From your dentist and your local farm shop, to your dear old nan – virtually every one and every business has an online presence these days. If you’re keen to see how promoting your trade online could boost your business, it’s time to start building your website. ..

For self-employed tradespeople, your website doesn’t need to look like it’s come straight from Silicon Valley. Instead it needs to:

  • Be accessible & usable
  • Build trust
  • Encourage enquiries

If you’ve never built a website before, those three crucial things can be easier said than done. However, if you tick the following three boxes, you’ll be well on your way to a website which successfully does them all. Here are the three must-have features for any trades website:

1. A professional design

You don’t need a web designer to make your website look sleek and professional. While there’s no need for flashiness or bells and whistles, a website which looks professional rather than homemade will always look more trustworthy and dependable – after all, your website is a reflection of your business. There are tonnes of tools and platforms online which will help you set up a website template which looks good, with no need for technical expertise. Why not take a look at:

2. A clear navigation

Your online visitors need to know exactly where they are and how to get to what they want. Make sure that you have a simple navigation bar which labels each page clearly and obviously (i.e. “About Us”, “Pricing”, “Contact Us”, “Services”). This will ensure users don’t become frustrated and leave without trying to contact you.

3. An easy-to-use contact form

Finally, make sure that absolutely nothing stands between your users and getting in touch with you. Ensure your phone number and email address are clearly displayed on site, also include a clear, easy-to-use contact form to make sure users can get in touch then and there with no extra effort.

Have you set up a website to market your trade? How is it working? Did you do it single-handedly or bring in the experts? Share your experiences with other self-employed tradespeople here.