These are the 10 most important things every barristers’ chambers should consider when evaluating their website.

1. Allow people to easily search for barristers.

Solicitors visiting your website must be able to easily search your set’s barristers by name, year of call and practice area in order to give them instant access to the required information. Having a search facility at the centre of the website and importantly on the home page itself is therefore of fundamental importance.

2. Create multiple paths to entry.

Different people use websites in different ways, much like people view newspaper stories in a variety of patterns. It is important to allow choice to cater for everyone with search utilities and cross linking related areas in order to facilitate their quest for information.

3. Make sure that your portrait photography is good.

Usually the first time you will meet the solicitor who is instructing you is in court; their first impression is therefore made on the basis of what they have available to them: in this case the photograph online.

4. Ensure that you exhibit and promote your record.

Inclusion (and regular updating) of both ‘Publications & Articles’ and ‘Recorded Cases’ enable users to rapidly research previous experience and track record. Making their jobs easier can only help.

5. Copy must be short, sharp and to the point.

Reams of text, reminiscent of the papers from a landmark case, will not be comfortably digested by your users. The attention span of online viewers is considerably shorter than with books or hard-copy; it is therefore of tantamount importance to get your message across in as few words as possible.

6. Clear, intuitive navigation.

Ensuring that navigating your website is both clear and simple makes it far easier for people to find what they are looking for quickly and efficiently. Before they give up to find it on another set’s website.

7. Chambers & Partners and The Legal 500.

For many solicitors the websites of these two respected publications now form the starting point of their search for an appropriate barrister. It is therefore absolutely essential that your profiles utilize complimentary, useful and persuasive copy in order to maximize your appeal to them.

8. Appealing and suitable design.

Whilst the ease of use, functionality and facilities of a website are by far and away the most important aspects to get right, in fact design is probably the easiest thing to get right. It’s amazing how many ugly websites there are out there and so this gives you a chance to be different.

9. Google Rankings.

Whilst a solicitor is highly unlikely to instruct a new barrister having searched for them on Google, it is important to appear in the relevant Google results in order to ensure strong brand awareness. More along the lines of sports sponsorship than direct sales this will help you in the long run.

10. Prominent placement of contact information

The number one objective of your website is to encourage potential clients to make contact with you and for them to use your services. It is therefore crucial to include the contact details (including DX) in the header to make this all-important information easy to find when they want it.

The process of choosing your website design agency can be likened to the process of looking for a new relationship.

I know, an ‘out-there’ statement for my first Evo blog but give me a second and follow my thinking…

So, you’re on the hunt for a new web agency, what would you look for and where would you find it?

On the whole people tend to look for similar qualities in an agency as they do in a relationship – intelligence, aptitude, honesty, integrity, passion, ambition and usually the prospect of a long and happy future together!

Intelligence; Essential for making sure your newly developed website or online marketing strategy is built using cutting edge technology to stay ahead of your competitors. Also, if you’re making the investment you want to know that it’s going to last, right?

Honesty; The truth can hurt but sometimes you need to hear it, generally anyone involved from the supplier side can be swayed by the cheque they’re going to receive but an honest agency looking for a long term relationship will have the ability to offer appropriate advice regardless of the associated risks to them.

Passion – Passion for your work and industry is key, it leads to innovative and creative ideas that push boundaries, essential for any agency.

Ambition – Without this you are possibly never going to achieve your best. Most companies need to be pushed to help them maximise their online potential – A good agency will be there to drive you.

Future – A future with your agency is essential to harness all that can be achieved, once you’ve found someone that ticks your boxes then it is important to work with them going forward.

Right, we’ve covered the what, now where do you look?

Talk to your friends and colleagues; surely the easiest way to find a new agency is to go with a company recommended by your friends and colleagues whose ability and service has already been tested. It works the same for dating, the easiest way to find someone you’ll end up liking long term is going to be one that has been pre-vetted and already passed your friends high standards, plus people love matchmaking – it’s human nature.

Check your social networks; Have a look at LinkedIn or Facebook, nearly all of the good agencies will have a presence here, see who catches your eye and then you’ve got the opportunity to see what they’re about and what others think of them. The same applies to dating, you’ve all done it, scan through your friend’s Facebook pages looking for people who capture your gaze and before you know it you’re reading all about them, their favourite books and film quotes. Luckily there may not be quite the same stigma attached to a business ‘poke’!

Post an ad on a website; On here you’ll outline what you’re looking for, a short description of your company and how people can get in touch – if that is not exactly the same as a dating site, I don’t know what is!

Bars and clubs; Much the same as looking for a date there is a chance (albeit slim) that you’ll meet someone completely compatible in a bar or club that works for an agency that could help your company.

So there you have it, some may disagree but for the most part you know it’s a pretty close reflection of what goes on daily, applicable to many business situations.

Remember, just as with looking for a partner it can take a while, can be a daunting task and inevitably you will always upset one or two people along the way. But once you find the perfect match you know that it will be worth every second.

This article was written by Charlie Wale, Business Development Manager at Evolution London.