A marketing plan has traditionally included public relations, advertising and networking, but with today's digital age, if you aren't using social media, you're doing yourself a disservice. Taking your firm online is important, but it's even more important to execute it properly. As potential clients, co-counsel opportunities and referral sources migrate to sites like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, you'll want to have an established presence, or you'll be invisible to the online world.

To decide which platforms to use and how to effectively use each one, consider the tips below before logging in.

• Link up on LinkedIn. Earlier this year, LinkedIn reached the 500 million user mark. This is your best bet for finding referral sources. Look to it to help grow your professional network. While you should have a personal page, you should also have a company page established for the firm. Here, potential clients can get a summary of what you specialize in, information on your employees, and how to contact you. Take advantage of the ability to post updates on LinkedIn. You can share articles, photos and other things relevant to your network. Don't forget to have everyone at your firm share these posts on their personal pages, too.