Is your website attractive to homeowners?
Every homeowner knows the value of curb appeal in attracting attention, but many businesses underestimate the value of having a website with great curb appeal. In today’s online marketplace, your website is your digital store front. Having a website which is attractive, functional and invites customers to stay for a while is the important to your business success.
Look current
Having an updated website shows your potential clients that your operation is healthy and thriving. Likewise, having a poorly designed and out-of-date website is a signal that you could be going out of business, and consumers are unlikely to waste their time calling you. If you don’t have the resources to manage your own company website, how can they trust that you have the resources to manage their project?
Attractive images and videos
As the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words” and our brains are hardwired to gather information visually. Images speak directly to consumer’s emotions and inspire them to take action. Your website should include a well-organized portfolio of your recent work and highlight the full range of the services you offer. Produce telling videos and happy customer testimonials.
Purposeful and inspiring text
Having purposeful text which supports inspirational images is the most effective way to engage viewers and share your ideas.
The copy on your site should answer these key questions:
Who you are?
What work you do?
Where are the areas are you service?
How to contact you?
Why your company is better than your competitors?
When you are available?
When choosing fonts, legibility is key. Text also plays a key role in allowing search engines to find your site.
Mobile friendly websites
Mobile phone use will keep increasing. Statista reports from a 2021 United States survey, that 54 percent of respondents used their smartphones to watch online video content weekly. If you have not updated your site in the past five years, chances are your site is not designed to handle the variety of devices now being used to view it. You may be surprised to know the average user will stay on your website for less than 2 seconds unless they can instantly find the information they need.
Easy to reach
If people like what they see, they will want to act. Make your contact information easy to find. What’s the best way for them to contact you to get the answers to their questions immediately? If you are difficult to reach by phone, set up a Contact Us Form with an auto-responder email that lets them know you have received their request and gives them a realistic idea of when you will be contacting them.
Build a following
Have useful information for your ideal customers. This can be home page content highlights and weekly blogs. Consider sending timely maintenance reminders and small project ideas. Add this content to a well-organized blog within your site. Next, take your online marketing to the next level with an email marketing newsletter. Add a “Subscribe” button to your website. Remember, with email a little goes a long way.
Keep updating
Companies often spend their entire budget on creating a new website only to overlook the importance of how they will manage keeping their website up to date. Ask yourself, “who in your company is technically inclined and how will they fit this new task into their existing duties?” If you don’t have a good answer to either of these questions, add monthly maintenance to your marketing budget and discuss signing an annual maintenance agreement with your web designer.
Updating your website is a worthy investment
You can’t afford not to have a stunning and informative website. Most homeowners check your business out online. They look at your website and check reviews. They may even check your CSLB license.
The home improvement business is still booming. You want your business to prosper so invest some time and money into your online presence.
According to the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI), the nation’s leading resource for market research concerning the home and building products industry, consumer spending on home improvement products will steady after the two years of increased COVID-19 pandemic demand. The HIRI forecasts that overall consumer market sales will increase by 2.8% in 2023 to $382.5 billion despite rising inflation, less household income and projects.
Sources: CISION PR Newswire, Statista