Too Many Lawyers Don’t Have Websites

Not having a website can cause a firm to miss opportunities.

Most legal clients presume that a lawyer will have a website, indeed they expect most business to have a website. They expect to be able to review essential information about a law firm prior to making contact. If they can’t find this information on the internet they will check out another lawyer who does give them the information they are looking for.

Most large law firms already have a website as they understand that they need to have credibility and generate new clients.

Most law firms that do not have a website are small firms or solo practitioner. Also many older attorneys who for years have relied on referrals from other attorneys, families, friends, and former clients or the Yellow Page or advertisements just don’t feel a need to invest in a website. These activities have worked in the past so why change?

However, times have changed. A website is critical to all law firms for a number of reasons.

• There are many more law firms now then there used to be.
• The Yellow Pages are dead. No one looks for lawyer anymore in the Yellow Pages
• Advertising has gotten a lot more expensive too with many more options making it hard to reach potential clients.
• So referrals seem to be the only real way to get clients. But this has changed too.

70% of potentials clients now try to “check you out” on the internet before making contact even with a referral.

If they can’t find you they will find someone else.

Sure there are now online directories to help clients find a lawyer. The problem is that, like the Florida Bar Association Directory, they only list your name, address, phone number, email address. They also list your website IF YOU HAVE A WEBSITE. Moreover, much of this information is erroneous or out of date too.

With such directories they don’t mention your practice area. They have no cast studies or testimonials. They don’t even offer a map with directions to your office and the don’t give potential clients any reason why they should contact you or another law firm.

You have no control of what information is given about you in these directories – unlike the Yellow Pages, for example you can’t promote your practice to potential clients.

The same goes for Social Media like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter(X), or Printest. You just get a bard bones listing.

Websites are NOT just good for clients to “check you out” they can also generate new business. When a potential client is suddenly faced with a legal problem they may not know who can give them a referral. So the first thing they do is search the Internet.

When a prospective client is evaluating which lawyer to choose for a given portfolio of work, the first thing they likely do is conduct research on the attorney online. If the lawyer cannot be found on their own website, the prospective client needs to cobble information about the lawyer together from other online sources, and this may not be as impactful as the lawyer’s own website.

Moreover, internet traffic is a solid way for lawyers to develop business by itself. This usually requires blogging or other activity, but operating a website can be an important and independent way to expand a practice that is impossible to achieve if a lawyer does not have a website.

Potential clients need to know WHO, WHERE, WHAT, WHY, and How.

WHO – Have they found a lawyer website or just some vague website call Smith &Jones with a pretty image of some beach?

WHERE – Clients need to now right away where the law firm is located and if they can handle a cose in their city.

WHAT – When a client visits a website they need to know what types of cases you can handle. Don’t hide this under a tab called Practice Areas. Mention a problem and solution up front.

WHY – Next a potential client needs to now why they should contact you. Have testimonials, case studies, biographies, articles to build trust and confidence.

HOW. Finally they need to know how they can contact you. Do you offer free consultation? Do you have a phone number, email address, or contact form?

Some lawyer might be hesitant to create a website because they don’t know how to begin. Fortunately, I can do it all for you. I can:

• Obtain a domain
• Get hosting
• Write content including articles (blog posts) to drive traffic
• Develop all the pages
• And even supply photos – although photos of your staff and office would be much better

All you need to supply are:

• Information about how and why you started your firm
• Your practice area names
• Photos of your staff an office
• Case studies if you have them
• Testimonials

And of course you have to pay for everything so How much does all this cost

Some will tell you that you can develop a website yourself only having to pay for hosting. True. However, it will take time (If you bill $200 an hour that is time you are not billing a client when you can pay a web developer $35 to $50 to do it for you – better and in less time) and it will require effor (coding can be complicate and have a steep learning curve).

Think of it this way.

If you website gets you just one or tow new clients IN A YEAR it will more that pay for itself.

Consider starting your website today. Don’t put it off any more.