If you’re not looking ahead you’re falling behind. To help you stay on the leading edge in 2010, here’s a list of top trends you should consider when developing your marketing plan for 2010.

Lebron James and even Roy Hobbs (“The Natural”) have each been labeled as the chosen one, are you? As part of your client service program, are you calling prospects that did not choose you for an interview or as the winning agency or firm? If not, this is an important step in uncovering what your firm has done well and potential areas for improvement.

So I guess you figured out by now, that no one really has the magic bullet. But there are a few things that you, the marketing professional, can do this year to help make your firm successful. And seriously, if there were such a formula that produced marketing results, then that would probably negate any need for our strategic services. Don't you think?

Besides going to the gym and trying not be such an agressive driver, here are 5 new year's resolutions we can all shoot for this year.

Successful marketing is all about the ability to tell good stories.

Both law and accounting firms work to get their name and capabilities into the marketplace by connecting with their audience. Your storytelling abilities are a very important skill set to reach your audiences in ways that can influence the way they think about you or your firm.

This past week Katie, my eight-year-old daughter, accidently opened a package that had a Christmas present enclosed from Santa Claus. I thought it was her annual Christmas ornament. (D’oh! on my part).

It’s that time of year again. Your desk and inbox are flooded with holiday cards. I know there are folks who have very strong feelings about whether or not print or digital is the best medium to send thanks and best wishes at holiday time. Personally, I feel like both can be done well. The problem is few ARE actually done well. The majority of cards I see—be they paper or pixil—are utterly generic and impersonal. And what does that say about how you view your relationship with the recipient?

The FTC recently extended their guidelines for endorsements and testimonials in advertising beyond traditional media to include social networks and blogs. Starting December 1, 2009, you must disclose any relationships with advertisers when you endorse a product or service on a blog, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook or any other online forum. What does this mean for you? If you’re active in social networks or contribute to a blog and offer an endorsement, you must announce:

When it comes to branding, why do professional service firms like the Home Depots of the world? From large management companies to PR firms, they all say they can handle your brand. Even though it's not their specialty. So is it really all about size and the guarantee on a box?

What is a guarantee? Or better yet, why do people like it "on the box?" Simple, because it makes a man feel good. As Chris Farley was quoted movie Tommy Boy (1995):

Do you describe your firm as “trusted advisors” but fail to incorporate client teams to better serve them?  

In a recent informal poll conducted by Moiré Marketing Partners on LinkedIn, we found that marketing professionals understand the importance of client teams. 57% of respondents indicated that communication amongst team members and the client was most important and 42% indicated that creating a team culture was most important in building client teams, when compared to commitment to the firm brand, mutual respect and capitalizing on cross-market opportunities. 

Are you activating your sponsorships? Are you looking for additional opportunities around your sponsorships?