WordPress is a free and popular software that is used by bloggers, businesses, non-profits, and news platforms. Not surprisingly, more law firms are using WordPress for their websites and blogs. WordPress users can mold this general purpose system to suit their needs by adding components called plugins, which are helpful “add-ons.” WordPress has more than 50,000 plugins, and they allow the user to add specific functions to their website. Plugins are plentiful, but which ones are the best WordPress plugins for lawyers? There are pros and cons to plugins, plus more to know about which ones are ideal for improving the functionality of your law firm’s website.
About Plugins
Just like a phone app, plugins allow you to do more with your WordPress website. Plugins add value to a website in different ways, and their basic uses fall into the following categories:
- Site analytics
- Site performance
- Security and backup
- SEO
- Lead generation
- Comment management
- Social sharing
Because many plugins are free, users are tempted to add more than they need, and this can lead to security issues and bogged down websites. So, it is important to choose safe and trusted plugins with these questions in mind:
- What are the ratings? A 5-star plugin rating is best, but if it falls below this, look at the reviews for obvious red flags.
- When was the plugin updated last? If the plugin was updated more than 6 months ago, the plugin could present a problem.
- Is the plugin free or licensed? If it is a paid plugin from a reputable creator, it may be updated more consistently and have a better support team.
11 Amazing Plugins for Law Firm Websites
Choosing the right plugins which are best suited to your law firm’s website may seem overwhelming. So, to help you get started, here is a list of eleven key WordPress plugins for lawyers.
Yoast SEO
Yoast SEO is one of the most popular plugins for marketing, allowing website creators to add meta descriptions and required title tags to web pages. If well-crafted, these SEO components can help your law firm website reach higher rankings. A meta description is like a brief, persuasive sales pitch and may ultimately be an essential part of a searcher’s decision to click on your site or not.
Google Analytics
Google Analytics is a free, powerful tool that tracks data gathered from your website visitors. This plugin can track how a visitor landed on your site, whether it was a clicked link from a search engine, an email, or a social media platform. It also tracks which pages visitors view the most, which links they clicked, and much more. All of this data is crucial for determining how to alter and improve your law firm’s website, to maximize traffic, and produce higher quality leads.
Disqus Comments
This free or cost upgrade plugin is a choice feature for a law blog, because after your visitors read your articles, they may have questions. Disqus manages your reader comments section and also helps out by minimizing spam.
OptinMonster
Building an email list is a critical marketing strategy, and OptinMonster can help. This plugin collects emails from your website or blog visitors through a popup email box. Overdoing popups is not a great idea, but they do increase signups, and you can tweak the settings as you wish. This plugin integrates with more email marketing services than most other services, and costs for OptinMonster vary.
Shareaholic
Social media use for law firms is growing, and Shareaholic is a simple way to assist any law firm in their efforts. The Shareaholic plugin helps you post links on your social media platforms, so you can engage with your target audience more easily. You can tailor Shareaholic to your needs, and the cost is free.
Booking Calendar
Of all the WordPress plugins for lawyers, the booking calendar may be one of the most ideal. This simple plugin acts as a virtual assistant, encouraging your website visitors to set up a consultation. You are notified when someone books an appointment, and you have the option to accept or decline consultation requests. If synched with Google calendar, the Booking Calendar can also import any special events. The Booking Calendar runs free unless you desire the premium level functionality, which may not be necessary for smaller law firms.
WP Customer Reviews
WordPress Customer Reviews plugin is a simple way to gather reviews from your clients, and post them on your law firm’s website. The cost for this plugin is free, and you can moderate each review and filter out any you do not wish to display. Because more people are using past client reviews to influence which attorney they choose to hire, earning positive customer reviews is highly important. WP Customer Reviews makes it easier for law firms to use customer reviews to establish their credibility.
CallRail
The CallRail plugin allows your law firm to track the calls and contact forms that come in from your website. CallRail essentially creates unique phone numbers for each traffic source, serving as a kind of code to tell you where the contact originated. CallRail lets your law firm track the location of the call, the duration and time. This plugin can help you see where most of your traffic comes from, and if any ad campaigns are proving effective. Prices for CallRail vary, depending on various options.
Strong Testimonials
The best referral is happy client feedback, and Strong Testimonials makes this easier. This free or upgraded paid plugin allows website administrators to display testimonials on the website. It can also organize reviews, post videos, and display photos in a variety of different formats. Customers start by filling out a customized form, and Strong Testimonials displays their testimonials on your website.
SecuPress
Your law firm most likely carries sensitive information that must be protected for your clients, and SecuPress can help you secure it. The SecuPress plugin offers firewall and security alerts, and blocks suspicious activity. It can protect security keys, block harmful bots, and then send security reports to your email. Free for the basic package, SecuPress is another advantageous WordPress plugin for lawyers.
Lexicata
The Lexicata plugin can help your law firm discover and engage with leads. This tool can track prospective clients through a form builder, lead tracker, automated emails, and e-sign documents. Your website administrator can use Lexicata’s data to discover how leads are arriving and which marketing methods are most effective to your unique audience. Pricing options vary.
This Week’s Digital Marketing Action Steps:
Consider Looking At the Plug-Ins That Would Help Your Law Firm’s Website: Whether you need add-ons to engage with social media or improve your SEO efforts, the plugin choices for WordPress are endless. The above series of WordPress plugins for lawyers is only a short list of all of the plugins available for your law firm’s WordPress website. Consider taking the time to look at what other plug-ins can help you gain more traffic and clients.
