Shape Software Blog

  The use of e-signature solutions once felt as revolutionary as email, and if your law firm used any kind of e-signature software, you felt at least a half-step ahead of the competition. Now, though, everyone from real estate companies to financial institutions to your competition has caught up, meaning it’s important to take that next step. To continue as a client-first practice with an up-to-date toolset, as well as improve your relationship with your clients, you must combine e-signature solutions with your   customer relationship management software . Quicker Document Turnaround Even if your firm is new to e-signature software, there’s no better introduction than a system that combines everything you’ll need in one platform. Often the largest holdup to finalizing a contract or beginning work for a client is aligning schedules for a client to come in or complete their intake packet. With e-signatures, that issue is erased, and clients can sign your fee agreements or other documents

  Marketing Ideas that Won’t Break the Bank When it comes to marketing, attorneys get a bad rap. From ambulance chasers to piggybacking the firm next door, there’s a reputation of resorting to all kinds of lows to get leads. That stuff just won’t fly anymore. Today’s clients are smarter than ever. And thankfully, there are more ways of reaching them than ever. Legal marketing pundits recommend everything from AI-powered chatbots to becoming a YouTube influencer. But will those things really give you the ROI you want? We consulted with some of the legal industry’s biggest experts to help you cut through the hype and find out what tactics  really  work for generating free or low-cost leads for your business. (And if you need one central place to keep tabs on everything that’s happening with your leads,  check this out .) #1. Give stuff away “One of the most creative ways to get free or low-cost leads is to provide complimentary or low-cost continuing education courses for your target dem

  The news is in: technology has arrived and it’s here to stay. From real estate to journalism, technology is taking the working world by storm. And the legal industry is at the top of the list for technological takeover. But don’t worry, this isn’t the beginning of a courtroom-based horror movie. Regardless of the hype and headlines, the truth is law firm partners and leaders need to know what’s coming if they want to stay ahead by taking advantage of the  many perks  technology can offer. And to help make sure you’re safely buckled in for the technological rollercoaster the law industry is set to ride, we’ve consulted with some of the legal industry’s leading experts to reveal biggest trends headed your way. #1. Generation Y is making waves “Managing partners will need to fundamentally change the way they hire and oversee their staff, in order to keep the best workers.” — Jared Correia, CEO at Red Cave Law Firm Consulting That’s right, the millennials are coming—and there are  a lot

  Did you know that in 2018, 78% of homes were purchased with a mortgage here in the U.S.? In other words, the mortgage industry is booming. Smart brokers and teams know that to stay competitive you’ve got to keep up with the latest trends and technology. Follow these 20 proven insider tips on how to grow and improve your mortgage business in this thriving marketplace. 1 – Save hours on administrative work every day. Mortgage loan officers are responsible for a variety of paperwork, tasks, and client interactions at any given moment. These procedures are often both complex and dynamic. A paper and pencil system no longer makes sense. Not only does it make sense to adopt a modern, upgraded business management system - it’s what your mortgage clients have come to expect. Use software like Shape Mortgage to automate your daily to-do list and spend more time helping your clients. 2 – Increase the productivity of your entire workforce. Managing a team of loan officers means dealing with the

  When law firms plan for growth, they may consider bringing on additional support staff, shelling out for a marketing consultant, or launching their next big marketing campaign. But what if instead of shelling out tens of thousands, you could nurture and convert more clients with just a few minor tweaks to your process and a   minimal investment of $79 ? Whether you run a high-volume criminal firm or are trying to nurture better relationships for your probate practice, there are  three   key   changes  you need to implement now to help encourage scalable growth. Tip 1: Build a Better Lead Management Workflow It’s an embarrassing but all too familiar story: a potential client finds your information online and gives you a call late Friday afternoon. They leave a message with your staff, but a backlog of other inquiries pushes it to the bottom of the queue. Come Monday morning, the once “potential client” has made a few other calls while waiting to hear back from you, and instead transit