Vendors have been calling, telling you it’s time…
Your team has pointed out issues…
Your competitors have done it…
You agree… It’s time to do something about the website, but What???
The following tips will help you get on track and take some of the mystery out of starting and having a successful website project:
Pick a solid vendor partner: Of course, we are starting with the toughest thing first, but a solid vendor will make all the difference.
- See examples of their work.
- Talk to their clients.
- Ensure you feel a “partner” relationship can be formed.
Avoid any and all “Captive Client Arrangements”. Own your site from the content to the hosting:
Caveat Emptor: Subscription Arrangements and Managed “Private” Hosting are both business models which foster captive client arrangements.
- “Just Say No” to most subscription website companies.
- Typically, much costlier over time;
- You do not own the website: and
- On the lower-end of the cost scale, you are forced to select a boring and non-mobile responsive template.
- “Private” hosting IT vendors are obsolete:
- Given today’s technology and the plethora of affordable hosting platforms, there is no reason to become captive to your IT provider.
- You can still use all of the services you need, but there is no benefit to using their technology infrastructure for hosting.
Now the easier decisions:
- Review your Attorney Bios:
- Distribute for updates
- Use Bullets to make it easier to read and digest
- Stay away from using/listing dates
- Dates incorporate a “freshness” factor
- Highlight accomplishments
- Distribute for updates
- Update your practice descriptions
- Consolidate as applicable, ensure the Core Practice Areas count make sense for your firm’s size.
- As an example: Listing as many or more practice areas than you have attorneys will erode confidence in your capability, as your firm cannot possibly be experts in a bazillion practice areas.
- Don’t list the attorneys that are associated other than a lead partner/primary contact.
- Too easy to expose weakness in coverage
- Less is more. Your site visitors are not interested in a novella, just that you do the work.
- Consolidate as applicable, ensure the Core Practice Areas count make sense for your firm’s size.
- Pick a design and stick with it
- Be consistent with images, colors, fonts and font sizes
- Be careful not to over-use different fonts and sizes. Some vendors use it as a design imperative
- This practice is distracting; and
- Does not enhance SEO results
- It used to, but Google killed it
- Be careful not to over-use different fonts and sizes. Some vendors use it as a design imperative
- Be consistent with images, colors, fonts and font sizes
- Make sure you select Mobile Responsive technology
- CRITICAL
- Verify for yourself!
- When investigating vendor recommendations, access their reference and example sites from your phone
- If you need to use your fingers to resize the screen a bunch, the technology sucks
- When investigating vendor recommendations, access their reference and example sites from your phone
- Navigation: With today’s law firm website, “Less is More!”
- Most firms need to “keep it short and simple”
- Home
- About Us
- Our Team
- What We Do (practice descriptions)
- Contact Us
- Articles/Blog/News
- Most firms need to “keep it short and simple”
Follow those tips and you will be off to a strong start.
We have many other suggestions/ideas. You can get a further feel for how we think by reading the links below; and Remember:
- A website project should not be a time sink hole, or eat you alive;
- If you are having to devote more than 2 – 3 hrs. per week, you simply chose the wrong vendor;
- A website project should not be crazy expensive; and
- You will know crazy when you see it
- Your website is a reflection of your firm, so keep it looking good
- Commit time and resource to keeping the site current.
If you want help, don’t hesitate to contact us for a complimentary website analysis. We will review your site and offer insights how to maximize your results, quickly and affordably.
It’s what we do! We look forward to hearing from you!
The ProfessionalWORX Team
Read More Tips For Success Here: