In a previous Experts.comblog post, I wrote about how the sales funnel is relevant for expert witnesses. Specifically, we covered the importance of the Awareness Stage and measured its success with reach. But what happens next? What steps do you take after you reach your target audience? How do you keep them engaged? This post delves into the best content strategies expert witnesses can use to nurture their target audience in the Interest Stage.
What is the Interest Stage?
After you’ve acquired your target audience’s attention, some may stick around because they find your content relatable or intriguing. These audience members are part of the Interest Stage, as they have shown consideration for your previous material or find you someone with whom they resonate. Maybe they voted in a poll you posted or thought the introductoryvideo to your practice was worth the watch. Regardless, metrics such as likes, comments, shares, reposts, and follows give you insight into people occasionally interacting with you online. Now that you have the information in mind, how do you maintain their interest?
Unlike the Awareness Stage, where people are familiarizing themselves with your practice, those in the Interest Stage want to know the available solutions to their problems. This includes the advantages and disadvantages of those solutions. At this point, you have strengthened your audience’s recognition of your expert witness practice. Now, your digital marketing efforts need to be taken a step further.
So, nurture your audience by focusing on persuasion. Just simply posting about your brand is not fully engaging. How can you simultaneously stand out amongst competitors while helping your audience begin to consider whether to connect with you or hire you for their next case? What methods can you use to put your expert witness practice, into practice?
Content Strategies for the Interest Stage
Thankfully, there are a few options to highlight the benefits of your business. With the following content types, you can clearly communicate why your services are the best option for your potential clients and cement credibility, authority, and trustworthiness.
Comparison Guides
Comparison Guides are excellent for visually communicating the possible advantages and drawbacks of your service. They also allow you to share the aspects of your practice that stand out among other experts in your area or field. Being upfront about all factors of your expert witness practice (price rate, location, industry specialization, certifications, etc.) can inform your audience of everything they need to know before attorneys and law firms decide to retain you.
Here are more examples of things to include:
Total number of times you have testified (“I have been retained 15 times in the last 6 years.”).
List the states where you hold certifications and licenses
Types of courts you have presented your expert witness testimony.
Testimonials
Testimonials are valuable because they are first-hand accounts that praise you and your expertise. Essentially, they are subtle referrals for potential clients to consider when looking for an expert in your field. Even though you already have a positive reputation or an esteemed practice, confirmation from secondary sources can only help you market yourself.
Case Studies
Case Studies are, without a doubt, the most influential pieces of content to show your target audience. It demonstrates your experience in court and/or mediation, and how your testimony helped your client. In addition, it also portrays the types of cases you get retained for or accept. If you have notable cases that you are allowed to discuss, then presenting them to prospecting clients gives them insight regarding how collaborating with you would play out.
Parting Words
Overall, identical strategies will not work in all sales funnel stages. There are different methods you can use to maintain and grow your audience’s intrigue in your business and add value to your services. In our upcoming blog, we’ll discuss content strategies for the Conversion and Loyalty stages so you can learn how to retain repeat clients.
After being indicted on September 17th, 2024, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, a household name in hip-hop and a three-time Grammy Award winner, faces a sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy, and prostitution trial on May 5th, 2025 (ABC News; United States of America v. Sean Combs). Prosecutors say he orchestrated a decades-long “criminal enterprise” where he and others forced women into sexual encounters with prostitutes, called “freak-offs,” through the use of drugs along with physical and sexual abuse. Diddy pleaded not guilty and his defense attorneys proposed a $50 million bail package that the judge denied (AP News).
Throughout his career, Diddy has been associated with a slew of violence and grave misbehavior. He was not charged for some of these situations. However, here are some examples of his most notable misconduct from a timeline provided by Rolling Stone:
1991 CCNY Tragedy: A celebrity basketball game Diddy co-promoted at City College of New York ended in 9 deaths and 29 injuries. The number of attendees exceeded the capacity limit, and the security he hired could not manage the crowd. As a result, Combs settled numerous lawsuits from the victims’ families from 1991-2000.
1998 Steve Stoute Attack: Stoute accidentally sent MTV a version of the “Hate Me Now” music video depicting Combs as Jesus Christ being crucified. Combs wanted the scene deleted and was angry that it aired. He and two other men attacked Stoute with a champagne bottle. Along with attending a one-day anger management session, he received second-degree assault and criminal mischief charges.
2019 Gina Huynh Claims Abuse: Combs’ ex-girlfriend Gina Huynh reported to Tasha K, a blogger, that Diddy physically assaulted her during their five-year relationship. For example, she stated he stomped her stomach and punched the back of her head. Huynh also told Tasha K that Diddy’s circle perpetuated the abuse and did nothing to stop it.
At this point, Combs has not faced any significant consequences for his actions. However, that all changed in 2023.
KEY MOMENTS LEADING TO THE DIDDY TRIAL
On November 16th, 2023, Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a federal lawsuit against him. The lawsuit detailed physical abuse, intimidation, coerced sex with male escorts while he watched, and rape in 2018. Ventura added another accusation that Combs was responsible for causing Kid Cudi’s car, another famous rapper, to explode back in 2012 to prevent him from pursuing Ventura romantically. Kid Cudi validated the allegation (New York Times). To counter Ventura, Combs claimed she attempted to blackmail him for $30 million before the lawsuit. He and Ventura settled for an unknown amount the following day. Undoubtedly, her lawsuit catalyzed other women, colleagues, and critics to share their stories and corroborate his misdeeds (Billboard).
November 23rd – December 6th, 2023: Three women sued Diddy for physical abuse, drugging, and rape within a week and a half after settling Ventura’s lawsuit.
December 7th, 2023: Singer-songwriter and activist Tiffany Red wrote a letter to Combs in Rolling Stone. She corroborated Ventura’s claims detailing events she witnessed at Ventura’s 29th birthday party in 2015. Lastly, Red accounts for how she tried to intervene and felt helpless.
May 17th, 2024: A 2016 surveillance footage resurfaced depicting Diddy physically assaulting Cassie Ventura in a hotel hallway. The altercation resembled an allegation Ventura made in her lawsuit last November. According to LA Country District Attorney, George Gascon, “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately, we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.”
September 17th, 2024: Police found 1,000 bottles of baby oil while searching Diddy’s New York residence. A month later, a lawsuit made by another Jane Doe alleged the baby oil, and other lubricants, were laced with GHB (Rohypnol) to drug women for his “freak offs” (E! Online).
JAIL PROCEDURES FOR THE MAINSTREAM
Expert Insight
Presently, Diddy is in jail waiting for his trial to start. Joseph E. Gunja, a Jails/Prisons/Correctional Facilities expert, has graciously opined on jail and prison protocol for high-profile inmates.
Before I delve into the procedures, a distinction between jails and prisons must be included. Jails are under local law enforcement agencies or correctional department supervision. They are for inmates who temporarily await trial and sentencing dates. Mr. Gunja notes that the staff overseeing the inmates receive annual 40-hour training related to their job description. State and federal entities oversee prisons. People go to prison for longer sentences, usually related to more serious crimes. Essentially, Diddy is temporarily in jail, and depending on the outcome of his trial, he may be sent to prison for a longer sentence.
According to Mr. Gunja, “Combs will not be treated any differently than other inmates.” The jail protocols apply to everyone regardless of social and economic status. Regarding visitation, Diddy is allowed to have social visitors, which are set by the staff. Alexandra Shapiro, his attorney of record, can visit as many times as necessary.
Aside from his current legal scandal, Diddy is constantly in the news and media given his celebrity status. Mr. Gunja states that jails “respond to the media inquiry with consultations with the regional Public Information Officer and Central Office Public Information Officer.” Lastly, some inmates may need constant supervision, as Diddy did last month when he was on suicide watch (NBC News). Mr. Gunja states that suicide watch must have the approval of a psychologist or other mental health professional.
CONCLUSION
Since Diddy’s legal scandal is ongoing, and the trial will not happen until next year, we will continue to discuss different aspects of his case with insight from various expert witnesses. A special thank you to Mr. Joseph E. Gunja for opining on jail procedures for high-profile inmates. Please stay tuned for the upcoming ‘Diddy Scandal’ blog post.
Marketing professionals help companies and clients understand their target audience and accomplish business goals by following a sales funnel. The top of the funnel is the Awareness Stage, which consists of leads, a broad group of people who are unaware or have little familiarity with a company and its products. Companies reach out to specific leads because they show important characteristics that match those of their ideal customer. The goal is to convert those leads into customers as they become increasingly aware of their goods and services.
Sales funnels are not just for marketers. It might be silly to think that a sales funnel can relate to promoting your expert witness practice, but it resonates more than you think it would. Any business selling goods or services, including expert witnesses, needs to connect with its target audience. Building those connections is not easy to achieve unless you have been a practicing expert witness for years. In brief, this blog will define reach and explain why it is vital for expert witnesses and their digital marketing efforts.
“REACH” FOR EXPERT WITNESSES
The Awareness Stage is when target audiences first discover a service, company, or person they might need. As an expert witness, expanding your audience is the key to increasing your opportunities. To measure the Awareness Stage of your business, “reach” is the metric to use.
What is “Reach”?
Hootsuite states, “On social media, reach refers to the number of users that saw your content, i.e., how many different people it reached.” For example, if I upload a video tutorial on Instagram, I can see that 700 accounts looked at the post. To clarify, this differs from impressions, defined as the number of times the content appears on a user’s screen. Reach counts users and impressions measure total, cumulative views. In this blog, we will only focus on the former. The number of eyes on your material is far more important than the number of times those same eyes look at your content, like articles, blogs, and videos.
When you begin to promote your practice, your primary goal is to access as many relevant audience members as possible. It is not enough to just freely post material for the sake of posting. Your content must have intention, purpose, and relatability. It is the primary way to cement connections and partnerships. Unless a customer is in dire need of a certain product or service, it is rare for a lead to quickly purchase anything from a company or person they barely know.
So, reach helps you see how many people are interested in you and your practice. The Awareness Stage is where you begin planting and nurturing the seeds toward the ultimate goal, retention.
Why Should Expert Witnesses Prioritize “Reach”?
The initial goal for any entrepreneur or business is to amass as many people as possible to increase their chances of a “sale.” The same can be said for expert witnesses. Getting the attention of those you are seeking can boost your chances of testifying in court for an attorney and their client.
Knowing how many users in your target audience are encountering your content can help you maintain or refine your strategy. For example, say your reach results are insufficient. Hashtags are a great way to expand your audience. It invites users who do not follow you to see your content if the hashtag they click is in your post. This only works if the social media account you are posting from is public.
To track reach on social media, like Facebook, LinkedIn, X, and more, Hootsuite provides information about platform-specific analytics tools . Experts.com offers analytic reporting services as well! You can view audience engagement on your profile page, CV, articles, videos, books, and other content. Ultimately, if you are interested in understanding how well your digital content performs, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with these tools.
CONTENT IDEAS FOR “REACH”
While people can discover you and your business by searching for your website (an absolute MUST-HAVE for expert witnesses), you still need to put in the effort to aggregate potential clients. Below are some content ideas to help you promote your practice to attorneys and like-minded experts.
Organic Social Media Posts
When you post organically, it stems from either your personal or business social media accounts without paying for sponsorships. You share what you want to share on your own volition! There are a multitude of topics and ideas to to bring to your followers about your work and experience, like notable accomplishments, interviews, polls, and discussion posts. Overall, generating content that can help the audience relate to you will increasingly pique their interest in you and your business.
Blogs
Writing blogs or contributing to articles is another method of showcasing your knowledge to your following. It further cements your credibility as an expert in your field when you opine on industry news, collaborate with other similar experts, or produce your own blog post ideas. Blogsites like WordPress help you use search engine marketing with step-by-step processes to optimize your content. Lastly, you can insert links to gather traffic to your website or other pages you want your audience to visit. With this in mind, you can simultaneously share your knowledge while gaining potential clients. They just need to know who you are and what you do first.
CONCLUSION
In sum, a marketing sales funnel is a useful tool for expert witnesses wanting to track and promote their practice. What you put into your digital marketing efforts is exactly what you will get from it. Lastly, trying is the first step in accessing your desired audience. Stay tuned for the next blog, which covers Engagement and the Interest Stage.
Now that you know how to define your personal brand and turn it into tangible content, it is time to be strategic. You must choose the digital and social platforms to share your expert witness practice. The plethora of options for expert witnesses to market themselves are overwhelming. Thankfully, Experts.com has a few suggestions. The final part of this blog series will help you narrow down the wide list of digital platforms for effectively marketing your expert witness practice.
SHARE YOUR EXPERT WITNESS BRAND
HOW TO LIMIT YOUR OPTIONS
There are positive and negative consequences to everything we do in life. Marketing plays by the same rules. For instance, posting too frequently with content marketing will overwhelm your audience. To add, it also diminishes the importance of your message. Implementing a basic strategy will help you effectively promote your practice.
The last stage helps you pick the platforms and content types to commit to or are most relevant to your practice. Ask yourself these 6 questions:
How much time can I spend sharing my expertise with the online community?
What platforms do I enjoy the most?
Which platforms do my target audience frequently use?
Would I rather record videos and podcasts or write articles and social media copy (like polls and discussion posts)?
Which content types are easily digestible for my audience?
What results am I seeking, and will my chosen platform achieve the desired results?
Result examples: clicks, shares, comments/engagement, followers, profile impressions, etc.
When choosing your platforms, it is undeniably important to understand your business goals and your target audience. Growing an online presence means sharing valuable insight with those who seek your expertise. But the last thing any professional wants is to experience burnout. Content creation is not an easy task, let alone mixed with a full-time job. A sentiment to remember is that content marketing should complement and boost your expert witness practice.
Overall, it is advantageous to choose your platforms and content types strategically. Attempting to tackle all of them is simply unattainable. Answering the questions above can help you scale down the many available avenues to one or two successful platforms. Now, let’s dive into the most applicable options for your digital marketing needs.
PLATFORM TYPES
Many digital platforms cater to various industries (TechTarget). For the purpose of this post, the focus will be on three digital platform types: social media, content creation, and business collaboration.
Social Media
Social media was briefly discussed in the previous blog post. It summarized that content, like articles and blog posts, can be repurposed on those applications. However, it did not detail which ones were best to use. According to the New York Bar Association, here is a list of social media platforms to consider as expert witnesses:
All listed social media platforms cater to text, images, and video to varying degrees. For instance, X is more discussion-based than Instagram, but it allows users to post videos and photos. Facebook is an advantageous platform because its 3.03 billion users surpass the other three options (Backlinko). All three media types are popular on this platform, and it helps you reach an exponentially higher number of people to market your practice. Lastly, LinkedIn is essentially Facebook for professionals. You can join free discussion groups based on your specialty and target a more precise audience.
Content Creation
Part 2 of this blog series covered the surface of the increasing influence of videos. While it may be considered a social media platform, YouTube is fundamentally a platform for content creation. It is the most prominent place to post videos related to your expertise.
LinkedIn states there are several benefits to uploading videos to YouTube:
Cost-Effective: Unless you’re sharing a TEDx Talk, interview, or conference panel, expert witnesses do not need to create long videos. Short 1-2 minute videos are significantly cheaper to make and would effectively communicate your desired message in the long run. Look at our “Experts.com Files” series on YouTube, which details years of locating expert witnesses for various legal cases.
Extend Audience Reach: YouTube has more than 2.70 billion monthly active users as of 2024, approximately 34% of the world’s population (Global Media Insight). This statistic further proves the rise of video consumption and confirms your need to seize this opportunity.
Shareable: Again, videos can be repurposed for social media. Share them on platforms where your audience is located or where you see the best results.
Great User Experience: YouTube is not bound to any specific device. Online consumers can watch your short videos on a laptop and mobile devices. Catering to your audience’s needs can result in more viewership and engagement.
While video content may require more time and effort to execute, YouTube is a great user-friendly tool for beginners. Any user with a YouTube account can edit, schedule, and upload their videos easily using YouTube Studio.
Business Collaboration
Finally, video conference platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, and Skype are great avenues for hosting webinars and informational meetings. You can invite your connections to register for your digital event and showcase your knowledge live. Partner with other experts in your field, attorneys, or online legal marketing firms to share your expertise and include your audience in the conversation with Q&As.
Business Collaboration platforms emphasize relationship-building more strongly than the previous two platform types. Attendees can get as close to an in-person impression as they can in a digital forum. Experts.com hosts quarterly webinars that connect the broader legal community and highlight the insight from our guest speakers.
PT. 3 CONCLUSION
All in all, the platforms you use should align with your schedule, audience, and goals for your expert witness practice. If you want to connect with other professionals, then meet them where they are located to avoid reinventing the wheel. Generally, marketing is about learning what works through trial and error. While these tips can help improve your digital marketing efforts, success looks different for each expert witness. As you promote your practice, take note of your defined successes and continue to implement strategies that produce them.
SERIES PARTING WORDS
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” Wayne Gretzky, former NHL player.
Ultimately, it’s worth it to try something new than not to try at all. While digital marketing is not the sole solution to creating connections and business, it certainly holds relevance now. It is a disservice not to take advantage of its potential. If you seek visibility for your expert witness practice, be proactive about your digital marketing efforts. Many cost-friendly content and platform options are available to showcase you and your expertise to your audience. Decide which platforms work for you and start taking those shots. Some days will have better outcomes than others, but the journey will eventually lead you to your destination.
In Part 1, you learned about the importance of personal branding for your expert witness practice. Showcasing your “professional total package” in physical and online spaces is in your best interest. Cementing your clear brand identity can help you stand out among competitors, increase job opportunities, and cultivate new and existing relationships. How can you turn that brand into tangible material? What are the benefits of dedicating time to doing so? Discover the power of content marketing in Part 2 of this 3-part blog series.
MAKE YOUR EXPERT WITNESS BRAND TANGIBLE
ORGANIC CONTENT
You may have heard terms such as “organic” and “paid” content. For the purposes of this blog, only “organic” content will be discussed. According to Forbes, “Organic social media content is any free content shared on social media profiles including posts, videos, stories, and more.” These posts are composed and uploaded by any user and are not supported by sponsors or advertisers. Overall, the content you post organically can be seen by your connections and anyone who shares it.
The main and best benefit of organic content is, without a doubt, the lack of financial strain for you and your practice. Its effectiveness does not rely on a large budget. You can sign up for most social media and blog sites for free, and upload your thoughts and accomplishments when you can! Ultimately, you gain new relationships and potential revenue without losing money outside your current expenses.
CONTENT TYPES FOR YOUR EXPERT WITNESS PRACTICE
Because it is rooted in consistency, content marketing is a walk in the park for expert witnesses. The industry itself is the definition of consistency, as professionals opine on a given case relevant to their field of study. Expert witnesses would have an easier time developing new pieces compared to those in creative fields. For instance, your content can be based on past work experiences. Previous cases or takeaways from events you have engaged in are great examples for content ideas. Continuing education, in which most professionals must participate, is another resource for original organic content.
Surprisingly, translating your practice into concrete material is not as complicated as it seems. It may require a little extra work and time you might not think you have, but it is a long-term investment for your expert witness career. Bring visibility to your practice with these three suggestions:
Articles & Blogs
According to LinkedIn, blogs help strengthen and support the brand you solidified in the first step. Adding your unique tone of voice to relevant topics provides insight into your personality and professionalism. To add, it also builds relatability with readers, adds depth to your posts, and instills credibility in your reputation. Written content like articles and blogs are a great start for those unfamiliar with posting online content. HubSpot has named other notable benefits:
Increases traffic to your website – a necessity for expert witnesses.
Content can be repurposed for social media.
Solidifies authority for the author, you!
Here are some examples of articles and blogs from our legally trained team and esteemed members of Experts.com.
Topical Social Media Posts
Posting directly to social media adds a crucial element to your content – engagement. For example, you can create a poll, suggest feedback in the comments section, or highlight achievements and noteworthy news. Whichever route you take, you invite your personal and extended connections to view and interact with your online material. For beginners, a discussion-based medium is recommended. Platforms like LinkedIn and X (aka Twitter) allow you to share professional wisdom and follow groups and individuals with similar interests.
Videos
Because text tends to be overwhelming, visuals are integral to any marketing campaign. Videos mitigate the mundaneness of reading text while maintaining curiosity for the audience as they wonder what happens next. Viewers can also watch them from any device, whether at their office desktop or on mobile devices for their on-the-go lifestyle. The mentioned reasons explain the increase in video consumption in recent years. HubSpot named a few statistics that occurred in 2023:
On average, people consume 17 hours of online videos per week.
HubSpot anticipates the number of digital video viewers to total 3.5 billion.
Out of all other content types, people are 52% more likely to share videos.
In addition, 1–2-minute videos can showcase introductions, interviews (participants in a webinar or panel also count), your ability to explain convoluted concepts quickly, and your personality. Becoming comfortable in front of the camera is a hurdle worth getting over. It is a skill that is a continuous work in progress. Do you want to be prominent in your audiences’ minds? Gaining new connections and nurturing existing ones means keeping them engaged with your material and insight.
PARTING WORDS
All in all, your brand identity and the material you create should work in tandem. Think of content marketing as the vehicle that drives your knowledge and personality to those you want to reach. Why not try to put your insight online in a cost-effective way! Of course, content creation should not add stress to your work life. Write, record, and publish content when you have ample time or when your industry allows you to do so. Ultimately, content marketing will maximize your desired results from your audience. What results are you looking for? Which platforms would be best to reach them? Answers to these questions will be available in the upcoming final third part.
In the thirty years Experts.com has participated in the expert witness industry, our team has noticed a shift in legal marketing. In-person networking and phone calls were the main avenues for connecting with professionals. Since we have entered the digital age, the primary networking methods aren’t as extensive. Expert witnesses now have various options to promote themselves and their practice. Surely, the endless networking options digital marketing creates can be overwhelming. Some of you may have adjusted to it, but the array of options can be simplified for novices. Part 1 of this three-part blog series discusses the importance of personal brand definition and why it’s necessary for your expert witness practice.
PERSONAL BRAND DEFINITION – EXPERT WITNESSING
What is a Personal Brand?
As an expert witness, you provide your insight to attorneys and law firms. However, many people in the same field as you are doing the same thing. How will you stand out among the other industry experts? What is the distinct factor that influences attorneys to hire you for their case? Is it location, certifications, or notable accomplishments? Why are you the best fit for a client and their legal team? That’s where Personal Brand Definition comes in (Social Media Examiner).
According to Sprout Social, a personal brand is “a culmination of the experiences, skills, and values that differentiate you.” Given that the phrase is associated with marketing, professionals in that field may use their brand to “sell” themselves to clients. Expert witnesses, on the other hand, can use their brand to build connections with attorneys and law firms so they can get hired for their next case.
For instance, think of combining your expertise and individual image as a “professional total package.” Marketing your experience is half the battle; the other half is marketing yourself. You could be the top expert on paper and not get retained due to poor demeanor. The expert witnesses attorneys look for are those who communicate complex observations in layman’s terms, making their insight digestible for juries and the court. You know what you excel at and have the résumé to prove it. Being approachable and well-versed in your field is the first step to positioning your practice to those in the broader legal industry.
Why Personal Brand Definition is Necessary for Expert Witnesses
Ultimately, expert witnesses need a defined personal brand to distinguish themselves from those in identical fields. Because there are many occupations under the umbrella of general industries, like business or engineering, defining your niche is essential for your personal brand. For example, stating that you’re a medical expert is not enough information for attorneys to hire you. Depending on the case, an attorney might need a nurse, an orthopedic surgeon, or a pharmacist. Attorneys need a professional that has mastery over the nature of the case and can simplify complicated concepts. Setting yourself apart from experts alike and expressing a sincere disposition to attorneys and law firms will make your practice memorable.
In addition to standing out from competitors, there are many benefits to having a personal brand. According to Forbes, branding helps you:
Cement trust, consistency, and credibility with your desired audience.
Build lasting relationships.
Expand your network and career opportunities.
Maintain a consistent online presence.
Present transparency, expertise, and your unique personality.
Understandably, the word “brand” may seem ridiculous to the logical nature of expert witnessing. Although your knowledge may decide the case, your online image and branding are the gateway to the opportunity. Unless marketed successfully, your expertise could remain the best-kept secret.
PARTING WORDS
To summarize, it’s crucial to take advantage of new marketing methods in the digital age. A great place to start is by defining your personal brand. Intellect alone cannot sufficiently promote your expert witness practice. However, a balance between your experience and attitude can. Demonstrating the “professional total package” to relevant audiences in both physical and digital spaces will keep your name and practice at the forefront of their minds. As a result, it can expand your pool of connections and cases. Having a personal brand for your expert witness practice is the building block for your digital marketing efforts. Stay tuned for Part 2, where Experts.com covers how to turn your brand into tangible content.
On September 6th, 2023, Netflix releases its latest documentary, Scouts Honor. It will depict how Boy Scouts of America (BSA) attempted to conceal a child sexual abuse scandal of immense proportion in American history. BSA has accumulated more than 1 million members since its inception in 1910 (Boy Scouts of America), similarly modeled to its British counterpart named the Boy Scout Association. Its mission to “prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law,” is the foundation for its seemingly esteemed reputation. Congress chartered BSA in 1916 under Title 36, recognizing it as a “patriotic and national organization” (TIME Magazine). Additionally, the Title permits Congress to investigate the organization, which it never has (Washington Post). It is astonishingly ironic that certain individuals responsible for upholding righteous principles also perpetuated antithetical actions for nearly a century. Further into the blog, insight from Domestic Violence Investigation Expert and current Pack Master, Rachael Frost, Master Inv. (ret.) will be highlighted. Until then, here is a historical timeline of the Boy Scouts of America scandal.
Timeline:
Boy Scouts of America Child Sexual Abuse Misconduct (Abuse in Scouting)
1920: BSA began collecting reports of volunteers accused of child abuse called “Red Files” just ten years after it was founded.
1971: Unbeknownst to most Scouting employees, executives disclosed eradicating thousands of outdated “Perversion Files,” accounts of known child molesters within BSA. Files were eradicated if the abuser was over eighty years old or deceased.
2007: The Boy Scouts of America faced its first lawsuit. Six former Boy Scouts in Oregon sued the organization for child sexual abuse by a previous scoutmaster in the 1980s. The jury consumed thousands of internal reports and saw how severely BSA mishandled sexual misconduct claims. As a result, the organization paid the plaintiffs $19 million in damages.
2012: The Oregon case documents were made public. From the records, investigators discovered that officials implored sexual abusers to relinquish their positions rather than report them to the police, covering for the abusers to the detriment of the Scouts.
2020: The Boy Scouts of America filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after many sex abuse claims and listed assets totaling almost $10 billion.
March 28th, 2023: BSA settled a class action lawsuit. Reuters states, “The Coalition of Abused Scouts for Justice, a group of 18,000 sexual abuse survivors, said the agreement would bring ‘some justice to tens of thousands of survivors, men and woman, many of whom would have been waiting for decades for this day to arrive.” The youth organization reached a $2.4 billion settlement because of this class action and the decades of sexual abuse claims filed (CNN). Depending on the allowed amount of the claims, individual survivors are expected to receive between $3,500 to $2.7 million in damages per claim. BSA also implemented its Plan of Reorganization consisting of programs dedicated to preventing child abuse, from background checks to prohibiting adult and child one-on-one sessions.
Expert Q & A Section:
Domestic Violence Investigation Expert, Rachael Frost, Master Inv. (ret.), explains common characteristics among abusers, how to identify grooming behaviors, and potential legal reforms for the future:
*Disclaimer* – This article does not discuss pedophilia. This is a psychiatric diagnosis defined as “over a period of at least 6 months, an equal or greater sexual arousal from prepubescent or early pubescent children than from physically mature persons, and manifested by fantasies, urges, or behaviors,” (Psychology Today).
Q #1: In your experience, are there common characteristics or behaviors of known or suspected child abusers? If so, what are they?
A #1: Let’s focus primarily on those who commit sexual abuse against children. Regardless of motivation – whether an intense sexual arousal towards children, or specifically young boys, or because of a sexual desire to manipulate, control, and have sex with children due to vulnerability or opportunity, yes, child molesters have very similar tactics.
The following statement is not to tarnish any fields or people within them with heart and dedication for our youth. There are certain jobs that give perpetrators more access to a child and their family’s trust. They provide chances for them to simultaneously praise and condemn a child’s actions and personality traits to get them to rely more upon the perpetrator’s positive interaction. It allows them to isolate a child without raising extreme suspicion. Overall, they generally choose jobs where they are around children. You do not become an accountant.
Common tactics include:
Choosing a Vulnerable Victim: Kids with poorer relationships with family/foster child/looking for sense of belonging/lonely/taking advantage of a friendly connection.
It is important to note that being a vulnerable victim is NOT the victim’s fault. None of this is their fault. It is the perpetrator’s fault and manipulation.
Providing Special Consideration: “Love Bombing”/special gifts or treatment.
Providing Access to Risky Behaviors: Alcohol/drugs/porn/parties/staying up all night/going to places parents would not approve/etc.
Personal Time: Extra time together/going to a gym/spending time at the perpetrator’s house.
Sharing Secrets
Sharing Touch: Gradually getting them used to touch to “accidentally” grazing more intimate places.
Projecting Guilt: “If you do not do this for me you do not think I am special, you do not care.”
Sexual Contact: Framing intercourse or sexual contact as a learning process and normal.
Denials, Promises, & Blame: The perpetrator relies on their good standing in the community. The abuser also blames the victim’s “bad behavior” if any possible disclosure is heard.
Power and Control: Promising Withholding [below]/promising to tarnish the person’s reputation if they say anything/using homosexuality as a manipulation tactic.
Withholding: Time/gifts/secrets/promises – when the victim pulls away or does not meet control requirements of the perpetrator.
Threats
Q #2: Do you think State and Federal legal reform is necessary to mitigate child sexual abuse?
A #2: Yes, reform should be considered in four areas –
Regulations for Access and How Adults Interact with Children: The Scouts have required safety courses, fingerprinting, and a safety video advising no single adult should ever be alone with a Scout. However, it must be greater to include a full background check by a trained background investigator…, and specific, defined interaction requirements that are subject to civil or criminal investigation if violated.
No adult/set of adult in a room away from other children and adults.
Rotating parent involvement.
Mandatory awareness training for all parents becoming involved in an organization for what behaviors are unacceptable.
Child education regarding what association representatives should and should not do.
Education for and Increased Types of Professions Who Are Mandated Reporters of Child Abuse or Neglect: Even those who are mandated reporters too often do not report, often because they either do not know they should report or are dissuaded by executive staff.
Increased Annual Education for Children and Safe Spaces for Children to Report Abuse and Neglect: Children should know who they can talk to. They can come to the front office, or talk to a teacher, officer, parent, or mentor they trust. Examples of what predators say to keep children from saying anything, and discussing grooming tactics openly, are all important.
Mandated Policies and Procedures to be followed in Child Abuse and Neglect Reports and Investigations and Consequences for Legal Failures: Addressing legal failures that prevent mandated reporters and investigators from letting incidents fall through the cracks is necessary. Including protections for mandated reporters begins with confidentiality and job protection. This should also include specific, supportive direction and significant consequences for the knowing failure to meet these legal requirements.
Additional solutions:
Emphasizing parent education about what grooming looks like can also mitigate child sexual abuse in organizations like the Boy Scouts of America. Parents are advised not to leave their children or a group of children alone with a single adult, no sleepovers, or traveling alone with adults. Finally, they should also pay attention to the amount of time an adult spends with their child and gifts being given to their specific child and not others.
Q #3: Will the Boy Scouts of America’s reorganization reforms successfully reduce abuse, and are there other processes it should institute to prevent abuse?
A #3: This is a start, and additional safety features may be put in place. However, like all programs, it cannot simply be an add-on program. It must become a mantra, a process, a part of what the Scouts are. It must be prevalent in how leaders conduct themselves, messaging from the association, from schools, parents, and participants.
Q #4: In my lifetime, I’ve seen massive organizational abuse and coverups in both the Catholic Church and now the Boy Scouts. Are there other organizations where similarly massive scandals are currently under investigation?
A #4: There are a few reasons why abuse in Scouting was prevalent for so long. While these could be argued as good things, it combined religion, youth mentorship, and regulated behaviors (uniforms, respect, pride, honor) with a leader responsible for teaching children lifelong and beneficial skills embodying the roles of God and righteousness. Parents and other community members saw these gregarious and friendly leaders as pinnacles of the community. They were held to a high standard, supposedly met the standard, and were above reproach. Still, underneath all that friendliness is a complicated, harmful monster. The difficult part is spotting the wolf among the overwhelming group of great pack and troop leaders.
I became a Pack Master because I believe in the mission of providing children a safe space to learn and create community. I wanted to establish an environment where I knew that kids were celebrated for who they were without judgment and mitigate misplaced patriarchy. Fostering the recognition of every culture, race, religion/non-religion, sexual orientation, and gender identification is important. Respect, community, and positive behaviors can develop without fear of Eric Cartman’s (South Park) “You will respect my authori-tay” mentality.
Specifically regarding organizational coverups, they occur in any system or association. Organizations need executive staff members who recognize the true issues of an ongoing problem are 1) wrong; and 2) have to be addressed effectively and transparently. The messages and processes for this leadership must be clear throughout the entire organization and community. Any entity has to inquire about its “Business Culture” during its strategic planning and must meet in all they do. It is crucial for organizations, especially those that serve children, to lead ethically. Lastly, ethics do not rest on a checklist, as true solutions are holistic and complete with redundancies and iteration.
Expert Parting Words:
Emphatically, no one should be above the law and of decency. Evidence-based investigation is vital. We cannot allow for anything otherwise or else we are just giving into cancel culture. There is often extreme corroborative evidence in these cases, especially when law enforcement can quickly get to them.
Conclusion:
According to Rolling Stone Magazine and Brian Knappenberger (director of the upcoming Netflix documentary), “There are over 82,000 and counting survivors of sexual abuse in Scouting.” From the Scouts Honor trailer alone, the courage and fearlessness of the interviewees involved are highly commendable. Tomorrow’s release will provide a more detailed depiction of the severity of BSA’s abominable actions and the suffering it induced. From the current circulation of news, the Boy Scouts of America has undergone a three-year financial reconfiguration process. It also enacted a Plan of Reorganization, where a series of protection policies were implemented to ensure children’s safety. Examples include required youth protection training for employees and volunteers, criminal background checks for staff and leaders, and the ban on one-on-one interactions between adults and scouts. Hopefully, the youth organization and historic institution will clean up its act and keep its promises to survivors by breaking its cycle of criminal behavior.
A special thank you to our Domestic Violence Investigation expert and Pack Master, Rachael Frost, Master Inv. (ret.), for taking the time to provide her contributions.
If you know anyone in need of support, visit the RAINN websiteor call the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s telephone hotline 800.THE.LOST (843-5678).
A huge thank you to Megan Zavieh, of Zavieh Law, for having me on the Lawyers Gone Ethical podcast this week.
This week, I was honored to be a guest on the Lawyers Gone Ethical podcast from California State Bar defense attorney Megan Zavieh. It was a fun, educational experience and Megan is a fantastic host!
What I was surprised to learn is lawyers are very concerned about the ethical ramifications of creating content. The fear is not dissimilar to the concerns of expert witnesses regarding content marketing.
Granted, experts are more concerned that content created to market their services may later be used against them for impeachment purposes (if this is one of your fears, check out this post from a few years ago). Lawyers, on the other hand, are more concerned with upsetting state bar regulators.
The concerns of lawyers and experts are understandable, but they are based in fear. Lawyers can add appropriate disclaimers to their content marketing materials. Experts should not be creating any video or written publications that they cannot defend. In fact, experts can add disclaimers too. For example, “the facts of each case are different. The analysis used in this article/video/blog post may not be applicable in every case.”
The bottom line: Both sets of professionals need to get over the fear and start creating interesting and compelling content. Do so after taking proper consideration of your practice and any ethical standards which may apply. But, get started!
If you are not utilizing content marketing to expand your practice, you are missing out on the ability to distinguish yourself from your competitors.
There are reasons we encourage Experts.com members to write articles. It differentiates them from their competitors, reinforces their expertise, showcases their analytical and writing abilities, and drastically increases their online visibility.
The 2018 Lawyernomics Conference is less than two weeks away and I’m excited! This year, I’ll be attending, and representing Experts.com. What is Lawyernomics, you ask?
Lawyernomics is a conference created and hosted by Avvo, a leading digital company helping clients to research, find, and retain lawyers. It is also a platform for attorneys to promote their services and knowledge so they can be found by the right clients at the right time. The Avvo concept is not dissimilar from Experts.com. Avvo serves lawyers and consumers. Experts.com serves lawyers and experts.
Why am I excited? Several reasons:
One, I get to meet a ton of lawyers looking to improve and grow their legal practices. Meeting lawyers and informing them about the service we offer is something I love to do. We always want to build relationships with the lawyers who will be retaining our members in the future.
Two, the conference this year is all about building “connections.” Building connections is a huge part of what I do (connecting lawyers with experts). The “cherry on top” about this years theme, content marketing, is a big piece of the conference according to this post from Avvo: Lawyernomics 2018 aims to help build strong connections – and strong practices. As our readers and members know, I’m a huge proponent of content marketing. I spend a significant amount of my time creating and sharing content (some content by our members and other content for our members). Our customers are regularly made aware of the benefits of creating and publishing content in the form of articles, case studies, video/webinars, live video, and more!
Finally, attending the conference means I get to see and meet some great friends. Some I’ve met before and others I’ve connected with digitally and get to meet in person for the first time. It is always exciting to meet people in person after getting to know them online. Experts.com has built some amazing friendships, collaborations, and business relationships by being active online and creating and sharing valuable content! Content marketing and embracing digital platforms have changed our business; I cannot wait to be there to see others learn how it can change their business as well.
Speakers & Sessions I’m Excited to See:
The conference has a really impressive lineup this year. I’m really looking forward to meeting and learning from many of the speakers.
The Avvo Team:
There will be a lot of speakers from Avvo taking the stage over the two-day conference. I have not met members of Avvo in the past, so I’m most looking forward to speeches by Avvo’s Founder and CEO Mark Britton who will be providing a welcome speech. It’ll be interesting to hear about the things he has learned as the founder of the company, especially now, as I understand he’ll be leaving the company in the near future. It is always nice to hear about the progression of a company from someone who was there at the beginning.
Also, since I’m a fan of shiny new objects, I look forward to hearing from Avvo’s Product Manager, Danielle Martin. She’ll be speaking about the new features and new products Avvo will be offering to their members. It is always a pleasure to see new product offerings.
Creating Compelling Content Through Video, Podcasts and Other Marketing:
I am likely to pay dearly for not mentioning them first, but I have to take my chances. My friends Alycia Kinchloe of Kinchloe Law and Nicole Abboud of Abboud Media are hosting a session about creating compelling content. As you read above, I’m kind of into content creation. These lady lawyers are amazing! They are constantly creating spectacular content for the legal community, clients, and the niches in which they work. I am good friends with both, but I have yet to meet Alycia “in real life.” The three of us regularly interact and collaborate on content and other ideas through the LegalMinds Mastermind Group.
Growing Your Firm with Digital Marketing:
Seth Price, another member of the LegalMinds Master Group, is the Founding Partner of Price Benowitz LLP and Founder and CEO of BluShark Digital. Seth is an exceptionally knowledgeable lawyer and legal marketer. He’ll be discussing SEO, PPC, blogging, and social media marketing for lawyers. Many of these topics are of great interest to my expert witness members and I’ll be looking for the gold nuggets I can bring back to share with my customers.
45 Ways to Make Your Firm More Client-centric:
Gyi Tsakalakis, is the Founder of AttorneySync, a digital marketing agency for attorneys. This will be a spectacular session because it is focusing on customer service. Anything that helps improve the customer experience and delivery of a quality service is a must. Gyi will be discussing the implementation of client feedback systems, improving the client experience, and singing the praises of customers and clients.
The Age of Data Driven Law:
Patrick Palace, is the owner of Palace Law, a workers compensation and personal injury firm in Seattle, Washington. I met Patrick, albeit briefly, at the ABA GPSolo / GLSA conference last month. This time, I’m looking forward to getting to know him a little better and especially to learn all about the use of big data in the practice of law.
Patrick will be joined by Jack Newton who is the Co-Founder of Clio, a top-of-the-line law practice management service focused on helping lawyers spend more time with clients and less time on administrative tasks. I met some really great folks from Clio at the last conference, including Joshua Lenon, so I expect good things once again. Plus, if you combine someone with law practice management software for small and medium firms with the owner of a small/medium firm, I can only imagine there will be awesome insights on the use of data.
UPDATE: It seems that Jordan Couch of Palace Law will also be attending. I was unaware or I would have included him on my list of people I’m looking forward to seeing. I’m ashamed of my oversight. Deepest apologies, Jordan. 🙂
If you cannot tell, I’m really looking forward to this event. I anticipate having some useful and actionable information to share in future blog posts upon my return.
