Before I get too far, remember that this is a critique. In looking at the website I think it's a great start. Definitely better than some I've seen in the past. But it could use a little bit of touching up. And I've got some suggestions that I think are going to help supercharge this site, get it ranking better in Google, and get more phone calls.
I think the best way to do this is to open the site in another window and read this while looking at the site. That way you can see what I'm talking about without having to flip back and forth (and, by the way, if you are working without at least two monitors, you're missing a level of productivity that I bet you didn't even know you could reach). Here we go!
First, the site. Mr. Miller is a jack of all trades in a way. I'm going to pick the one I think he'd like to get off the ground the fastest. I think most of all he wants to be a Greenville estate planning attorney. Click on the link to see the site.
Now, on to the suggestions. When you first see the site, I think we can all agree that it's way too busy. Chris is simply trying to fit too much information on one page. Nothing about the website creates in me any sense that he knows what he's doing about any particular practice area of law. And, further, I have no idea who this person is.
Suggestion number one, to increase this site's law firm internet marketing potential, is to break it up. What do I mean by that? Take this same template, register a domain name for each of the practice areas, and create each site devoted to that practice area. It isn't enough to have the links on the side. It needs to be more than that. So,for example, I'd have the following websites set up:
greenvilleestateplanninglawyer.comI would then make four buttons toward the top of the main site with links to these four sites. The links would say "Estate Planning Lawyer | Family Lawyer | Business Lawyer | Real Estate Lawyer.
greenvillefamilylawyer.com
greenvillebusinesslawyer.com
greenvillerealestatelawyer.com
This is going to to several things. First, it's going to give you a hub for your local search results on maps. That way you'll have one listing that pops up whenever people search for you in the maps section of google. Second, it's going to really super power each of those sites so Google will know what you are doing. In the end, the individual sites will show up in the search results (a greenville estate planning lawyer search would show the greenvilleestateplanninglawyer.com site, not the main site). Third, it's going to let you clean up this main site. That's what I would do first.
Once I did that, I'd fix up the top. Law firm website optimization for clients is easy, but there's definitely a formula to it. Here's what I'd do:
1. I'd take off the "esq" at the top - not necessary.Okay, that's probably enough. Like I said, I hope he doesn't take this the wrong way, because it's all well intentioned. If these changes are made, I'll guarantee both more client conversion and higher ranking on Google. I know it sounds like a lot of work, but this is a marathon, not a sprint. Start making small changes every day and in no time it will be done.
2. I'd probably make it law offices of Christopher L Miller.
3. Under the name of the firm (whether you change it or not), you need a tagline. This is going to explain what you are bringing to the table. Mine is "satisfaction guaranteed." Needs to be short and sweet and express distinctly how you are different from others.
4. I'd put the name of the firm and the tagline where the address and phone numbers are now. Up top I'd put the links to the four practice areas. I'd put the navigation links where the areas of practice are now located.
5. On the right, where the description of the firm is (starting with "A Family...") I'd put a strong call to action with the phone number - BIG. Something like "Free Half Hour Consultation on All Matters. Call Today."
6. I would take off the business hours (why limit when people will call you?). And I'd move the address and all that stuff to the footer (bottom of the page). No prospective client cares about your fax number.
7. In the body text I'd start out by telling people why you are different from everyone else. The text sounds canned. And, I'd change the headline to something else. Make people interested. Don't be like everyone else!
8. If you can figure out how to do it, put the blog in the body under the introductory text (talk in the body about your philosophy, free consultations, and why you are doing what you are doing). Allow it to update automatically when you post a new post on the blog.
9. The seminar schedule is GREAT. Only problem is you don't have any set up. Schedule one, and have it so people have to give you their email address to sign up (link right under the date to sign up). It's a great way to build a marketing list, and then you'll know people are interested.
10. In the left sidebar I'd make a "resources" column with information on things your client needs to know. Some I can think of are "is an LLC important?"; "why do I need a will?"; "what do I need to create a will?"; "important things you need to know about divorce"; and "5 things you must know about buying a house." That will show you know what you're talking about.
11. Stop using your firm name whenever you start sentences. Use "I" or "we" or something that is more personal. Act like you are having a conversation with the person that is reading your website. If you were talking to someone in the elevator and they asked you about the firm would you talk in the 3rd person? No.
Have no idea what I'm going to be talking about next week, but I can guarantee you it will be related to law firm internet marketing. See you then!
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