• MiMIC Journal

China is working towards rebalancing its trade 

The US says China is taking steps to rebalance its trade policy, though more needs to be done. The US has been one of the fiercest critics of China's trade policy. It has accused China of keeping the value of it currency artificially low in order to boost foreign sales. China plans to cut tariffs on imports as it seeks to stoke domestic demand. 

China says it will boost its defence budget in 2011 

China will raise its defence budget by 12.7% in 2011.  China has been building up its military, causing anxiety to a number of countries in the region. Relations have been strained between China and Japan over disputed isles in the South China Sea, where there are large potential reserves of oil and gas.

• Law Firm Marketing 

The lawyer's definitive guide to video marketing

by Gerry Oginski, Esq. 

You've made the choice to jump right into video to market your legal services. The move is a smart one. It will help distinguish you from everyone else. 

6 benefits to lawyers using online video: 

1.   Viewers get to see you

2.   Viewers get to hear you

3.   Viewers get to know you

4.   Viewers begin to trust you before they ever walk in your door

5.   Viewers see that you are a real human being

6.   The image of a grumpy unapproachable stuffy lawyer dissipates when a viewer sees you on video 

"What should I talk about in my video? 

Create an educational message 

What do I mean? 

As Trey Ryder always says, "Do not sell yourself. Instead, educate your potential client." Using video is the best way to do that.  A 30 second commercial on YouTube does nothing to help you get new clients in your door.  

Tip #1: Explain yourself (There's a million dollar tip included here) 

Explain the last case you successfully handled for a client. Tell your viewer why your client came into your office. Explain the legal issue in layman's terms; tell the viewer what you did to help your client solve their legal problem. Then, (and here's the million dollar tip), explain to your viewer that if they have a similar problem, they should call you for more information. That's the call to action. 

That's right, they should call you for more information to start a conversation.  

Tip #2: Give it away for free 

Give the information away. It's free anyway (for most consumer-level attorney specialties). If you are a personal injury attorney or workers compensation attorney or divorce attorney, explain how things work. Your potential clients will get this information from you when they come into your office anyway. Why not give it away and allow your viewer to become a better informed and educated consumer of legal services? The internet is the ideal place to give away your information. The more you give, the more calls you get. (There's a lot of psychology involved in that reasoning that I will not go into here.) 

Tip #3: Be concise 

When creating video, do not expect a viewer to watch you ramble endlessly. What's the ideal length for a relevant video? Approximately 2-3 minutes. Yes, there are always exceptions, just as in law. Some will be shorter; some will be longer. 

Tip #4: No webcams need apply 

"Can I use my webcam or little flip video camera to make these educational videos?" You could. Your webcam is great for a quick hello to a friend or relative. But, the video quality is generally poor, as is the audio quality. The major drawback to the Flip and Kodak Zi8 is that they do not work well in low-light situations and only one has the ability to use an external microphone, which is an absolute must when creating quality video. If nobody can hear you clearly, they will not watch your video. 

Tip #5: Choices 

You have two options to create attorney video: 

(1) Do it yourself, or (2) Hire an experienced video company to do it for you. 

If you are a do-it-yourselfer, like me, you need tons of time and dedication to creating strategy, setting up your lighting, audio and video. You need to calibrate your equipment, shoot video of yourself, upload the video footage to the computer, learn how to edit, insert transitions between scenes, correct color, add stereo sound, add graphics, add intro and exit music along with any background music, render the video to a quicktime or flash file, then compress that file to make it compatible to upload online. Then, you have to upload the edited video to video sharing sites, put it on your blog and website. 

"Is that all?" No, there's more! You now have to optimize the text that describes your videos so they will be found in the search engines. You must give your video 'tags' and 'keywords' for the search engines. 

"Is that all?" No, there's more! Then you have to let the world know about what you've just created. 

"How?" With social media. "Is that all?" No. There's more! (I feel like I'm in an infomercial where they say, "Wait...there's more! For only $19.95 you get...")

Then it's time to start your next video...and the cycle continues.  

If you do not have the time or desire to learn the technical details of creating, editing and uploading your video, I strongly recommend that you skip option #1 and go directly to option #2: Hire a reputable video company to create your videos for you. Importantly, make sure your video producer knows who your ideal client is. That way, you'll know exactly what content to put in your video.

Conclusion:

Video is a game-changer for lawyers who market themselves in today's economy and online if you do it right. Social media is great and video is the king of social media. Lawyers who fail to recognize this major fact will wake up years later and wonder "Why didn't I start creating video when I read Gerry's definitive guide to video marketing for lawyers?" You cannot afford to ignore this important part of marketing your legal practice. Whether you're a solo practitioner like myself or are in a mid-size or big-law firm, video will help distinguish you from all of your competitors. I guarantee it.

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© Trey Ryder

FREE LAWYER MARKETING ALERT:  If you'd like to receive Trey Ryder's weekly Lawyer Marketing Alert, send an e-mail to [email protected]. Write "Subscribe LMA" in the subject line and write your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.

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Tell your friends and colleagues you've read it in Migalhas International

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• Historia Verdadera

Negocios 

La empresa estadounidense H.J. Heinz Co anunció que comprará una participación de 80 por ciento en la compañía brasileña de alimentos, Coniexpress S.A. Industrias Alimenticias, productor de la marca Quero de salsas de tomate, pasta de tomate, ketchup, condimentos y vegetales, para establecer su primer gran negocio en el mayor país de Latinoamérica. El negocio ascendería a 1.200 millones de reales (720 millones de dólares), citando a fuentes no identificadas.

Acuerdo 

Con el propósito de ofrecer más rutas y garantizar la movilidad aérea de cientos de viajeros, las empresas Avianca-Taca y Aerolíneas Argentinas firmaron un convenio comercial del cual se esperan mayores detalles en los próximos días.

Demanda

Trabajadores de la Argentina  presentaron el jueves  ante la Justicia federal un recurso para que "se declare inconstitucional" el impuesto a las ganancias que pesan sobre los sueldos de los empleados y que se ha convertido en uno de los principales reclamos desde el sindicalismo.

• Brief News

Brazil court reverses Amazon Monte Belo dam suspension

A court in Brazil has approved a controversial hydro-electric project in the Amazon rainforest, overturning an earlier ruling. Last week a judge blocked construction of the Belo Monte dam, saying it did not meet environmental standards. But a higher court on Thursday said there was no need for all conditions to be met in order for work to begin. Critics say the project threatens wildlife and will make thousands of people homeless. The Monte Belo dam is a cornerstone of Dilma's plan to upgrade Brazil's energy infrastructure.

Brazil raises interest rates to 11.75% 

Brazil's central bank has raised its key interest rate to 11.75% in a bid to hold down inflation in one of the world's fastest-growing economies. The rise, from 11.25%, is the second half-point increase since the start of the year. Although the rate rise may help to curb inflation, it risks sucking in foreign money, increasing upward pressure on the already overvalued Brazilian real. 

Eurozone interest rates could rise in April 

The European Central Bank has said that a rise in eurozone interest rates was "possible" at its next policy meeting in April. The rate-setting committee may have to act in the light of recent "price shocks" due to the sharp rises in commodity prices. On Thursday the ECB decided to keep rates at 1% at this month's meeting but it may need to act to prevent "secondary effects" from the current inflation shock sweeping the 17-nation eurozone. 

US and Mexico reach trucking deal 

The US and Mexico have reached a proposed deal to open US highways to Mexican trucks, raising hopes of an end to a 20-year dispute.  US and Mexican carriers were authorized to cross the border under the 1994 North American Free Trade Agreement, but the US has refused to allow Mexican trucks access over concerns of their ability to meet US safety and environmental standards. American truckers have opposed opening US roads to Mexican truckers, arguing the move would cost US lorry drivers' jobs. Calderon's government last year retaliated with tariffs on a number of US goods after US lawmakers cancelled funding for a pilot program that allowed long-haul Mexican trucks to circulate in the US. The announcement of the trucking deal comes roughly two weeks after the killing of a US agent in Mexico and leaked US criticism of Mexico's war on drugs, both of which have soured a relationship between the nations that had appeared to be improving in recent years. 

The changing face of organized labor 

Unions remain a major player in American politics, pouring money and manpower into elections and other public policy debates. But labor's numbers have been shrinking for decades. And while 50 years ago the typical union member was a blue-collar man, today, one of the nation's most powerful unions is made up of teachers.

Goldman's Blankfein said to agree to be U.S. witness at Rajaratnam trial 

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. CEO Lloyd Blankfein has agreed to testify for the prosecution at Galleon Group LLC co-founder Raj Rajaratnam's insider-trading trial set to begin next week. The lawyer for Raj Rajaratnam said that the insider trading charges filed this week against Rajat Gupta could affect jury selection. 

Turkish authorities arrest more journalists over alleged coup plot ties 

Turkish authorities on Thursday jailed an estimated 10 individuals, including several journalists, allegedly involved with aiding the Ergenekon coup plot, amid continued foreign concerns for the treatment of journalists within the country. The arrests were carried out in conjunction with police raids in Ankara and Istanbul, during which authorities copied computer hard drives and confiscated notes from suspects' homes. The investigation's targets are suspected of having ties to the Ergenekon plot, an alleged plan to assassinate prominent members of Turkey's Christian and Jewish minority groups, blame Islamic terrorists for the deaths and use this to delegitimize the ruling Justice and Development Party - AKP. 

UN rights chief condemns Pakistan blasphemy law 

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay on Wednesday condemned the assassination of Pakistani Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti and expressed her opposition to Pakistan's controversial blasphemy law. Controversy surrounding Pakistan's blasphemy law has recently been reignited over the case of Asia Bibi, a Christian woman sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet Muhammad during an argument with other women in her village last year. The blasphemy laws were introduced in 1986 as a way of protecting Muslim beliefs from insults. In response to the repeated calls for repeal, Pakistani Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Shahbaz Bhatti has said the laws may be amended to prevent misuse, but they will not be repealed. Advocacy groups have called for the laws to be repealed. 

Muslim student sues FBI over GPS tracking device 

Muslim student Yasir Afifi and the Council on American-Islamic Relations - CAIR filed a lawsuit against the FBI on Wednesday after Afifi discovered a global positioning system - GPS device on the undercarriage of his car. The suit, filed in the US District Court for the District of Columbia, alleges that Afifi's rights were violated when FBI agents attempted to retrieve their tracking device, without explanation for why Afifi was being tracked. Afifi's suit alleges civil rights and constitutional violations, specifically unlawful search under the Fourth Amendment, chilling and recording of First Amendment activities, and unlawful agency action. 

UK to appeal ECHR ruling on prisoner voting rights 

The UK government on Tuesday commenced legal measures to overturn a controversial European Court of Human Rights - ECHR ruling that declared the UK's ban on prisoner voting rights unlawful. The government requested that the ECHR decision in Greens and MT v. the United Kingdom be appealed to the Grand Chamber of the court, believing it may reverse the precedent that grants prisoners the right to vote. Greens, a UK prisoner convicted of rape, commenced an appeal last week to ensure his right to vote before the upcoming May elections. 

S.E.C. proposes crackdown on Wall Street bonuses 

The proposal would require Wall Street firms to disclose bonus figures to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which could then ban any "excessive" awards. 

Supreme Court hears Ashcroft immunity, Confrontation Clause cases 

The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in two cases: one regarding the extent of immunity for a federal official and another regarding the Sixth Amendment Confrontation Clause. In Ashcroft v. Al-Kidd, former US attorney general John Ashcroft, appealed the decision of the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that absolute and qualified immunity do not shield him from suit alleging that he utilized a material witness warrant as a pretext to investigate and detain an individual whom the government never planned to call as a witness. Counsel for Ashcroft argue that the appellate court's ruling is contrary to precedent that states that intent plays no role in finding that absolute immunity applies to traditional prosecutorial functions, such as issuing material witness warrants. Petitioner also asserts that, regardless of the finding on absolute immunity, qualified immunity protects officials unless their actions violate constitutional rights, which Ashcroft argues does not occur by using a material witness warrant in a pretextual manner. Counsel for respondent, an American citizen who was detained pursuant to a material witness warrant later found to be factually inaccurate, argue that qualified immunity does not apply because the detention violated al-Kidd's Fourth Amendment rights. Respondent further argues that absolute immunity does not protect those who would use the material witness warrant to investigate an individual, and that the attorney general should not be permitted to claim greater immunity than the FBI agents that carried out his instructions. 

Supreme Court allows military funeral protests 

The US Supreme Court on Wednesday ruled in Snyder v. Phelps that First Amendment protections extend to protesters at military funerals. Reverend Fred Phelps and members of the Westboro Baptist Church have been traveling around the country picketing military funerals in recent years, claiming US soldiers have been killed because America tolerates homosexuals. In the 8-1 decision, the court held that the First Amendment shields the church from tort liability because the protests fell under the protected category of "public speech." 

Decades after spill, Exxon Valdez case back in court 

More than two decades after the Exxon Valdez supertanker struck a reef in Alaska and unleashed the nation's biggest tanker spill, a lingering legal dispute over the disaster heads back to court on Friday. 

• Daily Press Review

Gaddafi lost legitimacy, must leave: Obama
Al Arabiya, Online news, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 

Funerals held for Libyan rebels
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar 

Egypt's PM quits as army seen responding to demands
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England 

Al-Jazeera to reopen Baghdad bureau
Egyptian Gazette, English-language, Cairo, Egypt 

Fresh protests break out In Oman
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy 

50 killed in Ivory Coast violence in a week, says U.N.
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon

Gaddafi rebels look to Tripoli, peace plan mooted
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman 

Labour win Barnsley by-election
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Libyan attacks raise calls for no-fly zone
CNN International, London, England

Garzon supporters at Supreme Court
Euronews, Ecully Cedex, France 

France 24 exclusive: Libyan rebels scramble in the battle for oil-rich Brega
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France 

Suspect 'acted alone' in airport shooting
Independent The, London, England    

Libya: Gaddafi son says bombs were 'misunderstanding'
Telegraph The, Conservative daily, London, England 

Twitter should be ashamed of 'fast-tracking' Charlie Sheen's account
Telegraph The, Celebrity news, London, England  

Gaza banks protest being forced to hand over cash
Daily Jang, Left-wing daily, Karachi, Pakistan 

Supreme Court strikes down Thomas appointment as CVC
Hindu The, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India 

NCP MLA accused of rape arrested in Mumbai
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India  

Syarie lawyers are answerable to God on judgement day, court hears
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia 

Libya's fate depends on loyalty of Gaddafi forces
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand  

UN withdraws security guards from Special Court for Sierra Leone
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China

US soldier accused in Wikileaks case stripped, left naked in military cell: Lawyer
Sify News, Chennai, India 

Belgium: Eurozone at critical juncture in debt crisis
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan 

Chiayi struggles to unlock prison history
Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Taipei, Taiwan 

China's defence budget to rise 12.7% in 2011
Times of India, Conservative, New Delhi, India  

Citi arranges billion dollar bond issue for Guardian Holdings
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados 

Dominican Republic again on the U.S. narcotics transit list
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic  

Paid duty policing costs taxpayers millions: audit report
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario

Libyan rebels set out conditions
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England