Why Every Law Firm Needs to Have an ADA Accessible Website

It is projected that by the end of 2018 there will be a record 10,000 ADA Title III lawsuits filed in federal courts.[1]  Many feel that a large amount of website accessibility lawsuits are fueling this exponential growth.  The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law on July 26, 1990, requiring businesses to provide equal opportunity and access for individuals with disabilities.  Lawsuits across the United States have made it abundantly clear that websites are an integral part of doing business and must also be accessible to all individuals.  While the Department of Justice has sidelined publishing guidelines for what makes a website ADA compliant, most have agreed on the recommendations put forth by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) known as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

 

Now is the Time to Act

On December 26, 2017, the Department of Justice announced the withdrawal of the previously announced Advance Notices of Proposed Rulemaking pertaining to title II and title III of the ADA.  Many had anticipated the publication of rules specific to website accessibility since lawsuits had begun to pop up across the country.  The decision to withdraw any rulemaking on website accessibility meant a huge increase in the number of lawsuits.  Without firm guidance by the DOJ, attorneys have been left to fight it out in court costing tens of thousands of dollars for each lawsuit.

 

Bottom line: If you have a firm website you need to comply with current accessibility guidelines (WCAG), or you could get sued.  The lack of government-issued compliance standards for private business websites will not exempt you from lawsuits.

 

Understanding and Meeting WCAG

Website accessibility boils down to making your website accessible to all users including those that have a physical or mental impairment.  WCAG 2 is broken down into four broad Principles: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (POUR).  There are three levels of compliance: Level A, Level AA, and Level AAA.  All law firm websites should try to achieve Level AA compliance or better. Your website developer should be able to walk you through the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines and how to bring your law firm website into compliance.  You do not have to sacrifice SEO friendly images and videos to make your website accessible.  You just have to follow the guidelines for non-text and time-based media such as providing captions and text alternatives.

Benefits of an Accessible Website

Not only can an accessible website save you from a lawsuit, but it can also bring you more clients, increase your search engine rankings and improve the user interface component of your website for all of your firm’s clients.  One of the key components to come out of website accessibility lawsuits is the unavoidable nexus between the brick-and-mortar storefront and a business’s website.  In Gil v. Winn Dixie Stores, Inc. the court found that the grocery store’s website was inaccessible to the visually impaired and ruled that “where a website is heavily integrated with physical store locations and operates as a gateway to the physical store locations… the website is a service of public accommodation and is covered by the ADA.”

 

If you have a website, all users should be able to use it without interference.  Law firm websites should be able to interface with screen readers such as JAWS and be easily navigable.  Failure to comply with these regulations could cost you tens of thousands.  If your website can be found on Google, you need to make sure that it can be accessed by all potential clients.

 

Getting Started with Website Accessibility

Amicus Media Group prides itself on being at the forefront of ADA accessible websites.  We will work with you to produce a comprehensive ADA policy for your website.  We will help you bring your website into compliance with WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards by running a web accessibility evaluation tool that can determine problem areas.  Accessible design is the now and the future.  Amicus will help your firm stay on top of website accessibility standards to create an enhanced user experience for all potential clients no matter what hurdles they may have.

 

 

This blog post does not contain legal or financial advice. Author and publisher disclaim any and all warranties, liabilities, losses, costs, claims, demands, suits, or actions of any type or nature whatsoever, arising from or any way related to this blog, the use of this blog, and/or any claim that a particular technique or device described in this blog.

 

 

 

[1] https://www.adatitleiii.com/2018/07/website-access-and-other-ada-title-iii-lawsuits-hit-record-numbers/

What Every Attorney Needs to Know About CRM and How to Improve Your Customer’s Experience

Any marketing guru will tell you the importance of Customer Relationship Management (CRM).  In the past, CRM fell into the proverbial alphabet soup of the never-ending digital marketing acronyms for attorneys.  Today, the legal industry has wholeheartedly embraced the importance of CRM and how it can affect customer relations.  Law Firms across the country have adopted technology to help improve customer service, track crucial data and see a larger ROI.

 

What is CRM and Why does it Matter?

CRM is a management system to help a company interact with current and potential new clients.  A CRM compiles information from customers and helps establish and retain communication, encourage better client relationships and improve customer service.  The data collected in your CRM can help you better connect with your customers.  You can use the database to send out email marketing efforts, touch base with past clients, and built loyalty.

One of the most essential features of CRM is the effect it can have on your overall lead retention.  Collecting and tracking all of your lead information can significantly impact your bottom line.  If you aren’t capturing all of your leads, you are inevitably missing opportunities.  Using a CRM to manage all of your leads allows your database of prospects to grow and makes it easier to market.  The more you know about where your leads are coming from and which ones are retaining, the more precise your marketing efforts can be.

 

Using CRM to Achieve Your Acquisition Strategy

CRM is one of the most efficient ways to help you with client acquisition.  A comprehensive database of information on both potential and current clients can tell you things like how they found your firm and their online behavior.  You can use this information to communicate with potential clients at the right time in the right way.  CRM will help you convert potential new clients into paying customers.  The more you know about your market, the better you can market to them and their needs.  Understanding what your ideal client is looking for will help you cater to their specific needs.  CRM collects the data necessary for you to understand your target audience.  It also makes communicating with both potential new clients and current clients quick and efficient.

CRM and the Customer Experience

Today’s consumer has many different expectations than the consumer of a decade ago.  Today’s consumer wants instant gratification and wants to share an experience with the company they do business with.  Customer experience is critical to success.  CRM helps you to understand what your customer wants and how to serve them best.  CRM puts the customer first.  With CRM you can develop a customer-centric marketing strategy.  Consumer data allows you to tailor your communication to your client’s specific needs.  The more data that you have, the better you can serve your client.   Law firms should strive to collect data from current clients and leads at every point of contact or touchpoint.  Identifying which customer touchpoints are successful can be difficult but the more you know about your customer, the easier it will be.

 

What’s next for Law Firm’s and CRM

Traditionally, the legal industry has been slow to adopt new technology.  To the credit of many legal marketing departments and savvy attorneys, CRM seems to have bucked the trend.  Law Firms have adopted CRM more quickly than expected.  Now it’s time to invest in the future.   Artificial Intelligence and machine-learning are the next frontiers.  We have already started to see these advances in technology implemented in firms from coast to coast.  New technology can predict the behavior of customers and target communications based on those predictions.  The possibilities are endless for what this kind of technology can do for law firms and industries across the spectrum.

 

If you would like to learn more about CRM and why it is crucial for your law firm contact Amicus Media Group today.  We strive to bring firms quality cases at less risk.  We can help you understand your clients and market in a specific, cost-effective manner that brings you a more significant ROI.  Contact us today at (888) 700-1088 for a free consultation with one of our acquisition specialists.

 

 

This article does not contain legal or financial advice.  Author and publisher disclaim any and all warranties, liabilities, losses, costs, claims, demands, suits, or actions of any type or nature whatsoever, arising from or any way related to this blog, the use of this blog, and/or any claim that a particular technique or device described in this blog.

How Emotional Appeals are Evolving Legal Marketing Strategies

It should not surprise anyone that emotional appeals to consumers are the latest trend in advertising.  We have seen a considerable shift in how companies connect with viewers.  Consumers want to know the why behind a company, not just information about the product or service.  Advertisements that center around a particular product or service are quickly being faded out in favor of transformational advertising that appeals to a consumer’s feelings or mood.

What is Transformational Advertising?

The American Marketing Association defines transformational advertising as that which “associates product usage with certain feelings, images or meanings that then transform the experience of using the product.”  This type of advertising is often compared with informational advertising or that which “presents factual, usually verifiable, information about the product or product usage.  Transformational advertising looks to offer an experience to the consumer.  This form of advertising is less concentrated on the particular service or product but instead on the overall feeling that the consumer will get when they invest in the company.

Johnson & Johnson uses an emotional appeal to their viewers that is less based on the features of their actual product but more on how consumer’s feel when they use the product.  Other approaches by major corporations include Uber, Facebook and Wells Fargo who have all tried to refocus on the actual brand instead of the individual product or service in light of recent negative press.  Honda’s “Random Acts of Helpfulness” tv and radio commercials are extremely successful at selling an experience that investing in the brand will give you without ever even mentioning the actual product. Industries across the board have used transformational messaging in advertising to develop brand loyalty and deliver the idea of a whole “lifestyle” to their consumer.  Companies have become more experienced focus.  Advertising transcends beyond an individual product and instead shows how that product or service will enhance a particular outcome or experience for the consumer.

How to Build a Successful Transformational Legal Ad

Legal marketing is mainly geared toward transformational advertising.  We are a service industry focused on helping those in need.  Unfortunately, most legal advertising does very little to connect with consumers.  Building a successful transformational legal ad begins with creating an experience.  The focus of the ad should be less on selling the legal service and more on how your practice can help your target audience live a better life.  According to a paper written by Christopher Puto, Duke University and William D. Wells or Needham, Harper and Steers Advertising, Inc. and published by the Association for Consumer Research a transformational advertisement will “make the experience of using the product richer, warmer, more exciting, and/or more enjoyable than that obtained solely from an objective description of the advertised brand.”

The idea is to sell without selling.  You want to create feelings, thoughts, beliefs, emotions, and images that a consumer connects with your brand.  The best examples of transformational advertising are done by companies that are admired.  Start with the principle that “truth builds trust” and stand behind your commitment to the customer.  Be a positive force in the legal industry and use that in your branding to showcase who you are and what you stand for.

Learn More about Transformational Advertising for the Legal Industry

If you are interested in growing your firm, contact Amicus Media Group today for more information.  We have case specialists available to take your call at (888) 700-1088.  Our team of dedicated media managers will help you understand the keys to successful branding and how to build transformational advertisements that genuinely speak to your target audience.  Contact us today for more information about Transforming the Business of Law.

This blog post does not contain legal or financial advice. Author and publisher disclaim any and all warranties, liabilities, losses, costs, claims, demands, suits, or actions of any type or nature whatsoever, arising from or any way related to this blog, the use of this blog, and/or any claim that a particular technique or device described in this blog.

From Business Development to Marketing Technology

2018 is already shaping up to be a game changer for legal marketers.  With the extraordinary reach of digital advertising and the unparalleled availability of data, legal marketers can fine-tune advertising campaigns to get attorneys the most significant return on their investment.  The only problem is that most attorneys do not understand effective marketing and often see it as an unnecessary expense.  As any firm who has seen success through marketing efforts can tell you, this cannot be further from the truth.  The key is understanding what legal marketers are trying to achieve and how you, as an attorney, can be an effective marketer for yourself and your firm.

 

By the end of this article, you should feel empowered to have a real conversation with your marketing company or department.  With a firm grasp of legal marketing basics, you will be able to see the importance of supplying feedback to your marketers so that they can put your dollars to their best use.  Ultimately, this article will show you that effective marketing is invaluable.

 

Start with a plan

The legal industry is more competitive than it has ever been.  If you do not have a marketing strategy, you need one today.  A law firm marketing plan should be all-encompassing and depending on your practice will likely include multiple platforms.  If you haven’t narrowed your practice, consider your niche and your overall brand.  Knowing your niche will help you target your ideal audience and spend your marketing budget wisely.  Remember, legal marketing is more than selling your firm.  Your plan should include a detailed budget, campaign layout and goals for each effort.

 

Business Development

Business development is a hot topic that gets thrown around by industry moguls, but few understand how it plays into legal marketing.  Before you get started on your legal marketing plan, you need to make sure that your law firm is focused on growth.  These ideas should be discussed by the essential members of your firm and should be solidified in writing.  Decide plans for attending conferences, building relationships inside and outside of the firm and how to nurture these ideas into realities.

 

Marketing Platforms

For decades legal advertising was relatively black-and-white.  Most referrals came by word-of-mouth.  Radio and television commercials were reserved for large law firms with seemingly infinite budgets.  Today, the playing field is a bit more level.  Legal marketing can be applied across multiple platforms.  Your law firm marketing plan should include a digital campaign, social media, television and radio advertisements, email communications and print marketing.   Targeted advertising and the ability to market correctly to your ideal client has made it more affordable for small law firms and solo practitioners.  Metrics play a crucial role in targeting your advertising and getting the biggest return on your investment.  The more information you can provide to your marketing team the better they will be able to analyze which campaigns are working and which need improvement.

 

With the advent of smart TVs, metrics are no longer reserved for digital and social media campaigns.  Even television ads can generate feedback on what consumers are watching and how they are responding to specific ads.  This feedback will help you tailor your campaign to target your ideal client.  As with internet advertising, you can use television advertisements to see which campaign viewers are calling from and the time of day that they are most likely to be engaged.

 

Marketing Technology

This new frontier of legal marketing is made possible by technology introduced in the last decade.  The analytics available on the internet and through Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is truly a breakthrough for legal marketers.  This technology not only allows marketing executives to see how specific campaigns are doing but also allows law firms to stay connected to potential and current clients.  Marketing technology will enable you to capitalize on your marketing dollars.   Tracking information from your leads and your conversion rate will result in more signed clients.  Without this technology, you may be wasting time and money on your marketing efforts.

 

This brief introduction to law firm marketing is truly only the beginning.  As an attorney, understanding the why behind the marketing will help you become a helpful asset to your firm’s growth.  The more that you can do to assist your marketing team, whether it’s by providing data, focusing on business development, or generating networking opportunities.

 

 

Learn more about effective marketing tools from Amicus Media Group.  We are a legal marketing company dedicated to helping you grow your firm and acquire quality cases at less risk.  Contact us today for a free consultation.

 

 

This blog post does not contain legal or financial advice. Author and publisher disclaim any and all warranties, liabilities, losses, costs, claims, demands, suits, or actions of any type or nature whatsoever, arising from or any way related to this blog, the use of this blog, and/or any claim that a particular technique or device described in this blog.