Distinguishing Between Good and Bad Law Websites

Web design is a process that invokes imagination and extreme patience in finding out what combinations work, how to conceptualize what you’re designing and bringing it out to the public. It is part creative, part cleverness that puts a finished product online. Being in the legal profession you know that you want to develop trust with your clientele, and oftentimes that translates to what your website looks like. If you don’t have trust with the public then you’re sunk in a lot of ways. In the legal profession there is a lot of competition out there and you want to have something that makes you stand out - all the while giving the public an appearance that you care and you are there to help them.

Some lawyers think they have enough to stand on their own without a website because of their profession or their reputation. That is far from the truth. If you’re a lawyer who wants to develop a relationship with their clientele and stand out from the rest there are certain things to look for in a good law firm web design (and consequently, a web site designer):

1) Conveys your message to the world. It doesn’t matter what your profession is in this case. Are the graphic vibrant, relevant, and convey what you want to convey? What about the wording? Whether you write the wording or not, it’s still important to have it as meticulously as possible because the world is watching. The next thing you have to consider is the layout of the site. When you scour the Internet, you know what looks good and what doesn’t. It is true anyone can make a website - but that doesn’t translate to making excellent websites. It’s obvious early on what sites are good and which ones aren’t.

2) Marketing your profession to the world. Whether it’s social media marketing or search engine marketing, a good indication that your designer has your best interests in mind are if they have a marketing system in place that will help you through the quagmire of the Internet. It is what separates you from the rest of your competition online, even if you are in different legal fields from everyone else. Your brand is what’s important to your reputation. And in the legal profession, brand and reputation management are critical.

Websites hold a lot of power to them, especially if they are well designed. Many people can have websites done, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re going to be good. There is a particular science and art behind them when it comes to law firm web design. We live in an Internet-heavy world with lots of possibilities. Having a website gets you one step into the direction you need to go.

It is highly competitive, but a good web design is sure to give you great results. For many a website is just a website. But broken down in the eyes of the public it is your business card and main source to draw in your business.