Law Firm Websites
By Sarah Van Cott
For law firms who don't have a Website, here's some motivation: if you aren't online, your competition probably is. Why? This means that most websites are online commercials built to generate revenue or advertise to users.
For law firms today, having a Website is the most popular way to reach clients who need representation. The following list provides information about why law firm Websites is better than other types of advertising.
The Web world never closes; it's open 24 hours a day.
Unlike print advertising and television commercials, the Internet is always available to potential clients. Users can view your site whenever they want.
Websites appeal to users who are already looking for your services.
Yesterday's card catalogs in libraries have been revolutionized into search engines, which index the majority of Web sites.
Websites size is not an issue
While many Website owners choose to limit the content on their site, they don't have to. The Internet reaches users who have access to a computer terminal.
Websites target a demographic
Websites can contain certain features and programming that enable it to target a specific audience with Search Engine Optimization (SEO). With effective SEO, Websites can rank high on search engine results for a particular search term. For example, when a user types in "dog bite attorney", a Website can be optimized to be included in the search results.
Websites are liquid
Unlike other forms of advertising, attorney Websites can alter content and length to meet the dynamic needs of a law firm.
Effective communication with a Web design firm should begin long before you actually hire the designer who will build your site. If you see a design you like, ask if the designer is capable of building a site similar to it.
Also, before you hire the designer, it's important to pick a point person to communicate with the designer, who will eliminate miscommunications between the designer and the law firm.
Remember to treat the designer with the same respect that you would treat other law firm members. There's no sense in accepting a design that decision makers have not reviewed.
Finally, announce your new Website design. Don't forget to change the Web address, if necessary, on law firm business products such as letterhead and business cards.
Website maintenance frequently jeopardizes the quality of legal Websites because the person who initially built the site is no longer available.
Things that often change in a law firm Web site are practice areas, types of clients, attorney biography information and promotions. That visitor may never return to your site and instead, retain legal counsel with a competing law firm.
When you consistently maintain the content of your Web site, it increases the credibility and reliability of the site. The American Bar Association maintains guidelines on what information needs to be included on a law firm Web site. Most legal Websites post information stating that the Website does not form or maintain a client/attorney relationship.
In addition your pages loading, you want to make sure that all the processes on your Web site are running properly as well. Web development encompasses the world of building Websites and the technology necessary to keep them running smoothly.
The Web Development Team Players: Who they are
Generally though, a web development team includes programmers, SEO specialists, Web designers, system administrators and content writers. These professionals work together to a build a legal Website.
What they do
Programmers: Build the structure of the Web sites with programming languages built to display the Web site in the browser.
Web or Graphic Designers: Create the graphics and images as well as the page layout. They also create the navigation of the site, which includes how users perceive the Web site and its functionality.
System Administrators: Keep servers running properly so they can run the programming languages. They also update servers with current software to prevent overload, viruses and security breaches.
SEO specialists: Work with the HTML code and content on the Websites, which is read by Search Engines. This work helps pages to rank for appropriate keywords in search engine results pages.
There are lots of Web companies who specialize in offering simple templates to customers who want affordable legal Web sites. Inexpensive, template Websites can be difficult to edit or add pages because the site must adhere to a specific design and format.
Why they are hired
Law firms today are hiring Web development teams to target specific types of clients in their practice areas. This enables attorneys to get more clients online. With the Website affecting their bottom line, lawyers are interested in retaining clients who are already searching for attorneys online by using search engines.
Why they provide excellent support
Hiring a Web development team to handle all of your online needs is the most efficient way to build an attorney Website to market to potential clients.
It means that your Web development has accountability and is dedicated to ensuring that the Website increases your ROI.
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