I know I tend to talk about websites a lot, but it is because they are a critical component to the health of your marketing and business development efforts. Make sure your website accurately reflects who you are and what you do.
Websites are oftentimes the first impression of someone learning about you and your business and how potential clients find out what you do and how you can help them. This is also true for those referred to you because they will head to your website to learn about you before meeting with you.
While having a website is vital, having a website that is outdated, not well thought out, and does not have useful information about what you do, can be worse than having no website at all.
Can you think of a time when you looked up someone’s website you wanted to do business with and it looked old, contained bad grammar, and stock images? Since it is the first impression, this is an indication of what it might be like to do business with you… especially when you are in professional services. Clients want to know who they are hiring is the best person for the job.
If a competitor’s website is clean, informative, and professional and yours is not, that directly reflects what your services may look like, and vice versa. Who would you want to work with based on the first impression?
If your website is outdated and non-responsive as an example, they might be wondering what your technology is like internally when communicating with clients. Do you send documents for signature with DocuSign, or are you still using a fax machine?
Here are 3 tips to start moving your website in the right direction
When was your website last updated? The best practice for a website redesign is every 2 to 3 years. Realistically, if you have not updated your website in 5 years, now would be a suitable time to consider updating it.
Be specific and clear in your message about what you do. Not only should you list the firm’s service areas, but also be sure and connect the dots about which professionals do what at your firm. By including specific details in each bio, it will help the potential client to see who they will be working with and if you provide a service they are looking for. It will also help with your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) efforts and make it easier for you to be found.
Being successful in business means building strong relationships. People want to work with those they know, like, and trust. Does your first impression from your website bio reflect who you really are and what you are about? Be sure to include some information about who you are and what you are into. People want to find a connection with those they work with.
More questions about this? I am happy to see how I can help to make your website informative, modern and a business development tool for your accounting firm, law firm, or financial advisory company. Click here to contact me.
