3:3 “What Law Firm Websites Cost and Why.”
Hey lawyers, this is episode 3 in a 3 part series and today I’m talking about “What Law Firm Websites Should Cost and Why” in 2022.
In the first episode, “What law firms should bother with a website?” I shared a brief history of websites and my weird story of learning SEO.
In episode 2 “What are the Most Valuable Elements for a Law firm Website?” I dug down and shared what actually gets clients and what is a waste of time. This episode is what would make websites more or less expensive and what they cost.
But first a lil’ personal update:
PERSONAL
This week I’m on a screen capture video because my camera got smashed by United Airlines when I went to Kentucky to film Mike Sullivan’s law firm last week.
Apologies for the lower quality! I love video, and if you’re interested in my journey getting a new camera email me! Mary@GoMediaMarketing.com
If you’re interested in learning how to build, host and maintain your own WordPress website, shoot me an email. I’d love to take you through the process if you’re interested. Email me Mary@GoMediaMarketing.com
What do law firm websites cost?
In an article titled “Law Firm Website Design Cost: How Much Should Your Attorney Website Cost?” by [inbound marketing dot com] the short answer written in 2022 is between $5,000 and $50,000 dollars. The article goes on to talk about search optimization and Google Maps listings which is a lot to do with cost. But there’s so much more that I will describe goes into the wide discrepancy of website costs for law firms.
For one thing each state had Bar Rules for Marketing and Advertising to which you must adhere. And it’s not your website developer’s license on the line. So you need to know what’s permissible in your state. Do not forget! But there’s so much more…
But to be completely transparent, you could have a Google Maps listing and no website and you’d have most of what you need to meet clients. This is NOT my recommendation, but it could technically be doable.
There are 5 expenses when it comes to your website:
- Building the framework and design
- Writing the content
- Search Optimizing the Content
- On going hosting, maintenance
- Marketing
What Makes Website More or Less Expensive?
What should it cost to build the framework and design of your website? In our world (where we’ve build hundreds and hundreds if not over a thousand law firm websites)… it could be anywhere from $1,000 for a small website, up to $25,000 for a bigger website.
What goes into this wide discrepancy for pricing?
The price will vary including but not limited to these factors:
- Do you already have a logo and branding?
If you already have a brand and can provide files, this will go quicker and cost less.
- Do you already have a WordPress website?
If your website has up to date WordPress files, it may be easy update the files to a new WordPress platform and create the new design on a new WordPress framework. This will cost less.
- Do you already have Website Hosting?
If you already have hosting for your website, the new developer usually (not always), will want to move your files to their hosting plan to be sure it’s safe, secure and under their control.
- Who will write your content?
If you already have content this makes it easier and cheaper, but you may still need some new written elements to make your website get better results.
Having existing content can make the process cheaper and easier on the developer.
- Who will Search Optimize the Content?
Do you already have someone working on your Google Maps listings and other posting (like Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok and/or YouTube)?
If you already have someone posting regularly with great search optimization some of that talent might work for the content on your website getting your costs down.
- Who is going to Host and Maintain your Website?
I’ve built websites where the hosting and maintenance fell onto the firm. But it’s never a good idea because they don’t tend to do it! Websites break over time and begin to get black listed.
Without paying for hosting and maintenance, you will get the costs way down.
- How Will Your Website Get New Clients? (aka Marketing)
Ongoing search optimization and marketing costs money. This means keeping it hosted and maintained (every time a phone updates, an operating system updates or pretty much anything updates), your website will need maintenance and updates too.
But the cost of marketing will depend on the strategy. Often with us, we build the website, host it, maintain it, answer inquiries, run ad campaigns on all platforms and that will include building separate landing pages.
((Our costs to build and run your website are at the lowest, $5,000 for building the website + low monthly maintenance and hosting only for $129.00 monthly…. all the way up to $20,000 for a website and up to $20,000 monthly for all the campaigns and search optimization.))
Since most agencies that work with law firms hide the ball, I’m not sure what they cost honestly!
RECAP THIS SERIES:
- I outlined 5 (out of many) elements that can make the price of building your website vary greatly.
- Keep in mind websites need ongoing hosting and maintenance which usually costs money.
- Not all law firms will need a website but I do recommend you have one.
- There’s pretty much nothing more valuable to you than Google Maps ranking when it comes to websites.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO NEXT:
If you need help modernizing your website, or building a fresh new website, or you want to learn how to build, host and maintain your own website let me know!
Get my “Google Maps Road to Success” online course if you’re ready to build your online presence. I may take it down at anytime since I’m starting on my own path to build a law firm so get it while it’s around!
Reach out if you’re interested in my camera replacement journey… there’s a lot to know about cameras these days.
My name is Mary Cary and my email is Mary@GoMediaMarketing.com
