1.5B Smartphone Users Worldwide: Need a Mobile Website?
More and more Internet users are accessing websites on their mobile devices. Will they find your law firm on their iPhone or Android phone?
It's very likely that potential clients will be searching for your firm on their phones these days as mobile Internet users increase. So should lawyers keep up with technology and get a mobile website?
Mobile Internet users have grown 30% in one year to about 1.5 billion users worldwide, according to a 2013 Internet trends study reported by TechCrunch. Mobile usage now comprises about 15% of all Internet traffic. So what do these numbers mean for attorneys and law firms?
Mobile users are an audience attorneys must not ignore. Here are a few basics on what you should know about your mobile website options:
Responsive Design v. Separate Mobile Law Firm Website
What is this the difference, you ask? Google's Mobile Ads Blog helps compare the two approaches.
Separate mobile law firm websites are designed specifically for the mobile user in mind, but they do take a little more work to set up. The visitor to your firm website can be automatically directed to the best site for their device.
A responsive design mobile website is a single website that will adapt to whatever device it is viewed from. When a visitor to your law firm website pulls up your URL on an iPad, it will automatically resize to fit the screen. The beauty of this method is that you, the lawyer, can customize what your visitor will see depending on the device. Your mobile website can be optimized to make certain buttons and areas of your site easy to click.
Which mobile website design you choose will depend on what your law firm and visitors need, but having either one will allow your firm to be more accessible to your potential and current clients.
Engage Your Mobile Users
Just throwing out a mobile website is not going to do it. Just getting visitors to go to your website is a huge deal, but how are can you make it more likely that they'll contact you?
You need to have useful content that interests your mobile visitors. This can be content that they will need on the go such as resources for finding your firm and what practice areas your firm handles. Keep your information easy to read, considering the short attention span a mobile user can have.
Simpler Is Better
You should also be sure your site looks professional and meets users' expectations. A slow-loading website will surely deter many visitors. So will a messy layout. Simple, concise content and a layout that's easy on the eyes will attract your visitors and hopefully keep them interested in your firm.
Mobile web users are growing, and so it only makes sense that law firms should keep up with the trend. Not all law firms have mobile sites, according to the Law Firm Mobile blog, so it is a great marketing tool to be a step ahead of the curve. There are different ways you can create your mobile website, but never forget who your potential visitor is. Criminal law, family law, business or personal injury: Design with your clients in mind.
Related Resources:
- Mobile Web Marketing Can Connect You With More Clients (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Can Attorneys Solicit Clients by Text Message? (FindLaw's Strategist)
- 5 Cheap (or Free) Ways to Market Your Legal Practice (FindLaw's Strategist)
- Product Spotlight: Firmsite Mobile Uses Responsive Design (The Official FindLaw Blog)