In today’s digital world, most people prefer to look businesses up online than through other channels. Whether for products or services, consumers seek information with the help of search engine websites such as Google.
As a small business owner, listing your contracting business online is important to increase visibility and drive sales. Sadly, a lot of contractors don’t have websites or even a Facebook page to showcase their services. Virtually nonexistent, you can only find these contractors on yellow pages or through government listings, which puts them at a disadvantage.
While some contracting businesses do have websites, most of them are poorly designed, out of date, confusing, disorganized, and filled with irrelevant content. On the other hand, some owners opt to choose a social media account instead of building an official website. Easier to maintain and more affordable, using Facebook pages gets the job done if they are updated and well managed.
A great website makes your business stand out from the rest and it allows your trade to be noticed by prospective clients. Here are some tips on how to build websites for contractors.
Make it mobile friendly
Nowadays, the majority of people do a Google search on their mobile devices. Smartphone users are increasing in numbers, so you can’t dismiss the fact that a mobile-friendly website will attract more customers than those that are not optimized. If your contracting website is designed to work correctly on mobile devices, chances are your website will appear higher on top of search engines.
Additionally, a mobile-friendly website displays photos correctly and texts aren’t warped for a much nicer viewing experience. Keep in mind that browsing your site on a laptop and on your mobile phone are two different things, and just because they are displayed wonderfully on your PC does not mean the same thing will show on your phone.
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Giving your customers a favorable browsing experience help build trust and loyalty. -
A website that is cross-platform compatible results in higher leads and conversion rates. -
Use tools such as Wix to help create stunning websites that are mobile friendly and easy to create.
Be present and active on social media
Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Utilize the hidden powers of these social media channels to create a strong online presence. Imagine that a single post from these social media platforms turns viral and reaches thousands of followers. Indeed, these channels can create buzz that in return will help publicize your contracting business, without the heavy price tag.
Social media is a great avenue to showcase the personality of your business. It acts as a robust online marketing platform where you can display your past projects and current ones, giving your customers a quick glimpse of what your business is all about. Moreover, it serves as an instant communication tool that allows clients to easily reach your company with a single click of a button.
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Make sure to link your social media accounts to your site by using plugins. -
Include pictures of the actual work process and the team behind every project, but not personal photos. -
Be consistent and always update your pages; don’t let weeks pass by without a single new post.
Add the right pictures
When building websites for contractors, one crucial element you don’t want to miss is the importance of using the right photos and videos. By all means, avoid using generic pictures that almost all contractor websites use. While stock photos might look clean and professional, using real photos on your site gives it a bit of flair and character.
Along with a great contractor website design, you could also use other media components such as videos to enhance your website. It doesn’t need to be consumer testimonials if you feel those are staged and not in line with the brand you want to create.
It could be a video explaining a certain task, your working process, approach to new projects, or creative shots of various assignments. Doing this helps build rapport with your customers, as they already know more about your business even before they contact you for inquiries.
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Use your smartphone to document all your projects, big or small every task counts. -
Show before and after photos of your previous ventures in multiple angles. -
Always use high-quality photos and videos and edit them if needed.
Proofread, proofread, and proofread
A great website is useless without quality content. You might have the most amazing photos and graphic design, but a single spelling mistake or improper syntax can ruin everything. As much as possible, avoid any grammar mistakes, spelling errors, improper use of words, and syntax mistakes when creating content for your website.
When a client sees a mistake in your content or comes across a poorly written post, it reflects the quality of your business. Subconsciously, they will think that if you are unable to spell correctly, how will you fix their kitchen counter? Proofreading is without a doubt time consuming, but it’s the only proven way to save yourself from committing content mistakes.
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Proofread your work not once but three times – just to make sure everything is correct. -
Use tools such as Grammarly to make writing smoother and easier. -
You are a general contractor, not a writer, so you can also hire someone to do the job or look for an editor.
Make it easy for customers and prospects to get in touch
Web design is all about personal preference. You might want bold colors or you might keep it simple. But the last thing you don’t want to forget is the contact information for your business. Even the greatest websites commit mistakes by placing the “contact” button hidden beyond pictures and navigational tabs. Don’t make it hard for customers to contact you.
When putting your contact information, make sure to include all possible ways of communication such as your physical address, telephone number, cell phone number, email address, and social media accounts. Likewise, websites for contractors should have a dedicated message box where clients can easily contact you for questions or inquiries.
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Don’t rename “contact” into phony memes or highfalutin words. -
Place it in a clearly visible area that is not obtrusive to the readers. -
Use legible fonts and sizes that are easy on the eyes, not too small or too large.