A website is integral to your law firm's online presence. Your ideal clients use websites every day to find solutions to their problems. Without an optimized law firm website, you miss out on the chance to reach those potential clients.
However, the prospect of choosing the right tools to build a law firm website may seem overwhelming.
Many lawyers are attracted to the idea of using a simple DIY website builder to get started quickly. The bad news is that most website builders fall short of a law firm's needs.
While these simple tools can be tempting, they often lack the necessary options for a high-performing website that effectively competes in the marketplace and attracts new clients. In contrast, a content management system (CMS) is typically a better choice for law firms aiming to build a site that effectively showcases their legal services.
Understanding Page Builders vs. Content Management Systems (CMS)
What makes for a great law firm website design?
First of all, when it comes to building your law firm website, it's important to differentiate between various types of tools, particularly page builders and CMS platforms.
Page Builders
Page Builders (like Elementor, Divi, and the Gutenberg block editor) enhance the design and layout of individual web pages, allowing for a visually-driven design process.
Designed for use primarily within a CMS like WordPress, these tools enable users to create and customize their pages using drag-and-drop interfaces. They provide a blend of creative freedom and functional integration, meaning you can achieve a tailored design while still leveraging the robust content management capabilities of the platform.
- Elementor and Divi are highly popular page builders offering extensive design features, pre-designed templates, and a vast library of widgets that allow law firms to create highly customized pages. They are intuitive enough for non-technical users but also powerful enough for those wanting to explore advanced design options.
- Gutenberg is the native block editor for WordPress, providing a more streamlined and integrated page-building experience right within the CMS. It allows users to create content in a block-based format, where each piece of content—such as paragraphs, images, and videos—can be manipulated independently. It’s user-friendly and provides a solid foundation for many users, though it may not offer the same depth of design control as dedicated builders like Elementor or Divi.
Website Builders
Website Builders like Squarespace and Wix are all-in-one platforms that combine hosting, design, and CMS functionalities into a single package. These builders are user-friendly and require no coding knowledge. They offer a range of templates and drag-and-drop features, enabling users to create websites quickly. However, they often impose limitations on functionality, SEO capabilities, and customization options compared to a dedicated CMS with page builders.
Key Differences
In terms of content management systems, WordPress.org is the most common. More than 43% of the Internet is built on WordPress. Because it's so widespread, there's tons of support and functionality for the platform.
Most website builders do not offer the same capabilities as WordPress CMS. They're easy to use but severely limited after you've built your site.
Here are some of the things you should consider when choosing a CMS and page builder configuration.
Customization
- Page Builders (Elementor, Divi, Gutenberg): Focused on enhancing design aspects; they provide a rich set of tools for aesthetic customization while still leveraging the robust content management features of WordPress.
- Website Builders (Squarespace, Wix): Typically limit customization options due to their template-based structure. While intuitive, these platforms may restrict advanced functionalities and flexibility.
Ease of Use
- Page Builders: Designed to be user-friendly and accessible, making them suitable for users who may not have extensive technical backgrounds. Gutenberg, in particular, simplifies the experience by integrating directly with WordPress.
- Website Builders: Built for complete ease of use with minimal technical know-how, they are ideal for users looking to create and launch a site quickly without extensive customization.
Integration
- Page Builders: Operate as extensions within a CMS like WordPress, allowing users to combine robust content management with enhanced design capabilities.
- Website Builders: Function independently, providing hosting and design within a single platform. While they may incorporate some integration options, they generally restrict users to the built-in capabilities of their systems.
Ownership and Control
- Page Builders: Allow users to maintain full ownership of their content since they work within a CMS, facilitating migration to other hosting environments when necessary.
- Website Builders: Ownership can be more limited, as users are often tied to the platform's hosting solutions and may face barriers if they wish to switch providers later.
Scalability
- Page Builders: Highly scalable alongside a strong CMS like WordPress, making them ideal for law firms aiming to expand their online presence and functionality over time.
- Website Builders: Generally best suited for small to medium-sized websites; they may struggle with high traffic volumes or complex functionalities when compared to a CMS powered by page builders.
So, while page builders like Elementor, Divi, and Gutenberg provide enhanced design capabilities within platforms like WordPress, they retain the extensive content management functions of a CMS.
All-in-one website builders like Squarespace and Wix simplify the process significantly, but they often come with limitations regarding customization, ownership, and scalability.
For law firms looking to establish a comprehensive online presence that allows for both attractive design and effective content management, opting for a CMS with a robust page builder is typically the best path forward.
Should Lawyers Use a Website Builder?
In almost every case, using WordPress is better than trying to build your site in a website builder. Using WordPress may take some additional time or outsourcing, but this is better for you in the long run.
Simple page builders are easy to use, but they make it more difficult for you to market your law firm in the future. It can also be challenging to move your law website from a website builder over to WordPress in the future.
Page builders such as Squarespace and Wix are not as flexible as WordPress. This means you will not be able to optimize or tweak for law firm SEO in the future.
Best Option for Law Firm Website Design: WordPress CMS + Gutenberg Page Builder
In our opinion, the best option for your law firm website is WordPress CMS with Gutenberg page builder. WordPress is a free and open-source CMS platform used by an incredible number of websites. Because the platform is in such wide use, there's a ton of support and tools for it.
The WordPress CMS refers to the self-hosted WordPress.org rather than WordPress.com. Many people get this mixed up when they start.
WordPress.com may allow you to launch a site quickly, but it is a paid platform with fewer options. WordPress.org allows you to access the customization options and plugins a law firm website needs. It's also free to use, meaning you only pay to host your WordPress.org website.
WordPress is not a page builder, but it does come with a pre-installed page-building plugin. The Gutenberg plugin lets you create outstanding layouts for the pages on your site.
Why We Recommend this Configuration
We recommend using the Gutenberg Block Editor because:
- The WordPress team designed and optimized Gutenberg specifically for the platform
- You're less likely to encounter bugs than with 3rd party plugin options
- Pages built with Gutenberg load quickly and result in a fast site
- It's free
With Gutenberg, you can edit your pages and check out a live preview in a new tab to verify the edits you've made. There are blocks for common elements such as text headings, galleries, buttons, and more.
There are also thousands of professional website design templates available for WordPress. You can use these on your site to get a quick start. They're fully customizable, so you can modify them to fit your aesthetics with the help of a designer if need be.
Because of WordPress's wide adoption, there's also a massive plugin library. This means you can leverage many features and customization options you wouldn't have in a DIY website builder.
If you're considering WordPress, you may also want some inspiration for your new site design. Check out our guides to the best law firm websites, the best personal injury websites, and the best solo attorney websites.
Other Website Builder and Page Builder Options
If you're not convinced that WordPress is the right CMS for your law firm, there are other options out there.
Below are a few alternate options. We don't recommend using these, but it's a good idea to know what's available. We recommend something that can grow with your firm rather than working for a short time before you have to throw it out and start over.
If you build your website as something basic on Wix but later decide you want more advanced functionality like interactive forms, you'd have to move everything over to a new website builder.
Webflow
If you are choosing not to use WordPress, Webflow is another option. This is an all-in-one page builder built from the ground up with the performance of the website in mind.
Unlike other website builders, this means you can make SEO and technical optimizations on your website. Sites built with Webflow can rank well on search engines and perform well for visitors.
Trying to learn to do something on Webflow or to add further personalization is easy. Webflow's academy and detailed tutorials can walk you through the entire platform.
While there are many benefits to using Webflow, the way it handles blog post content feels like an afterthought. It also does not provide the streamlined experience of WordPress.
Webflow is best for building incredible static pages, such as your practice area pages. In addition, it has fewer plugins than WordPress, though the library is growing.
Elementor
Elementor is a popular WordPress page builder plugin celebrated for its powerful, user-friendly capabilities. It allows users to create stunning websites without needing to write code (although you can also add custom CSS for increased functionality.) Its drag-and-drop website editor makes web design accessible, enabling users to visualize their site layout easily while incorporating various widgets and templates.
One of Elementor's standout features is its extensive library, which boasts hundreds of professionally designed templates and up to 107 customizable widgets. This flexibility allows users to effortlessly enhance their website’s functionality and style.
While Elementor excels in many areas, it does have some drawbacks. The interface can become complex at times, especially for complete beginners. Furthermore, utilizing advanced features often requires a premium plan, which may be costly for smaller projects. It’s worth noting that while Elementor provides a robust set of tools, excessive use can lead to slower page load times due to increased HTTP requests.
Overall, Elementor is a powerful tool for both novices and experienced users looking to build visually appealing and responsive law firm websites. However, you'll need to pay close attention to both your hosting environment and SEO best practices to make sure your website's speed stays top-notch.
Wix
Wix is a very simple tool for building a website, but for that reason doesn't offer as much support or personalization for lawyers.
The pricing and built-in templates make this tempting for lawyers building their law firm's website for the first time. Unfortunately, most of these sites don't look professional when published, and there are also many limitations to what these templates can do.
Other issues with Wix include:
- Slow page loading
- Lack of analytics tools
- You can't switch templates once you launch
All in all, the phrase "you get what you pay for" applies to Wix. You might end up having to pay someone to move you over to another host or CMS in the future if you can't deal with the downsides.
Squarespace
Squarespace has over 140 professional templates available. This may make it appealing for a lawyer who doesn't want to spend time customizing every aspect of their site.
The blogging feature on Squarespace is better than most competitors in its class. Plans are affordable at $16/month, but the platform doesn't allow as much personalization as other website builders.
Some companies who built their site on Squarespace report usability concerns, too, so you can expect a learning curve. Squarespace also falls short on backup and restore options and depth of navigation.
Clio Grow
Legal practice management software company Clio offers its own website builder for attorneys. In addition to its software options and marketing services, Clio includes this option as an add-on to some of its plans.
Publishing your law firm's website with Clio is easy, but that may be where the benefits end. It's probably not robust enough for ongoing law firm marketing needs.
The customization options are limited here. You can choose some custom colors and images and add your own copy, but there aren't many other options. This may make it difficult for lawyers on this platform to stand out in a crowded market.
On the plus side, the user experience on these sites is good. You can create contact forms that hook directly into your client intake system. But without options for search engine optimization and technical fixes, you may not get many visitors to fill those forms out.
LawLytics
LawLytics is a DIY website builder specifically for the legal industry. Despite the fact that it caters to attorneys, there are some drawbacks.
The first thing you should know is that you will not own your LawLytics website. That's a huge problem if you ever want to use a different service. If you want to transfer your website, you're guaranteed to start from scratch.
The membership pricing for LawLytics is $200/month. That does not include your initial setup fee. Setup fees vary based on whether you'll be migrating your law firm's website. The membership comes with a responsive and hosted website and a dedicated support team.
If you need to make your own edits from time to time, you can add things like navigational titles, sidebars, and page titles on your own. You can also quickly upload your own videos, images, links, and forms to your attorney website.
Much like Clio, LawLytics sites limit the things you can do to stand out from other firms. If you decide you want to make major changes to your LawLytics site, you may not be able to do so.
Create a Professional Law Firm Website
If it's time for you to invest in a custom law firm website, look for an experienced partner to help you.
At Rankings.io, we have extensive experience building modern, high-performing websites for law firms. We can also work with you to develop your law firm marketing strategy. Combining these elements will put you in the best position to grow your law firm with new ideal clients.
Contact us today to see how a modern and optimized law firm website can help you meet your goals.
