A simple way to stand out in a crowded field

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Look at the typical law firm website.

Boring, isn’t it?

The message is bland. Lacking in personality and energy. Devoid of passion.

It fails to get anyone excited about the solutions offered. Hell, it probably doesn’t even mention solutions (benefits), it probably does what most lawyers’ websites do–provide a list of practice areas and a few bon mots about the attorney.

It’s ineffective. It looks like every other firm’s website. And it is very easy to ignore.

Don’t let this happen to you.

Clients often decide to hire an attorney based on how they feel about them and they make up their minds in the first 60 seconds.

If you want to stand out and get people excited about working with you, you can start by adding a little pizzazz to your website.

Don’t go overboard. Keep it professional. Dignified. Manicured and tailored. But pump some blood into its veins and add some color to its cheeks.

  • Show people the positive side of what you do. Show them how your clients like working with you and are thrilled with the work you do for them.
  • Show them your personal side–your background, your side interests, family, and what you do for fun.
  • Show them the passion you bring to helping your clients–why you do what you do.
  • Show them how your partners and staff love what they do, that your firm is a great place to work.
  • Show them that while you might deal with serious subjects and painful problems, your practice is imbued with a positive spirit, and a productive and happy atmosphere.

Show prospective clients not just how you can help them but that you are passionate about helping them.

Make people feel good about you. Put a little life into your website (and other marketing collateral) and you should see more clients signing up.

You should also feel more excited about coming to work.

How to make your website work for you

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Law firm internet marketing: How one firm is doing it right

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If you want to know how to build your practice online, check out The Murthy Law Firm, which is doing it right. In an interview in the New York Times, Sheela Murthy describes what she did and how she did it.

Murthy describes her website as an online community for immigrants. It has resources for immigrants looking for information and answers to questions.

“How’s business,” she was asked. She answered,

Clients are banging down the door. They throw themselves at our feet asking us to take them on. The feeling is, “If they give this much away for free, what must it be like if you pay them?”

And that, my friends, is how it’s done.

Give people information. Give them resources. Answer their questions. Show them what to do. People are hungry for information. They’ll come looking for it, and appreciate you for providing it. And they will hire you, instead of attorneys who don’t provide this kind of information and resources.

When you visit the Murthy site, don’t feel intimidated by all of the resources you see. She’s been at this a long time. Do be inspired by what she has been able to accomplish and learn from her efforts. And make a decision to start or expand your website.

Then do it. Add something today. Add something else tomorrow or next week. Keep at it and watch your traffic and sign-ups soar.

Will clients bang down your door and throw themselves at your feet? I don’t know. But if they do, I want to see the video.

Law firm internet marketing is taught here.

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