Are sinkholes in the headlines finally revealing the truth about mining risks? Homes being swallowed up by sinkholes is something most people would expect to see in a horror film, yet similar stories are making the headlines with alarming regularity and the problem is only getting worse. Sinkholes are opening up everywhere from Cheltenham to Liverpool and even London, bringing into question much of what conveyancers (and the general public) thought they knew about mining and the risks it poses to ground stability in the UK. Are you making dangerous assumptions about local mining risks? South Wales, Cornwall and the North East are well-known locations for historical mining activity, prompting local conveyancers to stay aware of the connected risks. Yet those working in central and eastern England and London are less concerned – and even assume there aren’t any risks that will affect their clients’ properties which couldn’t be further from the truth. Mining activity has taken place across the UK for 100’s of years with the availability of minerals shaping the growth of towns and cities the length and breadth of the country, as well as shaping their unique character (which is why the likes of Bath and Worcester look so different). The reality is that historical mining could affect almost any location in the UK so professional due diligence is essential when purchasing a property. Forgotten shafts Unlike the high-profile strikes surrounding the closure of the coal mines in the 1980’s, many other local mines across the country closed quietly during the turn of the 20th Century with the last large-scale mines closing in the 1960’s. With no legislation in existence or money to fill them in, 98% of these mines were abandoned and forgotten. At the time, local communities remembered where the mineshafts had been located and therefore the land was used as open areas for parks rather than homes. As time has worn on much of this information has been lost and the open spaces unknowingly bought up and built upon by developers after which ground stability problems have emerged. Lack of data and expert professional interpretation, as well as NHBC regulations (which only require due diligence of the top 2m of the ground) have contributed to this risky oversight resulting in costly repair bills for developers and in extreme cases entire developments have been demolished such as the Bayfield, West Allotment Site in Tyneside. Cases in point Recent sinkholes in Reading, St. Albans and Kent serve as a stark reminder as to the risk historical mining activity can have on ground stability. Houses, shops and schools that have, in most cases, unwittingly been built above these old mine shafts are suffering from a number of issues, such as subsidence and the appearance of collapses and mining sinkholes. Here are just some of the examples that have made the headlines in recent years: 30 homes were evacuated in Reading when an old chalk mine collapsed In January 2000, a 19th Century chalk mine collapsed causing major subsidence of the overlying ground around the Field Road and Coley Road area in Reading. 30 homes were evacuated for residents’ safety and a further 2 homes later collapsed. It took 12 years to fill the underground chalk mines with 1,742 tonnes of grouting, costing approximately £4.3 million. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-13630363 A giant mining sinkhole in St. Albans cut off utilities to over 50 properties On 1st October, 2015, a giant sinkhole opened up in Fontmell Close, St Albans. It was 66ft wide and 30ft deep, cutting off utilities to over 50 properties and forcing families to evacuate their homes. The hole was created by heavy rainfall causing a previously unknown chalk mine to collapse. The void required 48 lorry-loads of foamed concrete to fill. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38156508 Several shops were forced to close when a mining sinkhole appeared in Kent In early 2015 at Lawrence Square, Northfleet, Gravesend, Kent, the appearance of a sinkhole forced several shops to close and 7 sets of council tenants to be evacuated for fears of more subsidence. Continued subsidence forced the gas supply to be shut off and the area was declared unsuitable for permanent habitation. The area was heavily mined for chalk and clay during the 19th Century with many chalk mines and mining-related sinkholes already known in the immediate area around Lawrence Square. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/gravesend/news/tenants-rehomed-due-to-dangerous-32861/ Terrafirma are helping conveyancers and homeowners understand the full extent of mining risks Using their specialist knowledge, Terrafirma analyse coal mining risks alongside an additional 55 mining hazards to reveal a fuller picture of ground stability in our towns and cities. To find out more about how Terrafirma can uncover the truth about mining in your local area, you can also read this blog post. Tweet 9. October 2017 11:03 Megan Comments (0)
Property Workshops Continue With Key Insights into What Customers Really Want We are pleased to announce that we are continuing our series of Property Workshops this June, sharing brand new insights into “What Your Customers Really Want” across the South of England. In partnership with Conscious Solutions and Shopper Anonymous, these free half-day events will focus on how every part of the conveyancing business, from website to premises to social media, could and should work together to reaffirm a firm's credibility and reputation. Agenda Key insights and presentations include: • What do customers expect in 2017? Clare Yates – Senior Business Development Manager at tmgroup – will be sharing new research highlighting customers’ expectations and where there is room for improvement in the conveyancing service experience. • What is your website saying about you? Richard Dibbins – Digital Strategy Consultant at Conscious Solutions – will be focusing on the start of the customer journey, and how websites and social media can make an impact on both customers and prospects (for better or for worse). • Is your telephone manner costing you prospects? Local representatives from Shopper Anonymous (Jim Smith, Richard Knight and Rhian Huxtable) will be looking at the impact on customer experience for existing and prospect clients when contacting your conveyancing office, and how small tweaks to your telephone enquiries and other processes can make a big difference. Dates and Locations The “What Your Customers Really Want” Property Workshops will be delivered in 3 locations in June: • Exeter @ Wednesday 7th June 2017 Join us at 9:30am - 12 noon : Sandy Park Conference Centre, Exeter, EX2 7NN Click here to register for Exeter • Guildford @ Thursday 8th June 2017 Join us at 9:30am - 12 noon in Merrist Wood Golf Club, Guildford, GU3 3PB Click here to register for Guildford • Bournemouth @ Thursday 15th June 2017 Join us 9:30am - 12 noon : Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth, BH7 7AF Click here to register for Bournemouth If you have any questions, please contact Clare Yates on 07977 256748 or email c.yates@tmgroup.co.ukTweet 23. May 2017 09:30 Megan Comments (0)
tmgroup customers help reinvent its tmconvey platform We're launching our new and innovative tmconvey platform to save you even more time and effort. Developed in response to customer feedback and launching on Monday 8th May 2017 under the banner ‘redesigned by you’, tmconvey delivers a clear, quick and complete user experience. Key features include: • User-friendly design: with the right tools at your fingertips, you will be supported at every step to complete tasks with speed and ease. • Smooth navigation: the uncomplicated, highly responsive design allows you to find what you need with less effort. You will also enjoy the flexibility to work in the way you want to. • An integrated approach: tmconvey is integrated with the core services demanded by you; it supports you to get the job done quickly, without the need to visit multiple websites. Integrated, electronic SDLT submission A powerful development is the integration of electronic SDLT (Stamp Duty Land Tax) submission. Intelligent design and HMRC integration will allow you to swap a time-consuming, manual task for a simple and streamlined online process. Initial feedback from customer testing groups has been positive: • “It looks really clean and modern” • “The navigation is great – even quicker and easier to use. It’s obvious what you need to do next” • “I love that there’s even less data entry on less screens – it will save me loads of time” • “It really helps to have everything in one place like this!” The new version of tmconvey continues to build on our vast knowledge and 15+ years of experience, combining it with simple, integrated design. Now even less time and effort is required to complete a conveyancing transaction. We're committed to moulding tmconvey to the future needs of our customers so you always benefit from the latest process efficiencies. Paul Albone, Managing Director at tmgroup, comments: “Our users will be listened to by our responsive development team as we evolve tmconvey across 2017 and beyond, making even more time for our users. They will also continue to benefit from the unparalleled support offered by our dedicated customer service team. This is an exciting new chapter for tmgroup, and I’m confident that our fresh new look and enhanced range of services will strengthen tmgroup’s position as a market leader. It’s been a real team effort and we look forward to launching further new services onto the new tmconvey platform over the coming months.” For more details, visit www.tmgroup.co.uk/redesignedbyyou You can also contact your Account Manager, or Helpdesk on 0844 249 9200 or email helpdesk@tmgroup.co.uk Paul Albone Paul's tenacity and drive in his role as Managing Director has seen him establish tmgroup as a leading supplier of searches to the industry. Tweet 25. April 2017 09:14 Megan Comments (0)
Property Workshops Continue in Norwich, Cambridge, Leeds and Rotherham Following the success of our first Property Workshops, we are pleased to announce that the series will be continuing in April with sessions in Norwich, Cambridge, Leeds and Rotherham. Just a few small changes can make a big difference to conversion rates Having listened to our customers, we know that business generation is one of the main aims of leading law firms. Price is often seen as the main reason for winning or losing business, but results from recent surveys show us that this is not a customer’s primary concern. In reality, there are a number of factors that can influence the customer in their choice of conveyancer and just making a few small changes to current practice can make a big difference to the conversion of new enquiries into instructions. Gain new insights into the shape of your local property market Our free-to-attend half-day Property Workshops are tailored to the needs of conveyancing solicitors, and feature new research on how to win more conveyancing instructions, as well as key insights into the shape of your local property market. The main focus of each session will centre on an interactive roundtable discussion, where we expect to hear a diverse range of opinions and ultimately gain an understanding of best practice in such a vital area of business development. Secure your place at a Property Workshop near you We’ll be holding our next 4 Property Workshops in Norwich, Cambridge, Leeds and Rotherham across April. You can find out more information and secure your place using the links below: Norwich : 19th April 2017 The time : 8.45am – 11.30am The venue : Norwich City Football Club, Carrow Road, Norwich, NR1 1JE The registration link : https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KTGSPRV Cambridge : 20th April 2017 The time : 8.45am – 11.30am The venue : Quy Mill Hotel, Church Road, Stow-Cum-Quy, CB25 9AF The registration link : https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KRN9YGV Rotherham : 26th April 2017 The time : 8.45am – 11.30am The venue : Holiday Inn Rotherham - Sheffield M1, J33, West Bawtry Road, S60 2XL The registration link : https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KNK6W7L Leeds : 27th April 2017 The time : 9.30am – 11.30am The venue : Leeds Football Club, Elland Road, Leeds, LS11 0ES The registration link : https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/KMF8SK5 100% of attendees would recommend a Property Workshop to their peers Property Workshops have already taken place and been well-received in Southampton, Exeter and Guildford, with 100% of attendees agreeing that the sessions were both relevant, and worthy of recommending to their peers. Here are some verbatim comments: • "Really interesting and thought provoking" • "Very helpful and has highlighted areas to work on within the business" • "Great entertaining training, opened my eyes to areas we needed to focus on" • "Interesting and held my attention through interactive, roundtable discussions" Request a Property Workshop near you If have any questions, or would like to attend a Property Workshop but there isn’t currently one running near you, please email marketing@tmgroup.co.ukTweet 3. April 2017 09:24 Megan Comments (0)
PlanVal Mining Alerts Now Available on tmconvey PlanVal mining alerts are now available on tmconvey. The new MiningCheck Alerts assess a property against a wealth of data to alert conveyancing solicitors and their clients to the materials that have been mined on the land; both recently and historically. The new MiningCheck Alerts follow the recent release of two new mining products in November, also available to order on tmconvey: • PlanVal Coal Mining Search with Professional Opinion • PlanVal Non-Coal Mining Search with Professional Opinion Click here for more information The new MiningCheck Alerts enable conveyancing solicitors to advise their clients as to whether it is necessary for them to order a complete Coal Mining Search or Non-Coal Mining Search before proceeding with their purchase. Isn’t mining just a risk in Cornwall and the North East? According to PlanVal data, there are mining risk areas in every county in England and Wales; with 34% of land being in a mining risk area. Mining risks are not just a problem for home movers in the North and the Midlands (coal), or in Cornwall (tin), as 63 minerals have been mined, quarried or extracted across England and Wales. These new MiningCheck Alerts enable solicitors to confidently advise whether a client’s property is situated in a mining risk area; even when it isn’t overtly obvious. If you have any questions, please talk to your Account Manager for more information, or contact Helpdesk on 0844 249 9200 or helpdesk@tmgroup.co.uk.Tweet 28. February 2017 10:41 Megan Comments (0)
Just 2 Weeks Until Free National Conference Tackles Cyber Crime Threat There are just 2 weeks left until tmgroup’s National Conference “Risky Business: Cyber Crime in the Property Transaction” takes place in London. Held at the Institution of Engineering and Technology on Thursday 23rd February 2017, this free full-day event will focus on the challenges of cyber security and how law firms can better protect themselves from a cyber-attack. There are limited spaces left, so please register while you can to avoid disappointment. Click here to register 80% of conveyancing solicitors were "definitely more worried about security and risk of fraud in 2016" compared to 2015 “Risky Business: Cyber Crime in the Property Transaction” was developed in response to recent tmgroup survey findings, which revealed that approximately 80% of conveyancing solicitors were "definitely more worried about security and risk of fraud in 2016" compared to 2015. With this in mind, tmgroup have invited a panel of experts – including the National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator – to discuss a broad range of cyber security challenges, and ensure that all attendees leave the event in a stronger position to safeguard both themselves and their clients. A variety of expert speakers will address both technology and people risks In addition to the 3 interactive roundtable discussions, a diverse panel of 5 expert speakers will be presenting on both the technology and the people risks which law firms need to be aware of in order to effectively protect their best interests. The full Agenda of seminars features: Graeme McGowan (BeCyberSure) – “Cyber Security: 2017 and beyond” Graeme will be looking at some of the current cyber security risks law firms need to be aware of, as well as explaining the huge impact the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could potentially have on law firms. Matthew Newton (Oosha Ltd) – “Cyber crime - Dealing with the undeniable threat” Matthew will focus on helping attendees understand more about cyber crime; specifically looking at why increased IT complexity is good for cyber criminals, and the latest considerations relating to Professional Indemnity insurance and cloud technologies. Jeremy Swinfen Green (Teiss and Mosoco) – “Cyber Security - Managing third party supplier risks” Jeremy will be discussing how to reduce the risk of having a third party (such as a business partner, contractor, or customer) who has access to your IT systems acting as a bridge for hackers. Mark Payne (Infosec Cloud) – “Cyber Security – How your frontline team can help protect your firm against cyber attacks” Mark will primarily be discussing the sophistication of modern-day phishing emails – sharing a variety of real-life examples – and explaining how to help your team recognise them before they accidentally trigger a major security incident. National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator – “Cyber crime – How to respond to an attack and support your team in preventing future cyber security incidents” The speaker panel will also be joined by the National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator, who will be explaining how to respond to a cyber incident; touching on key areas such as Law Enforcement capability (national to local) and reporting to Action Fraud. Event details This free-to-attend event will be held at: Maxwell Library, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL. However, there are now only a limited number of places left, so if you and your colleagues would like to join us on Thursday 23rd February 2017, please click here to register and secure your place. 5 CPD points will be available. Click here for more information If you have any questions, please get in touch with Gina Bolger on Gina.Bolger@tmgroup.co.uk, or 01793 714905Tweet 9. February 2017 09:13 Megan Comments (0)
Case Study: Idyllic farm cottage could be ruined by 700-home estate In February 2016, a couple discovered that a planning application had been registered with Wiltshire Council for their farm cottage to be surrounded by a new 700-home estate, destroying miles of fields and the idyllic location of their property. This news was especially devastating for the couple, as they had embarked on extensive renovations to the property since purchasing it five years previously; increasing the value from approximately £300,000 to £425,000. Although a public exhibition was held in December 2014, and an advert was placed in the Wiltshire-based Gazette and Herald, the couple were not directly consulted or given the opportunity to register their objections before the developers applied for planning permission. The discovery was only made after the planning application had been registered This vital information was only conveyed to the couple by chance, after the planning application had been registered, through a conversation with a local resident while they were out walking their dogs. Upon learning of the plans, the couple were also shocked to find that their home didn’t even appear on the submitted aerial drawings of the proposed new estate, despite it being in the middle of the site. The final decision has yet to be made Fortunately, at the point the couple made the discovery, comments were still invited until 27th May 2016, giving them the chance to put forward their concerns before a final decision was made; albeit later than the couple would have preferred. However, as it currently stands (true as of 4th January 2017), a holding direction has been placed on the planning application, which is expected to delay a final decision for many months. This far exceeds the original target date for a decision, which was set for 16th December 2016, and ultimately prolongs the period of stress and uncertainty for the couple. The coupled could have sold the property and unwittingly passed on the risk of it devaluing, as Paul Albone, Managing Director at tmgroup, comments: “While this couple have clearly been unlucky, this could have also been a very sorry situation for a potential buyer, as had plans been in motion to sell the cottage, the couple could have unwittingly passed on the property as well as the risk of it devaluing. This situation highlights the very real risks associated with property investment, and the devastation that new plans and developments can have on the surrounding properties – especially in idyllic locations. It also emphasises the fundamental importance of requesting searches, such as the Groundsure Planning Search Report, and understanding exactly what you are buying before committing to a purchase; even more so if you are new to an area and would never benefit from a ‘passer-by’ sharing local news.” About the Groundsure Planning Search Report The Groundsure Planning Search Report provides key information about planning applications for house extensions, small and large projects, and mobile masts in close proximity to the property; as well as local information about infrastructure, crime and education statistics. This report is available to order through the tmconvey platform. You can view sample reports here for both Residential and CommercialTweet 1. February 2017 11:50 Megan Comments (0)
Free National Conference Tackles the Increasing Threat of Cyber Crime We are pleased to announce that our National Conference “Risky Business: Cyber Crime in the Property Transaction” will be taking place on Thursday 23rd February 2017. Held at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London, this free full-day event will focus on the challenges of cyber security and how law firms can better protect themselves from a cyber-attack. Click here to register 80% of conveyancing solicitors were "definitely more worried about security and risk of fraud in 2016" compared to 2015 “Risky Business: Cyber Crime in the Property Transaction” was developed in response to our recent survey findings, which revealed that approximately 80% of conveyancing solicitors were "definitely more worried about security and risk of fraud in 2016" compared to 2015. With this in mind, we have invited a panel of experts – including the National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator – to discuss a broad range of cyber security challenges, and ensure that all attendees leave the event in a stronger position to safeguard both themselves and their clients. A variety of expert speakers will address both technology and people risks In addition to the 3 interactive roundtable discussions, a diverse panel of 5 expert speakers will be presenting on both the technology and the people risks which law firms need to be aware of in order to effectively protect their best interests. The full Agenda of seminars features: Graeme McGowan (BeCyberSure) – “Cyber Security: 2017 and beyond” Graeme will be looking at some of the current cyber security risks law firms need to be aware of, as well as explaining the huge impact the forthcoming General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could potentially have on law firms. Matthew Newton (Oosha Ltd) – “Cyber crime - Dealing with the undeniable threat” Matthew will focus on helping attendees understand more about cyber crime; specifically looking at why increased IT complexity is good for cyber criminals, and the latest considerations relating to Professional Indemnity insurance and cloud technologies. Jeremy Swinfen Green (Teiss and Mosoco) – “Cyber Security - Managing third party supplier risks” Jeremy will be discussing how to reduce the risk of having a third party (such as a business partner, contractor, or customer) who has access to your IT systems acting as a bridge for hackers. Mark Payne (InfoSec Cloud) – “Cyber Security – How your frontline team can help protect your firm against cyber attacks” Mark will primarily be discussing the sophistication of modern-day phishing emails – sharing a variety of real-life examples – and explaining how to help your team recognise them before they accidentally trigger a major security incident. National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator – “Cyber crime – How to respond to an attack and support your team in preventing future cyber security incidents” The speaker panel will also be joined by the National Police Chiefs' Council's National Cyber PROTECT Coordinator, who will be explaining how to respond to a cyber incident; touching on key areas such as Law Enforcement capability (national to local) and reporting to Action Fraud. Event details This free-to-attend event will be held at: Maxwell Library, Institution of Engineering and Technology, Savoy Place, London, WC2R 0BL. However, there are only a limited number of places and they are already booking up fast, so if you and your colleagues would like to join us on Thursday 23rd February 2017, please click here to register and secure your place. CPD points will be available. If you have any questions, please get in touch with Gina Bolger on Gina.Bolger@tmgroup.co.uk, or 01793 714905Tweet 24. January 2017 12:39 Megan Comments (0)
4 Value-Added Services Conveyancing Solicitors Can Offer to Differentiate Their Client Experience Research has shown that just 1 in 10 clients choose a conveyancing solicitor based on who offers the cheapest fee; meaning 9 out of 10 clients are swayed on other factors. Throughout our 2016 CPD series ‘Because You’re Worth It’, we spoke to a number of conveyancing solicitors about the initiatives they’ve tried to differentiate their client experience. Here are 4 value-added services some firms are already offering to differentiate their client experience… 1. A drop in service for first-time buyers Giving first time buyers the opportunity to drop in and ask any questions they may have can help to reassure them of the process to follow. It can also help them to put a face to a name and establish a stronger personal relationship with their appointed solicitor, as well as clear up any confusion that could cause time-consuming issues at a later date. This service doesn’t have to be available all day, every day, but advertising a few hours in your week (where you can afford a bit of disruption) might just mean the world to your clients. 2. Staying open during lunchtime There are still a number of firms that close for a whole hour for lunch, making it challenging for both other solicitors and their clients to contact them. This is especially impractical for clients who may work nearby and only have their own lunch hour free to make appointments or phone calls. Being able to advertise that clients can easily get in touch with you during their lunchbreak will help to set you aside from your competitors. This change in opening hours can be achieved through a staggered lunchtime system, with fee-earners starting their lunch at different times between 12 noon and 2pm; so someone is always in the office. 3. Last minute “out of hours” appointments Between work, childcare, and other commitments, it can be difficult for clients to find the time to sign important paperwork during typical office hours. Offering a flexible service, where clients can make arrangements out of hours at short notice to come into the office, can help prevent unnecessary delays as you near completion. This works particularly well if you have one or two fee-earners living near the office, as it won’t be too much of an inconvenience for them to occasionally nip across at 8.30pm to briefly meet a client. 4. Opening every Saturday morning as standard Some firms have started to open every Saturday morning (9am – 12 noon) as standard, to offer a more convenient service to their clients. While this will require some disruption to your typical working week, you may find these changes suit some of your fee-earners. For example, those with young children may be happy to pick up the weekend shift if it means they can finish slightly earlier Monday to Friday. Marketing Director, Ben Harris, comments:“It is becoming increasingly important for conveyancing solicitors to focus on more than just price when it comes to attracting new clients. As these examples suggest, some firms are already rising to the challenge and offering value-added services that set themselves apart from their competitors.” “It is important to add however, that adding these services as a stand-alone exercise isn’t enough to secure new business. Firms also need to be doing more to advertise that these value-added options are available, during initial telephone enquiries and on the company website.” Ben Harris Ben is tmgroup’s Marketing Director. He joined tmgroup in 2012 and has worked in the property profession his entire career. Tweet 14. December 2016 09:35 Megan Comments (0)
How Can I Market My Firm’s Success to Create New Business? Throughout our 2016 CPD series ‘Because You’re Worth It’, we spoke to a number of conveyancing solicitors about the initiatives they’ve tried to showcase the success of their law firm. Here is a round-up of some of the best and most popular ideas. 1. Take every opportunity to celebrate your milestones Whether you’ve been in business for 25 years, just completed your 1,000th property transaction, or opened a second office, it’s important to celebrate your milestones as and when they arise. • Send a raffle ticket to all of your clients• Put cakes out in the waiting room• Put out a press release to the local press• Change the banners on your social media pages Marking these milestones draws positive attention to your firm, reinforces the idea that you are a trusted, long-standing business, and improves your reputation. 2. Print out pamphlets of client testimonials Don’t let any positive client feedback go to waste, either by sitting in a fee-earners inbox, or being lost as soon as the phone goes down. These comments are hard-earnt and deserve a spot in the limelight. Try to develop a system whereby fee-earners forward any positive feedback onto your marketing department, or a nominated person, as soon as they are received. These comments can then be collated on a quarterly or annual basis and published in a printed pamphlet, which can be distributed in your clients’ welcome packs. 3. Display all awards in your waiting room Don’t hide your awards away in individual offices, instead display them where your clients can see them. Investing in a quality display cabinet for your waiting room will help to remind your clients of the quality of your service. You should also make sure all awards are mentioned in your firm’s literature, and on your company website; most awards’ organisers will give you a logo or banner you can upload to your website if you ask them. 4. Calculate the percentage of your clients that come from repeat business A great testament to the quality of your firm’s service is the number of clients you are doing repeat business with. Update this statistic monthly, quarterly or annually and display it on your company website, on social media, or in your waiting room. For example, “61% of our business comes from repeat clients”. 5. Make good use of your on-hold music and messages Unless you have the resources to pick up every call the second the phone rings, there will be times when your clients (and prospective clients) will be waiting on the line. Take advantage of this “dead time” by playing a recorded message which shares good news about your latest award, or reiterates your firm’s values and accomplishments. If this isn’t possible, think about your choice of on-hold music. Could you be playing something more grand or appropriate that supports your firm’s success? 6. Put screens up around the firm with rolling “good news” messages Put screens up around the firm showing rolling “good news” messages. These could include:• Testimonials of satisfied clients• A rolling tally (updated every week or month) of the numbers of clients you’ve supported since you’ve been in business • Profiles of your individual fee-earners and their achievements • New services you’ve introduced Megan Jones Megan is tmgroup’s Marketing Communications Executive. She is responsible for writing company communications, including blog posts and newsletters. Tweet 28. November 2016 17:27 Megan Comments (0)