Each year, members of the Amicus Creative team attend a number of legal conferences around the country. Regardless of whether the event is for a local bar association or national professional organization, the members share similar concerns and hesitations when it comes to marketing. In meeting new attorneys, we always ask whether or not they have websites. Over the past few years, the number of attorneys who say “yes” has certainly increased but the indifference or dissatisfaction when it comes to those existing websites seems to have remained rather consistent. The fact is that a majority of the attorneys we meet say they have a website but “it could be better” or that it is downright lousy. In digging a bit deeper, it is often hard to pinpoint exactly why the firm is unhappy and often it is due to a number of factors. Of course, to correct the issue, you must first get to the root of the problem. Below, we’ve compiled a list of the usual suspects:
A Lackluster Design
The most obvious issue is often with the site’s design. It was designed by a partner’s wife’s nephew and it is well…amateur. Of all the issues, this is perhaps the “easiest” to correct with the help of a professional graphic designer.
Bare Bones Content
If your website is filled with empty pages and “coming soon” labels, you’re probably not too pleased and we can bet your visitors aren’t either. Drafting high quality content that resonates with prospective clients can be incredibly time consuming but in order to convert site visitors to paying clients, it’s a necessary component of any site. Content is often something that falls to the backburner because unlike the design which can be done by a designer down the road, most attorneys aren’t quick to outsource legal copy to others, and we can’t say we blame you.
A Site that Doesn’t Bring in Business
You can have the best looking site in your town but if it doesn’t help you achieve your business development goals, it leaves something to be desired. It can be challenging to determine why the site isn’t “working” and this often involves a detailed assessment from an experienced marketing professional. Generally speaking, a site may not be performing because:
- it has terrible placement in the SERPS and just can’t be found,
- there is no call to action,
- the content or navigation structure is poor,
- there is no mobile capability, or
- there is a technical issue that is leading to a poor user experience.
When it comes to web development, there are so many components to consider and so many things that can go wrong. To build a site that you’re proud to call your own, you should work with a full service marketing agency that specializes in legal websites, ensuring your design, content and call to action are all effective.
At Amicus Creative Media, we’ve helped over 1,000 law firms develop sites that are as professional as their practices. Give us a call today for your complimentary website assessment.