In the past, it was enough that law firms met client expectations. If this goal was achieved, the client would usually return when they required additional services. In some cases, they might even keep the law firm on retainer. However, things are changing today. It is no longer enough to simply meet expectations. You must create and manage an ongoing client relationship if you want to see growth and success. How do you do that? We’ll discuss some of the key considerations below.
Client Portals
Today’s consumers are different than they were a decade or so ago. They expect to be able to find information on important topics from any device at any time of the day or night. With law firms, that usually means having someone available to speak with clients, whether on the phone or in person, but that’s not feasible 24/7. Client portals allow you to create strong relationships and meet expectations without incurring additional, ongoing costs.
A client portal is really just what it sounds like – a digital access point to case-specific information. Clients can log into the portal and learn about what’s going on with their case, access important documents, and more, all without having to make a single phone call. That’s good news for your clients, your office staff, and your personal time.
Practice Management Software
How much time do you and your staff spend billing or dealing with due dates? How much time do you lose keeping track of case information and organizing files? If you’re anything like the average law firm, it’s quite a lot. That loss of efficiency isn’t just time-related, either. It also costs you money. It can cost you clients, as well. Practice management software can help you overcome these hurdles.
With the right software, you can automatically organize case information, quickly update data, bill correctly, track due dates, and more. The time you save here can be better spent focusing on serving your clients and meeting their needs and expectations, while simultaneously gaining oversight on critical areas of firm performance.
There are other ways that you can build a stronger client relationship, as well. Email marketing, content marketing, and building a stronger social media presence are just three additional options. Whatever you choose to do, it has become more important than ever before that you build client relationships and then manage them over time to see success and profitability.
