We asked our Divorce With Dignity webmaster extraordinaire, PJ Ferguson (Pixelyz Web Services), how important a website is to a divorce legal services business.
He was kind enough to send us his thoughts on this topic, which we’ve included below.
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There are three basic ways how a website can help your business:
- Attract potential clients,
- Educate prospective clients, and
- Convert new clients.
Attract Potential Clients. This is the first part of the marketing process – attracting individuals or businesses that could benefit from the products and services you have to offer. Since online activities have become a normal part of everyday life, it makes sense to have an online presence for your business. A website can work for you 24/7/365 to attract new prospects through proper site design and layout, the strategic use of key words and phrases to establish relevance with search engines, and as a landing place for your networking efforts whether online or in person.
Educate Prospective Clients. Converting potential clients into prospects is the second part of the marketing process. Once someone has found your website, you know 1) they are probably looking for something you have to offer, and 2) you have their attention. Your ideal prospects’ attention is the most invaluable thing you can have. Don’t waste this opportunity, make the most of it. Your website should immediately inform your prospects that you understand exactly what they are searching for and that you can provide the solution to their problem. You should also deliver valuable information about who you are, your business philosophy, your story and what your prospect should do next.
Convert New Clients. Converting prospects into clients is also known as the sales process. The most important part of the sales process is building a relationship of trust. Yes – your site can and should build trust with your visitors! If you have educated your prospects properly and built enough trust with them, they need to know what to do next. Your website should clearly extend the invitation to take the next step. A clear call to action such as, “Contact me,” or “Set an appointment,” will encourage them to get started as soon as they are ready.
If prospects are not ready to commit, your website can be ready for that as well! Prospect retention is still part of the sales process. Prospects may need more information or more time to build trust in your brand, and your website can be set to take care of these people. Updating your website often with new, relevant material will maintain interest, and if prospects do not become clients right away you can invite them to:
- Follow you on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or other relevant social networks
- Join your newsletter
- Follow your blog
- And more!
Being available to prospects allows you to continue sending them valuable information so they keep getting exposure to your brand, business philosophy, activities and calls to action. They also get the opportunity to participate in your community which is important for the human connection your business should be trying to establish. If the information you provide them is consistently valuable, you will help them become ready and they are more likely to become clients.
The True Power of the Web
True, the web makes information available 24/7 and worldwide, but the power of a good website is that it exponentializes your efforts. Okay, so exponentialize is not technically a word, but it is the best way to describe how a website allows you to do work once and benefit from that work again and again… and again. Also, prospects can access your valuable information when it is convenient for them.
The benefit of exponentialized efforts is the free time it creates for you. For instance, you probably find yourself answering the same questions over and over. A good FAQ’s page can answer questions for people without requiring your precious and valuable time. That way, when prospects contact you, you can jump right in to the truly meaningful conversations.
A website is an indispensable commodity for our time. A good website will help you strengthen and grow your business which means you can achieve your business and personal goals even faster. So ask yourself – What do you really want out of life? How can your website help you make that a reality?
Pixelyz Web Services was started by PJ Ferguson in 2007 with the intent to make the online world simple and clear for people. Pixelyz Web Services helps people develop a website that works for their business allowing them to focus on what they are really passionate about in life.
If you are thinking about starting your own divorce legal services business, or adding a divorce services component to your existing legal practice, we invite you to consider becoming a Divorce With Dignity affiliate owner. One of the benefits of joining our network of divorce facilitators is having your own personalized webpage on our Divorce With Dignity website. Keywords on our webpages and blog articles will show up in search engine inquiries, directing people looking for divorce services to our site and referring those in your area to your personal webpage. To learn more about the many benefits of joining our network, please visit our Peaceful Divorce Business website.
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The author of this blog is not an attorney and the information contained in these blogs should not be considered legal advice. The information provided here is based on the experience of the author and some of her clients whose actual names are not mentioned. Do not hesitate to seek the advice of an attorney if you have any legal questions.
