Quick wins for a better performing law firm website

By Dan Hodges, Head of Account Management, Conscious Solutions

It’s hopefully no surprise to you that a well-structured, user-friendly, and informative website is key for law firm success. Yes, I know we are slightly biased, but think about it. When you are looking for a product or service, where are you heading? Your first point of call is likely to be a Google search, followed by a scroll through a company’s online presence. So, if your law firm’s website isn’t up to the job, you could be losing potential clients at that point.

Why is a law firm website important?

A well-designed website can effectively communicate your firm's values, expertise, and unique selling propositions, giving potential clients a compelling reason to choose your services. So having a professionally designed website should be high up on your list of priorities.

What should my law firm website include?

To create an effective law firm website, there are several key features that you should consider. Firstly, your website should have a clean and professional design that reflects your brand identity. A cluttered or confusing website can confuse visitors and make it difficult for them to find the information they need. Use a clean layout, consistent colour scheme (that passes an accessibility test), and distinctive high-quality images to create a visually appealing website that aligns with your firm's image.

Secondly, your website should be easy to navigate. Users should be able to find the information they need quickly and effortlessly. Use clear and intuitive menus, logical page hierarchy, and prominent search functionality to enhance the user experience. We also recommend including a drop-down menu signposting  all your website content.

Lastly, your website should be optimised for lead generation in the form of prominent call-to-action buttons throughout your website. You could encourage visitors to contact your firm by filling in a form or picking up the phone or schedule a call. Offer valuable resources such as calculators, infographics, webinars, or legal guides in exchange for visitors' contact information, allowing you to nurture leads and convert them into clients.

What are the best practices of creating a law firm website?

Your website is there to build trust and credibility with your clients. It therefore should be designed in a way that reflects your firm and shows your firm in the best light. If you want to be taken seriously, you should take your website seriously. But there are also some technical best practices that need to be considered too. These include: 

• Mobile Responsiveness - with the continued growth in use of smartphones and tablets, it is crucial that your website looks and functions well on all devices. A mobile-friendly website not only improves the user experience for mobile users but also boosts your search engine rankings, as search engines prioritise mobile-friendly websites in their results.
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) – this helps to increase your website's visibility in search engine results. Research relevant keywords and incorporate them naturally throughout your website's content, including page titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Create informative and engaging content that addresses common legal questions or concerns, positioning your firm as a trusted authority in your practice areas.
• Keep your website updated - this not only helps with your SEO efforts but also demonstrates to visitors that your firm is active and up to date. You could do this in the form of blogs or social media threads embedded on your site.

You can have a look at some of our website designs here: https://www.conscious.co.uk/site/our-clients/portfolio/

About Conscious Solutions

If you need support creating a client focused website, they have over 19 years of experience in building websites for law firms to help them become more successful online. Contact Conscious Solutions at sales@conscious.co.uk or 0117 325 0200.

Additionally, to get client or employee feedback on how your website is currently performing, have a look at their Law League service. Law League has client and staff feedback surveys which identify the true strengths and weaknesses of your firm whilst benchmarking your performance against others.

Dan Hodges is the Head of Account Management at Conscious Solutions who help law firms to become more successful online with their 19 years of experience of digital marketing in the legal sector. Dan has over 16 years of experience in the legal sector ranging from business development to practice management and strategic planning. Dan has worked with over 300 law firms helping them get a better understanding of how they can become more successful online.