Web Development
Does your law firm really need a website? the simple answer is YES
Nowadays 74% of potential legal clients check the internet when they are looking for a lawyer – even if they got a referral.
If you don’t have a website yet you will be losing business. Having a simple social media page like Facebook or Twitter is not enough either. You need your own website too. And no one looks in the Yellow Page anymore even if they had one!
Here are 5 more reasons to have your own website for your business.la
1. Your own website makes you look professional and increases trust.
Most people don’t trust a business without a good website. A clean, modern page that is regularly updated and pops up in search engines is an instant credibility boost. Potential customers will trust you more and have all the information they need in one place. In a digital age, we expect businesses to have a web presence.
Even the smallest local business or organization needs a website–from a simple one page site for a mom and pop shop to a full website for a chain store.
Anyone can easily create a Facebook page or an Instagram account with fake data, your name/handle, and the profiles may look identical to yours. So, a professional business website legitimizes your company in ways no other social media channels would.
And if you don’t have a business and you’re considering creating a place for your portfolio, to show off your work, or something that represents yourself to send to recruiters when looking for a job – there’s not a more professional way to stand out from the crowd than having a personal website.
2. A business website will bring you more customers and increase conversions.
Well-optimized websites can pop up on the first page of Google search attracting new customers that weren’t looking specifically for you but were just researching a topic.
There’s a much bigger chance of someone ‘stumbling upon’ your website than a social media profile. Also, comparing you and any competing business or offer is easier when all the parties involved have a pro website.
If you invest in Google Ads or Facebook Ads, you can direct the traffic straightway to your website. On the page, your leads will have all the details to make an informed purchase, and a call-to-action to motivate them. Pages with built-in popup forms and web push notifications encourage website visitors to stay in touch and come back.
Adding contact forms and chats to a website.
Adding contact forms and a live chat to a website.
A website is available 24/7, every day of the year, from anywhere around the globe – that makes your business stay on customer’s minds even after business hours. Websites broaden your reach, and promote you without a break.
3. Creating your own website is much easier and less expensive than you expect.
A typical 5-page website costs from $500 to $1,000 depending on the features that you need. It ccould n consist of these pages:
- Home page with a large banner image of your business or product
- About us page with photos and biographies of your staff
- Product or service pages with images and descriptions
- Testimonial page with comments from happy customers
- Contact page with a contact form and Google map
Additionally, you could sell products with WooCommerce.
4. A website gives you full control over our message.
There are two sides to this reason. The first is your freedom of expression on a website. You can’t customize your social media presence to the same extent. All your assets have to be the same format as everybody else’s. If you really want to stand out, a website is the answer.
The absolute design freedom gives you an opportunity to present your brand in a unique way and showcase its voice and personality.
The control over your image on a webpage isn’t only about the graphics and layout. You decide what to put out there, so if you have any cool online reviews, customer testimonials, videos, etc., they can all share the space on your site.
If you have a gallery or a portfolio, this is also a chance to display it in a creative way. You can redesign and change anything on a website any time you want.
5. Websites are the center of all marketing efforts.
A website can be the first place where potential customers interact with you and learn about your business.
It can also be where they land on last, to make a purchase, because they were redirected from an email, a Facebook ad or an Instagram post.
Maybe they want to receive your emails, and that’s why they visit your site – to sign up.
Someone driving by your facilities clicks the pin on Google Maps, which directs them to your website with pricing or menu.
They might have typed your URL into their browser from a physical business card. Or, after watching your YouTube video they ‘clicked the link in the description below’ to get a coupon code for your new online course.
All your marketing efforts, no matter if your business is operating online or offline, should sprout from and lead to your own, stunning and informative webpage.
Campaigns are also easier to manage when everything is interconnected and the common denominator is a website. So, having a website is a priority and the first step to success.
Your new website won’t just look great, it will boost your online presence, drive more sales, and enable your business to go further than ever before.
Get it Right the First Time.
Websites are a powerful form of interactive marketing. Because of that, every choice from layout to functionality can make or break how your visitors interact with it—ultimately determining if they’ll use your services or head back to Google to continue their search.
Your website and marketing will be looked at as a whole, along with your business, niche, competition, and goals for success.
The Web Design Process.
1. Research and Planning.
THE FOUNDATION OF EVERY SUCCESSFUL WEBSITE
Together, we’ll take a look at what makes your business unique, your market demographic, competitors, and begin planning how your new website will be used to reach your goals.
Some of the questions we’ll answer in this phase are…
- How can your website rank higher than your competitors?
- How to best help visitors navigate your website?
- What content will your website need?
- Does your website need to comply with Privacy Laws?
- 2. Design & Development.
FAR MORE THAN SURFACE LEVEL
A website that looks good is nice to have, but a website that generates leads and looks good is much much more valuable. In this phase your website will begin to take shape, its content will begin to fill out its pages and we’ll focus on…
- Optimizing your website for both humans and search engines
- Ensuring the design & layout is intuitive and easy to use
- Making sure your website displays correctly regardless of screen size
- Strategically place calls-to-action to maximize your conversion rate
3. Post Launch & Ongoing Success.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOUR WEBSITE HAS LAUNCHED?
When it comes time to launch your website you’ll have the knowledge and tools to get the most out of it. Rather than hope and guesswork you’ll have access to training materials, ongoing guidance, and new ways interact with your ideal customers.
Once your site is online it will be…
- A powerful marketing hub for your business
- An effective tool for tracking your marketing efforts and calculating your ROI
- An easy way for you to effectively communicate your value proposition to your customers
- An indispensable sales tool that drives new sales 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year
I’D LOVE TO LEARN MORE!
If you have a project in mind, reach out and we’ll chat about it. A typical project overview call only takes a few minutes and in most cases, I’ll be able to help guide you in the direction that makes most sense for you and your business.
SEO That Goes Beyond the Basics
Your website will have Search Engine Optimization (SEO) implemented that uses best practices, and never any outdated techniques that don’t work anymore or worse; get your site penalized.
Easily Track Your Success
By understanding how visitors move through your website, what content is most viewed, and the goals of your visitors, we’re able to fine tune your messaging, layout, and content to continuously improve your website.
Get Ahead of Your Competition
Your competitor’s websites will be audited to determine their positioning, content strength, and learn where you can capitalize on their omissions or shortcomings.
Help Create an Accessible Internet
The Americans with Disabilities Act may apply to your business’ website and it will be designed to comply with these laws. By building websites that are accessible to everyone we help to build an open internet for everyone—and protect your business from potential lawsuits in the process.
Protect Yourself From Potential Lawsuits
Chances are, your new website is legally required to have Privacy Policy and Terms of Service pages. I will help you navigate these privacy laws and, if you don’t have a lawyer to draft these documents, I have partners who specialize in just that!
More Flexable than DIY Solutions
While do-it-yourself website builders like Wix, Squarespace, and Weebly enable you to quickly publish a website, they have limited tools and businesses often quickly outgrow them. Your website will be built to enable to you scale it as your business grows.
Why Work with ME?
I am an American Top Rated Upwork Web Developer who has completed over 155 Upwork projects and who has over 20 years of experience building websites for companies like Microsoft MSN / Bing Translator (now retired), ABC TV, American Express, University of Washington, Verizon, and many more. See my portfolio at https://josephhowarleonard.com/. And check out my previous Upwork projects at https://www.upwork.com/fl/josephleonard.
There are many other web developers that you might choose but I believe that I can offer you the best solution because:
- I specialize in WordPress solutions with an emphasis on marketing.
- This is my only business. I do not work at another job and only have evenings and weekends available.
- I am a Florida-based web developer who is reachable during your normal business hours.
- I offer solutions to my client’s specific WordPress problems.
- I believe in delivering work of the highest quality, on time, and within budget.
I’m proud of my clients’ growth and accomplishments and would love to discuss how I’m able to help your business. For examples of what I can do for you, take a look at my Case Studies.
Real-world data is used to create your designs and build your website. This allows us to form a better understanding of your market and leads to an end product that attracts your ideal customer.
No Unnecessary Jargon
Jargon can be confusing, especially when it comes to web design. This makes choosing the right designer more difficult as it’s often used to impress rather than inform. I try to steer clear of tech jargon—unless you want the nitty-gritty.
Your Return on Investment
When I take on a client one of the factors taken into consideration is whether you’ll make a return on your investment. This balance keeps both my clients and myself happy.
Education & Empowerment
When needed, you’ll be provided training videos and documentation for you and your staff so you can hit the ground running from the word “Go”.
Web Design F.A.Q.
Developing a new website in WordPress with Elementor involves several key steps, from planning and setup to design, customization, and deployment. Here’s a comprehensive overview:
- Planning and Requirements Gathering
– Define Purpose and Goals: Determine the website’s purpose, target audience, and primary goals.
– Content Planning: Outline the types of content needed (e.g., text, images, videos, blog posts).
– Sitemap and Structure: Plan the website structure and navigation.
- Setting Up WordPress
– Choose a Hosting Provider: Select a reliable hosting provider and set up a domain name.
– Install WordPress: Many hosting providers offer one-click WordPress installation.
– Basic Configuration: Configure basic settings such as site title, tagline, and permalink structure.
- Installing Elementor
– Install Elementor Plugin: Go to Plugins > Add New, search for Elementor, and install it.
– Activate Elementor: Activate the plugin after installation.
– Elementor Pro (Optional): Consider purchasing and installing Elementor Pro for advanced features and templates.
- Choosing and Installing a Theme
– Select a Compatible Theme: Choose a theme that works well with Elementor. Popular choices include Hello Theme (by Elementor) or Astra.
– Install and Activate the Theme: Go to Appearance > Themes > Add New, search for the theme, install, and activate it.
- Customizing the Theme with Elementor
– Create Pages: Create the necessary pages (e.g., Home, About, Services, Contact).
– Edit with Elementor: Use the Elementor editor to design and customize each page.
– Drag-and-Drop Interface: Use Elementor’s drag-and-drop widgets to add text, images, videos, buttons, etc.
– Templates: Use pre-built templates and blocks to speed up the design process.
– Responsive Design: Ensure the design is responsive for mobile and tablet views.
- Adding Content
– Text and Media: Add and format text, images, and videos to each page.
– SEO Optimization: Use SEO best practices, including proper headings, meta descriptions, and alt tags for images.
– Plugins for Extended Functionality: Install and configure necessary plugins (e.g., SEO, security, performance).
- Testing and Optimization
– Cross-Browser Testing: Ensure the website works correctly across different browsers.
– Mobile Testing: Check the website’s responsiveness on various mobile devices.
– Performance Optimization: Optimize images, enable caching, and consider a CDN to improve load times.
- Launching the Website
– Pre-Launch Checklist: Double-check content, functionality, and design.
– Backup: Create a full backup of the website.
– Go Live: Point the domain to the hosting server and make the website live.
- Post-Launch Activities
– Regular Updates: Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated.
– Monitoring: Monitor the website’s performance, security, and uptime.
– Content Updates: Regularly update content and add new blog posts or pages as needed.
– SEO and Analytics: Continuously work on SEO and monitor site traffic using tools like Google Analytics.
Tools and Resources
– WordPress Codex: Official documentation for WordPress.
– Elementor Academy: Tutorials and courses for using Elementor.
– SEO Plugins: Yoast SEO or Rank Math for optimizing your site.
– Security Plugins: Wordfence or Sucuri for securing your site.
– Backup Plugins: UpdraftPlus or BackupBuddy for regular backups.
Tips
– Use a Staging Site: For major updates, use a staging site to test changes before applying them to the live site.
– Stay Updated: Keep up with the latest trends in web design and WordPress development.
By following these steps and utilizing the right tools and resources, you can effectively develop a professional and functional website using WordPress and Elementor.