If you're a plumber, electrician, builder, or any other tradesperson, you've probably been told you need a website. You might even have one already. But here's the question that actually matters: is it bringing you work?
Most tradesman websites fall into one of two categories. Either they're expensive, overcomplicated, and full of features you don't need. Or they're cheap, template-based, and so basic they might as well not exist. Neither actually helps you get more customers.
This guide is about what tradesmen actually need from a website. Not what web designers think you should have, not what looks impressive, but what genuinely helps you win more work and grow your business.
Why Tradesmen Need Websites in 2024
Let's be honest: word of mouth used to be enough. If you did good work, people recommended you. You got busy. You didn't need marketing.
That's changed. When someone needs a plumber or electrician now, the first thing they do is search on their phone. If you're not showing up in those searches, you're losing work to competitors who are. And if you do show up but your website looks unprofessional or doesn't give people confidence, they'll move on to the next result.
A website isn't about being trendy or high-tech. It's about being findable when people need you, and giving them enough information to choose you over someone else. That's it.
The Problem with Generic Website Builders
You've seen the ads. "Build your website in minutes!" "No coding required!" "Free templates!" These DIY website builders sound great, but they create specific problems for tradesmen.
First, the templates aren't designed for trades businesses. They're generic. They might work fine for a photographer or a consultant, but they don't show what matters for a tradesman: your service area, your qualifications, your availability, and how to contact you urgently if needed.
Second, these sites are often terrible for SEO. They might look okay, but Google doesn't find them, or doesn't rank them well. You could have a perfectly nice website that no one ever sees.
Third, they usually look like templates. When someone's choosing between three plumbers, and two have professional websites while one clearly used a free template, who do you think they'll call?
What Makes a Good Tradesman Website
Mobile-First Design
Most people searching for a plumber or electrician are on their phone. Either because something's broken and they need help now, or because they're at work and quickly searching during a break. If your website doesn't work well on mobile, you're losing work.
Mobile-first doesn't just mean "works on phones." It means the phone number is immediately visible and clickable. It means the navigation is simple. It means pages load quickly even on patchy mobile internet. It means people can find what they need and contact you in seconds, not minutes.
Fast Loading Speed
If your website takes more than a few seconds to load, people leave. They don't wait. They go to the next search result. This is especially true for tradesmen - when someone needs a plumber because their kitchen is flooding, they're not going to wait around for fancy animations to load.
Fast loading isn't just about user experience. Google uses speed as a ranking factor. Slow websites rank lower. So you lose customers twice - once because people leave before the site loads, and again because fewer people find you in the first place.
Clear Contact Information
This should be obvious, but you'd be amazed how many tradesman websites make it hard to actually contact the business. Your phone number should be at the top of every page. On mobile, it should be a clickable link that calls you directly. Your email address should be clearly visible. If you have an office, show the address.
Don't hide your contact details behind a "Contact Us" page that requires filling in a form. Have a form if you want, but always provide direct contact methods too. Some people prefer calling, some prefer email. Give them options.
Trust Signals
People are inviting you into their homes or businesses. They need to trust you. Your website should establish that trust through qualifications, certifications, insurance details, and how long you've been trading.
If you're Gas Safe registered, show it. If you're NICEIC approved, show it. If you're fully insured, say so. If you've been trading for 15 years, that's worth mentioning. These aren't bragging - they're reassurance for potential customers who don't know you yet. As outlined in official UK business guidance, displaying your credentials builds legitimacy.
Essential Features for Tradesman Websites
Service Areas
Make it crystal clear where you work. Don't just say "Cornwall" - list the specific towns and areas you cover. This helps with local SEO (more on that later) and helps potential customers immediately see if you cover their area.
If you're willing to travel further for certain jobs, or charge more for areas outside your main region, explain that too. The clearer you are about where you work, the fewer time-wasting enquiries from people outside your area.
Services Explained
Don't assume people know what you do. "Electrical services" could mean anything. Be specific: do you do rewiring, fusebox upgrades, EV charger installation, emergency callouts? List your services clearly.
For each service, explain it in simple language. What's involved? How long does it typically take? What should customers expect? You're not writing a technical manual - you're helping someone who doesn't know much about your trade make a decision.
About Section
This isn't about writing your life story. It's about showing you're a real person who knows their trade. How long have you been doing this? What qualifications do you have? Why should someone choose you?
A photo of you (or your team) helps. People prefer working with real people they can see, not faceless companies. It doesn't need to be a professional photoshoot - a decent photo in your work clothes on a job site is often more trustworthy than a staged studio shot.
Gallery or Examples
Show examples of your work. Before and after photos work well. Pictures of completed jobs. Anything that demonstrates you actually do what you claim to do. You don't need dozens of photos - six to ten good examples is plenty.
Make sure photos are decent quality and show the work clearly. Blurry phone photos of dark corners don't help anyone. If you're not confident about photography, it's worth getting someone to take proper photos of a few jobs.
One-Page vs Multi-Page Websites
For many tradesmen, a well-designed one-page website is enough. Everything potential customers need to know is right there: what you do, where you work, how to contact you, examples of your work, and your qualifications. No clicking through multiple pages. No confusion. No getting lost.
One-page sites are typically cheaper to build and easier to maintain. They load fast. They work well on mobile. And they give people all the information they need to make a decision.
Multi-page sites make sense if you offer several distinct services that each need proper explanation. A builder doing new builds, extensions, and renovations might want separate pages for each. An electrician doing domestic, commercial, and EV charging might want to split those out. But if you're a straightforward plumber offering standard plumbing services, one page is usually enough.
Local SEO Basics for Trades
SEO sounds complicated, but for tradesmen, local SEO is mostly common sense. You want to show up when people in your area search for what you do.
Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do for local visibility. It's free, and it makes you show up in Google Maps and local search results. According to BrightLocal research, 87% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses. Set up your Google Business Profile, keep it updated, and ask satisfied customers to leave reviews.
Local Keywords
Include your location in your website content naturally. Not "plumber" but "plumber in Truro" or "emergency electrician Newquay." Don't stuff keywords awkwardly - just mention your location in ways that make sense.
Consistent Information
Use the same business name, address, and phone number everywhere: your website, Google Business, social media, directories. Inconsistent information confuses Google and hurts your rankings.
Common Mistakes Tradesmen Make
No Clear Call to Action
Don't make people hunt for how to contact you. Have a clear "Call Now" button or "Get a Quote" form prominently displayed. Tell people exactly what you want them to do next.
Too Much Text
People won't read paragraphs of text about your company history or your philosophy. Give them the essential information in simple, scannable chunks. Use headings, bullet points, and short paragraphs.
Outdated Content
If your website says you're accepting new customers but your phone goes to voicemail for three days, people will assume you're not actually available. Keep your website current. If circumstances change, update your site.
Trying to Be Too Clever
You don't need animations, video backgrounds, or complex navigation. You need clear information and easy contact methods. Simple, professional, and functional beats fancy every time.
Our Approach to Tradesman Websites
When we build websites for tradesmen, we focus on what actually matters: being found by local customers and converting visitors into enquiries. That means proper local marketing setup, mobile-optimised design, fast loading speeds, and clear calls to action.
We don't add features you don't need. We don't use complicated jargon. We build websites that work for your business and your budget. Sometimes that's a simple one-page site. Sometimes it's a more comprehensive multi-page site. It depends on what you actually need, not what we can convince you to pay for.
If you're a tradesperson in Cornwall or elsewhere in the UK, and you want a website that actually brings in work rather than just sitting there looking pretty, let's talk.