Most tradies get a website built and then forget about it. It sits there, looks okay, and doesn’t really do much. The problem usually isn’t the design – it’s that the site isn’t set up to actually convert the people who land on it into paying customers.
These tradie website tips aren’t complicated. They’re the basics done properly, and they make a bigger difference than most people expect.
Your Phone Number Needs to Be Impossible to Miss
This sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many tradie websites bury the phone number at the bottom of the page or leave it off the homepage entirely. If someone has landed on your site because they need a plumber right now, they don’t want to hunt for your number.
Put it in the header. Make it large. On mobile, make it a tap-to-call link so people can reach you without copying and pasting. Every extra step between a visitor and your phone number is a chance for them to give up and call someone else.
Show Your Work With Real Photos
Stock photos of tools and hard hats don’t build trust – photos of your actual work do. A before and after of a bathroom renovation, a finished switchboard installation, a freshly laid deck. Real images from real jobs tell potential customers exactly what they can expect from you.
You don’t need a professional photographer. A decent phone camera and decent lighting is enough to get started. Even a handful of genuine job photos will outperform a page full of generic stock images every time.
Make It Clear What You Do and Where You Work
A surprising number of tradie websites don’t clearly state what services they offer or what areas they cover. Visitors shouldn’t have to guess. If you’re a licensed electrician servicing Brisbane’s northside, say that plainly on your homepage.
This also helps with search engines. When your site clearly mentions your trade and your location, Google is more likely to show your site to people searching for exactly what you offer in your area.
Include a Few Good Reviews
Word of mouth is everything in the trades, and your website is where word of mouth lives online. A handful of genuine customer reviews on your site – even just two or three – goes a long way toward reassuring someone who’s never heard of you before.
If you’ve got good Google reviews, pull a few of the best ones onto your site. If you haven’t asked customers for reviews yet, start now. It’s one of the most effective and low-effort tradie website tips going.
Give People a Simple Way to Get in Touch
Not everyone wants to call. Some people prefer to send a message, especially outside business hours. A simple contact form – name, phone number, what they need, when they’re available – gives those people an easy way to reach you without picking up the phone.
Keep the form short. The longer it is, the less likely people are to fill it out. Name, number, and a brief description of the job is all you need to get the conversation started.
Is Your Website Doing Its Job?
If your current site is missing any of these, it’s worth addressing sooner rather than later. A website that looks fine but doesn’t convert visitors is essentially a missed opportunity every time someone lands on it.
At Wavebreak Technology, we build websites for tradies and small businesses that are set up to actually work – not just sit there. If you’d like a hand getting yours sorted, get in touch for a no-pressure chat.
You might also find our post on does your small business actually need a website worth a read if you’re still weighing up your options.