I have created this post because I need some questions answered by Contractors. I am actually a web designer, but many of my friends and family are builders. They ask me for web sites and I noticed they all ask for the same things (i.e. Home Page, About Us, Services, Contact, Photo Gallery).
My question is: Do Contractors really need web sites?
The reason I'm asking is because I am in the process of creating a web tool to make it as easy to create a web page as it is to write an email. This way it will be a lot cheaper and easier to have a web site and manage it.
I am hoping people will be willing to give me some feedback on this idea and take my survey. The survey is 10 quick questions, but I welcome more of your thoughts! =)
I think that there would be a market for a very cheap website for contractors - as it's handy when making sales approaches to point people at your site.
This would be particularly useful for those within creative areas such as interior design, high-end landscaping services etc.
The problem with these "very cheap" solutions is that like contractors you get what you pay for. Usually a package of templates to choose from with content editors to create pages.
The problem here is no SEO... Without SEO Search Engine Optimization, nobody will find you web site when they are searching for contractors in Santa Fe or wherever you are located. If it can bring you potential customers, why bother.
Little web sites for contractors designed by me run only about $1,000.00 and what they bring in return pays for them over time.
Do yourself a favor, look in your local market for a good independant designer with a proven track record for SEO. You'll end up with much more than a site.
Tech Nerd, I agree 100%. However, for a one man band contractor who just wants to point people he's talking to at a website I don't see SEO as an issue.
The sites not their for acquisition, but more to add comfort factor to the people the contractor is selling to. I.e. a way to say I am serious about this.
We have had our website, Charlotte bathroom remodel, live for 3 years now. I did it myself. HTML for markup and CSS for positioning and styling. It's gone through 3 different stages.
Our website is an invaluable marketing tool. As we put no money in, ($25 for domain registration and Free web hosting) it currently brings us the vast majority of our leads. So ROI is outstanding.
I did most of our own SEO and we rank in top 3 for several keyword phrases.
Bottom line, we wouldn't still be in business without a website.
