Lawyer Website Redesign: When to Update Your Firm’s Website

In today’s digital age, having a professional and user-friendly website is essential for any business, including law firms. A well-designed website not only establishes credibility and trust with potential clients but also serves as a powerful marketing tool to attract new clients and grow your practice. As the legal industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial to keep your website up-to-date and relevant to your target audience.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance of website redesign for law firms, including when to redesign and how to approach the process. Whether you’re looking to improve your website’s aesthetics, functionality, or user experience, this guide will provide you with the insights and best practices you need to enhance your online presence and stay ahead of the competition.

What’s the difference between a website redesign and a website refresh?

When it comes to improving your website, there are two main approaches you can take: a website redesign or a website refresh. Understanding the differences between these two options is crucial in determining which one is right for your law firm.

A website redesign involves a significant overhaul of the website’s code, design, and functionality. This means that the website will undergo major changes to its layout, visual elements, and structure, with the aim of creating a more modern and effective online presence.

On the other hand, a website refresh involves making smaller and more targeted changes to the existing website. This may include making minor changes to the website’s content, updating images or videos, or making small adjustments to the color palette. A website refresh is ideal for law firms that already have a well-designed website but want to keep it up-to-date and relevant to their audience. It is also a more cost-effective option compared to a full attorney website redesign, as it requires less time and resources to implement.

Both website redesign and website refresh can have a significant impact on your online presence and ultimately, your law firm’s success. The key is to understand what your website needs in order to meet your business goals and to align these changes with your brand and overall marketing strategy. Whether you decide to refresh your website or undergo a full redesign, it’s essential to work with a web designer who understands your business and can create a website that effectively communicates your unique value proposition to potential clients.

When Should I Redesign My Website?

Deciding when to redesign your law firm’s website can be a challenging decision, and the answer may vary depending on your business goals, website performance, and industry trends. However, a general rule of thumb is that your website should be redesigned at least every two years.

This timeline ensures that your website stays current with the latest design trends, technology updates, and user behavior patterns. Moreover, a law firm site redesign can help improve your website’s functionality, user experience, and search engine optimization (SEO), which can ultimately lead to increased traffic, engagement, and conversions.

It’s important to note that the two-year timeline is not set in stone and may vary depending on your specific needs and goals. For instance, if you notice a decline in website traffic or engagement, it may be time to consider a redesign sooner rather than later. Similarly, if you’ve undergone rebranding or significant changes to your business strategy, a lawyer website redesign may be necessary to ensure your website aligns with your new vision and message.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to determine if it’s time for a lawyer website redesign:

How is the website performing with your target audience?

One of the most critical factors to consider when determining whether it’s time for a website redesign is how the website is performing with your target audience. Take a look at your website analytics to see if your website is driving traffic, engagement, and conversions. Are visitors spending time on your site, or are they leaving quickly? Are they finding what they need easily, or are they struggling to navigate your website? If you notice a decline in website performance or poor user experience, it may be time to consider a redesign.

Have you had a brand change?

If your law firm has undergone rebranding or significant changes to your business strategy, it’s essential to ensure that your website aligns with your new messaging and branding. Your website should reflect your brand’s personality, values, and unique value proposition. If your website no longer accurately represents your brand, it’s time for a redesign.

Is the website functioning well for your clients and team?

Your website not only serves as a marketing tool but also as a functional resource for your clients and team members. Your clients rely on your website to access important information and resources, such as contact information, practice areas, and legal guides. Your team members use the website to access internal resources and communicate with clients. If your website is not functioning well for your clients and team, it’s time for a redesign to ensure that your website is user-friendly and functional.

Is your website falling behind your competitors?

Finally, it’s important to keep an eye on your competitors and ensure that your website is keeping up with the latest design and technology trends. If your competitors have updated their website recently, and it’s more modern, user-friendly, and visually appealing than yours, it’s time for a redesign to ensure that you stay competitive in your industry.

How to Have a Successful Lawyer Website Redesign

Now that you’re ready to redesign your website, here are the steps to ensure you do it smoothly and successfully.

Take note of your current performance

Before you start redesigning your website, it’s important to assess its current performance. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track your website’s traffic, bounce rate, and conversion rates. This information will help you identify the areas of your website that need improvement, and will help you track how the new design is doing.

Create goals for the new lawyer website redesign

Before you start designing your new website, you need to establish clear goals. These goals should align with your business objectives and should be measurable. For example, you might want to increase your website’s traffic by 50%, reduce your bounce rate by 20%, or increase your conversion rate by 10%.

Establish your branding

Your website should reflect your brand’s identity. Before you start designing your website, make sure you have a clear understanding of your brand’s personality, values, and messaging. Use your brand’s colors, fonts, and imagery consistently throughout your website.

Research and establish your target audience

To create a website that resonates with your target audience, you need to understand their needs, preferences, and behaviors. You can use tools like Google Analytics, social media insights, and customer surveys to gather this information. Use this information to create user personas that represent your target audience.

Look at the competition

Take a look at your competitors’ websites and identify what works and what doesn’t. Analyze their design, content, and user experience. Use this information to create a website that sets you apart from the competition.

Hire a professional

A successful lawyer website redesign requires a team of professionals. You’ll need a web designer, a developer, and a content creator to ensure that your website is visually appealing, functional, and engaging. Working with a professional team will help you save time and avoid common mistakes.

Other Tips for Your Lawyer Website Redesign

Where you can, keep the same content on pages that are performing well. A sudden loss of content can be devastating. Not only can it lead to a drop in traffic, but it can also hurt your search engine rankings. If you need to remove or change content, make sure to replace it with something of equal or greater value.
Similarly, always try to keep the exact same URLs and domains so as to not drop in rankings. If you do need to change the URL, be sure to use proper redirects. When you change the URL of a page, search engines may see it as a new page, which means you could lose your existing search engine rankings. To prevent this from happening, use proper 301 redirects to ensure that visitors and search engines are directed to the new URL.
Keep your website’s load times in check. A slow website can lead to a high bounce rate and lost leads. Make sure to optimize images and videos, use a content delivery network (CDN), and minify your code to reduce load times.

Redesigning your website is a significant investment, but it’s essential for the growth of your business. By following these steps, you can ensure that your lawyer website redesign is a success. If you would like to work with a professional through the process, be sure to contact our team at Law Firm Sites.