Tag: social media

Social Media Icons - Expert Witness Practice
Expert WitnessMarketingSocial Media

Pt. 3: How To Make Your Expert Witness Practice Noticeable

on February 13, 2024

INTRODUCTION

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.

Expert Witnesses Exchanging Ideas

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.

Zoom Conference - Expert Witness Practice

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.

Content Marketing for Expert Witness Practice
Expert WitnessMarketingSocial Media

Pt. 2: How To Make Your Expert Witness Practice Noticeable

on January 23, 2024

INTRODUCTION

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 Marketing Formats for Expert Witnessing

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.

Desired Results for Expert Witness Practice

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.  

Build Your Brand - Expert Witness Practice
Expert WitnessMarketingSocial Media

Pt. 1: How To Make Your Expert Witness Practice Noticeable

on December 19, 2023

INTRODUCTION

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.

Expert Witnesses Expanding Connections

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.

Audio ForensicsComputer ForensicsExpert WitnessSocial Media

Deepfake: An Introduction (Part 1)

on March 17, 2021

Computer technology is one of the most pivotal inventions in modern history. Artificial Intelligence, smartphones, social media, and all related apparatus have significantly enhanced living conditions in an unprecedented manner and connected the world with a click of a button. It is used in various occupations: from business related fields to more creative professions. To say modern technology has been advantageous in recent decades is an understatement. However, every creation has its flaws. This multi-part blog series is intended to reveal one of those flaws, and a dangerous one at that, deepfake videos. This first post includes an introduction to deepfake videos, and the steps taken by federal and state governments to identify such duplicitous content. Special insight on the subject is provided by our Experts.com Member and Audio, Video, and Photo Clarification and Tampering Expert, Bryan Neumeister.

Editing footage and photos is normal practice in our selfie-addicted new normal, but creating distorted content is a whole new ballgame. According to CNBC, deepfakes are “falsified videos made by means of deep learning.” These videos, images, audios, or other digital forms of content are manipulated such that counterfeits pass as the real thing. What makes matters worse is the internet allows anyone and everyone to create, edit, and post deceptive content. It is one of many threats to cybersecurity strategists, police departments, politicians, and industries alike because the purpose of making them is to spread misinformation, tarnish reputation’s, exploit evidence, and to ultimately deceive an audience. The unfortunate reality is deepfake videos which display pornographic scenarios and manipulated political moment are the most common. For instance, a notable deepfake video was posted by Buzzfeed in 2018 depicting former United States president, Barack Obama, slandering another former United States president, Donald Trump. However, the voice behind Obama is none other than Jordan Peele. The video was intended as a moral lesson to explain how important it is to verify online sources, and to highlight the dangerous problem of trusting every post uploaded to the internet.

According to Mr. Neumeister, who specializes in this area of expertise, there are two types of artificial intelligence programs used to create deepfake videos: GANs and FUDs. He states, “GANs (Generative Adversarial Networks) are used by professionals, and FUDs (Fear, Uncertainty, and Doubt) are the homemade ones.” Although FUD videos garner more attention among internet users, the real menace to society are the videos made from GANs.

Videos made from Generative Adversarial Networks have an algorithmic framework designed to acquire input data and mimic the desired output data. One can visualize how GANs work through the viral Tom Cruise TikTok deepfake. According to NPR, the creator of the deepfake, Chris Ume, used a machine-learning algorithm to insert an accumulation of Tom Cruise footage. This allowed him to give a digital face transplant to the Tom Cruise lookalike actor he hired for the video. Ume input a plethora of videos to create a desired output of a realistic face swap. Neumeister also adds that the most realistic deepfakes correlate to the amount of footage a person can acquire. Specifically, “the more bits of video clip you have to put together, the more accurate you can make facial movements, ticks, etc.” From this logic, it can be inferred that Ume’s Tom Cruise deepfake looks more realistic than those that lack algorithmic programs.

Because viewers typically see deepfakes in politics and pornography, federal and state governments have recently implemented laws to counteract deepfake content creation and distribution. President Trump signed the first deepfake federal law near the end of 2019. This legislation is included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (NDAA), which is a $738 billion defense policy bill passed by both Senate (86-8) and the House (377-48). The two provisions in the NDAA requires:
“(1) a comprehensive report on the foreign weaponization of deepfakes; (2) requires the government to notify Congress of foreign deepfake-disinformation activities targeting US elections,” (JD Supra). The NDAA also implemented a “Deepfakes Prize” competition to promote the investigation of deepfake-detection technologies. On a state level, there have been laws passed by multiple states that criminalize specific deepfake videos (JD Supra):

  • Virginia: first state to establish criminal penalties on the spread of nonconsensual deepfake pornography.
  • Texas: first state to ban creation and dissemination of deepfake videos aimed to alter elections or harm candidates for public office.
  • California: victims of nonconsensual deepfake pornography can sue for damages; candidates for public office can sue organizations and individuals that maliciously spread election-related deepfakes without warning labels near Election Day.

Although the Trump administration and various states established policies against deepfakes, it remains ubiquitous on almost all online platforms. How can users at home distinguish authentic content from deepfakes?

Mr. Neumeister provides a few tips and tricks for detecting a deepfake. One giveaway mentioned is mouth movement, otherwise known as phonemes and visemes. Mouths move a certain way when people speak. For instance, words like mama, baba, and papa start with a closed mouth. Words like father, and violin start with the front teeth pushing against the bottom lip. To add, consonants and vowels also sound a certain way when pronounced correctly. “Words with t, f, n, o, and wh, are pretty good for tells,” adds Mr. Neumeister. When analyzing video, the frames in which a person is speaking are broken down into approximately six to ten frames to determine if the way someone talks in other videos is the same as the video being analyzed. Another tip Mr. Neumeister suggests is to watch videos with context in mind. Viewers should pay attention to background noise, crowd ambiance, and the cadence in a speaker’s sentences. Authentic and original content would have, by nature, realistic frames. Users can detect a deepfake by sensing dissonance in, for instance, a speaker’s proximity to the microphone or a size of a room. For users at home or on-the-go, these tips are crucial for distinguishing verified sources from manipulated misinformation.

The emergence of deepfake content, its continuously improving technology, and the spread of disinformation is a multifaceted and complex problem. This blog post has only scratched the surface, so stay tuned for part 2 for a more in-depth read.

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Computer SecurityComputersInformation & Communication TechnologySocial Media

TikTok: Is It The Next Cyber-Security Threat?

on September 21, 2020

TikTok has been the most downloaded app globally in 2020. Although it has existed since 2018, TikTok surpassed 2 billion downloads back in April, during the apex of the new socially-distanced reality engendered by the pandemic. The ability to share and create content such as comedy skits, dance challenges, and lip-syncing clips, has appealed to various age groups around the world, especially teenagers. However, TikTok has been at the center of controversy for raising cyber security concerns not just here in the United States, but around the world. 

The problem with TikTok is twofold. The first issue is the app is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. Because ByteDance is not American-based, it does not follow U.S. federal and state consumer privacy laws. TikTok announced the data collected by American users is backed-up in Singapore, which is not subject to Chinese law. Though true, it is possible the Chinese government could pressure ByteDance to relinquish its user information. 

Second, TikTok has a large accumulation of data related to the types of videos Americans watch and post. Because it has turned into an important platform for political activism, people are worried the Chinese government could influence public opinion and control speech. For instance, according to both The Guardian and The Intercept, last year, TikTok company officials told their employees to censor content considered sensitive to Beijing. TikTok claimed their policies were outdated when the reports were released. As a result of this incident, they established a “transparency center” so security and technology experts from around the world can observe their policies. 

Despite TikTok’s official statement, President Donald Trump issued an Executive Order in August declaring the prohibition of all business with ByteDance. Unless ByteDance announces a plan to sell TikTok, the app will be banned on September 29th, 2020. Several American agencies and companies, such as the U.S. Army and Wells Fargo, have been proactive, requiring servicemen and employees to uninstall the app in response to these security concerns. Other countries, like India, have followed suit, banning the app altogether. 

Many people, including computer security experts, believe banning the app in the United States would be an extreme course of action. Not only would it invite questions about censorship in a free country right before an election, but it would affect various companies here in the U.S. who use the platform for marketing purposes. A solution technology experts have mentioned is to implement policies for protecting consumer privacy and measures to minimize data misuse from companies around the world. Currently, with the exception of a few state laws, the responsibility of American privacy and data sharing belongs to companies such as TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter. 

On September 14th, 2020, ByteDance accepted Oracle’s proposal to be their new technology provider. This means Oracle would be held accountable for protecting all user information collected through TikTok. Although this deal is pending approval by the U.S. government, this would keep businesses invested in TikTok afloat and allow up to 100 million users to continue posting creative content. Tresury Secretary, Steve Mnuchin, told CNBC that the government will be reviewing the proposal this week, as their top priority is to keep American user data from the Chinese Communist Party.   

Four days later, the U.S. government announced the removal of TikTok and fellow Chinese app, WeChat, from American app stores supplied by Apple and Google. Distribution, updates, and maintenance will be expelled for purchase unless the Trump administration, TikTok, and Oracle can close a deal by September 20th. Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, told Bloomberg WeChat would be shut down for practical purposes, but Americans could still use the app for payments in China and talk to loved ones overseas. He added TikTok’s official shut down is scheduled after November 12th if the deal with Oracle falls through.  

On Monday, September 21st, 2020, President Trump announced his approval of the deal between Oracle and TikTok. As a result of the ongoing proposal, Oracle and Walmart will share a 20% stake in TikTok Global, a new company headquartered in the United States. ByteDance will own 80% of TikTok Global and allow Oracle to review its source code. Ceding algorithms and other technologies was not included in the deal. Allowing Oracle to review the source code is still not fool-proof as ByteDance could easily instruct the code to send data back to China in secret. Trump’s approval has postponed the ban for now, but the removal of TikTok through American app stores is still in effect. As relations between the United States and China remain tumultuous, the final outcome of the TikTok debate remains to be seen. 

ElectronicsExpert WitnessLivestreaming

Livestreaming App is Window into Your Child’s Bedroom: An Experts.com PSA

on July 25, 2018

Law enforcement officers are warning parents about the LiveMe livestreaming application as it allows predators direct access to children, at home, in their bedrooms.

Earlier this week, I was searching for a new story for the blog. It was a long afternoon of reading news stories and not finding any that grabbed my attention.

Then after a while I found this story , from News4Jax, posted by my friend Sergeant Marc Marty, of the Montebello Police Department. Marc is a leader in online safety and the fight against child trafficking. He teaches courses to law enforcement and government officials via LawEnforcement.Social and is active with the Erase Child Trafficking organization.

It hit me, we generally write stories involving expert witnesses, but we only very occasionally write a straight informational, “public service announcement” post. This topic felt like the right topic at the right time.

I’ve been fairly involved with live video since 2015. In fact, live video is how I met Marc. We’ve attended several live video and social media conferences and I watched him speak about online safety and child trafficking at the last mutually attended conference. I’m happy to see he’s still fighting the good fight!

The livestreaming story shared by Marc, is very disconcerting. The app in question, LiveMe, has some 20 million active users. Before this article, I can’t recall hearing about LiveMe. My guess is the app targets minors, so it is not somewhere I wish to spend my personal or professional time. Unfortunately, it is somewhere sexual predators will be quite active.

I imagine law enforcement will also be active on this platform. Unfortunately, with limited resources, dozens of social media platforms, and jurisdictional limitations, police will only be able to monitor a small percentage of the streams and may be limited in their ability to take action. That leaves monitoring to parents, non-profit organizations, and other concerned citizens.

As the News4Jax article describes, several parents were not aware of what their children were doing on this app, in their own bedroom. Others didn’t even know the app existed (admittedly, keeping up with every new platform is difficult).

All of this got me wondering, what viewing behavior is indicative of a predator? Other than monitoring their children and their behaviors, what do parents need to know about online predators? How should they guide their children? What behavior indicates “grooming”? Which children are most at risk?

I reached out to Marc for some greater illumination on the subject.

Sergeant Marc Marty

As I’ve done in the past, I have asked several questions and Marc has provided some spectacular answers on the subject.

Nick: As an officer specializing in social media, what are some steps parents and others can take to prevent predatory use of apps like LiveMe?

Sgt. Marty: Parents first and foremost must develop an open line of communications with their children. Communication is key!! They need to develop a partnership with their children. If parents are “allowing” their child to have a cellphone, they need to explain to their child that it will be monitored and that there may be monitoring software on the phone. Let’s face it, most children cannot purchase a phone, so in essence the phone belongs to the parents, not the child. Be open and honest with your children. Develop a contract with your child that explains and stipulates the rules and guidelines the child must follow in order to have a cellphone. This is important because when the child breaks that contract and their phone gets taken away or they are disciplined, they have a clear understanding why they are being disciplined. This helps develop responsibility.

Nick: Assuming parents are monitoring the livestreaming use of their children, are there any telltale signs that viewers may be predators?

Sgt. Marty: It’s really difficult to determine who is actually watching/following your child online unless you know them. Here’s a question I pose to parents. “Do you let your child have random friends that you know nothing about? Do you let your child talk to just anyone at the mall as they are walking through it?” If the answer is “NO,” then why would you allow a random stranger online follow your child? Parents should know who is following their child online.

Nick: Are there particular signs that a viewer may be “grooming” a potential victim?

Sgt. Marty: If a viewer asks a child to take off their clothes, or to send a random nude photo of them, those are pretty good signs that that person is up to no good. However, predators will often seek weaknesses in children and exploit them. They are looking for the child who wants to run away, or who is upset with their parents, or who doesn’t have parents. They will look for any type of “in” they can find. They will often simply befriend them and develop that digital friendship online.

Nick: Can you share with our readers some basic online safety recommendations?

Sgt. Marty: Children should follow their parents rules at all times. Understand that anything you post online will be there forever. Never send personal pictures to anyone online. Never give out any personal information, such as address, phone number, or other identifying information. Don’t use your name as a screen name online, make up a name. Cyberbullying is huge, don’t respond to any threatening emails, messages posts or texts online. Screen shot the messages, block the individual and immediately notify Facebook, Instagram, or whatever platform you are on, and it will usually be removed right away. You may also need to notify your local police as well. Children should never meet anyone in person unless parents are present and/or notified. Always tell parents, teachers, or other trusted adults of any messages that are unwanted or threatening.

Nick: Is there anything you feel I should have asked that I didn’t ask? Potentially items you feel the public needs to know?

Sgt. Marty: Parents need to understand that social media is the gateway to child trafficking. They need to be able to communicate and educate their children!! They should follow Erase Child Trafficking and any other organization out there that is fighting against the exploitation of children.

Conclusion:

So there you have it, our first or maybe second, true public service post. The topic is hugely important. These are areas where Marc and I have been active for several years and we have seen some of the efforts by strangers to bully and prey on children.

You and your children should enjoy technology. Just do so wisely. Be smart and be safe!

 

Expert WitnessLivestreamingMarketingSocial Media

Social Media Marketing World 2016 – Lessons Learned for Expert Witnesses

on April 26, 2016

SMMW16Held at the San Diego, California Convention Center on April 17, 18 and 19, 2016, the Social Media Marketing World 2016 (SMMW16) was well-received with over 3,000 participants from around the world. Networking was the name of the game, with recognized brands from Airbus, Allergan, and Amazon to Verizon, Walmart, and World Vision. Platform representatives from Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others were front and center imparting valuable social media marketing tactics.

There were a couple of major takeaways from this year’s event. Several things you need to know in order to better promote your expert witness services:

  • You Need To Be On Social Media:

If you are not yet active on social media you are losing precious brand awareness, engagement, and community building opportunities. At a time when consumers and clients are more informed than ever before, you need to have a social presence so your customers can “know, like, and trust you.” Attorneys cannot get to know the real, authentic version of you if you are absent from these platforms.

It is not necessary to be present on every available social media platform. Having a strategy is important. If you are looking to target attorneys, it is important to know how to find them and how to get their attention. We have services to assist you in building your presence on the correct social platforms.The priority is building relationships within your community. If you are regularly creating content and posting it to social media platforms without a community, you may find your content is not being read, watched, shared, or cared about. If you build those relationships and others care about you individually, they will share your content. It was great to see several of those in our live-streaming community in attendance at the #SMMW16, including:

  • Build An Online Community

A community on social media is not terribly different than an offline community. There are leaders, managers, and community members. Usually there is an interconnecting of these individuals for some shared purpose (or shared interest). For example, Experts.com is active in the live video / live-streaming community. There are many active Members in this community and the one thing we all have in common is we participate in creating live video. Although our businesses may be different, we still support others in the live streaming community by sharing their content.

Mitch-and-Jeff

Mitch Jackson, Esq. and Jeff Weinstein, Esq.

The priority is building relationships within your community. If you are regularly creating content and posting it to social media platforms without a community, you may find your content is not being read, watched, shared, or cared about. If you build those relationships and others care about you individually, they will share your content.

Nick and Jeff Weinstein

Ivan Raiklin, Esq. and Nick Rishwain

It was great to see several of those in our live-streaming community in attendance at the #SMMW16. Just a few with whom we were able to spend significant time include:

  • Live Video is the Future of Marketing

Here are just a few facts that were shared by Mike Stelzner, CEO of the Social Media Examiner (host of the conference).

  • 73% of marketers use video in 2016
  • Only 14% of marketers are using Live Video
  • In May of 2015, there were 2 billion videos viewed daily
  • In February of 2016, there were 8 billion videos viewed daily

The following platforms have bet big on live video (a.k.a. live streaming, social video): Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, Blab. Each of these companies has a major live-stream component or is entirely live video as a product/tool. Facebook now gives priority to video content in its news feed. Other content will fall below live video in your news feed.

Live video allows you to increase the” know, like, and trust” factor better than anything else, according to social selling strategist, Kim Garst.

Our friend, Mitch Jackson, Esq., has said he wants to “see and hear the expert” before hiring him or her as an expert witness. Seeing and hearing an expert witness provides endless value to attorneys as they get an idea of how you sound and perform. Live video allows you to do this authentically.

As live video is the future of marketing, we highly recommend getting comfortable with live streaming sooner rather than later. Join Us to become a pioneer in the live video community. Improve your visibility, professionalism, and authenticity with live video marketing. If you do not know how to begin, reach out to us at info@experts.com.

Nick Rishwain, JD.
Vice President of Client Relations, Experts.com.

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Expert Witnesses Embrace Digital Media Platforms – Interview with Attorney Mitch Jackson

on October 27, 2015

On October 14, 2015, Experts.com interviewed Expert Witness and 2013 California Lawyer of the Year, Mitch Jackson, on the benefits of Expert Witnesses embracing digital media to promote their services. To watch the interview, click the link below.

Mitch Jackson was admitted to the California Bar in 1986 and immediately opened up his own practice representing victims of personal injury and wrongful death. In 2009, Mr. Jackson was named Orange County “Trial Lawyer of the Year,” by the Orange County Trial Lawyers Association. In 2013, he received the California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year (CLAY) Award for litigation. According to California Lawyer Magazine, the CLAY Award recognizes attorneys who have changed the law, substantially influenced public policy or the profession, or achieved a remarkable victory for a client or for the public and have made a profound impact on the law. Mr. Jackson is also an expert witness in legal malpractice matters.

Mr. Jackson is an active social media influencer with a strong presence on Twitter, Facebook, Periscope, Blab, Instagram, among others. In addition to his legal practice, Mitch Jackson maintains several websites promoting: livestreaming, communication, Rotary service, and, most importantly, “Being Human.” To learn more about Mitch Jackson, his practice, and his social influence, visit the following sites:

http://jacksonandwilson.com/
http://streaminglawyer.com
http://human.social/

Experts.com was established to allow professionals a platform to showcase their areas of Expertise. Since 1994, we have been providing millions of users worldwide with access to specialized knowledge. We believe our members should have control over monetizing their specialized knowledge and expertise. In this day in age of high technology, there is no need for a broker or middle man to mark up fees or market your expertise. Put your best foot forward with Experts.com.