Is a tradesperson website really for me?
We hear you. Investing money in a tradesperson website seems like a redundant task if you can use sites like Twitter or Checkatrade to promote yourself instead. Plus, taking the leap, spending time looking for an agency, and forking over the cash are all daunting.
However, as more and more people get their company a website, if you’ve foregone getting one, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage. There are over 200 million active websites on the internet. Without one, you allow your competition to be a step ahead. They’re easier than you to discover. They’ve put themselves out there.
Investing in a website is worth it. Anything you can do to make sure your business is reaching the greatest number of potential customers is a good idea. It doesn’t need to be big, expensive, and flashy either; in fact, in 2020, web design is seeing a trend towards the use of white space and minimalist navigation.
Why should I get a tradesperson website?
- You have better control over your branding
- You can rank on Google
- People search on Google, not social media
- Lends you credibility
- More functionality
Better control over your branding
The difference between a supermarket’s own brand product and a branded product is often just the packaging. Kellogs has sunk thousands into its branding and advertising to convince you that you should buy their £3.50 cornflakes rather than the £1 supermarket ones when really, they’re just the same.
Point being: when a customer is thinking back on which tradesperson they are going to hire, they won’t remember who was who out of a handful of marginally different checkatrade profiles. What will stick in their head is a well-designed website that grants a great user experience.
A website allows you full control over your branding, lending strength to your company’s voice. A well-branded website makes a great first impression and helps you to stand out from the crowd.
You can rank on Google
Once you have a website, you can take steps to get it ranking high with search engines (ie: nearer to the first page of Google, where potential customers are more likely to be looking). A high ranking website will receive more traffic than a social media profile would.
You’ll also turn up in local searches: where a potential customer is searching for your services near your location. 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information, so having a Google My Business listing that directs to your website ensures you’re not missing out on sales.
People search on Google, not social media
You want to be where your customers are looking.
It’s unlikely that your potential customer would be searching for your services on social media. If their boiler suddenly breaks down, they’ll be putting ‘emergency plumber near me’ into Google, not the search bar of Twitter.
According to chatmeter, there’s been a 900% growth in “near me tonight/today” searches in the past 2 years. That’s a lot of leads that could be yours with the right website.
Lends you credibility
Because most businesses these days have a website, it feels weird to stumble across a business without one.
A website shows that you’ve taken the time to invest and impress. As long as your site is well designed, functional, and error-free, having a website makes a far better first impression on your potential customer than a social media profile.
You’re also better able to demonstrate your expertise if you have a website. As competition is fierce, you want to do as much as you can to prove yourself. A page on your site showing off your staff and their credentials, or a place for your before and after photos, or an archive of your finished work does this very effectively.
More functionality
Websites are dynamic beasts. With the right web developer behind it, your website can be designed perfectly to your specifications.
For example, a website allows you to make the most out of calls to action. These are features that tell and persuade a customer to do something – for instance, a big banner at the top telling them to ‘get in touch today!’. You’re far more likely to gain a customer with these than with a simple profile that lacks them.
Get yourself a tradesperson website!
…so what are you waiting for? A website will help you gain the leads you’ve been missing, and get your foot in the door against the competition.
If you need a little help, we’re experts in designing websites. Whether you’re simply looking for advice or want a full-blown web build done, get in contact!
