Is Your Law Firm Website Easy to Use?

August 29, 2007 – 4:00 pm

Imagine this scenario…

You’re standing behind your law firm website, ready and willing to take on a new client. As luck would have it, a potential client is standing in front of your law firm website, ready and willing to hire a competent, qualified attorney like yourself.

But here’s the problem. You have no idea the potential client is there. After all, how could you? They haven’t contacted you yet. So in order to make a connection, they must first enter your law firm website, navigate through the site, like what they find, and then contact you in some fashion.

In online marketing terms, this is referred to as lead generation.

But let’s imagine for a moment that the person cannot use your website. Maybe they find the navigation confusing, or maybe they can’t find your contact info.

What happens then? You guessed it. They’ll leave as quickly as they came. After all, there are plenty of other law firm websites to look at and other attorneys to consider.

Website usability is just as important as website lead generation, because if a person can’t use your website, you have no chance to connect with them. You cannot guide them through the website — they’re on their own. So it’s wise to improve the usability of your law firm’s website in any way possible.

Website Usability Hot Spots

Books have been written on the subject of website usability (books like Don’t Make Me Think). So for now, let’s just cover some usability hot spots. These are areas of your website that can always use improvement.

1. Navigation. Label your navigation in a clear way. Don’t be cute or clever.

2. Home page. Keep your home page clean, inviting and uncluttered.

3. Action paths. Define the actions you want people to take, and present them in a clear way.

4. Calls to action. People will go where they want on your site, but it helps to offer direction.

5. Web conventions. Following web conventions (like making your logo a link to the home page) helps visitors get around by using things they’re familiar with.

Good luck with your website usability, and with your Internet marketing in general.