Time For A Website Redesign?

Is it time to give your website a refresh?

A blown light bulb, the tires on your car, a song you hate plays on your radio … sometimes it’s easy to tell when something needs to be changed.

That’s not always the case for your digital presence, though, especially for lawyers who, too often, can be so busy representing their clients that they just don’t have the time to step back and think about their firm’s website.

Similar to so many other sectors, the legal industry is experiencing a seismic shift in the way that it conducts business right now. And, with people using search engines to solve just about all their problems, even legal ones, your digital presence has never been more important.

As a result, an update to your website can be crucial to ensure that your firm gets the exposure it deserves and brings in new business. But, how can you tell if your website is in need of a refresh?

Here are a few key questions to ask…

Am I ashamed to send clients to my site?

Be honest. Are you ashamed of your website? Are you embarrassed to even have your domain name on your business cards? This problem is more common than you might think. In fact, because of the rapid pace at which our digital world is evolving, even a website that might have been the envy of your peers just a few years ago could be outdated by today’s standards.

It could be that your content is stale or that your information is just plain out of date. Maybe you’ve even received complaints that your website won’t load properly on all devices and that it’s difficult to navigate. If your website has any of those issues and/or others, it IS vital that you correct all of them. It’s guaranteed that if you’ve noticed usability issues, so have your online visitors.

First impressions count. That’s particularly true of the online world in which people make up their minds within seconds, if not milliseconds, after they land on a website’s home page. Since it’s practically a given that prospective clients’ first interaction with your law firm will likely be online, it’s quite vital that your website looks great, while sending positive messages about your firm and the people who work there. If it doesn’t do that, then it’s definitely time to update your website.

Is my website any good?

Sometimes it’s not even about how your website looks. Indeed, more often than not, customers come to us asking for help because their website simply isn’t performing.

If your website takes an eternity to load or it's not user friendly—ultimately, if your website doesn’t work well, it will have a knock-on effect on your conversions, as your prospects will simply click away to another site, likely one of your competitors, whose website is better optimized.

Is my website slow?

In an age where attention spans are getting shorter, your prospects simply won’t wait around for your site to load. According to data released by Google, 53% of mobile site visitors leave a page that takes longer than three seconds to load. That’s a staggering figure, one that’s made even more alarming, given that the same research shows that more than half of overall web traffic now comes through mobile networks.

In short, speed equals revenue. So, if your website is slow, then it’s time to get it tuned up.

Is my site performing?

Beyond the technical aspects, it’s important to look at whether your website is actually achieving what you want.

The goal of your website is to generate revenue. In order to do that, it needs to encourage potential clients to contact you. There are many different ways this can be achieved. It might be through clear messaging, good design or functionality. It could be through expert content, client testimonials, improved SEO, or even thought leadership. Sometimes, it can be a combination of all those tactics and more.

Whatever the solution may be, if your website isn’t making  your phone ring, then it isn’t performing the way it should—and that means it’s time for a refresh.

Are my competitors outperforming me?

Competition is fierce in the legal sector. As a result, firms need to do everything in their power to stand out from the crowd, and often having a great website is the first way to achieve that.

Whether it’s fair or not, if your competition has a better-designed, better-functioning, and better-optimized website than your firm, they will win over more prospects—even if they can’t hold a candle to your firm’s level of expertise. 

And, it’s not just about keeping up with the Joneses, LLP, either.

Ensuring your website is up to date and in line with modern trends is important, but often it’s that your website needs to outperform your competition. Indeed, your website could look just as good as your competitors’ on the surface, but it’s what’s under the hood that really counts.

So, if you think that your website is being left behind by the competition, then maybe it’s time to pick up the phone and ask for help.

How we can help

Redesigning your website is a big deal. It’s an exciting project that could have huge implications for your law firm. So, it’s important that you choose to partner with an agency that is just as excited about the project as you are. What’s more is that it’s vital that the agency you choose to partner with has the skills to make your law firm’s website successful.

Experience is key. You want to work with an agency that not only has a track record of delivering great websites, but one that also understands the importance of this project to your law firm and how crucial it is to get things right the first time around.

At ICONA, we understand the legal sector better than almost any other agency. We’re a senior level full-service legal marketing agency that boasts the kind of in-depth knowledge that few agencies can claim. We have years of experience working in the legal sector, with a track record for producing great websites on time, on budget, on point, and, most importantly, that convert prospects into clients.

Our experience in legal marketing means that we understand what lawyers and law firms want in their website. We understand and respect the Law Society's Code of Conduct for marketing, but we can push these limits without going over the line, to the benefit of our clients. We also understand that you are running a business; that’s why we take a no-nonsense business-first approach for all of our online marketing projects.

We don’t just think about the short term, either. We’re in this for the long haul, and that means that you can expect to work closely with us, both now and in the future, as we deliver the continual support you need to ensure that your digital marketing machine is running at full capacity.

If you have any questions about redesigning your website, please do get in touch. We’d be happy to help.