Designating an In-house “Webmaster” for Your Firm’s Website

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By Omnizant Team
Law Firm Marketing Agency

Having a robust online presence is no longer a luxury for law firms; it’s a necessity. Your website serves as the front door to your practice, the first glimpse potential clients get into your expertise, services and values. But, managing this digital gateway effectively requires a dedicated individual – your webmaster. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the essential role of a webmaster in law firm website management. We aim to offer insights and practical advice on selecting the right person for the job and ensuring a thriving online presence for your practice.

The Heart of Your Website: The Webmaster

Your law firm’s website isn’t just a digital brochure; it should be treated as a dynamic tool for marketing, communication and building trust. A well-maintained website can attract new clients and establish your firm as a credible source of legal information. 

Choosing Your Webmaster

The first step in effective website management is selecting the right person to be your webmaster. This is the individual who shoulders the responsibility of making updates, improvements and changes to your website. To succeed in this role, your webmaster should not only understand your firm’s values and marketing goals but also have the technical skills needed to navigate the content management system.

Picking the Right Person

Selecting the perfect webmaster can be a make-or-break decision. It’s vital to choose an individual who’s in it for the long haul. High turnover positions, like receptionists or legal assistants, may not be the best candidates for this critical role. When such individuals leave, your firm could face challenges in maintaining your website, potentially leaving it unattended for months as a new employee gets up to speed.

So, who should be your webmaster? The traditional image of a webmaster conjures up an image of a middle-aged individual working with HTML code in a dimly lit office. But times have changed. With user-friendly content management systems at your disposal, a paralegal or attorney who possesses basic internet skills and an understanding of your firm’s marketing goals can seamlessly step into the role.

Key Skills and Responsibilities of Your Webmaster

Your webmaster doesn’t need to be a tech wizard, but they should possess some key skills and qualities:

  • Internet Savvy: Your webmaster should feel comfortable navigating the internet and various web-related tools and systems.
  • Alignment with Marketing Goals: They should grasp your firm’s marketing objectives and understand how the website supports these goals.
  • Organization: A top-notch webmaster should be organized, ensuring that regular updates are made and sending out reminders to your team when fresh content is needed.
  • Content Management: They need to understand how to use the content management system to make changes, add content, and keep your website up-to-date. If your firm works with a digital agency, you may have this group perform updates to the site, but your webmaster should ultimately serve as the main point of contact for these changes. 

A Recipe for Efficient Updates

Once you’ve found your webmaster, it’s crucial to establish an effective process for website updates. Here’s a step-by-step guide:

1. Craft an Editorial Calendar: At the beginning of each quarter, gather your team for a staff meeting. During this meeting, create an editorial calendar outlining what content needs to be added or updated on the website. Assign due dates for each addition, whether it’s a new blog post, event details or changes to your service offerings.

2. Honor Due Dates Like Court Deadlines: Just like court deadlines, due dates for website updates should be non-negotiable. This ensures that your website remains current and aligned with your firm’s goals.

3. Dedicate Time Each Week: Your webmaster should designate at least 30 minutes each week for making the necessary changes and updates. Having a dedicated time slot ensures that website maintenance remains a priority.

The Benefits of a Devoted Webmaster

Having a dedicated webmaster offers numerous benefits for your law firm:

  • Efficiency: With a designated point of contact for all website changes, you can avoid team members overriding each other’s efforts, resulting in a more efficient website management process.
  • Ownership: Your webmaster takes ownership of the project, ensuring that the website aligns with the firm’s goals and values.
  • Consistency: The presence of a webmaster guarantees that your website is consistently updated and stays in sync with your marketing and business objectives.
  • Professionalism: A well-maintained website reflects professionalism and commitment to client communication, potentially attracting more clients and retaining the loyalty of existing ones.
  • Cohesive Team Vision: Having one person responsible for web management helps maintain a cohesive vision for the website’s success. This ensures that all updates and changes align with the firm’s overall strategy.

A webmaster plays a crucial role in law firm website management, and selecting the right individual for this role can make a significant difference in your online presence. By choosing someone with the right skills, ensuring consistency in website updates and treating due dates seriously, you can maintain an effective and professional online platform that serves your firm’s marketing goals. So, when it comes to your law firm’s website, remember that a webmaster isn’t just an optional role – they are the key to your online success.

About the Author
Since 2006, Omnizant's team of digital marketing experts, designers, developers and writers has helped over 2,000 law firms develop powerful websites that drive business growth.