Why Your Law Firm Needs Web Chat and How to Manage It
Web Chat and Your Law Firm Website
Connect with your clients 24/7, dedicate more time to managing cases, and stay ahead of the competition — these are just 3 benefits of web chat for the legal industry.
Web chat is more than just instant messaging. It is a growth engine. In addition to serving clients, web chat generates leads, increases conversion by up to 40%, and even boosts your SEO. These benefits culminate in more revenue and better brand awareness.
We know you have your hands full serving clients and working to secure the best possible outcome for each case. You might be skeptical about using web chat, believing you will not have time to manage your messages 24/7.
The good news is, you do not need to stay online all the time, provided you choose the right solution. Automation keeps your firm open day and night, ensuring no message is left unread.
Reasons why your law firm needs web chat
Let’s jump right into why law firms need web chat — plus a few tips for choosing the right software and managing it effectively.
Consult with clients anywhere, anytime.
It is no secret that many inexperienced clients are afraid of meeting with lawyers. This phenomenon is so common there is an actual name for it: dikigorosophobia. (Try saying that five times fast!)
Web chat can help alleviate that fear. Instant messaging gives your prospects and clients time and space to articulate their needs. It eliminates hold times and the anxiety of an in-person consultation.
The COVID-19 pandemic forced many lawyers to transition away from face-to-face meetings into a virtual space. This contradicts industry tradition but opens an exciting opportunity for firms looking to pivot permanently.
Boost your SEO.
Having web chat installed on your site won’t magically boost SEO. These benefits are secondary and depend on how you use web chat.
Managing web chat well can increase dwell time, average time-on-page, and the number of recurring visitors on your site. Promoting relevant pages and posts in your conversations is a clever way to decrease your bounce rate.
Let us say you run a personal injury firm. A prospect lands on your site after searching “personal injury lawyers near me” on Google. Your chat window greets them. They submit a question about their personal injury case.
The automated chatbot captures their information and schedules a consultation. Before the conversation ends, an automated closing message encourages them to read relevant blog posts, like “Critical Mistakes to Avoid in a Personal Injury Case“.
Chances are that the new client will spend time reading the post to prepare for their case. Because the client landed on your site from a search results page, your dwell time improves. This metric measures a website’s ability to answer search queries. The longer your dwell time, the more proficient your content is at answering queries.
This strategy not only delivers value to your clients, but it also increases your authority with search engines. And as an added bonus, web chat can boost your conversions up to 40%.
Three Tips for Managing Web Chat for Lawyers
Maybe you are wondering where you will find the time to manage another platform or respond to messages. Fortunately, managing web chat is easier than ever thanks to automation. Here are a few pointers for managing your chats.
Search for a hybrid solution.
There is a reason why we’ve chosen the term “web chat” over “live chat” — because they are not the same. Live, automated, and hybrid chat are three different types of web chat. Hybrid chat combines live and automated chat, giving you more control over your messaging. It works best for busy firms looking to save time and money on managing interactions with clients.
Here is how it works. A website visitor starts a chat. An automated chatbot captures their information and replies automatically to their inquiry. With hybrid chat, you are free to break the automation at any time to speak directly with the client.
Set up notifications.
Even though automation can handle many inquiries, you will want to set up notifications to stay updated on your conversations. During your web chat demo, be sure to ask about notification options and account preferences.
You should choose a solution that allows every staff member at your firm to set up their own text, email, and desktop notifications. These let you watch each conversation unfold on your preferred platform and allow you to join instantly if needed.
Integrate with other platforms.
Generating leads is one of the biggest benefits of web chat for legal. To make work easier for your firm, your chat software should integrate with your CRM to log new leads and simplify your marketing campaigns.
Other useful integrations include Facebook Messenger and Google Analytics. Automate your Facebook messages, manage all your chats in one place, and view your chat data in context to your firm’s marketing goals.
Ready to Discover what Web Chat Can Do for your Firm?
Our web chat solution is tailor-made for the legal industry. Discover which search queries drive users to start a chat on your site with built-in UTM tracking. With no contracts and a flat, affordable monthly fee, you can rest assured there won’t be any unpleasant surprises. Call us for a free demo today to learn how Sundown Legal Marketing Chat can unlock explosive growth for your firm.
