Do Tradespeople Still Need a Website?

Plenty of tradespeople are flat out without a website. Word of mouth, a Facebook page, maybe a lead site or two. So it is a fair question whether you need one at all.

The honest answer: not always. But for most, yes, and here is how to tell.

When you might not need one

• You are fully booked months ahead and do not want to grow.
• All your work comes from one or two contractors or agents.
• You are winding down towards retirement.

If that is you, save your money.

"I get all my work from word of mouth"

Brilliant. It is the best work there is. But think about what happens after the recommendation. Someone says "use Dave, he did our kitchen", and the next thing that person does is search for Dave. If nothing comes up, or an out-of-date listing with no reviews comes up, some of them will quietly ring someone else. A website and a tidy Google profile do not replace word of mouth. They stop it leaking.

"I have a Facebook page"

Facebook is good for showing work to people who already follow you. It has three limits:

• It does not show up for searches. People looking for "roofer in Bury" are on Google, not Facebook.
• You do not own it. Pages get restricted, hacked or lose reach when the rules change.
• Not everyone uses it. A fair share of customers, especially for bigger jobs, will want to see a proper website.

Keep the Facebook page. Just do not rely on it alone.

"I use lead sites"

Directories and lead-generation sites can work, and many trades use them alongside everything else. The trade-off is that you are renting your customers. You pay for membership or per lead, the same lead is often sent to several firms, and the moment you stop paying, the work stops. A website that ranks is an asset that keeps bringing enquiries that are yours alone.

What a website does that nothing else does

• Puts you in front of people who have never heard of you, at the exact moment they need your trade.
• Lets you choose the work you go after, by building pages for the jobs you want.
• Makes you look established when a customer is comparing three quotes.
• Supports your Google Business Profile, which helps you appear on the map.

A simple test

Search for your trade and your town on Google. Look at who appears. If those firms are getting calls that could have been yours, and you would like more of the right kind of work, a website is worth it.

If you are weighing up the cost, here is what a trade website costs, and here is what ours costs.