Timing Is Everything: Response Time is Essential for Converting Law Firm Leads

February 16, 2021 - Law Practice Management

Nobody has ever liked waiting. But, there has never been a point in recorded history where people have liked waiting less. Cave people, I suppose, never had the benefit of the internet and smartphones. But, I’m not even talking about the Neanderthals; heck, people are far less patient than they were even ten years ago, since things like Netflix have pumped urgency addition up on steroids. No one wants to wait for anything anymore, because no one has to wait for anything anymore. Except for hiring law firms.

Despite the fact that consumers are simultaneously less patient and have more choices than ever before, attorneys still make those consumers wait. They call; you wait to call them back. They want engagement; you give them online forms. They text; you ignore their texts. Converting leads starts at first contact; and, if you’re not the first contact back, you’ve already lost the game. Everything you do in marketing your law firm is centered around getting return on calls to actions you’ve carefully crafted as part of your marketing plan. It doesn’t make sense to go through all of that effort and expense, and then drop the ball at the goal line.

Make sure that everything you do for client engagement is centered around immediacy. If you cannot actively communicate with a client, figure out a way to provide immediate engagement for that client in ways that are aligned with your marketing strategy. If you want people to call you, use a virtual receptionist service. If you want people to text you, create an autoresponder. If you want people to visit your website, consider a chatbot.

The old saying is that good things come to those who wait; that’s unless you’re running a law firm.

. . .

If your response time is suboptimal, we can show you how to speed things up.

The Wyoming State Bar offers free law practice management consulting services through Red Cave Law Firm Consulting.  To request a consult, visit the Wyoming State Bar’s law practice management page, and start running your law firm like a business.