

Personal Injury Mastermind
Chris Dreyer, Rankings.io
Law firm marketing and growth strategies that transform personal injury attorneys from local players to market leaders. Each week, successful PI firms share with host Chris Dreyer their exact systems for client acquisition, legal SEO mastery, and sustainable growth – giving you actionable steps to dominate your market. From solo practices to nationwide powerhouses, every episode delivers battle-tested tactics you can implement today. Personal Injury Mastermind (PIM) is powered by Rankings.ioYou'll hear from industry titans like Joe Fried (Fried Goldberg), Alexander Shunnarah, Dan Morgan (Morgan and Morgan), Jennifer Gore (Atlanta Personal Injury Law Group), and John Gomez (Gomez Trial Attorneys), who break down their law firm growth frameworks into steps you can follow. Whether you're launching your first practice or expanding into new markets, PIM delivers the marketing and operational insights you need to accelerate your firm's success.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 24, 2022 • 28min
150. Joe Nazarian, Pathway Law Firm — Winning Instinct: How High EQ Impacts Your Bottom Line
Joe Nazarian (@joe_nazarian) and his firm Pathway Law Firm (@pathwaylawfirm) have recovered over $60 million for his clients. In the process, he has expanded to five offices across the west coast and Texas. From hiring new staff to intake and even marketing, empathy is at the core of every decision Joe makes. To secure cases, your intake team needs to have a high EQ. Joe oversees nearly every hire and never misses an opportunity to improve.He shares with us the inner workings of his intake process, building brand recognition in new markets, and how to scout a new office location.Links
Rankings.io Instagram
Chris Dreyer Instagram
Rankings.io Twitter
Rankings.io Website
Joe Nazarian Instagram
Joe Nazarian Linkedin
Pathway Law Firm
What’s in This Episode:
Who is Joe Nazarian?
As the firm grows, how has his approach to business development evolved?
How does culture inform intake and why is EQ so important?
What to look for when opening a new office location?
Past GuestsPast guests on Personal Injury Mastermind: Brent Sibley, Sam Glover, Larry Nussbaum, Michael Mogill, Brian Chase, Jay Kelley, Alvaro Arauz, Eric Chaffin, Brian Panish, John Gomez, Sol Weiss, Matthew Dolman, Gabriel Levin, Seth Godin, David Craig, Pete Strom, John Ruhlin, Andrew Finkelstein, Harry Morton, Shay Rowbottom, Maria Monroy, Dave Thomas, Marc Anidjar, Bob Simon, Seth Price, John Gomez, Megan Hargroder, Brandon Yosha, Mike Mandell, Brett Sachs, Paul Faust, Jennifer Gore-CuthbertAdditional Episodes You Might Enjoy
80. Mike Papantonio, Levin, Papantonio, & Rafferty — Doing Well by Doing Good
84. Glen Lerner, Lerner and Rowe – A Steady Hand in a Shifting Industry
101. Pratik Shah, EsquireTek — Discovering the Power of Automation
134. Darryl Isaacs, Isaacs & Isaacs — The Hammer: Insights from a Marketing Legend
104. Taly Goody, Goody Law Group — Finding PI Clients on TikTok
63. Joe Fried, Fried Goldberg LLC — How To Become An Expert And Revolutionize Your PI Niche
96. Brian Dean, Backlinko — Becoming a Linkable Source
83. Seth Godin — Differentiation: How to Make Your Law Firm a Purple Cow
73. Neil Patel, Neil Patel — Digital A New Approach to Content and Emerging Marketing Channels

Nov 17, 2022 • 26min
149. Greg Star, Carvertise — Branded Rideshare Vehicles: Retarget to Quality Leads
Over the past ten years, Greg Star (@carvertise), Founding Partner at Carvertise (@carvertise) has done what bus and billboard ads can not - get targeted impressions. His team makes data-informed decisions to increase ROI by meeting the audience where they already are - sporting events, restaurants, conferences, and more. Carvertise takes rideshare vehicles and wraps them in ads. These cars geotag nearby consumers with the right demographics and retarget ads directly to their cell phones. This service is a fantastic addition to any existing advertising eco system. And creative ad-ons - like swarms - can help your firm tap into unsaturated markets.Links
Rankings.io Instagram
Chris Dreyer Instagram
Rankings.io Twitter
Rankings.io Website
Greg Star Twitter
Carvertise Website
What's In This Episode
Who is Greg Star?
How can wrapped cars help personal injury firms?
What unique advantages do ride-share cars provide?
How does Carvertise create a conversation with potential clients?
Past GuestsPast guests on Personal Injury Mastermind: Brent Sibley, Sam Glover, Larry Nussbaum, Michael Mogill, Brian Chase, Jay Kelley, Alvaro Arauz, Eric Chaffin, Brian Panish, John Gomez, Sol Weiss, Matthew Dolman, Gabriel Levin, Seth Godin, David Craig, Pete Strom, John Ruhlin, Andrew Finkelstein, Harry Morton, Shay Rowbottom, Maria Monroy, Dave Thomas, Marc Anidjar, Bob Simon, Seth Price, John Gomez, Megan Hargroder, Brandon Yosha, Mike Mandell, Brett Sachs, Paul Faust, Jennifer Gore-CuthbertAdditional Episodes You Might Enjoy
80. Mike Papantonio, Levin, Papantonio, & Rafferty — Doing Well by Doing Good
84. Glen Lerner, Lerner and Rowe – A Steady Hand in a Shifting Industry
101. Pratik Shah, EsquireTek — Discovering the Power of Automation
134. Darryl Isaacs, Isaacs & Isaacs — The Hammer: Insights from a Marketing Legend
104. Taly Goody, Goody Law Group — Finding PI Clients on TikTok
63. Joe Fried, Fried Goldberg LLC — How To Become An Expert And Revolutionize Your PI Niche
96. Brian Dean, Backlinko — Becoming a Linkable Source
83. Seth Godin — Differentiation: How to Make Your Law Firm a Purple Cow
73. Neil Patel, Neil Patel — Digital A New Approach to Content and Emerging Marketing Channels

Nov 10, 2022 • 28min
148. John Phillips, Phillips and Hunt — Fight for What Matters: Reverence in Practice and Earned Media
A steward of justice, John Phillips has changed the way that companies and governments operate. He is verified on three social media channels, secured a $495 Million Dollar verdict, won countless awards, and even beaten the president in trial. But john measures success not in accolades, but in the reverence he earns from those he loves. Once "best lawyer in America" John and his firm Phillips and Hunt have represented celebrities and athletes - but spend most of their time helping the injured get justice.Today, we discuss jury selection and how to tell a winning story. Why representing high-profile clients should not come with the requisite of kevlar vests. How earned media and traditional media have bolstered his nationwide presence. And how an empath can change the world for the better.What's In This Episode
Who is John Phillips?
How to identify and eliminate prejudice during jury selection.
His perspective on physical safety and why he shouldn't have to wear a kevlar suit.
How he came to help rewrite legislation after the Amahad Abury case.
What role has earned media played in securing such high-profile cases?
Why is networking so important?
How does he leverage traditional marketing in a way that is true to his personality?

Nov 3, 2022 • 34min
147. John DeGasperis, Basch & Keegan Personal Injury Attorneys — Everything is Content: Social Media, Rainmaking, and Triumph in the Courtroom
With over 2 million likes and 70,000 followers on TikToc, social media is a critical element of rainmaking for John DeGasperis. The Partner at Basch & Keegan Personal Injury Attorneys, John also sees it as a tool to build community. He pays for his robust marketing team out of pocket to maintain creative control and solidify his personal brand. Rather than create content, his crew follows him everywhere, documenting his day-to-day. A great trial attorney, John brings each case he takes on to life - often using over 50 exhibits per trial. He shares with us his wisdom from years in the courtroom.What's In This Episode
Who is John DeGasperis?
Why was hard work not enough to secure the position of partner at his firm at such a young age?
Did rainmaking come naturally to John?
After recovering millions of dollars for clients has the opposition gotten more challenging?
What tech does he use in the courtroom to win cases?
What is the most important component of winning a case?
How does social media fit into John's business strategy?
Why does he not bill marketing to the firm?
How does he document everything for social content?

Oct 27, 2022 • 30min
146. Joe Volta, Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers - Mailbox Money: Building a Referral Network On and Off Line
Building a strong referral network is a critical component to any successful firm. But where do solo attorneys and mid-sized firms begin? Joe Volta, Partner at Chandler Volta Personal Injury Lawyers, fosters connections on social media prior to conferences to help fill out a robust network of trusted referral partners. He explains how anyone can break the ice before meeting in person and how to stay top of mind. He also gets into his social media strategy that keeps followers coming back for more.What's In This Episode?
Who is Joe Volta?
How did he grow a substantial referral network from the ground up?
Why does certain social content go viral?
What is the appropriate way to go about DMing potential referral partners?
What is 'mailbox money'?
Once a connection is made, how does he maintain the relationship?
What is a better way to think about gifts?

Oct 20, 2022 • 38min
145. Chris Vander Kaay, Brain Trust Legal Group — Tap In to Grow: How Story Increases Brand Awareness
To unlock your growth potential through human connection - identify and tap into the "Why" of your story. Chris Vander Kaay is an expert in branding and creative marketing who teaches law firms how to connect. The former screenwriter, author, and professor currently serves as Creative Director for The Brain Trust Legal Group.Today, Chris shares how to make your brand memorable and the mechanics of identifying your "why". We also address the gap of disappointment in marketing and how to get past it. And how to know when your marketing strategy should invest in quality or quantity on social media.What's in This Episode
Who is Chris Vander Kaay?
How did Chris go from professor and screenwriter to marketer for law firms?
What makes a good brand story great?
How can firm owners identify their "why"?
How can attorneys get the most awareness that translates to an emotional response?
What is the "gap of disappointment" and how do you avoid it?
When creating content, should firms go for quantity or quality?
What is the Brain Trust Legal Group digital community?

Oct 13, 2022 • 36min
144. Neama Rahmani, West Coast Trial Lawyers - Omnichannel Marketing: Vision, Execution, and Growth
West Coast Trial Lawyers leverages three distinct in-house marketing teams - paid, SEO, and social - to accelerate growth. They have grown to 15 offices, 20 attorneys, and over 100 staff. President at West Coast Trial Lawyers, Neama Rahmani has an impressive track record. He's handled thousands of cases resulting in seven and eight-figure settlements and judgments and has helped his clients win more than 1 billion dollars.We sat down for a second interview to dive into how each team plugs into the vision and goals of the business, how the firm has evolved, the importance of intake, and why hiring non-revenue-generating positions will accelerate your growth.What's In This Episode
Who is Neama Rahmani?
How does social media fit into the overall business goals?
Is it possible to grow a following without doing the trends?
Is it better to spend on ads or go organic on social media?
How do his three marketing teams work together?
How do non-revenue generating employees accelerate growth?
How will the future of Google ads shape your firm?

Oct 6, 2022 • 37min
143. William Umansky, Umansky Law Firm - Purpose over Passion: Tap into Vision and Values
After thirty years of practice, William "The Lawman" Umansky is well on his way to an eight-figure firm. From second chances for clients to financial stability for employees, William's "why" is crystal clear - help others.William, owner of the Florida-based Umansky Law Firm, is also host of The Lawman's Lounge podcast. Today, he digs into the power of accountability, why purpose will outlast passion, and why the people make the practice.What's in This Episode
Who is William Umansky?
Why is William the Second Chance Lawyer?
How does he help clients transition from being victims of circumstance to masters of their own destinies?
As the legal industry changes, how has the blueprint of his business evolved?
How can a team be shown that they are valued and needed?
As his "Why" evolves, how has his financial motivation shifted?

Sep 29, 2022 • 30min
142. Wendy Lieber, ContentBacon — Content Optimization: Accelerate the Sales Cycle and Land More Clients
Content that converts needs to do four things: solve existing pain points, be understandable, tell a story, and humanize the brand. Wendy Lieber, co-founder of ContentBacon offers a content subscription service to make your copy sizzle! Today she shares how to get the most from your inbound content to generate quality leads and fill your pipeline.What's In This Episode
Who is Wendy Lieber?
What are the advantages of hiring dedicated copywriters?
What types of content should be used at what stage of the client journey?
How can inbound marketing help empower the client to take action?
What should Personal Injury firms be doing to get the most out of their content?
How to come up with topics for your website blog?

Sep 22, 2022 • 44min
141. Steve Fretzin, Be That Attorney — Business Development: How Soft Skills Double Revenue
Relationships drive business. But how do you identify the connections that will generate more business for your firm? Enter Steve Fretzin. He works with start-up solos to attorneys at large firms - originating over $6 million in billables a year. He is also the host of the Be That Lawyer podcast and a four-time author.Business development - or connecting one-to-one - is based on soft skills that might not come to every attorney naturally. But that's okay. Steve is here to help give you insight and practical tools to help your business grow. He covers best practices for business development and how to stay accountable to your own priorities.What's in This Episode?
Who is Steve Fretzin?
How to define business development for law firms.
What are the most important actions when developing a book of business?
How to make decisions based on priorities and not the inbox?
What is the best thing solo attorneys can do for business development?
What secret power do introverts have?
What soft skills are needed to make the sale?