Expert Witnessing can be a very rewarding part of any professionals career, both financial and intellectually. The average hourly fee experts charged was $385 for in-court testimony, $353 for depositions and $254 for file reviews and preparation (taken from SEAK's Expert Witness Fee Guide, 2004).
A professional may be qualified to be an expert if they have any of the following: Knowledge, Skill, Experience, Training or Education
To obtain more information and training on how to become an expert witness, I suggest attending SEAK's introductory workshop June 20, 2007 on Cape Cod, MA.
How to Start and Build a Successful Expert Witness Practice is an intensive introductory workshop that is designed to show prospective and novice expert witnesses exactly what will be expected of them and how to start and build a successful expert witness practice. This course is specifically designed for prospective and novice expert witnesses and requires no advanced knowledge or training. Attendees will learn from experienced faculty in a step-by-step fashion how to start and build a successful expert witness practice. A continental breakfast, lunch with faculty and a detailed workshop manual not available anywhere else will be provided to all attendees.
SEAK 2007 National Directory of Independent Medical Examiners - Now Available
SEAK's 2007 National Directory Independent Medical Examiners, is now available at no charge. The Directory contains hundreds of IME doctors who are available for additional IME referrals. The Directory is both a printed version and an online database (www.seakexperts.com). To receive your free copy, or to become listed in the Directory, contact the Directory Manager, Alex Babitsky at Alex@seak.com.
The 10 Biggest Marketing Mistakes Experts Make and How to Avoid Them
The 10 Biggest Marketing Mistakes Experts Make and How to Avoid Them
By Alex Babitsky, MBA and Steven Babitsky, Esq.
© SEAK, Inc.
Executive Summary
Experts spend years developing and maintaining their area(s) of expertise, yet many experts do not spend adequate time developing a plan to market their expertise. The most successful experts treat their expert witness practice as a business and develop a marketing plan after consulting with those with experience in the field.
Mistake #1 Failure to Track New Business
The most fundamental marketing mistake experts make is failing to track where each and every new assignment comes from.
Action Step
Experts who want to increase market share are advised to develop and utilize a simple tracking system which tells the expert what the source of each new assignment is.
Mistake #2 Failure to Identify Your Market
Experts who fail to identify where the most likely source of new business is, make a serious marketing mistake.
Action Step
Experts need to specifically identify who their likely clients are and how and where they can be reached.
Mistake #3 Not Contacting Current and Past Clients
Experts who fail to contact current and past clients are missing a significant marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Develop a database of current and past clients, contact them and ask them directly for additional work.
Mistake #4 Speaking at the Wrong Places
Experts who speak at conferences of their colleagues are generally not marketing effectively.
Action Step
Speak at conferences and meetings of lawyers and other potential clients who can retain you directly.
Mistake #5 Lack of 24-7 Marketing
Experts who set aside a small portion of their time and effort to do “marketing” are missing the 24-7 marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Market yourself and your practice 24-7 with superior service, reports and testimony.
Mistake #6 Failure to Advertise
Experts who fail to advertise due to a perceived “stigma” or lack of budget are making a major marketing mistake.
Action Step
Develop a cost-effective, professional, dignified advertising plan and implement it.
Mistake #7 Writing for the Wrong Audience
Experts who write exclusively in their professional journals for their colleagues are missing a substantial marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Experts should identify and write for publications for lawyers and other clients who can retain them directly.
Mistake #8 Failure to Write Excellent Reports
Experts who do not write superior reports fail to realize a significant marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Experts who realize the number of people who read their reports, including opposing counsel, and the marketing significance of a well-written report, make the effort to write excellent reports.
Mistake #9 Failure to Thank Referral Sources
Experts who fail to thank referral sources are missing an opportunity to ensure a continuing stream of referrals.
Action Step
Experts should acknowledge and thank all referral sources in writing, e.g. “Thank you for the confidence, you have shown in me....”
Mistake #10 Failure to be Accessible
Experts who are not readily available to talk to new potential clients are making a fundamental marketing mistake.
Action Step
Experts need to make themselves available and accessible to potential clients who may have an immediate need to consult with and retain an expert witness.
Conclusion
Experts who wish to control and increase their expert witness work should set aside the time, budget and effort to develop and implement a simple, direct, effective marketing plan.
SEAK, Inc., (www.seak.com) provides training, texts, videos, marketing resources and other products and services for expert witnesses. SEAK’s Annual National Expert Witness Conference is held each summer on Cape Cod.
By Alex Babitsky, MBA and Steven Babitsky, Esq.
© SEAK, Inc.
Executive Summary
Experts spend years developing and maintaining their area(s) of expertise, yet many experts do not spend adequate time developing a plan to market their expertise. The most successful experts treat their expert witness practice as a business and develop a marketing plan after consulting with those with experience in the field.
Mistake #1 Failure to Track New Business
The most fundamental marketing mistake experts make is failing to track where each and every new assignment comes from.
Action Step
Experts who want to increase market share are advised to develop and utilize a simple tracking system which tells the expert what the source of each new assignment is.
Mistake #2 Failure to Identify Your Market
Experts who fail to identify where the most likely source of new business is, make a serious marketing mistake.
Action Step
Experts need to specifically identify who their likely clients are and how and where they can be reached.
Mistake #3 Not Contacting Current and Past Clients
Experts who fail to contact current and past clients are missing a significant marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Develop a database of current and past clients, contact them and ask them directly for additional work.
Mistake #4 Speaking at the Wrong Places
Experts who speak at conferences of their colleagues are generally not marketing effectively.
Action Step
Speak at conferences and meetings of lawyers and other potential clients who can retain you directly.
Mistake #5 Lack of 24-7 Marketing
Experts who set aside a small portion of their time and effort to do “marketing” are missing the 24-7 marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Market yourself and your practice 24-7 with superior service, reports and testimony.
Mistake #6 Failure to Advertise
Experts who fail to advertise due to a perceived “stigma” or lack of budget are making a major marketing mistake.
Action Step
Develop a cost-effective, professional, dignified advertising plan and implement it.
Mistake #7 Writing for the Wrong Audience
Experts who write exclusively in their professional journals for their colleagues are missing a substantial marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Experts should identify and write for publications for lawyers and other clients who can retain them directly.
Mistake #8 Failure to Write Excellent Reports
Experts who do not write superior reports fail to realize a significant marketing opportunity.
Action Step
Experts who realize the number of people who read their reports, including opposing counsel, and the marketing significance of a well-written report, make the effort to write excellent reports.
Mistake #9 Failure to Thank Referral Sources
Experts who fail to thank referral sources are missing an opportunity to ensure a continuing stream of referrals.
Action Step
Experts should acknowledge and thank all referral sources in writing, e.g. “Thank you for the confidence, you have shown in me....”
Mistake #10 Failure to be Accessible
Experts who are not readily available to talk to new potential clients are making a fundamental marketing mistake.
Action Step
Experts need to make themselves available and accessible to potential clients who may have an immediate need to consult with and retain an expert witness.
Conclusion
Experts who wish to control and increase their expert witness work should set aside the time, budget and effort to develop and implement a simple, direct, effective marketing plan.
SEAK, Inc., (www.seak.com) provides training, texts, videos, marketing resources and other products and services for expert witnesses. SEAK’s Annual National Expert Witness Conference is held each summer on Cape Cod.
SEAK 16th Annual Expert Witness Conference
SEAK, Inc. is pleased to present its 16th Annual National Expert Witness Conference, June 21-22, 2007 on Cape Cod, MA. Expert witnesses from all disciplines and with all levels of experience will benefit from multi-disciplinary advanced techniques. Nationally recognized attorneys, experts, judges, and educators will discuss all aspects of expert witness testimony, ethics, and trial techniques. The conference attracts more than 300 experts from across the country.
Conference participants will be presented with practical suggestions for succeeding as expert witnesses. This highly-acclaimed two-day program will include lectures, trial demonstrations, lively question and answer periods, and intensive breakout sessions led by a highly qualified faculty.
For the first time ever, this years conference also provides CEU credits for a variety of specialties.
Conference participants will be presented with practical suggestions for succeeding as expert witnesses. This highly-acclaimed two-day program will include lectures, trial demonstrations, lively question and answer periods, and intensive breakout sessions led by a highly qualified faculty.
For the first time ever, this years conference also provides CEU credits for a variety of specialties.
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