In today’s competitive market, having an operational website is essential for any business to remain visible to potential customers. The same goes for small- to mid-sized law firms, as they often rely on a steady stream of new clients who discover their services through online search engines. As a smaller law firm or an attorney in solo practice, prioritizing website design for law firms is a critical component of your overall digital marketing strategy. For instance, you’ll want to ensure that your website is updated regularly in order for it to remain visible to search engine algorithms like Google. Additionally, investing in a law firm website design that prioritizes the user experience maximizes the chances that someone who lands on your website feels welcomed and can locate the information they need with ease.
As you look to tweak your current law firm digital marketing strategy so that you can connect with more of the people or businesses you are hoping to serve, you may wonder whether including a live chat feature is right for you. Moreover, as the prevalence of artificial intelligence (AI) tools becomes all the more prominent, you may wonder whether adding an AI-powered chatbot can handle this task as well as a human agent. This post will explore some of the potential benefits of including a live chat feature into your overall digital marketing strategy for law firms so that you can make more informed decisions with greater confidence.
Key Advantages of Live Chat for Law Firms
First, it’s helpful to put yourself in the position of a potential client. Many people begin the client journey with a question about a legal topic, even if they may not have an immediate need for legal representation. For instance, they may be curious about their estate planning options or wonder whether the car accident they were involved in allows them to file a personal injury lawsuit. Generally speaking, their first step is to type a search query into a search engine like Google to find some basic information about their desired topic. Since many law firms design their websites to appeal to common user search terms, Google’s results will likely include law firms whose content matches the search query, are located in the vicinity of the searcher, and have positive client reviews (signaling to Google that these websites are trustworthy and accurate). Once a searcher clicks through to a website, they will look for the information they’re after. Here’s where the live chat feature comes in—below are some of the potential benefits of having a live chat feature ready to go when someone lands on your law firm’s website.
Welcoming the Site Visitor in a Less Intimidating Way
Sometimes, the person looking for legal information is struggling with a personal issue that feels overwhelming or even embarrassing. They may not feel comfortable talking about this matter in person or over the phone at first, so having the option to type in their questions can put site visitors at ease. A live chat for law firms feature ensures that every visitor is welcomed when they arrive and invited to ask questions or share their thoughts. Although the responses from the live chat will not be detailed or case-specific, they aim to help the site visitor to feel heard and valued. From there, the visitor may decide to move forward with the law firm’s services based on these critical initial impressions.
Convenient and Timely Responses
It can be frustrating for clients to land on a website and have trouble locating the information they’re looking for. With a live chat feature, the visitor can ask a question and receive a fast response that points them in the right direction. Having a live chat feature minimizes the potential for site visitors to click away from your website because they cannot find the answers they need. Instead, they can fire off a question and receive a response within seconds.
More High-Quality Leads
When your law firm sets up a live chat feature, you can customize the screening questions so that you are improving the quality of the leads themselves. For instance, you can set up the live chat feature to ask questions of the site visitors in ways that better determine whether the potential visitor will be a good fit for your law practice. If the visitor provides answers that seem promising, the live chat feature can then encourage the individual to schedule a consultation.
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What About AI-Powered Live Chat Features?
Understandably, cost is a significant factor when it comes to investing in a marketing strategy for law firms. As AI-powered tools become increasingly available, they may offer an attractive option for law firms looking to keep costs reasonable. However, there are limitations to AI-powered live chat tools that you should consider before making your decision. Although AI chatbots are capable of asking questions and responding to site visitors, the primary difference is that these bots often lack the personal touch and empathy of human agents. In some cases, the bot may struggle with the nuances of a site visitor’s question, which can generate tone-deaf or even inappropriate responses. However, as these AI tools continue to evolve at a dizzying pace, their empathy capabilities may grow and adapt as well. It may be worth discussing your law firm’s unique goals and concerns with a knowledgeable digital marketing for law firms specialist so that you can ensure that the strategy you implement best aligns with your vision.
Learn More About Live Chat For Law Firms Today
If you are looking to have your law firm’s website make more of an impact and engage with more of the clients you are hoping to serve, it’s worth discussing your goals with a digital marketing for small law firms expert who can provide you with the personalized guidance you need. As we examine your needs, we may explore the benefits of integrating professional live chat agents into your content marketing strategy so that you can see an uptick in high quality leads.
Does your law firm’s current digital marketing strategy feel stale? Now’s the time to take your content marketing efforts to the next level and finally start securing the tangible benefits you’re after. Give LegalRev a call today at (800) 893-2590 to discuss your goals with a highly experienced digital marketing for law firms specialist.
