5 Reasons Tradies Should Have Their Own Website
Posted: April 1st, 2020
Tradies often rely on referrals to build their businesses. It makes sense, you do great work, your customers love you and send their friends. But sometimes referrals can be a slow way to keep getting business especially if you’re just starting and nobody knows you yet. That’s why finding new clients and leads is one of the biggest challenges of working as a tradesman. An important part of solving that challenge is to have your own website. Consumers nowadays use the Internet to do their research on whatever product or service they need, before they purchase it. Having a presence online means a wider reach to potential customers and eventually more business. Building your own website allows you to do more than just flyers or posters ever could. And while we do recommend being on social media, it’s not enough.
Your business needs a website and here’s why.
1. Websites make getting leads easy
Websites address the first thing tradies struggle with: leads. They become the launchpad for your business. Once you’ve got a straightforward, functional website up and running, that customers can navigate around easily to get what they need, a quick advertisement on Facebook or Instagram will have people visiting and checking out your website.
The best part? Unlike a shop or your phone number, they can access it 24/7. So even when you’re having your beauty sleep, someone is taking a look at your business online!
2. Websites are your business’s online office
Having a website makes it easy for anyone to find out anything about your business: how it got started, your products and services, your licenses and credentials, your contact details, your business hours, your quotes, your promos, your guarantees, your finished work, etc.
And you only need to say all this once, instead of repeating this information to prospects individually (saving you heaps of time). Put anything that will attract leads and once you have them, make sure they stay.
People like having all the information they need in one place. When you build your website, you have full control of what you put on it, so make it as informative and convenient for a potential customer as possible.
A website can be like your hardest-working sales, admin and marketing employee all wrapped up in one.
Put call-to-action buttons that will get them to sign up or schedule an appointment. And with that, make sure your website is accessible across all devices: computer, tablets, and mobile.
3. Websites let you build an email list (and the money is in the list)
Here’s where having a website trumps just having a Facebook or Instagram. With a Facebook or Instagram account, you are stuck at the mercy of Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook changes things OFTEN, they have also been known to delete pages and they are the ones that have the contact details.
They own the list. Not you. They control who sees your content and how you can contact the people who are on your page.
If your page gets deleted, your fans and followers go along with it. All those potential leads, gone forever and no possible way of contacting them again.
Your own website is different.
You’re able to build an email list when you give visitors the option of signing up and you own the list. Once you have that list, you can email them newsletters that advertise ongoing services, upcoming promos, and seasonal discounts. This makes for more targeted advertising and a more personalised experience for your customers.
4. Websites give you credibility
Having a website shows you are a legitimate business. Unlike social media where you’re just on another business’s platform, websites give businesses credibility and authenticity.
An easy-to-navigate, beautifully-designed, functional website means you know where most of your market is and you care enough to make their buyer’s journey pleasant and informative. Consumers WANT to buy and if you make it easy for them, they WILL.
Another way a website lends credibility is by having a blog. Writing a weekly blog on your website gives you the opportunity to talk about your expertise whether it’s electricity, plumbing, air conditioning installation, and repair, etc.
It also cultivates a relationship with your customers. Write about tips to follow or mistakes to avoid and always, always advertise your services in the end with a call-to-action.
You can also have a testimonials page on your website. This is where potential customers can know other people’s experiences with your service and be encouraged to hire you as well.
5. Websites help you get found on Google
If you do them well websites help you get found on Google right when people are most looking for what you do. When they google “Builder near me” you are much more likely to come up in search. Especially if you are doing the blog writing and show you are the expert.
When you do create your website – make sure it is Google friendly. This process is called SEO (which stands for search engine optimisation). I wrote a blog post on it a while ago you might find helpful “The keys to SEO – What every business owner needs to know about how to be found on Google.”
6. Your competitors already have websites
If none of the reasons above convinced you that you need a website, maybe this will.
If you’re not online and your competitors are, customers will choose them. When you don’t create a medium for your potential customers to get to know your brand, you’re basically telling them “Choose the other guys instead.” If you’re making it hard for them to even know your business exists, that’s on you.
Don’t know the first thing about websites and the thought of that discourages you from making the first step, we’re here to help! We helped SBS with their website and we’re ready to help you with yours. Contact us today.