I hate to start a conversation this way but I’ve got bad news.

Being a lawyer in 2019 is more difficult than ever before. Nearly 40,000 new lawyers graduated law school in the U.S. last year alone and currently there are almost 400,000 solo or small law firms in the US.

As a new year is dawning your marketing plan is yawning. It’s old. It’s tired. What you did in terms of marketing just last year may no longer be relevant—or aggressive enough.

Spin that to the positive, however, and the start of 2019 can be a time of strategic reflection and renewal. Take the pause you will have over the holidays and put that energy toward something great—a masterful marketing plan that will carry you through the whole year.

Is your legal marketing strategy ready for the future?

Don’t wait until January 1st to make your legal marketing resolutions. As 2019 looms closer, savvy law firms are gearing up to hit the ground running. They know that in the year ahead, personal injury clients will be even more mobile, more tech-savvy, and more demanding that their attorneys keep up.

Most sophisticated professional services providers, such as lawyers, consultants, and accountants, aspire to be thought of as thought leaders. Thought leaders grab attention. They shape the narrative. Their ideas drive action. And their reputations lead to business opportunities. They’re trusted, admired, and sought after.

I’ve said before that if you’re not growing, you’re dying.

But for an old dog like me to continue to succeed in business, not growing just isn’t an option. To keep my businesses relevant, I’ve had to grow and adapt to the world as it has changed around me.