Next stage in law firm website design

The look and feel of law firm websites is in for a big change.

With the days of niche experts publishing content on topics ranging from medicine to sports, sophisticated purchasers of legal services will expect to see legal experts publishing content. And they’re going to expect to see that content displayed with lawyer bios and practice groups on law firm websites. With blogs and RSS, there’s no reason for law firms not to get this job done.

And per marketing, PR, and social media expert, John Cass, websites don’t have to stop at that.

As I was chatting with the VP of marketing [for large content management software company] I thought it would be interesting to discuss how to build an effective blog, but also discuss how blogging elements are and will influence the future design of traditional websites. The use of websites to market a company is changing, people are realizing that a website does not have to be a static, rather it is possible to use comment boxes to allow customers and prospects to comment on the context you publish on your website. You can also use other elements of social media technology in a traditional company website. Wiki’s, forums, and digg like functions as a way to generate conversation and interaction with customers.

Law firms tend to be like lemmings with their websites. They follow each other, even if it be over a cliff.

As an innovative lawyer and legal marketing professional start looking outside the legal industry for what other businesses are doing with their websites. Start following those businesses and you’ll shine like a bright star over the tired and old approach of most law firms.