6 Reasons Why Home Builders And Designers Need A Website
Increase your revenue, get qualified leads and have complete control over how your future customers see your business.
Did you know up to 80% of consumers research a business online before making a purchase or paying for a service?
In fact, an analysis performed by Connected Small Businesses in the United States found that these digitally advanced businesses in all industries experience the following 3 things:
- revenue growth 4 times higher than the previous year
- twice as much revenue per employee
- an average employment growth rate of more than 6 times as high as the previous year
While working on a contractor’s marketing plan, or punching up an interior designers SEO can be an important part of these advancements, the growth experienced here all starts with a business website.
But even in this digital age, surprisingly, only 50% of small businesses have a website.
In the home building and design professions, it’s often common for business owners to not understand the importance of an online presence.
After all, you don’t run an “online business.”
But even if you believe that you get enough work through referrals and word of mouth, there are a host of other reasons to have a functioning web page for your business.
A good website can save you time and energy, help you pre-screen your prospects, give you more control over your narrative, and act as a portfolio for your best work all while bringing in quality clients again and again.
If you still need some convincing, we’ve compiled six good reasons contractors and interior designers need a business website:
1.) A website can help you capture qualified leads
What exactly is a qualified lead?
A qualified lead is a potential customer that has a specific need for your service.
They are ready to pay the price you charge for that service.
They want to learn more about your work, they are curious about taking the next steps with you, and they share common traits with loyal customers you’ve had in the past.
In contrast, an unqualified lead does not fit your ideal customer profile.
You have probably come across these types of clients before, and perhaps even worked with them. They are likely the people you have regretted doing business with.
These types of prospects know very little about you, balk at your price, insist you modify your work and fees to fit their needs, are resistant to taking the next steps, and clearly, don’t value your time or expertise.
As you may know from experience, unqualified leads are quite often time wasters.
The great thing about pre-screening your prospects with a web site is that it allows you to be choosy about who you agree to work with.
When leads find your business site, you can instantly eliminate the less-than-ideal possibilities by clarifying exactly what you do, exactly who you are, and even give your visitors an idea of the fees that you charge.
As you set up your website do not worry about scaring people away with your candor. Your goal is to only attract the ideal customers who will value your work and time, and are ready to pay for both.
2.) A website is already expected by your customers
Consumers in our modern age have come to assume that the businesses they work with will have a website.
Even if a prospect has heard of your company through word of mouth, if your online presence is undetectable, it is likely that you will be passed by for a business that can be thoroughly researched.
In addition to better understanding a business’ area of expertise, consumers search for web pages so they can investigate credentials, awards, reviews, and customer testimonials.
The quality of your website is important. Solid interior design web development will stand out from the pack. A contractor with good web design will be heads and tales over the bare bones websites of his competition.
But without a website in place at all, many consumers will refuse to even consider your business.
3.) A website helps you answer common questions automatically
In building and design industries, it can be common to have multiple phone calls, meetings, and estimates with a prospect only to have a job fall through in the end.
A good website can significantly cut back on the time you spend dialoguing with a potential customer.
Once a prospect is clear on your area of expertise and they have seen and like your work, they can then contact you and schedule a phone call.
This reason alone can save business owners a significant amount of time and energy.
4.) A website gives you more control over your own narrative
Between tweets, Google ratings, and Yelp reviews, many businesses have found out the hard way that they don’t have full control over the way they are seen by their communities.
One unhappy customer can trample even the most ethical companies name into the ground.
But businesses that don’t have a website foolishly forfeit total control of their name to others.
The wisest thing a business owner can do is create a space to share their story and represent their own unique and personal message to their audience.
Your prospects want to know who you are!
Give them a look at your personality, your values, and your mission and let them hear it all directly from the source.
5.) You don’t need technical skills to set up a website
With a host of website building platforms to choose from in 2019, it’s possible for even the least tech-savvy of us to create a functioning business site.
But – if you feel you don’t have the time to invest in learning to put a site together, don’t hesitate to hire a professional to do it right.
After all, your website is your greatest source of free marketing.
Studies show that 75% of consumers make a judgment on a businesses credibility based on their website design.
This means a bad web design can hurt you just as much as a non-existent one.
The moment a potential customer lands on your page they need to clearly understand who you are, what you do, and how to contact you.
If they can’t understand that information quickly, or if your design isn’t appealing and the impression you leave is a negative one, you will quickly lose them.
You wouldn’t skimp on other areas of your business expenses, so don’t be afraid to initially make an investment here.
If you’re unsure where to start, study the landing pages of your competitors and try to improve upon their formats and designs.
6.) A website will showcase your services
A website should be like a one-stop shop.
The prospect sees who you are, what you do, how to contact you, and even gets a look at your best work.
Too many contractors, builders, and designers don’t take the time to post photos of their own personal work. Instead, they opt for generic stock photos that don’t represent their skills at all.
Or worse yet- they post blurry, low-quality pictures that don’t accurately represent the quality of work they are capable of.
A picture speaks a thousand words. While it may require an initial time investment, it’s crucial to have a strong online portfolio of photos that you’re proud to direct potential customers to.
The business landscape has been rapidly changed by the internet.
While it can seem overwhelming to keep up with, it remains clear that the number of returns you get in both your time and money by becoming digitally advanced will always outweigh the learning curve and upfront costs.
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I’ve made it my personal mission to help contractors, builders, and interior designers just like you make the vision they have for their businesses come to life through digital marketing and design.
Whether you need help with your first website build, are unsure where to go with your interior design marketing plan, would like to punch up your web design, or need help with SEO as a contractor, I’m here for you! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions!