Recently, The Wall Street Journal and South Florida’s Sun-Sentinel reported that the U.S. group ICANN, the organization that regulates the world’s Internet domain names, is now allowing companies and organizations to create their own version of “.com.” ICANN is saying this innovation is “one of the biggest changes ever” to the online naming system. Now, companies will be able to end their addresses with the name of their company, such as “.coke,” or use their city, such as “.FtLauderdale.”

With the shortage of .com web addresses, the change can produce hundreds of millions of dollars in business for companies whose business is managing the Internet’s vast registries, as well as those selling the names. Companies could also gain new tools for highlighting their identities and networking with suppliers and distributors.

Industry associates are worried that creating new suffixes could cause confusion to consumers. But not to worry because according to the articles, you will have to shell out $185,000 in order to obtain a personal suffix.  Additionally ICANN has the final decision on all the new domains and applicants must prove they have the technical capability necessary to keep a domain running. This will help reduce the amount of new domains created.

Speculators say the new system will not diminish the value of existing Web addresses. After all, Web names that were created by ICANN in 2000 never really caught on.

Boardroom Communications Account Executive Michelle Friedman was recently named the Publicity Chair for the 10^th Annual For The Public Good Gala. The event is Legal Aid Service of Broward County’s Annual fundraiser, with proceeds to benefit families and individuals in gaining access to equal justice.  As Publicity Chair, Michelle will work with the Publicity Committee to promote the event throughout the Broward community.

Michelle has been with Boardroom since November 2006, and has been actively involved in community and professional organizations, as well as events. She serves as Secretary for NEXT, a joint project between Legal Aid Service of Broward County and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida. She has also been involved with the promotion of Florida’s Children First events around the state for several years.

The For The Public Good gala will be held Friday, October 14, 2011 at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.  For more information call 954-736-2429.

Sun Sentinel re-runs Miami Herald article on Boardroom PR Client Flamingo Road Nursery and Farmers Market

It’s no secret that many newspapers don’t have as many reporters as they used to, so securing home run media placements – such as the Miami Herald Business Monday Cover story on innovative ways that nurseries are bringing in more business – are often some of the most challenging part of a publicist’s job. But sometimes, it can work to your advantage.

The Sun Sentinel recently re-printed the original Miami Herald article featuring Jim Dezell, owner of Flamingo Road Nursery and Farmers Market.

Click the image to read the full story…again.

Terry Frank, a VP at BankAtlantic was featured in a recent Miami Herald Balancing Act column.  Boardroom Communications arranged the interview, encouraged the photo, worked out the logistics – and behold, a great pre-Father’s Day story.  A good story reflects well on the client – it doesn’t have to say “We’re great!” for readers to get that impression.  This story makes that statement.

Please click on the image to read the full article.

2011 MS Gala Luncheon and Fashion Show Committee

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society, South Florida Chapter, is looking for committee members for the 2012 MS Gala Luncheon and Fashion Show in January. This event, now in its 29th year, is the largest women’s luncheon in the country! Committee member responsibilities include:

1. Help ensure the success of the event
2. Serve as a hostess and assist in enlisting additional hostesses
3. Help maintain the tradition of the event
4. Attend Ticket Distribution and other meetings, as needed
5. Assist with gift and favor solicitation
6. Assist with projects immediately prior to the event and the day of the event, as needed

Those interested should contact the MS Society at (954) 731-4224.

The Greater Miami Attorney at Law Magazine recently shed light on marketing techniques used by top rainmakers. The article explains that effective marketing requires time, money and advanced planning. In the article, Stephen Fairley, CEO of The Rainmaker Institute, suggests 4 strategies that have proven to been extremely successful and may even double the firm’s revenues.

Strategy 1: Build Relationships with Strategic Referral Partners (SRPs)

SRPs are people who already have relationships with people you want as potential clients. For example if you practice business law, possible referral partners would be accountants, local bankers, financial planners, insurance agencies, etc. You should first identify several professions or industries that already have trusted relationships with your target market.  Then build or buy a database of potential referral sources. Always focus on refining your unique competitive advantage, what makes you stand out? Next, create a form letter that includes who you work with, how you’re different and a personal invitation to set up a meeting to determine if you can work together. It’s suggested to send at least 10 to 20 letters per week. Be sure to follow up and have questions prepared to let them know you are interested in building a mutually beneficial referral relationship.

Strategy 2: Build a Powerful Online Presence

Having a great website is crucial to your law practice. Many potential clients will research you before hiring you. To make sure your website stands out from other law firms, hire a professional to help you.

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A recent article in the Greater Miami Attorney at Law Magazine shares ways on how to get potential clients to find you on the Internet. A senior writer from FindLaw, a website that provides free legal information, shares ways on how to get potential clients to find you on the Internet and have them contact you. It is very important for these potential clients to feel a connection and at ease when looking at your web page. 

When advertising on the Internet it is very important to know the audience you are trying to reach. It is very common that you would want to write a website as you would for a judge or another lawyer, but most of the time that is not who you are trying to reach out to. The people most likely looking at your page, and to hire you, would be the people who were just injured in a car accident, arrested for a DUI, or harmed by a doctor’s mistake. You have to consider the questions the readers are looking to be answered and if your website provides that type of information, or at least enough to make them contact you.

It is also important to use plain language when creating your website. Potential clients want to be able to understand what they are reading, not confused by legal jargon. By using plain language that is easy to digest by potential clients, it gives them confidence in your abilities to help them with their problem.  Another benefit to using plain language is that when potential clients are searching for a lawyer that is what they plug into search engines. A search engine marketing consultant is invaluable in researching the words most used in your practice area and in your geographic area.

When creating the layout to your website, make sure the information is divided into easy-to-find segments. You know from your own experience that when information is not readily available and easy to find, you hit the back button and move on to the next site. Use headers, subheads, bullets, and bold type that will assure potential clients that you have what they are looking for.

For more tips on how to write and structure your website visit http://topics.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/after-deadline/.

In Florida’s Super Lawyers 2011 issue coming out this Sunday, Boardroom client, Howard Talenfeld, is featured for his ongoing work and dedication to help many of Florida’s foster children and others in need. Howard is a partner at the law firm of Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate. He has built a remarkable record of reforming Florida’s foster care, juvenile delinquency and mental health systems, while winning large class action and individual verdicts and settlements on behalf of children and adults injured while in those systems. Boardroom congratulates Howard for his hard work and is happy to spread the word.

To read the article, click here.

In the wake of the Weiner scandal, Spirit Airlines has proved that capitalizing on hot topics in popular culture can be an effective marketing strategy.  As explained in a recent Miami Herald article, the Miramar-based company is now roasting up “The Weiner Sale”—a 9 dollar fare with round trip purchase.  Though Spirit never mentions the congressman specifically, the jabs do anything but shy away from Anthony Weiner. The airline touts that its Weiner deal is “too hard to resist” and that patrons should “hurry to book now, before this sale gets hacked!”

While Congressman Weiner faces public humiliation, Spirit might just make bank off its “shock marketing” strategy. Current pop culture crazes like Weiner’s lewd photo or Rebecca Black’s hit single “Friday” can serve as potential marketing platforms, outlines for jingles, puns, wordplay and instant consumer recognition.

Spirit’s charade has garnered the airline national attention, with spreads in The New York Daily News, The Wall Street Journal and a segment on MSNBC. As Arun Sarma, marketing professor at University of Miami explains, “They’re quick decision-makers in the sense of, ‘Why not take advantage of this?’” Why not, indeed.

You don’t have to be as big as Spirit Airlines to take advantage of a public relations opportunity like this. If you see a chance where you can tie into a hot news story that could make sense with your campaign or your product, as Sarma says, why not? The publicity you could generate via email and word of mouth could bring you just as much buzz as Weiner himself!

We would like to congratulate the Fort Lauderdale law and governmental consulting firm Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, P.A., for being named the “Law Firm of the Year” by Broward Lawyers Care, the pro bono project of Legal Aid Service of Broward County (LAS) and Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA).

Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate was recognized for its leadership in advocating for the less fortunate in Broward County.  Members of this firm participate in many community and service activities, including organizations designed for the protection of the interests and needs of the public, particularly the most vulnerable members of our society: children and the elderly.

This year Colodny, Fass, Talenfeld, Karlinsky & Abate, together with Broward County Bar Association, Legal Aid Service of Broward County and the 17th Judicial Pro Bono Committee, will launch the Tracey McPharlin Initiative named for Tracey McPharlin, a member of their firm, who passed away last year. The goal of the initiative is to recruit, train and support attorneys who will carry on Tracey’s work by representing at-risk children at all proceedings affecting their safety, permanency, health and well-being.

Larry Marin, a partner with Izquierdo & Marin, was also named the Broward Lawyers Care Attorney of the Year.  The official awards will be presented at the 10th Annual for the Public Good gala on October 14, 2011, at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina.