Many attorneys in private practice want to understand what makes for a successful law firm Website.

Think of your Website like your physical office space. It should be professional looking, well appointed and a reflection of your firm’s culture. It doesn’t need to be the royal palace with diamond chandeliers. But it certainly shouldn’t be a “We did it ourselves, pitched a tent” kind of place either.

It should be easy to find.

Is you office near major highways or the center of town? Is there ample off street parking? Is the building address well lit and visible? In other words, do you make it hard or easy for people to find you?

It’s the same for your Website. Is your Website easy to find? When people search for you in Google do you come up?

It’s a good idea to test this out for yourself. If there are other professional service firms (legal, insurance, medical, consulting) in your area with the same or similar name, you may not be as easy to find as you think.

It should be easy to navigate.

Let’s say your firm is in an multi-floored office building. When someone enters the lobby, is there an “easy to find” directory listing your company? Are the elevators and stairs clearly marked so visitors know where to go? It’s no fun wandering around a building trying to find an office.

It’s the same with your Website. No one wants to wander around your site looking for clues they are in the right place. Like a building directory, do you have a clear statement on your home page identifying this Website as belonging to “Stevens May & Johns, a law firm based in Richmond, Virginia?” Like elevators and stairs, are links to pages within your site clearly marked and easy to follow?

When it comes to creating a successful Website, be clear not clever.

It should be engaging.

If your Website is like your office space, then your Website content is like you and your team. Visitors come to your office to interact with you. It’s the same for your Website.

Give visitors a chance to interact with you. Add a blog. Offer a whitepaper. Invite people to subscribe to your monthly newsletter. Get them involved. Your distinctive, informative and social Internet presence will help generate new opportunities for your law practice.

After all, who wants to visit an empty law office?