I wrote two articles for Solicitors Journal about twitter for lawyers 6 years ago (you can read Part 2 here (£) – sadly I can’t find Part 1 any more!). I remember there was only one comment underneath, which, in summary, said twitter was all just about celebrities and what coffee people were having and wasn’t worth spending time on. And then 3 years later a senior lawyer told me “I like your ideas … but not the twitter … no, absolutely not… it’s a non-starter…”.

Our next KNW event is about online marketing, which has made me reflect on the changes that have happened since those SJ articles and that conversation.

I personally notice the following changes:

• it’s no longer such a “village” atmosphere
• you can no longer follow the old etiquette of following back anyone who follows you – way too many spammers
• waaay more lawyers and law firms are on twitter – I couldn’t manage without loads of lists
• few would say to me “… but not the twitter” now (even if they secretly thought it)

and what hasn’t

• employed lawyers are still quite tentative in their tweets (academics/counsel less so)
• a little more conversation and less broadcasting (please?)

Have you been on twitter for a while? What do you think has changed?

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I also talk about social media for knowledge sharing and marketing in my popular “KM: The Works” training session. The next one is on 28th January 2016. Find out more here.

I also have projects to harness the value in social media in my latest textbook “Practical Projects …”