Change can be difficult.
But when it comes to your law firm’s website, it’s necessary. With the constant updates in marketing trends, your website needs to reflect you and your law firm accurately and effectively. How can you accomplish this easily with as little hassle and expense as possible?
A website redesign aka: website make-over or website facelift.
If your website is 3-5 years old, your site likely looked excellent and top-of-the-line when it was created, but maybe not so much now. And your site must reflect who your law firm is as it’s often the first thing your potential clients see.
You know what they say about first impressions. It’s extremely likely that your law firm’s website will be the first impression of your firm even if a potential client is vetting you based on a referral from a trusted source. This first impression will make up your potential client’s mind as to your law firm’s integrity, experience, and results. That’s a pretty big impression to make (or not make, as it were.)
Here are a few things to consider to help you decide if it’s time for a website redesign. If any of the bullet points below apply to your website, let’s chat about how we can update your site:
- Is your website mobile-responsive? If it’s not, you are losing business even as you’re reading this article. The reason for this is that over 80% of internet users own and use a smartphone. Not only that, but very soon, Google will roll out it’s “mobile-first index” that weighs mobile-responsive sites more favorably in the search results than those that are not mobile-responsive. Being mobile-responsive is simply not optional anymore.
- Is your website ranking well in search engines? If you’re having a hard time ranking your website for relevant search terms, it may be that your built-in website SEO isn’t up to date with current SEO trends. Google’s algorithms are ever-changing, if your site doesn’t have today’s SEO integrated, it may be hurting your ranking. A website redesign can fix this, in a hurry.
- Was your website originally built with Flash? If so, nobody is looking at it, because Flash isn’t supported any longer on any Apple products such as iPads and iPhones, nor is it visible on the big three: Google, Yahoo, and Bing. If Flash was your website’s claim to fame back in the day…you’re overdue for a change.
- Does your website offer a poor user experience? If it’s difficult to navigate, isn’t cohesive looking, and doesn’t include what your client prospects are looking for, it’s very likely tanking in search rankings. This is because Google is weighing the user experience highly in its rankings. Give your potential clients a great experience on your website, and Google will reward you with higher rankings. Remember that a higher ranking will allow you to get in front of more potential clients.
- Is your law firm brand message clear? Your brand should be consistent, unified, and crystal clear. Your logo, fonts, and colors should look professional and cohesive. Your attorney bio pages should all have the same format, as should your practice area pages. Consistency on your website translates into confidence and professionalism. If your brand message has changed since you originally had your website created, it needs an update to reflect your present message.
- Does your website have an integrated blog for new, fresh content? If not, you’re really missing the boat, because what your potential clients need, and what Google wants them to have, is relevant, up-to-date information. You accomplish this in the form of blog posts, which are essentially articles on a specific topic that is relevant to your particular legal practice. For instance, a personal injury attorney could potentially have posts regarding the claims process, how to deal with the insurance company, what to do at an accident scene, different types of injuries that are common in accidents, traffic safety tips, etc. This is the kind of information your prospects expect when they arrive on your site. And if they’re not getting it, Google’s not ranking you. The good news is that a blog can be easily integrated during a website redesign.
- Does your website look outdated? If so, you’re losing your prospects trust by not looking the way they expect you to look. Keep your text and your photos updated and remove and replace anything that is old and outdated. Note that every 8-10 years or so, certain website trends make their appearance and others go by the wayside. Your website should look professional and inline with today’s trends. If it doesn’t and it looks dated, your prospects will simply exit your website and go looking elsewhere. And Google looks at that, too, as something called click-through, and if viewers are clicking off of your site as soon as they click on it, that can be a bad thing.
- Finally, does your site load slowly? If so, it’s something that is incredibly easy to fix in a site redesign. And yes, Google is looking at this too. Slow-loading sites will rank lower, because efficiency is part of the user experience, too.
The above bullet points are just a few of the more important reasons that law firms and solo attorneys come to Denver Legal Marketing for a fast and effective website redesign.
Your website is a billboard for all the world to see – it is the face of your law firm online. When it is presented well, with lots of relevant and interesting information, and with a unified look and feel, it can be something that brings in an endless stream of qualified leads. If it’s presented poorly, the results can be devastating.
So, take an honest look at your site, and when you’re ready to talk about a website redesign, or if you’d just like a little more information on the process and costs involved, I’d love to set up a time to talk. Call me directly at (303) 507-3944.
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