If you are a solo practitioner or a small law firm, you may believe you don’t need to have a website. While “word of mouth” is great advertising, in today’s world of technology, referrals are occurring online more than anywhere else. You cannot afford to miss the countless opportunities in having a professional website and using a digital marketing strategy.
You may believe you cannot afford a professional website or are not tech-savvy enough to have a firm site. Still, with the help of digital marketing experts, you can create a professional and effective, budget-friendly website. Below are eight reasons your law firm needs a professional website:
1. Credibility
When people are looking for a lawyer, they turn to the internet. Unfortunately, if your firm doesn’t have a professional website, potential clients are not finding you. Even worse, they find your competitors’ websites and learn about them.
A website provides information that answers the questions prospects are searching for online. For example, “who is the best divorce lawyer in Memphis?” When your website pops up to answer this question, it gives your firm instant credibility. While a DIY website is better than not having a website, a professional site provides the image you want for your brand. It also gives the user a good experience and an impressive first impression of your firm.
2. Saves Money
Investing in a professional website may seem too costly – but it will cost you even more if you don’t have one. Over time, your website will constantly work for you by informing potential clients about your attorneys. Additionally, the initial investment will vary depending upon your needs, but once the site is set up, you can add and change the content regularly without any expense.
More traditional means of advertising are much more expensive than creating a website. However, considering the vast audience you can reach online, a professional website is a cost-effective way to market your legal services.
3. Accessibility For Your Clients
Your website is a simple and quick tool for informing your clients of information and making you accessible. For example, during the Covid-19 Pandemic, law firms used their websites to inform clients of changes in hours, how to schedule online consultations, and other announcements. Updates to websites are simple and either free or very low cost.
Websites are much more than just providing basic information. For example, your law firm can post videos, podcasts, webinars, and other media demonstrating the attorneys’ skill and expertise. In addition, your firm may consider providing online classes or workshops, which can expose you to an even wider audience.
4. Showcase Your Expertise
Your firm’s website is the perfect place to demonstrate your legal skill and knowledge. Every firm should have client testimonials explaining how you helped them, what a great staff you have, or whatever other positive things they want to say about your firm. When possible, you should also provide successful results in trials or transactions your attorneys have handled. This type of marketing strongly influences online browsers.
5. Target a Larger Audience
A website can be accessed worldwide if there is an internet connection. This easy access allows your firm to reach outside your geographical location and target a larger audience. Having a website connects you with a greater number of potential clients but also with other attorneys looking for assistance from local counsel in your area.
6. Websites Save Time
Attorneys – particularly those with “billable time” – know that time is money. A professional website saves time by providing potential clients with the information they need. Providing a FAQ page or section with additional resources can be very helpful in answering questions commonly asked by prospects. Scheduling consultations through your website can also streamline the process. Your website can even improve customer service. There are many ways using a website to communicate can save you time and money.
7. You Own Your Website
When you build a professional website, you own it, which means you also control it. There are some online spaces that you do not own, and you have little control over all that is contained in them, which can be troublesome. Consider social media, which is a great tool for directing online traffic to your website, but you do not own what you’ve uploaded to social media, and it could disappear without warning. The same is true for a free website. Building a professional website provides you with ownership of everything downloaded to your online space.
How The Rainmaker Institute Can Help
Your digital presence – particularly your website – is crucial in generating and converting leads. You have worked hard to get where you are, so learn to use technology to your advantage so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor more often while also generating new clients!
The Rainmaker Institute handles your legal marketing so you can focus on lawyering. We will provide content that contains top legal focus keywords, proper page titles, appropriate meta descriptions, target length of content, and images that will boost your attractiveness to Google. In short, we will make great content.
If you are ready to take your law firm to the next level and see your Google ranking improve, we can help. Whether you choose to attend one of our live events or you want a free, confidential consultation, we are here to help!
