6 Things Websites for Lawyers Should Always Include
If you are an attorney or tasked with the job of creating a website for a lawyer, then you’re probably wondering which critical components or features your website might need. Lawyers across the country are including the following list of things on their websites, and we highly encourage you to consider doing the same!
Consider the following six things websites for lawyers should always include:
Spell out your legal services and focus
Websites for lawyers should clearly state which services they provide and what their focus is. Be sure to include standard and specialized services, so that prospective clients can get a full picture of the legal help available. For example, you might include legal specialties in family law, estate planning, tax law, litigation, criminal law, corporate law, among others.
Remember, people, come from all walks of life. Try to keep service descriptions in simple terms so that all your clients can understand your service and area of expertise.
Practice information tells more about the lawyers in your firm
Websites for lawyers generally include extensive information about the history of the practice, including the founders, partners, and associates.
Do not skip the “About Us” section that will include biographical information about each lawyer who practices with the firm and their area of focus. Smaller firms may have just one area of practice, or several lawyers may practice together with different specialties.
An About Us or Our Team page is a great way to build credibility for your firm partners and employees.
Testimonials give social proof
Perhaps the greatest demonstration of your authority and credibility comes in the form of testimonials or reviews. Websites for lawyers commonly include a page on their website dedicated to testimonials that clients share. As expected, you should always seek permission before publishing a testimonial on your website.
You can also use outside sources of reviews for your firm, such as Google Business Profile, that point back to your website. And you can add reviews posted to these public sites and add them to your website’s testimonial page, too. Don’t miss the chance to display your strongest testimonials on your website!
Pro tip: Reviews that include a customer’s photo and title or even a video testimonial can be very impactful. Just a few can go a long way.
Take advantage of your blog to educate customers
Websites for lawyers should aim to strongly establish authority and credibility, and contributing to a blog can be another way to educate current and prospective clients. Properly-referenced texts can explain legal terminology, give insight on what client should know about legal issues, and even how legal rulings may be affecting clients’ interests.
Regularly adding helpful, educational content that adds value can help individuals better understand how the legal expertise can help them when they most need it for a real estate investment, retirement planning, or mediating a dispute. This type of content can also be very helpful to improve search engine optimization (SEO).
Amplify your content with case studies
A case studies section offers a great opportunity to show prospective clients what kind of cases you’ve been taking on and winning.
Considering client confidentiality, you can post a synopsis of each case. Without using names or specific information, you can furnish settlement numbers and more to demonstrate your expertise.
Gather leads from your website
Make sure you build-in ways to gather leads from your website using forms or encouraging newsletter subscriptions. On your “Contact Us” you can create a form that is simple for a prospective customer to fill out that will send you or someone you designate a way for someone to express interest.
Of course, on your “Contact Us” page, you can share your office hours and the best way for clients to get in touch, whether you have someone on call 24 hours or not.
Are You a Lawyer In Need of a New Website?
If you need a website for a legal practice, the intricacies of building a concise, effective website for a lawyer can present different challenges. The keys to creating highly-effective websites for lawyers are to do plenty of research, evaluate what competitors are doing, and include each of the six elements listed above to your website. By delivering quality, specialized content, you convey the message that you are a highly professional, leading lawyer in your area.
If you need a website for your legal practice, contact us at our Alexandria, Virginia office for a free consultation. Our expert team has built numerous websites for lawyers in the Washington, DC Metro Area and beyond and would welcome your inquiry.