Small day-to-day changes you should make to improve client retention
It’s the little things in life that make the biggest difference, and the success of your estate planning practice is no exception. Here are a few easy actions you can take to boost client satisfaction and retain clients long term.
1. Rethink your interpersonal etiquette
If you’re running late call your clients and let them know. Informing a client that you’re behind schedule is plain courtesy. More importantly, when you make someone wait you’re signaling to them that your time is more valuable than theirs. That is exactly the wrong message to give someone when you hope to manage their estate.
Be aware of your body language. If you are glued to your phone or computer you’re communicating that the client isn’t a priority. Even if you’re not looking at your phone, its mere presence sends a strong message and affects how you relate to others. Greet your client by name and ensure you’re pronouncing it correctly. Look the person in the eye, and give them a firm handshake. It may seem insignificant, but minor social pleasantries will give you a major edge when it comes to practice development.
2. Market your practice
When you became an estate planning attorney you probably didn’t expect to spend your days on Twitter or building a website, but that’s the reality of owning your own practice. Part of the job description for a 21st century attorney is delivering compelling messaging and establishing a brand. However, if you’re like most attorneys you likely have no idea where to start.
It is estimated that 96% of people seeking legal advice use a search engine, and yet nearly half of law firms do not have a website. A major lack in attorney messaging can be attributed to an absence of legal marketing know-how, but to stay competitive in your field you have to get the word out about your practice. If you’re one of the many attorneys that need an extra push for marketing your practice, do not hesitate to seek out help.
There’s good news for attorneys in this position: it has never been easier to learn about marketing. Online educational resources such as webinars, online courses, and how-tos are available for attorneys looking to learn legal marketing strategies.
3. Automate redundant tasks
Is your law firm technology up-to-date, or are you using an old phone and a computer with torn cables? Is your attorney software for document drafting more than a few years old? Worse, are you using a set of out-of-date templates?
Leverage cutting-edge document drafting software to improve practice productivity. Client satisfaction is directly correlated to attorney efficiency, so cut out repetitive drafting tasks with will and estate planning software and improve the quality, timeliness and accuracy of client-facing documents.
Wealth Docx® is the premier legal document drafting software for estate planning attorneys. From basic estate planning to complex tax and business planning strategies, Wealth Docx can be easily integrated into any estate planning attorney’s daily workflow. This industry-leading software offers legal document templates to help you create high-quality, accurate documents with ease.
