Websites for dummies: build your own website in about an hour
I am still amazed by the number of attorneys who still do not have their own website. In the interest of fixing this problem, I have been kicking around a seminar idea. I think I can walk a complete novice through creating a law firm website from scratch using WordPress.com in about an hour.
The idea would be that webcast viewers could follow along and, in about an hour, have their own law firm website. They would still have to add content, of course, and, if desired, a domain name, but I think I can do it.
What do you think? Would you attend?
5 Comments on “Websites for dummies: build your own website in about an hour”
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I would attend
Good idea. We could possibly host it at the MSBA if need be.
I would consider it. It would have been very useful about two months ago as I was designing my website which I built using Yahoo’s SiteBuilder. Since I am running both a fairly static website, as well as a blog, rochesterfamilylawyer.korotkinlaw.com, it was more convenient for me to have Yahoo host it as a subdomain, but I am thinking about getting away from a static website altogether and possibly just running a blog. WordPress has been pretty easy to use as a basic tool and I can see how it can be easily used to set up a fairly basic website. WordPress is a nice platform, but I am yet to learn about more sophisticated formatting and other features.
One thing to consider is content. I think it is easy to create a website, and cheap (though I spoke to an attorney yesterday who pays more than $1,500 a month to FindLaw to host his website!). But I think what stumps most attorneys is what content to provide on the web site, as well as updating that content. You can have a great looking and cheap website but if the content is limited, out of date or poorly organized, you’d be better off not having a website.
For better or worse, some lawyers are not good marketers and, thankfully, some marketers are not lawyers. If you do this presentation, I’d build in a discussion about specific ideas for content.
Too right. While I can teach people how to build the container, they’ll be on their own for content.
I planned on pointing lawyers to websites with “good” content to give them the general idea, and talking a bit about what sort of content needs to go on a website. But in the end, it’s up to the lawyer to fill the pages (or hire someone to write for them).