I got a lot of positive responses regarding a previous post I wrote called “A Law Firm Website Done Right – A Real World Example”. I want to follow it up with a list of 5 things to consider PRIOR to investing and creating a new website or blog for your law firm.
1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) – This aspect of your website is often overlooked until AFTER your legal website is up and running. The problem is that many of the important aspects of SEO need to be handled ahead of time and integrated with your website or blog. Attempting to properly implement good SEO for your site after the fact can be difficult depending on how your site is structured. Often web site design firms are not SEO specialists. They can make an attractive site, but it may not be optimized and search engine friendly. The time to hire an SEO specialist is DURING your website or blog design and creation, not after the fact.
2. Is The Backend User Friendly For You – Most blog and website software these days is setup in a way that makes it easy for you to update your site or write new posts. This is important because updating your site or blog often is important for developing your online reputation and getting found in search engines. The days of getting ranked while having a static site are over, especially in a field as competitive as the legal industry. You want to make sure that your site is easy to update for you.
3. How Much Support Is Provided For You – This is a big deal when you are investing in a new site or blog. Most times, you get what you pay for. There are plenty of free solutions out there for you and many are excellent depending on how comfortable you are setting things up on your own. However, as is always the case, there are distinct advantages in going with a paid solution even for a simple blog. Writing and maintaining a blog is difficult and doesn’t come naturally to everyone. Having support available for technical aspects as well as marketing aspects can be the difference between success and failure.
4. What Are Your Goals For The Site – I think often times firms invest in a website or blog because they think they have to or because everyone else is doing it. The truth is that you need to consider what your goals are with the investment you are making. Don’t be under the illusion that simply putting up a website or blog will get you found. It isn’t that simple. How do you plan on marketing the site? What is the site’s purpose? Is it purely for information? Are you using it as a pamphlet more or less to show interested, potential clients? Do you simply want to put it on your business card? Do you want to establish yourself as a thought leader in your legal niche? Do you want new clients to find you through the site? All of these factors should be considered when setting up your legal site or blog. The structure of the site, the style, and investments you make towards marketing it will be affected by your answers to the previous questions. Don’t cheat yourself by neglecting to establish your goals for the site ahead of time.
5. How Much Do You Want To Invest In Your Web Marketing? – You wouldn’t be reading this post if you didn’t have an interest in investing in your legal internet marketing. There are so many options out there to choose from ranging in price from free to thousands of dollars. It is best if you consider your goals, prices, and what you want back in return BEFORE you begin searching for a company to provide you a solution. It can be overwhelming to begin your search without thinking about your plan ahead of time. Take the time to do some research and put together a plan of attack prior to speaking with companies offering solutions. This will help narrow down your choices ahead of time and make your search more efficient and effective.
If you are currently looking for a solution for your legal website or blog project, AttorneySync can help. We’d be happy to talk with you about what you are looking for and see if we can help design a solution that will work for your firm. Contact us today for a free consultation on your law firm website or blog project.
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