Most people looking for a local trade business are on a phone, often with a straightforward problem and very little patience. They want to know whether you do the job, whether you cover them and how to get hold of you. Your website should answer that before it starts trying to impress anyone.
Start with the practical essentials
The top of the page should say what you do, where you work and how to take the next step. A clear phone number, an enquiry route and a short description beat a clever headline that makes people hunt for the basics.
- your main services in plain language
- the towns, postcodes or wider area you cover
- a phone number that works properly on a mobile
- a clear way to ask for a quote or arrange a visit
- hours or emergency availability where relevant
Give customers reasons to trust you
Use the proof you have. That could be genuine reviews, qualifications, memberships, insurance details or photographs of real work. Keep it specific. “Reliable and professional” says very little on its own. “NICEIC approved”, “fixed quote before work starts” or a real project photo tells a customer something useful.
Do not use invented reviews or pretend a demo project is a real client job. You can build credibility without making claims you cannot back up.
Show the work, but make it varied
A gallery should show different kinds of jobs, not the same image twice in slightly different crops. A short line of context helps too: what the job was, where it was and what mattered. It gives someone a better sense of whether you are right for their own work.
Keep the page count sensible
For many local trades, five pages are enough: home, services, about or credentials, recent work and contact. More pages are useful only when they answer a different question. A small site with good detail is better than a large one padded out for the sake of it.
A good test: can a first-time visitor tell what you do, where you work and how to get a quote in ten seconds? If not, start there.
Build for the phone first
Text needs room to breathe, buttons need to be easy to press and the contact route needs to stay obvious. A website that only looks good in a desktop mock-up is not doing the job. See the fictional responsive examples for the sort of experience Pointed builds, then read the included scope.
What pages should a tradesperson website have?
Usually: home, services, about or proof, recent work and contact. The important part is not the exact names, but answering the real questions a customer has.
Should a tradesperson website show reviews?
Yes, if they are genuine and you have permission to use them. Real reviews, accreditations and relevant project details are useful proof.