A podcast on thought leadership and brand visibility for professional services firms

Could a world exist where law firms don’t operate under the constraints of the hourly billing model — and they’re more efficient for it? ADVOS Pro co-founders Whitney Harper and Gwen Griggs have developed a system to help firms transition to a deliverables-based model that grows profit margins while preventing attorney burnout.

The legal industry is known for its competitive nature. Sadly, the high-pressure environment can take a deep toll on the mental health and overall well-being of legal professionals. Recognizing these challenges, the Legal Marketing Association established a Well-being Committee to promote healthier work environments, reduce stigma and provide valuable resources.

This episode features a conversation with Cynthia Voth, a key figure in launching the LMA committee, explaining the committee’s goals and highlighting the importance of breaking down barriers to mental health conversations. Cynthia also shares with host Michelle Calcote King how her own law firm is making efforts to provide resources for its attorneys and professionals.

Legal professionals face high pressure in their work environments, which can have severe impacts on their mental health and well-being. However, there is a growing recognition of the issue, and more firms are implementing wellness programs and strategies to help their employees build resilience.

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Michelle Calcote King invites Renee Branson, the founder and principal of RB Consulting, to share her insight and strategies for addressing and coping with common mental health and wellness challenges in the legal industry.

Should law firms invest in legal tech for their marketing? Which ones?

The legal tech field is booming, which means there are more software platforms available to support law firms and legal departments than ever before. For legal marketers, the right technology can enhance campaigns and ensure firms attract and onboard their ideal clients.

In this episode of the “Spill the Ink” podcast, we invite Lawbrokr co-founder and CEO Daniel Steinberg to explain how his platform supports law firms in pre-qualifying leads and talk all things legal tech. He and Michelle Calcote King also discuss ChatGPT, the future of the legal tech industry and the technologies lawyers should pay attention to.

Rooted in lean principles, the A3 format challenges proposal writers to eliminate jargon and summarize only the most important information on a single 11- by 17-inch page, instead of 20-plus pages. In this episode of “Spill the Ink,” Michelle Calcote King and Ann Leiner discuss how A3 proposal writing works, best practices and the challenges of adapting to the new process. They also delve into the ways the AEC industry is evolving and discuss what today's companies are looking for in exceptional RFP responses.

How can law firms cut through the noise to stand out in a highly competitive market? Answering Legal has found success in integrating partnership and video marketing into their strategy. Tune in to hear Nick Werker, Answering Legal’s marketing director, talk about how they’re doing it and what success they’ve had.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Brent Darnell to discuss how emotional intelligence impacts culture and success in architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) firms. With over 20 years of experience coaching AEC professionals on the matter, Brent shares valuable insight and actionable advice to help firms improve their leadership, project and operations.

Reaching your company’s growth targets requires hustle, but putting in the work without a clear business development strategy might be doing more harm than good. Michelle Calcote King invites Lori J. Sullivan, the President of BluePrint Growth Consulting, onto Spill the Ink for an insightful conversation about how industry trends are changing the way architecture, engineering and construction firms approach their business development and sales plans.

Are you keeping up with the latest trends in legal tech? In this episode of Spill the Ink, our featured guest, Jared Correia of Red Cave Law Firm Consulting, dives into the latest trends and developments impacting how and why law firms use new technologies.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King and Kevin Aschenbrenner, the Senior Director of Public Relations at Reputation Ink, discuss the evolution of the legal industry and the trends that will shape the next decade of marketing and branding. 

Supply chain bottlenecks, labor availability, rising costs and an influx in federal spending on infrastructure projects are a mere few of the variables that shaped how AEC firms operated (and marketed) in 2022. As the new year approaches, what do AEC marketers need to know to prepare for 2023 and beyond?

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King and Scott Jacques discuss best practices and considerations for website design in the AEC sector, how firms can build functionality into their websites to meet a range of needs, website development and design trends influencing B2B buyers, and more.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Robert Ingalls, the Founder of LawPods, to discuss the value of being niche-focused and how podcasting can be used to a firm’s advantage.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King interviews Wendy Merrill, the Director of Strategic Consulting at Affinity Consulting Group. Wendy shares her experience working with law firms to develop strategic plans in the post-pandemic world, insight into what areas firms should prioritize during their strategic planning process, and what she sees attorneys commonly do wrong. They also discuss how technology can help — or hurt — a firm’s ability to adapt to challenges.

In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Michelle Calcote King talks with Liel Levy, the co-founder of Nanato Media and award-winning author of Beyond Se Habla Español: How Lawyers Win The Hispanic Market. They discuss best practices for marketing to a Hispanic audience, the common mistakes firms and attorneys make when they’re first starting out, and what lawyers can do to keep these new clients once they have them.

Michelle Calcote King interviews Howie Ferguson, the Executive Director of the Construction Owners Association of America, to discuss the association and its members: public and private owners who manage facilities development and capital improvement projects. They discuss a variety of topics for AEC firms, including facility owners' priorities and how the procurement process for large projects is changing. Hear all this and more on this episode of Spill the Ink.

In this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast, Michelle Calcote King talks with Mark Wainwright, the founder of Wainwright Insight. Mark provides fractional sales management services to AEC firms and other professional services firms, serving as a part-time sales professional who works with firms to manage their sales pipeline and coach their sales leaders. 

In this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast, Michelle Calcote King hosts Marcie Borgal Shunk, the President and Founder of The Tilt Institute, to discuss how to further develop leadership and culture in law firms. The two talk about the current challenges that firms are facing and how to overcome them. They also touch on the tenants of a great culture, how to use data and what it takes to be a good leader.

Michelle Calcote King invites Lindsay Diven, the founder of Marketers Take Flight, onto the podcast to discuss digital marketing for AEC firms. They go over Lindsay’s background and how she’s trying to fill holes in the industry. They then go into key topics such as generating leads, niching your firm and the best tactics for digital marketing. Hear it all on this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast!

Michelle Calcote King talks with Matthew Prinn, the Principal of RFP Advisory Group, about RFPs and best practices for responding to them. They discuss the different trends happening right now, how law firms should establish their value proposition in their responses and how alternative legal services providers (ALSPs) affect RFPs. They also touch on the mistakes that law firms make early on and how to avoid them. Hear the rest by tuning into this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast.

In this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Valerie A. Danner, the Senior Managing Editor of Legal Management, to discuss her publication and how PR professionals can work best with her. They go through the topics and interests of the publication before digging deep into what makes a great pitch. Valerie also talks about the other content she reads to stay informed.

Michelle Calcote King invites Jennifer Johnson, the Founder and CEO of Calibrate Legal, onto the Spill The Ink podcast to talk about revenue enablers and how to find them for your law firm. They discuss the current trends of the legal marketing world and how to stay on top of them. They then go into detail on what makes a revenue enabler, flexible work arrangements and why so many are leaving the legal industry.

In this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast, Michelle Calcote King interviews Matt Handal, the Founder of Help Everybody Everyday, to talk about the secrets behind writing a winning AEC proposal. They start by discussing what most people miss and the small changes they can make to improve. Then they break down the details such as non-technical people writing technical proposals, the newest trends and using data to your advantage.

On this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast, Michelle Calcote King talks with Perryn Olson, the VP of Marketing for REX.one, to hear about account-based marketing and how he uses it in his AEC firm. The two go through a plethora of topics, including niching your firm, the best content for ABM and which tools can help along the way. They also touch on the integration of business development and marketing and how to do it right. Stay tuned for more!

Michelle Calcote King interviews Marc Teer, the Founder and CEO of Black Spectacles, to hear his thoughts on leadership and education in architecture. The two go over pertinent topics including diversity, connecting architects with firms and how to work as a fully remote company. They also discuss the work that Black Spectacles is doing and how it’s made an impact. Check out this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast to hear the rest for yourself!

On this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King interviews Gerry Riskin, a Co-founding Partner of Edge International, to hear his advice on optimizing law firms. They go over the common stumbling blocks in the age of remote work and how to adapt. They then go into detail on how to keep up with technology, alternative legal services and the benchmarks of a healthy culture. Stay tuned!

Michelle Calcote King talks with Ken Sky of Ken Sky Unlimited to hear how he makes the most of Zoom calls and other virtual events. He goes into detail on his process, how he utilizes his background in magic and keeps participants engaged. He then dives deeper into tips for online presentation and where remote events are heading in the future. Hear it all on this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast!

In this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King interviews consultant David Freeman to hear his thoughts on business development for lawyers and law firms. The two touch on topics of cross-selling, improving your leadership and excelling in the virtual age. They also talk about the culture of your law firm and how to transform it from the ground up. Stay tuned to hear it all for yourself!

In this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King speaks with Elise Holtzman of The Lawyer’s Edge to hear her thoughts on business development for law firms. The two go over some of the common pitfalls and the three pillars to focus on to avoid them. They also dive into topics like marketing, setting new goals and women in the legal industry. Stay tuned to hear it all for yourself!

Michelle Calcote King talks with Bill Coletti, the CEO of Kith Crisis Management, to learn how law firms can survive crisis situations. The two discuss how to prepare for a crisis, the important steps of dealing with one and how to recover afterward. They then break down Kith’s process, including simulations and handling social media. Find out the rest by listening to this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast.

Michelle Calcote King hosts Chris Kirby and Dominica McGinnis of BridgeField Group to find out about their approach to diversity and inclusion. They go over the unique challenges of diversity and BridgeField’s process for building relationships. The three also touch on pressing topics such as mental health, the hiring process and making lasting changes. Find out the rest by listening to this episode of the Spill the Ink podcast.

On this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Allison Williams, the Founder of the Law Firm Mentor, to learn more about how to improve your marketing as a smaller law firm. They start by talking through Allison’s own rocky start as a lawyer and finding other good lawyers to work with. They transition into marketing advice, going through how to improve your social media, smoothing out your marketing cycle and answering the question “is buying leads worth it?”

Michelle Calcote King hosts Stefanie Marrone to find out her approach to improving your law firm’s LinkedIn profile. Together they go over the full process, from how often you should post to creating multimedia content to LinkedIn groups and more. Stefanie goes into detail on her story and how she found success on her own LinkedIn page. They even find time to discuss the specific content that performs well on the website. Learn all of this and more on this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast!

On this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Christopher Melcher, a Partner of Walzer Melcher LLP, to learn the secret behind becoming a legal source for media outlets. Christopher talks about finding his start as a source and how he leveraged it into the career he has today. They go over the pitch process, preparing to speak on television and the importance of relationships. Stay tuned for more!

Law360 is a news source that commits themselves to a greater level of quality and integrity. Their website has grown considerably over the years, expanding their reporting to every corner of the legal industry. They recently launched Law360 Pulse to dive even deeper into the business of law, including in-depth surveys and research. Along with their trusted rankings, they have set the bar high for legal journalism. Now they’re willing to talk through their process for the law firms that want to get ahead.

In this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast, Michelle Calcote King interviews Michele Linn, the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Mantis Research, to find out more about how research can transform marketing and more. The two go through research and the common mistakes to avoid early on. They then dive deeper into the process, talking through strategy, finding the right people to survey and promoting your research.

Michelle Calcote King hosts Elizabeth Petit, Director of Research and Development and Managing Editor at Best Lawyers, to learn more about how they rank law firms. They go over their qualifications, how they consider diversity and their response to feedback. Elizabeth then goes over the common mistakes and best advice for law firms to help their rankings. Find out all this and more on this episode of the Spill the Ink! podcast.

On this episode of Spill the Ink!, Michelle Calcote King interviews Michael Rafalowich, the Litigation Managing Editor at Euromoney Institutional Investor. Together, they dive into how Benchmark Litigation researches and ranks law firms across the United States and Canada. Michael discusses his criteria, why he visits firms in person and how they can improve their standing. They also talk about how Michael responds to feedback from firms about their rank. Stay tuned!

Michelle Calcote King talks with Ken Hardison, President of PILMMA, to walk through his approach to legal marketing. The two discuss how to find your niche as a law firm, some common mistakes lawyers make when advertising and how best to use grassroots marketing. Ken even goes into rising trends in legal marketing that you should be on the lookout for. Find out all of this and more by listening to this episode of Spill the Ink!

On this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Melissa Costello, Creative Lead and Chief Storyteller of MELISSACOSTELLO.com, to talk about how to sell through storytelling. From knowing how to use emotion to learning how she makes her videos, Melissa walks listeners through her in-depth process. They also dive into Melissa’s early career and how she found her unique passion. Stay tuned!

Michelle Calcote King interviews Adrian Dayton, the Founder and CEO of ClearView Social, to break down his advice for improving your professional social media. They discuss how to work LinkedIn to your benefit, which platforms you should use and how to strike the balance between being personal and being professional. They also get into how COVID has changed the social media landscape — and how to adjust. Tune in to hear it all on this episode of Spill the Ink.

On this episode of the Spill the Ink Podcast, Michelle Calcote King sits down with David Ackert, Founder of Ackert Inc., to find out his approach to business development. They talk about what separates PipelinePlus from other CRMs, the psychology behind lawyers and legal marketers and where technology is heading from here. Stay tuned to learn all this and more!

Michelle Calcote King takes the time to interview Wendy Merrill, the Executive Vice President of Growth Strategy & Branding at DRI, and get her perspective on the changing world of law. They discuss what DRI offers to defense attorneys, how to use LinkedIn to build your brand and how millennials are changing the landscape. Find out the details on this episode of the Spill the Ink Podcast.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King is joined by Aaron Y. Strauss, Founder and Managing Partner of A.Y. Strauss, to talk about building your law firm’s brand and culture. Aaron discusses how to succeed and adapt to changes as a young lawyer, what to look for when hiring your team, his social media tips for smaller brands and how to develop a culture that aligns with your firm’s values. Stay tuned!

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Ken Levinson, Founding Partner of Levinson and Stefani, to talk about the value of finding your niche and the best way to market your business. Ken discusses why having an area of expertise can help your practice thrive, the way that he uses social media and how to market your company — even if you’re not a marketing specialist. Plus, Ken shares his expert tips for adapting to the changing industry of law. Stay tuned!

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King is joined by Jamie Rubin, Partner at InfoLawGroup LLP, to talk about how a small law firm can find success. Jamie discusses how he found his niche, the importance of communication with clients and different ways to market your business. Stay tuned for more!

Tune in to this episode of Spill the Ink, where Michelle Calcote King interviews Steve Fretzin, President of FRETZIN, INC. Steve shares advice on personal branding through business development, tips for time management (and other things that law school didn’t teach you) and how to leverage your digital networks. Plus, Steve reveals his process for helping lawyers find their niche. Stay tuned.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King talks with Andrew Schpak, Co-managing Partner of Barran Liebman LLP, about hiring strategies and marketing for your law firm. Andrew discusses his firm’s approach to diversity and inclusion, explains how to develop your expertise and offers pointers for getting everyone involved in the marketing plan. Plus, Andrew shares his tips for managing social media and building a personal brand. Stay tuned.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King sits down with Eido Walny, Managing Partner, Founder and Estate Planning Attorney at Walny Legal Group LLC, to talk about strategies for developing your firm. Eido shares advice on leadership, social media trends and marketing tactics to help your firm build a better culture and attract ideal clients. Stay tuned.

In this episode of Spill the Ink, Michelle Calcote King talks with Robert Algeri, Co-founder of the marketing agency Great Jakes, about strategies you can use to gain strong market positioning for your law firm. Robert discusses the three different types of positioning, his approach to digital marketing and how you can generate more revenue by focusing on your expertise. Stay tuned. 

In this week's episode of Spill the Ink, host Michelle Calcote King sits down with Timothy Corcoran, the Principal of Corcoran Consulting Group, LLC. Together, they discuss the transformation of outdated business models in law firms, how the pandemic has accelerated change in the legal industry and what marketers need to know to navigate the shifting landscape. Tim also offers some practical advice for updating the way your firm makes money and allocates resources. Stay tuned

Stephanie Liu is a Live Streaming Strategist and the host of Lights, Camera, Live on Facebook, where she teaches professionals to transform their social media marketing strategy. She is the Founder of Stephanie Liu Marketing, an agency dedicated to helping you captivate your audience and master the art of social marketing. Additionally, Stephanie is the Co-founder and Co-organizer of Leap Into Live Streaming Bootcamp, a virtual event designed as a crash course in live video. 

Stephanie has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from San Diego State University and is a certified Neuro Linguistic Programming Trainer. Stephanie’s work has been recognized and awarded by Forbes, Online Marketing Media and Advertising (OMMA), PR Daily, Forrester, Gartner and 1to1 Media. She has spoken at many events, including Social Media Marketing World, VidCon, and Podcast Movement. Stephanie is also the co-author of the book, The Ultimate Guide to Social Media.

Kevin Foster is the CEO of Business Ethics Advisors, LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in helping individuals and organizations make ethical decisions. Kevin founded the company based on his own experience of ignoring ethical traps, which led to him spending 37 months in a federal prison. He now uses his business ethics expertise to train leaders to identify, assess and mitigate ethical risks while promoting ethical decision-making and risk management.

Luis has helped hundreds of firms to level up their clientele and reach. He understands how to guide lawyers to take charge of their practice and build long-term relationships rather than simple business contracts. And, it all starts with alignment. 

Richard Jacobs is the Founder and President of Speakeasy Marketing, Inc. He specializes in helping attorneys break free from 70 hour work weeks and marginal law practices. Richard has helped over 1,000attorneys regain balance in their lives and turn their law practices into successful businesses. He is also the founder of The Good Night’s Sleep Project, a company dedicated to helping busy professionals get their best sleep with custom-tailored pillows.

Amy Rowland is the Founder of Varia Search, a boutique legal search firm that uses a bespoke approach to fill in-house department roles, from general counsel to paralegal. Amy’s expert matchmaking method results in candidates who love their new jobs and satisfied clients who value their new hires. Prior to starting Varia Search, Amy held in-house roles at two large international companies and was a staff attorney at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. 

Chris Dayley is a Neuromarketer and the Owner of Smart CRO, an agency that specializes in helping e-commerce companies create profitable websites and build high-impact A/B testing programs. With over seven years of experience with Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO), Chris is an expert at improving website profitability using psychology-based testing and analytics. 

Michelle Calcote King, the Principal and President of Reputation Ink, knows that showcasing your track record as a thought leader is the key to law firm growth. Michelle and her skilled team of writers and editors have the marketing expertise to help lawyers establish themselves as influential thought leaders in their industry—and, ultimately, get more clients.

According to Michelle Calcote King, the Principal and President of Reputation Ink, clear and concise writing is the key to helping law firms effectively communicate with their clients. With all the information that people are consuming every day, it is especially important for businesses—specifically law firms—to take the time to simplify and shorten their content. As Michelle says, “clarity wins the game” when it comes to successful marketing.

AJ Wilcox, the Founder of B2Linked, has built countless ad campaigns in the last 15 years. After discovering the power of advertising on LinkedIn, he decided to create an agency that helps businesses and entrepreneurs stand out and build stronger customer relationships on the professional platform. With AJ’s expert advice, you can start creating LinkedIn Ads that tap into your ideal target market—and stop spending money on the intrusive ads that don’t work.

Using Round Table Group’s extensive collection of Nobel Prize winners, presidents of universities, and many more, lawyers can easily find the expert they need for their next case. What’s more, Russ has not only hacked the process of connecting lawyers and attorneys, but he has also transformed his company into a valuable marketing, branding, and business development resource. 

Speaking opportunities are, without a doubt, a strong marketing, PR, and business development tool for attorneys and law firms. That’s why Steve Markman created his valuable coaching and training programs at Markman Speaker Management, LLC—to help hundreds of lawyers land speaking engagements that boost their visibility and improve their firm’s bottom line.

Unless you're Adrian Lürssen, Co-Founder and VP of Strategic Development at JD Supra, who understands the importance behind tracking what your readers want and giving it to them. Adrian has spent the last 12 years working with firms to broaden their readership and build connections that align with their view of success.

As an expert on CRM systems, Dave Whiteside has helped countless firms take their businesses to the next level. With an up-to-date CRM system and well-maintained data quality, law firms can successfully achieve year-over-year growth—and Dave and his team at CLIENTSFirst Consulting are here to help them do just that. 

Chris Dreyer, an SEO expert, has been crafting stellar content strategies for personal injury attorneys over the past several years. He knows all the secrets and strategies for dominating first-page rankings on Google, driving traffic to your website and building your credibility online. So, what is his expert advice for lawyers and law firms looking to optimize their online presence?

Michelle Calcote King, the Principal and President of Reputation Ink, knows the ins and outs of giving stellar interviews and building lasting relationships with journalists and reporters in your field. Her best practices will save you time and effort—and help you avoid any misrepresentations or technical snafus. 

Michelle Calcote King, the Principal and President of Reputation Ink, has just the right tips and tricks for getting your story to the right news source. She knows the benefits of a featured article, and that’s why her team is here to serve as matchmaker between the attorneys at your firm and top media publications.

So, how do you effectively market yourself to potential clients while still staying billable? According to Wayne Pollock, the Founder of Law Firm Editorial Service, the solution is simple: hire a ghostwriter.

When someone is looking for a lawyer, they want to know that they’ll be working with a professional that understands their needs and can help with their unique challenges. One of the most effective ways for a lawyer to share their expertise and engage with these potential clients is to start a legal blog.