Running a law firm involves a lot of attention to detail. Whether you are choosing a letterhead, paying the utilities, or dealing with clients directly, most members of a firm have a lot to do. Yet, in some situations, details are dropped or ignored simply for the sake of time.

Your firm’s domain name should be no such detail. Though it may seem like a small part of your website, your domain name is critical when it comes to your online visibility. If you are looking to generate new clients and business, online visibility is critical.

Here at RizeUp Media, we are dedicated to helping law firms improve their online presence and boost organic growth. This comprehensive guide to your law firm’s domain name can help you maximize the efficacy of the website you already have while still growing your firm’s business. We believe in the power of effective optimization, including optimization of domain names, and we are here to help.

Credibility

One consideration you must have in choosing your domain name is that it can increase or decrease your credibility in the eyes of your clients. For example, a professional domain name can help show users that you chose your domain purposefully. Conversely, using slang terms, contractions, abbreviations, and other jargon may decrease this credibility and make clients view your firm as frivolous or poorly established.

Complexity

The complexity of your domain name matters as well. It is best if your domain is uncomplicated and concise so that clients can remember it offhand rather than referring to a business card or resorting to search engines. This is especially helpful for word-of-mouth referrals. If a client can tell their friend or family member your website domain name right when they need it, there’s a higher chance that the referral will stick.

Complexity also leaves room for error. The more letters, numbers, and symbols that a person needs to type, the more likely they are to make a mistake. This can lead to missed opportunities and lost business.

First Impression

It’s important to understand that your website domain acts as a first impression for your clients. Consider what you want to convey in your business demeanor and whether you aim to be approachable, authoritative, compassionate, etc. You can work these into a domain that gives an appropriate first impression for your business.

SEO and Your Domain Name

Many people don’t realize that they can incorporate search engine optimization (SEO) into their domain name selection. Keywords are essential to SEO, and it is easy to use a powerful keyword inside your domain name. This increases the likelihood that Google or other search engines will rank your website toward the top of the page.

For example, if your domain name ends in /SanFranciscofamilyattorney and someone searches for “San Francisco family attorney,” Google will likely suggest your page as a good match, granted that your other SEO efforts are effective. However, if your domain ends in /SmithandSmithAttorneysatLaw, and someone Googles “San Francisco family attorney,” Google won’t see that your website is a good match.

It is essential to do keyword research before selecting a domain name and discover what words and phrases potential clients often search for.

Watch Your Competition

The last thing you want is a domain name that is optimized but is so close to a competitor’s domain name that you are often confused. Avoid making minor changes to existing domain names to use as your own. As mentioned above, it is easy for users to mistype URLs. You don’t want this small mistake to land them in the waiting room of a competing firm.

Use a Memorable Keyword Phrase

Ultimately, you will want to use a keyword phrase from your Google Analytics account. From the list of common searches, there should be a short phrase that stands out and is unique. This is your best candidate for a high-quality domain name. The optimization will help increase your SEO ranking, while the memorability will help clients remember it. In addition, because it is unique, you won’t inadvertently drive clients to competitors’ sites.

Don’t Forget Other Pages

Many people optimize their landing page’s domain without paying attention to the other links on your website. Remember that every page on your website has its own URL and domain name phrase, so you can optimize your entire website to increase your ranking.

It is important to note that it is advantageous to use various popular keywords for your domain names rather than using the same one for all of them. You can add to the original domain name or create separate optimized tails. Just remember to keep them concise.

For example, if your optimized domain name tail is /OrangeCountyhomicidehelp, you could make your FAQ page’s domain /OrangeCountyhomicidehelp/FAQ, or you could choose something else. For example, /OrangeCountyhomicideFAQ may provide a more concise optimized result.

Do Your Research

Remember, these are only examples. To truly optimize, you need proper keyword research and implementation. This is not a process of guesswork or assumption. Instead, it is based on statistics; keyword placement is using real-world data to your advantage. What you believe potential clients are searching for is likely far from the truth, or at the very least, it is not the complete picture. Therefore, it is essential to be thorough and create a domain name that isn’t based on fantasy.

Contact RizeUp Media

Though domain names seem small and insignificant, they can have an incredible impact on your business and website traffic. Finding the right one takes time and effort but can ultimately help your business grow and thrive.

The RizeUp Media team are experts in optimizing law firm websites and domain names. We understand the incredible pressure of the industry, as well as what it takes to stand out among your peers. Our team has years of experience creating optimized domain names for law firms that are simultaneously concise, memorable, and professional.

If you are ready to implement a new domain name for your firm’s website, or you need SEO, PPC, or other digital marketing services for your firm, we can help. Please contact us online to begin the process.