As I contemplate the fact that I have come up with no new ideas since my initial post, I suddenly realize that someone else has.
I was approached recently to do a series of about a dozen short videos as teaser advertising on a web-site that is supposedly going to be promoted by National Public Radio and through the aggressive purchase of key words on Google.
When I raise the issue of the Unlawful Practice of Law (UPL) on a nationwide site such as this, I am told that the videos consist of only a couple of sentences on each subject, and really don't offer any legal advice.
While this is "only" marketing, I feel a bit like the advertising for the website may be seen as a bait and switch approach. One clicks on the video hoping to obtain some free legal advice, and instead gets some bland pablum and a link to contact a local family law attorney.
I decide against participating in the site, and am still looking for some good ideas as to how video may be utilized in family law matters.
At least I know realize that perhaps one of the best uses is as an attention-grabber.
I let my imagination run wild, wondering what types of advertising some of the more memorable family law attorneys I have known over the years might say in their own teaser videos:
"Want to cut the cheating bastard's balls off but afraid to go to jail? Hire us and we'll make sure your husband is so harassed and broke he'll never look at another woman again."
"Want to get a divorce but afraid your caring husband may end up with child custody and the house? Hire us and we'll coach you how to set up your husband with a phony domestic violence claim that will kick him out of the house and perform a parentectomy cutting him out of the lives of your children."
"Feeling overwhelmed and distraught about your life and afraid of the changes on the horizon? Hire us and we'll treat your divorce like our own. We'll make all the decisions and reinforce your feelings of helplessness and infantilization."
Hmmm, I wonder, what would the attorneys I've deal with imagine that my own video would be like? Too scary to contemplate, I decide I'm spending too much time on this blog.
