Have a website and think that’s enough to entice potential clients to your practice? Well…that approach may have worked 10 years ago, however, the rules of the game have changed, it’s no longer enough to just have a website because all of your competitors probably have a presence online as well. legal website design is key.
As people increasingly turn to the internet in search for solutions to their matter, your website can potentially be your best asset, and by following our plan of action for great legal website design, you may be able to attract more visitors to your site, while garnering new business as well. Huzzah!
Search engines have to be content, with your content
There’s no disputing the importance of search engines such as Google when attracting visitors. Therefore, it’s essential that you have fresh, quality content that is updated on a regular basis. In order to draw visitors to your site, a comprehensive search engine optimisation (SEO) strategy is essential.
It may seem a little daunting if you’re not familiar with SEO, but allow us to assure you that the concept is deceptively simple, and we’ll explain how SEO can work for you.
Search engine optimisation essentially means your website should have a high percentage of keywords and phrases that is reflective of the key practice areas of your firm. Additionally, lawyer profiles, location details, and if possible, multimedia content should also be featured on your site to ensure it is able to achieve the best search ranking possible.
There’s a reason why it’s called, ‘social’ media
Beyond content, having a social media presence can also greatly benefit your page. If you’re engaging with your audience through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, while also publishing compelling content on a regular basis, you’re providing your practice the best possible chance to succeed in a competitive business environment. And search engines love social media! Need we say more?
Be responsive. Get mobile.
Want some salient numbers to illustrate the importance of mobile? [pullquote align=”right”]According to Google, 57% of users will not recommend a business with a non-mobile friendly website[/pullquote], and of that percentage, 40% went to a competitor after a negative mobile experience.
The biggest take away from Google’s numbers is that your legal website design must be optimised for mobile. Just take a moment to reflect on your own experience in trying to visit a website that didn’t have smartphone or tablet usage in mind. Was the site slow to load? When the site did eventually load, was it cramped and difficult to read? Was navigation almost impossible? Did you just give up in frustration? If you answered ‘yes’ to all of the questions, think how your customer must be feeling when visiting your non-responsive design, site.
It may seem intimidating to build a site with the mobile user experience in mind, however, with a few navigational tweaks, your mobile website can turn your practice into a winner. Some of the things to consider in relation to mobile are:
- The speed that your website loads on mobile devices;
- How your website appears on mobile devices;
- Are all of the important elements associated with your firm prominently featured on a mobile device? (ie logos, areas of practice, contact information etc).
Keep in mind, it has been estimated that some 90% of small businesses in Australia don’t have a site optimised for mobile. So, if the page of your practice is mobile friendly, you’re already way ahead of the competition.
You want your website to be an extension of the quality of service that your practice provides, and by enacting a few simple actions, will give your website the best chance to distinguish itself from the competition.
