I’m Booked. Do I Really Need a Website?

I’m working with a doctor to build her first-ever website. She’s been in practice for more than 25 years, and she’s booked solid. Yet, if you googled her, you’d come up with a name and an office address. No photo, logo or sophisticated color palette. She’s not on social media, so you won’t find her uploading clever posts to Facebook or messaging health tips to Twitter. For all intents and purposes, she’s completely anonymous, which has nothing to do with her dedication to her practice. She’s very serious about helping her patients live healthy lives. Happily, most of her business comes from referrals or repeat patients, which is where we all want to be. Business is steady and good, so why, after all these years, is she bothering with a website?

Anticipating the next economic downturn 

There’s a good reason why my client is finally getting around to creating a website. We’re enjoying a strong economy and people are delighted to be busy. But who remembers the recession? Those of us who survived the lean years are more cautious. My construction clients are getting wary. They see money tightening, their clients more cautious about their remodeling projects. Uncertainty fuels economic slowdowns. We have an election in the not-so-distant future, saber-rattling in the White House and trade policies that are squelching business with longtime trading partners. If you’re not uneasy, you’re not paying attention.

Smart companies want to be in a better place when the next recession hits

Smart companies, including doctors, want to be better positioned when—not if—the economy slows down. That means getting the jump on their marketing programs, and their websites are the foundation. 

Studies show that nearly 61% of Americans are now seeking medical information online, and they’re researching their healthcare providers as well. As with any other industry, being able to find a doctor’s website is part of that first impression about whether a doctor will be the right fit. We look at the ease of navigation, crisp, clear graphics and ability to find contact information. 

A website validates you. For a doctor, it:

• Showcases a doctor’s credentials, educational background and ongoing training.
• Defines practice areas and treatment techniques. 
• Can speed the intake process by hosting downloadable forms. 
• Provides a patient portal, a secure place for doctor-patient communication.

A website lets you control the narrative

A company blog helps all business owners get their messages, missions, and personalities in front of their target audiences faster than print ads or traditional brochures. If you’re using social media, your posts can drive traffic back to your website. 

Websites are cost effective marketing tools, a chance to tell your story online

There are many great, affordable platforms these days that make the web development process easy and accessible. When you use a free website-building tool such as WordPress, you position your company to reach thousands more potential customers. 

Thinking about a new website or wondering about an update to your existing site? Give me a call!

Google Plus Calls It Quits After Data Breach

Google has finally thrown in the towel on Google Plus. No surprise here. Google launched their social media application in 2011 to compete with Facebook and it never really gained traction. By 2018, Google Plus was little more than an afterthought. But you really have to wonder why all those smart people at Google couldn’t make this work. They’re calling it quits after a data breach.

What were those circles all about anyway?

When Google Plus came out, we created accounts and gave it a try, but it wasn’t fun because, well, no one else was using it. No one really engaged. Apparently 90% of user sessions lasted fewer than five seconds. Compare that with addictive sessions on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

But there’s more to this story than just an application that no one wants to use

Google chose to sunset Google Plus over an issue with bigger implications. According to The New York Times, “security vulnerability exposed the private data of some 500,000 users.” Google didn’t tell us about the application’s security issue when it was discovered because it didn’t appear that anyone had gained access to user information, and the company’s Privacy & Data Protection Office decided it was not legally required to report it.

If you’re not paying attention, data security has become a very big deal

The decision to stay quiet raised eyebrows in the cybersecurity community, as it comes against the backdrop of relatively new and stricter rules in California and Europe that govern when a company must disclose a security episode.

Up to 438 applications made by other companies may have had access to the vulnerability through coding links. Outside developers could have seen user names, email addresses, information about occupation, gender and age. They apparently did not have access to phone numbers, messages, Google Plus posts or data from other Google accounts.

Google was concerned about damage control

Now, according to The Wall Street Journal, a memo prepared for senior executives by Google’s policy and legal teams warned that disclosing the problem would expose the company’s vulnerability and invite regulatory scrutiny. CEO Sundar Pichai would likely be called to testify before Congress in the same way that Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg did after its security breach. Google had planned to announce the disclosures, but moved up the announcement date when it learned of The Journal’s article.

In May, Europe adopted new data protection laws that require companies to notify regulators of a potential leak of personal information within 72 hours. Google’s security issue occurred in March, before the new rules went into effect. And yes, this applies to Google—it’s a global company.

California is getting serious about information accountability

California’s strict new privacy law goes into effect in 2020. In the event of a data breach, consumers can sue for up to $750 for each violation. It also gives the attorney general the right to pursue companies for intentional privacy violations.

What’s next? A hearing about whether tech companies are filtering conservative voices in their products. The Republicans are going to be all over this one.

Savvy Divorce Advice from the Pros

No one wins or losers in Divorce except the attorneys. So here’s some advice from the pros–the Divorce attorneys who’ve seen it all.

Here are some insights and advice from real-life Divorce attorneys who’ve seen it all

Morgan Stogsdill, a partner in a Chicago law firm, often advocates mediation, where a neutral third party helps a couple work through issues and reach a resolution. But Ms. Stogsdill acknowledged that mediation doesn’t always work out. She once mediated a case for two years before it came to a halt and ultimately ended up in court. “Your lawyer has to be ready to change tack if things go south”, she said. In a collaborative divorce, both parties commit to creating a shared agreement. They may share a financial expert or a divorce coach in the collaborative process.

Spend wisely, talk freely and find someone in whom to confide

Therapy can help the legal process run more smoothly. Often the big conflicts in Divorce proceedings—money and children–are not the real issues at all. Once you peel back the layers, anger, resentment and even revenge are the real motivators.

According to Gabrielle Hartley, a Massachusetts divorce coach and the co-author of Better Apart: The Radically Positive Way to Separate. “Lawyers are not therapists. People often feel broken during Divorce, but the legal process doesn’t award wholeness to anyone. You have to find that on your own. Stop being a victim. You are right and so are they and the law will typically divide assets and child custody without judgment as to who behaved the worst.”

Disclosure: forget about getting away with anything

“If there’s even a tiny question of whether you will get away with something, think again,” said Samantha Bley DeJean of San Francisco’s Bley and Bley (Angelina Jolie’s child custody lawyer in her divorce from Brad Pitt). “There are very high penalties for hiding assets, and if you don’t disclose up front, you’re buying problems down the road,” she said.

Ms. Bley DeJean recalled a case in which intellectual property was either hidden (or inadvertently not disclosed) only to be greatly monetized later. When a disgruntled spouse casually heard about an ex’s windfall, everyone landed back in court.

Pace yourself; this is a process

In cases where there has been cheating or deceit, and emotions are high, slow down the process. Clients with a zero-sum mentality often run into problems. Those who divorce successfully understand that their family isn’t ending; rather, it is evolving, hopefully entering a better place.

Personal property issues can be exhausting

Identify that which is really important to you. Think carefully about what you want, what you need and what really isn’t that important to you. Judges will likely assign most low-monetary value items randomly if there is disagreement. Be a thoughtful consumer.

Exercise caution with electronic media

Be cautious about using electronic media. Your emails, texts and photos can all turn up in court. Regardless of how angry you are, think about the consequences before posting on social media or firing off an angry electronic message. These have a way of coming back to haunt you.

Laura Wasser, a divorce lawyer in Los Angeles whose clients have included Stevie Wonder, Maria Shriver, Johnny Depp and Heidi Klum, started an online service last year called It’s Over Easy to change the approach to divorce. Regardless of income levels, “we all have the same feelings—mainly fear and sadness.”

Consult professionals for help with complex matters

Susan Myres is the president-elect of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She recommends getting professional help from financial planners and divorce coaches when there are complicated financial matters like family trusts or assessing and dividing family businesses and properties.Note that lawyers bill for email and phone call time, so unless the chatter moves the case forward, keep it to a minimum. If you really need to talk to someone, find a sympathetic listener who isn’t charging you $500/hour.

Provide comprehensive financial documentation

Natalia Wilson, a Washington lawyer who specializes in complex cases involving businesses and assets, has litigated cases that run weeks — and into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. To avoid costly subpoenas and depositions, she recommends clients provide complete records of all financial dealings, including tax returns, real-estate documents and even handshake deals like consulting gigs. Providing comprehensive information is key to a successful outcome.

Keep it out of the courtroom: Start your marriage with a Prenuptial Agreement

A sound Prenuptial Agreement may be the best cost-saving measure in divorcing, said Barry Wayne, a partner in a Florida firm. A prenuptial is prepared as part of the wedding planning, often at the behest of wealthy relatives. Consulting with an estate-planning lawyer can help draft a prenuptial and also work to protect and assure assets for surviving spouses in the event of death.

There’s another alternative: Mediation

Mediation is a solution that can help families avoid the costs of bitter court battles. It’s predicated on working with a neutral third party, a trained Mediator, who is skilled at facilitating dialog and helping  couples reach compromises that will peacefully end their marriages. Mediation is based on the principles of negotiation. If you give up something, you will also generally gain something in return. California Document Preparers are skilled Mediators, helping our clients identify solutions that allow them to get on with their lives without the crippling expense and emotional turmoil of litigation.

California Document Preparersassists our clients in uncontested Divorce, and Mediation is a new service for us. We’re a neutral third party, skilled at helping  couples reach compromises that will peacefully end their marriages. Schedule an appointment today by contacting us at one of our three Bay Area offices. Our dedicated team is helpful, compassionate and affordable.