You’re driving along the highway when you spot a string of billboards advertising various law firms. How many seconds would you spend looking at each one?
If you’re anything like the average driver, you’ll probably only lay eyes on it for 3 seconds.
Now picture that advertisement in a different format. Replace the highway with a screen and your billboard with a website.
Imagine the endless amount of time one could spend browsing through the many options. What’s more is that this time the user is intentionally looking for a law firm, as opposed to driving past a billboard and giving it a cursory glance.
There is no doubt that having a website is an essential part of any law firm’s marketing strategy. However, is simply having a website enough? The answer is no.
When we talk about law firm website design, we often focus on aesthetics and information, but is that enough to convert website visitors to actual clients? Again, no.
How can a law firm ensure that the design sensibilities as well as the information provided on their website is crafted according to user needs? Enter: User experience design.
What is user experience (UX) design in the first place?
User experience (UX) refers to the overall experience that a user has while interacting with a website or application.UX design is the process of designing products and services that are easy to use, intuitive, and enjoyable for the user.In the case of law firm websites, UX design is crucial to attracting and retaining potential clients.Here are some effective and impactful ways in which EverSpark utilizes legal UX to create law firm websites that go beyond the basics.
User-friendly navigation
One of the most important aspects of law firm UX design is ensuring that the website’s navigation is intuitive and easy to use.Users should be able to quickly find the information they are looking for, such as the firm’s areas of practice, attorney biographies, and contact information.Having a clear and organized navigation system helps potential clients find the information they need, increasing the likelihood that they will contact your firm.
Mobile optimization
In today’s digital age, it is essential that law firm websites are optimized for mobile devices.With more and more users accessing the internet through smartphones and tablets, a website that is not optimized for mobile devices can turn potential clients away.A mobile-friendly website with a responsive design can provide a better user experience and increase the likelihood that potential clients will stay on the website.
Clear and concise content
The content on a law firm website should be clear, concise, and easy to understand. Potential clients should find answers to their questions by navigating menus that use clear, concise language to point them in the right direction.A website that is cluttered with too much text, complex legal jargon, or irrelevant information can be overwhelming and difficult to use.
Visual design
As mentioned earlier, the visual design of a law firm website is also an essential aspect of legal UX. The website should be visually appealing and consistent with the firm’s branding.High-quality images, videos, and graphics can help engage users and make the website more memorable. However, it is important not to go overboard with the design, as this can make the website flashy or distracting.
Speed and performance
A law firm website should load quickly and perform well. Remember the 3-second rule on billboards? Think about a law firm website as a billboard in fast-moving traffic. Slow loading times can frustrate users and increase the likelihood that they will leave.Additionally, a website that crashes or experiences other technical issues can damage the firm’s reputation and credibility. This also means that strong quality assurance checks are imperative.
Think like your user
The heart of good legal UX lies in understanding the users’ needs and concerns. Understanding the purpose behind the law firm’s website, their key target audience and how the user thinks is almost vital when it comes to the design process.UX design is a critical aspect of law firm website design. A website that provides optimized user experience can increase the likelihood that potential clients will stay on the website, contact the firm, and ultimately become clients.By ensuring the website has a user-friendly navigation, mobile-optimized design, clear and concise content and performs well, law firms can create a website that is effective in attracting and retaining potential clients.
Want a law firm website that stands out from the competition? Let EverSpark help you.
At EverSpark Interactive, we keep legal UX at the center of our design process. With a specific focus on law firm marketing, we partner with our clients to customize and craft websites that are optimized on every front – from start to finish. We follow a clear process to build websites that resonate with the values of our clients and their users’ needs. When you feel ready to take your law firm’s website design to the next level, reach out to us. We’re here to partner with you and get the most out of your website.