to join your group.
Also, don’t forget to be interactive. Try to engage with members of your group. Provide fresh content or topics for discussion so that the group will not be stagnant and stale.
Of course, don’t forget to moderate and make sure that discussion is peaceful, constructive, and professional.
Perhaps most importantly, never share any personal cases in the group. There is a proper channel for this and should not be discussed in a public forum.
Conclusion
By having Whatsapp groups for your legal practice, you have a very good communication tool that can also serve as a marketing and network-building agent.
Just make sure that you are always active in moderating and providing value to the channel and you will slowly but surely see your group – and your practice – grow and reach new heights.