After publishing briosolaw a couple of weeks ago, I've spent quite a few hours tweaking it; rewriting text, finding new stock photography, and redesigning certain graphics. With time the flaws of what looks and sounds good one day tends to be revealed. As digital media, web sites benefit from an ease of revision that you don't find in traditional media. Colors, shapes, placement of items can all be changed with a few clicks of the mouse. That same ease can be a bit of curse though because cycling through so many options can take deceptively long. Often ideas take several iterations before they look as you imagined. And when you're an amateur like myself, getting things to look like you imagined is no small feat. Another factor that has to be accounted for and that is only revealed after you "finish" is the fact that websites display differently on different browsers (explorer, firefox, safari), and on different monitors. Skilled designers have tools to make sites look consistent; I have to wing it. In connection with the new site I've developed new letterhead and mailing labels; the development of one led naturally to the development of the others. I feel pretty good about it all; no longer a kid in this business, it was time to look the part. I'm sure the clients will be rolling in any day now ...
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3 comments:
It looks a lot better. You found a good stock picture. My only suggestions would be to use less gray. you use it for fonts and for background...it looks dead. try some other colors.
also, consider using your actual firm's name. it sounds a little pretencious to say "i started out a major firm". I am not sure if you are being humble by not mentioning the name or something else, but you have earned your badge of courage!
peace,
R
I appreciate the ideas guys, but I'm still not sold on the photo thing. The primary reason for the site is so that if people get an email from me (my briosolaw.com email) and are curious to see if I have a site, they'll see something professional, well designed. It's not really an attempt to get business over the internet (since I have a day job and don't have an office). It's more of a defensive measure, if you come looking for me you'll find something nice. Most solo/small firm lawyers I find on the web have incredibly cheesy and unattractive sites. Maybe I'm biased but I think if you compare my simple site against the average lawyer site, mine comes along more big money and polished. Particularly for people of our era, people who spend a lot of time on the web, I think my site will speak to them more than most.
Here are sites I found googling
"Brooklyn Real Estate Attorney"
This first one shows typical photo in front of law books:
cheesy 1
Here's a different example, more of those big money law books
cheesy 2
another typical example:
another typical example
Maybe you need to do the picture - with a twist. Do a fresh take on the solo practioner picture.
How about getting some hot mommies with grande tettahs and you in the middle with a big ugly smile - and some law books in the background. Or maybe you should do a video, where you moonwalk and do some poppin' and lockin' - in a suit -and in front of some law books.
Either way - I'd hire you.
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