In creating a website that has all the features of the best websites, be sure to avoid these pitfalls.
MISSING A CALL TO ACTION
All effective law firm websites have strong calls to action that are easy to find and prompt the visitor to act. You have about ten seconds to convey to visitors why they should contact the firm—and how to do so.
NOT CLIENT-CENTRIC
Some websites put too much attention on the lawyer. Your homepage should focus on the value you bring to clients. Clients want to feel like you understand their particular problem and can fix it. Potential clients should come to your website and find information focused on how you can help them.
LACK OF BASIC SEO
For a legal website to be effective, a firm must leverage at least some basic search engine optimization (SEO) to ensure the site shows up on Google and other search engines.
OTHER FACTORS
- Poor imagery. Bad stock images can ruin an otherwise great website by making it look generic. Be sure to use quality photos, even if they happen to be stock photos.
- No photos of the lawyer(s). Some websites do not feature headshots or photos on the attorney bio pages. This can prevent a visitor from feeling like they can “get to know” the lawyer. Photos are expected in 2019. Missing photos may make a visitor wonder what you might be hiding, while great bio photos make the user feel like they have actually met you.
- Large blocks of text. Websites with long, dense paragraphs are difficult to read and so visitors are less likely to read them. Website copy should be concise and easy for the average person to digest.
These issues all prevent lawyers and law firms from getting the results they hope for from their websites. If your law firm website suffers from any of these problems, consider making some changes so that you can make the most of your investment.