As we head into 2014, here are some strategies to keep in mind that will help you build a better law firm in the New Year:

Done is better than perfect. Is it more important to have a solid strategy or to execute an imperfect plan? My response may surprise you. Attorneys are notorious for over-planning everything. This becomes a fatal mistake when it comes to marketing.   Your marketing plan should only be focused on what actions you are going to take in the next 90 days. You should be able to easily write it down on one page. Keep it simple and focus on consistently taking action!

Be a contrarian. Many of our best Rainmaker marketing strategies are based on contrarian thinking. I often tell my clients to look at what their competitors are doing and do the opposite! Not because their competitors are dumb or intentionally doing it "wrong," but because following the herd is the single most common action taken by attorneys in their marketing, especially on the internet. Don't follow the crowd with your marketing; instead, do the opposite.

Eliminate obstacles. What is blocking you from achieving the financial success you deserve? A bad partnership?   A partner or associate or key team member who is distracted and depressed?  No passion for your clientele? Lack of automated systems to run your marketing?  No system for following up with leads and prospects? Now is the time to get rid of the dead weight! It's easy to overlook faults when times are good, but they can kill you when times are tough. When you identify a weak link, remove it!

While you're at it, make every attorney and staff member commit to returning every single phone call and email the same day it is received. I'm convinced benign neglect of prospects, clients and referral sources is a major reason why many attorneys are struggling in their business.