Dating! Some do it for fun and others do it in search of love. There’s a saying that you have to kiss a lot of frogs before you can find your Prince. Unfortunately, some of us have had to kiss more frogs than others, but regardless, dating is a necessary process when trying to understand what qualities you value in your search for a serious relationship.

Recently, I spoke at a Legal Marketing Association (LMA) Conference regarding web technologies and how advancements are changing the way professional services firms respond to the delivery of information needs to clients. Today, just realigning or “refreshing” your website, while helpful, may not be enough to stay competitive. When I reached the section on mobile websites (mobi) during my presentation, I was bombarded with questions regarding the difference between an app and a mobi, including.

Most people eagerly anticipate March's arrival. The days get warmer, the cherry trees begin to bloom, the sun still shines in the late afternoon when the workday is over and you can hear birds chirping for the first time in months. For me, however, I associate March with the basketball court, the swish of a three point shot gliding through a net and the frenzied atmosphere of sports bars. It's March Madness time!

"Somewhere along the line, I will screw up. I won't return a call, answer an email or give you the attention you deserve. So when that happens, will you do me a favor and let me know? You mean a lot to me and I really value our relationship."

In a competitive economic climate, professional service firms need to capitalize on any edge they can and are finding rich resources when leveraging their alumni network.

Alumni programs have become a crucial way for professional service firms to develop new business, strengthen their brands and recruit the best and brightest. Alumni can become brand ambassadors for a firm, referral sources for new business and references for new hires or “boomerangs” that return to a firm.

Here's a checklist to help you start building your own successful alumni program:

I recently attended a LA LMA chapter meeting titled “Breaking Through: How to Build a Successful Sales Initiative in your Firm." If it comes to your area I urge you to attend. It was not only inspiring but incredibly informative (and highly entertaining).

In his fast-paced, interactive session, Alvidas Jasin of Thompson Hine discussed some of the critical barriers that he broke though with his lawyers to build successful client teams and a successful sales effort:

Like many Americans, I have reevaluated my personal spending in areas such as my Jeep’s gas consumption, my credit card usage and my entertainment spend (i.e., my late night dinners and adult beverages at the local pub). As you can probably guess, I have not stopped driving, I have not stopped using my credit card and I have not eliminated FUN! What I did do was drive a little less, watched what I spent and had fun at home with my wife and friends more often. Think about what you do with your personal finances when times are tough.

Last week a couple friends and I played a friendly round of golf. As we walked the 18 holes, we chatted about our jobs, our personal lives and, of all things, pop culture. I was quickly reminded that while we all communicate and interact with each other over social media platforms, the in-person interaction is essential in sustaining and building upon our already strong relationships.

We all know that it's smart to market during a recession and that firms that do market are better positioned when the economy turns around. If we all know this, why aren't firms flexing their marketing muscle now? Here are tips on how firms can position themselves for growth in the post-recession economy that bear repeating. They're not earth-shattering. But they are marketing basics that you can't afford to ignore.

An interesting trend in legal marketing has sprung up recently. From conversations on the Legal Marketing Association (LMA) listservs to articles referenced on Twitter, commentary on blogs and invites for presentations and webinars, legal marketers are talking about spending less money on traditional brand awareness marketing and investing more time and money into business development and attorney coaching.