Lawyers are notorious for efficient use of their time, more so than any other professional, because with the billable hour their time really is money.

The American Bar Association revealed in the Septmeber 2008 issue of the ABA Journal that the majority of lawyers are still reluctant to adopt new web technology.

The survey, based on responses from approximately 850 lawyers nationwide, shows that websites and e-mail newsletters are still the digital way that most at­torneys stay current with the news. A small minority reports reading blogs; but actually creating a blog is something the geeky lawyer down the hall—or, more likely, across town—is into.

Sam Glover of Lawyerist demonstrates that social media does not necessarily need to take more time than other networking techniques.

Networking takes time, whether that networking takes the form of a bar association event, a happy hour with colleagues, or online social networking. Just like “regular,” offline networking, time spent networking online is up to the person doing the networking online. Networking online is “real” marketing. It should be a necessary part of your job, not just frivolous web surfing.

He looks at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, claims that once you set yourself up you need only 10-15 min. a day for maintenance.

Well here’s a tip to reduce that time even further.

With Ping.fm, you can simultaneously update several networks, including social media sites and blogs.

If you install plug-ins, you can further disseminate your information by either distributing your blog posts across your network, or collect your web content like status updates and transform them into blog entries using their custom url feature.

Essentially you have set up several mirrors on over a dozen sites that are already optimized. Keep your privacy settings on the lowest level for the best effect.

The trick here is to use social media as a push medium, and not spend hours daydreaming looking at all your associates’ vacation photos.

Using this technique for several months consistently will increase the likelihood that personal content you are interested in placing on the web will take top ranking. You will be able to stay in touch with family, friends, and potential clients with minimal effort.

Best of all, you’ll come across as a social media pro, and nobody will know how little effort it really took.

h/t Devin Johnston of Robson Hall for the heads up on ping.fm

Cross-Posted from Social Media Mafia.