Web design for tradesmen: a website that brings in jobs

You’re good at your trade. You shouldn’t need to be good at websites too. But homeowners don’t flick through the Yellow Pages any more: they search on their phone, look at three or four businesses and ring the one that looks most reliable. This is the checklist I use when building a website for a tradesperson.

The essentials that bring in calls

Click-to-call on every page. Tap once, phone rings. Don’t make people copy a number.
A short quote form. Name, phone, postcode and a line about the job. Every extra box loses enquiries.
A clear next step on every page: “Get a free quote” or “Call now”.
Works properly on a phone. Most of your customers will find you on one.
Fast. If it takes too long to load, they’re back on Google ringing someone else.

Trust: why they’ll pick you

Real reviews, with names and towns, and a link to your Google Business Profile.
Accreditations you hold, such as Gas Safe, NICEIC, TrustMark or trade association membership, shown near the top.
Before-and-after photos of your own jobs. Nothing beats proof.
Insurance and guarantees, stated plainly.
The areas you cover, listed by town.

Getting found locally

You want to show up for “roofer in Sunderland” or “plumber near me” when someone nearby searches. That comes from:

a complete Google Business Profile with regular photos and reviews;
a separate page for each service you offer, mentioning the towns you cover;
your name, address and phone number written identically everywhere online;
proper page titles, descriptions and structured data on the site itself.

Here’s more on local SEO, and on whether a trade business needs a website at all.

Make sure you own it

Some monthly “free website” deals mean the provider owns the site: stop paying and it disappears. Before you sign anything, ask:

Do I own the domain name, in my name?
Do I own the site and its content if I leave?
What will it cost every year once it’s live?
What happens if I want a change next month?

Common mistakes

Hiding the phone number in the footer.
No photos of your own work.
One “Services” page listing everything, which can’t rank for any of it.
Nobody keeping it updated, so it looks abandoned.

A real example

Treemasters Arboricultural & Forestry is a tree surgeon in Seaham. Their site has six service pages, the areas they cover, a quote form and click-to-call throughout: the checklist above, built for a real business.

How I build a trade website

A short chat. What you do, where you work, which jobs you want more of, and how you like to be contacted.
A fixed price in writing, saying exactly what’s included, before you pay a deposit.
The build. I write the pages from what you’ve told me, add your photos and set up the local search basics, including your Google Business Profile on the Growth package.
Your check. You read every page and ask for changes, with two rounds on Starter and three on Growth.
Launch and handover. The site goes live, and every login is handed to you.

Common questions

Do I really need a website if I have a Facebook page?

Facebook is useful, but it isn’t yours, it rarely shows up for local Google searches, and customers comparing trades expect a proper website. The two work best together.

What if I’m too busy to write anything?

Most of my trade clients are. A 20-minute phone call is usually enough for me to write the pages; you just check them.

Can I add pages later?

Yes. New service or area pages can be added whenever you want, and they’re quoted before any work starts.

How long does it take?

As a guide, most sites take one to two weeks once I have your content and photos. Larger or Bespoke builds take longer, and I’ll give you a date in writing before we start.

What it costs

My prices are fixed and written down before I start. Starter is £295 for up to five pages, with a contact form, map and basic local search set-up. Growth is £595 for up to ten pages, a design made for your business, local search set-up for the areas you cover and your Google Business Profile tidied up. You own the finished site. If you want me to look after it, Website Care is £25 a month, or £50 with hosting included.

Tell me about your trade and I’ll come back with a fixed price.