“For it is in giving, that we receive.”  Saint Francis of Assisi

The “no good deed goes unpunished” adage got its roots from those experiences in life where the good deed done appears to unfairly backfire on the do gooder.  No doubt there are times when the person doing the good experiences a negative reaction.  But does that mean good deeds are to be avoided lest they go unrewarded?  In the least, there is the reward and self satisfaction that comes from knowing you did the right thing, regardless of the outcome.

But what does that have to do with marketing?  This is after all, a legal marketing and business development blog. 

It is common knowledge that joining organizations and meeting people can be an effective networking strategy to help you promote your services and generate business.  But if you have tried it, you also know that many times when you attend a function at some sort of industry, charitable or social organization, you will find that a large percentage of the participants are people just like you, hoping to make a contact or generate a lead for business.  Something that does not go unnoticed by the group.  So how do you distinguish yourself, get noticed, and not come off like some parasitic leech?

The answer?  Good deeds!  Real life charitable service for the organization.  Performing voluntary services for the organization demonstrates not only your organizational skills, talent and expertise; it also demonstrates a genuine interest in the group and its mission.  Nothing is more attractive to group members than other group members taking an active interest in the causes of the group and doing things to further their plans and purpose.  That is how you get noticed and how you build relationships.  Trust is a critical component to hiring decisions in the legal profession.  Proving your interest goes a long way toward building that trust, and in the end, getting their business.

So if you choose to join an organization as part of your marketing plan and want it to really pay off, be prepared to participate.  Understand that if you give first, you are more likely to get back.  If you don’t have the time, then this may not be the strategy for you.  You could get lucky just by showing up, but most likely you’ll just be waiting in line.