Has it been a while since you had your law firm’s website built? Are things feeling a little slow and outdated? This may mean it is time for a redesign and an upgrade.
Your law firm’s website plays an important role in attracting potential clients. It is often the first interaction that potential clients have with your law firm and your brand — and first impressions matter. A high-quality website provides potential clients with valuable information that may be applied to their case, and it provides a clear avenue for them to contact your firm and get the legal support they need. These factors, and more, make it even more important that your website looks good, functions smoothly, and is up to date.
But how do you know when it is time to make a change? We have got you covered at Civille with this list of Signs Your Law Firm Website Needs a Redesign.
Contact Civille today to learn more about our custom law firm websites!
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How Do You Know When Your Law Firm Website Needs a Redesign?
Has your law firm’s website had the same design for years? It may be time for a redesign — but it is not always easy to know when a website needs an update. Law firms that monitor their website performance and functionality will find that there are indicators of when it is time to make changes to your website. These indicators can range from key analytics metrics to inconsistent branding, but they all have bearing on the decision to update your website or not.
Here is a better look at the key indicators and signs that it is time for a redesigned website:
Outdated Design and Function
Does your law firm’s website feel old? Are images outdated on your website? When you look at your website next to a modern website does it feel like a Nintendo 64 game compared to an XBox Series X? When your website looks outdated and the navigation is not easy or intuitive, it can hurt the credibility of your law firm, and it is a key sign that your website needs to be redesigned.
Slow Load Times
When you go to a new website and it takes a long time to load, there is a good chance that you will move onto another website — which can be a problem for law firms trying to attract potential clients. The target load time for a website is less than 2 seconds. If your website takes longer than 2-3 seconds to load, it may be time for a redesign. In addition to causing people to leave your website, slow load times can impact SEO ranking for your website.
Not Mobile Friendly
More than 60% of global website traffic comes from mobile devices and if your website is not responsive and mobile friendly, it can have a negative impact on how potential clients view your law firm and interact with your website. It is important to have a website that looks good and functions properly on mobile devices as well as computers or tablets. An outdated mobile website is a good indicator it is time for a redesign.
Low Conversion Rates
The primary purpose of a website is to generate leads and attract potential clients for a law firm, and a low conversion rate is a sign that it may be time to redesign your website. Methods that can be used to improve those conversion rates include clear calls to action, streamlined contact forms, fast load speeds, and key trust signals.
High Bounce Rates and Low Traffic
Website analytics are a good indicator that there could be an underlying issue with your website, and a high bounce rate and low traffic numbers indicate low engagement. These metrics may indicate that it is time to update your law firm’s website. High bounce rates and low traffic numbers can be addressed by implementing relevant content, improving loading speeds, and creating a mobile-friendly design.
Inconsistent Branding
It’s not uncommon for a law firm to change its logo or branding over time and it is important that those elements are consistent across all platforms. When branding is inconsistent on the website and on social media, it can lead to confusion for potential clients, and when branding is inconsistent, it is important to redesign your website.
Security and Compliance Concerns
Security needs to be a key concern for law firms that handle sensitive client information. When a website has not been updated to improve security or compliance with modern regulations, like HIPAA, it is time for a redesign and a security update.
Redesign vs. Refresh: When Is It Time for a Redesign?
What is the difference between a site redesign and site refresh? A redesign is a complete overhaul of the website from the ground up — including site structure, content, and applications that run on the site. A refresh is a quicker update of visuals, images and content. Not sure which your law firm’s website needs?
Here is a better look at a few signs your website made need a redesign rather than a refresh:
- Your law firm has updated or changed its primary practice areas and wants to cater to different clients.
- You have made the decision to move to a different Content Management System and need it integrated into your website.
- It has been more than three years since your last website update. Periodic updates to our website can simplify the redesign process — but if you wait too long, the process becomes more of a challenge.
READ MORE: What Makes a Successful Legal Blog?
Not sure if it is time to update your law firm’s website? This list of Signs Your Law Firm Website Needs a Redesign will help you better understand what to look for when you examine the health of your website and plan ahead for future updates.
Contact Civille today to find out how our custom law firm websites can help your law firm reach more clients and generate more leads!
