How to create a Handyman Website

Not having a website nowadays is a huge risk in terms of gaining new customers. People use their cell phones, tablets, and computers to look up services in their area, and this is no different for tradesmen. Having a website as a handyman is therefore an important step for gaining and keeping customers. If customers can view information about your business online, they won’t need to call you to ask about essential information, saving you time and helping them choose your business quickly.

There are several advantages to having your own tradesman website. We’ve highlighted the top ones here:

• You have a business card that can be accessed when you’re ‘offline’ and people from out of town have access, too
• A website means you’ll be found when people look up your services online
• A website is like a company brochure that is displayed everywhere
• You have control of how you present yourself and your services
• A tradesman’s website is comparable to a sales platform for your services; potential customers find out in detail what they can expect from you

So, what are we waiting for? Let’s get started!

Due to COVID-19 and its limitations, many companies have switched to the home office in a very short time. For many tradesmen, however, this option does not exist. Even during a pandemic, you and your employees are needed in person, on site. However, both your team and your customers will probably have to comply with certain regulations when working on site. Masking up, keeping your distance, and working in ventilated premises. Use your website to inform customers in advance about how you will deal with the corona crisis and how you’re keeping your customer’s safe. This not only makes work on site easier, but also gives clients additional confidence in your business.

At IONOS, we’re passionate about being a dependable partner for your tradesman business during the Coronavirus pandemic. Find out everything about our diverse range of support services on the following information page.

Building a handyman website is actually quite simple in terms of the technology needed. There are many tools available, which mean you don’t have to do a basic course in HTML, CSS, JavaScript, or PHP. Each tool has its clear strengths, but there are also some points to consider so that your core business does not suffer when you take care of the website.

A website builder like IONOS’ website builder provides a foundational design that can be adapted to industry-specific requirements in just a few clicks. These kinds of package often already contain photos that fit the industry well, meaning that effort from your side is minimal.

A content management system (CMS) like WordPress is easy to set up, even for beginners. However, you should have basic knowledge about what a database is and how to communicate with a server. The biggest advantage of a CMS is that the finished website can be maintained by your employees.

DIY programming offers the maximum scope for creativity in terms of your own ideas, but also requires the highest effort and knowledge. You might not have the time to learn coding and it isn’t a great idea if it’s just for a one-time application. If you already know how, then you can code your own website right away!

Using a freelance service or hiring an agency will combine flexibility and outsourcing work. However, it can be a costly option. You should only consider this option if you have high demands on your website, which are worth the additional expense.

Take a look at our CMS comparison and our article on creating a WordPress website if you want to learn more. It may help simplify your decision.

A top priority for customer acquisition is trust. Everything on your page should display who you are as a business, and help customers get to know you. To help things along, these are ideal sub-sections to include on your website:

• Homepage
• Company profile
• Range of services
• Completed projects and references
• Blog and social media
• How to contact us
• Legal information

A welcoming homepage will create a good impression on potential customers. Unless you’ve already met your clients face-to-face, this will be their first impression of you. This is definitely the case with new customers. A good summary can catch a client’s interest. Everyone should be able to see what your business is all about and which services you offer.

In many trades there are emergency services or 24-hour services, e.g. in the sanitary and electrical trades or with locksmiths and glaziers. This information also belongs on your homepage so that people seeking help in an emergency do not have to search for a long time to get help. An additional button with a telephone number makes it possible to call your business directly via the homepage.

On this page, the history of your company comes into play. Many tradesman enterprises have long traditions or were founded in order to close a regional market gap with a service or to offer something completely new. You should tell your story well: short, concise, and credible are words to keep in mind.

Introduce yourself and your employees, preferably with photos. If your potential customers then see a face, you’ll seem more familiar and trustworthy.

On the ‘About us’ page, additional qualifications, certificates obtained, or awards from trade associations may also be listed to round off the image of your enterprise. Some certifications are also mandatory for certain industries, and these should be displayed here.

This part of the website should include a detailed description of all the services you provide. Formulate necessary technical explanations in a generally understandable way – jargon can be intimidating!

Some industries have online planning tools and cost calculators for potential clients, for planning a bathroom, for example, and calculating the approximate costs for this.

Perhaps you rely on current customers to recommend you to their friends, but that shouldn’t stop you including some references on your website, too. This way, even people form outside of your current customer ‘bubble’ will be sold on your services!

Whether or not you set up a blog depends mainly on whether it is appropriate for your trade, and also if you’re up for running one. If you like to tell stories, tools such as an online diary are useful building blocks to create a sense of familiarity between you and your customers, as well as a way for them to see what you do.

The situation is similar with social media platforms. Offer links to your Facebook, Instagram, or Google accounts – and maintain these accounts. This is another great way to reach customers and to gain their trust by showing them who you are!

The contact form is really important for a tradesman website. It allows customers to communicate directly with you. If you offer several services or service topics, a drop-down list is a good solution. Also place your telephone number on the contact page, possibly with a call-to-action button like ‘Call now!’ Your postal address should not be missing either – not least because potential clients will know exactly where to find your company.

An imprint and privacy policy are important elements for every commercial website, and therefore also for every tradesman. A well formulated privacy policy will help demonstrate that your business is professional, and cares about customer rights. Depending on your trade, you may also have to include information about your right to do the work that you do, so make sure you’re savvy on the legal requirements of presenting your trade online.

We will now show you the steps you need to take to create your tradesman homepage. Proceed as follows:

• Select domain (Internet address)
• Choose your design
• Add your own content
• Publish website
• Make your website known and optimise it

You’ll be familiar with domains even if the word itself doesn’t mean that much. A domain is the Internet address you use for your website: www.tradesman-smith.com. It can help to use your name, type of trade, and location in your domain – but don’t make it too long, either! Your clients will know what you do and where you are located if you pick the right name for your domain.

When choosing the design of your handyman website, the first guide is your own taste. You yourself should be satisfied with the look of your website and feel represented in it. We have compiled some specialised advice in separate guides, including information on creating a one pager, user-centered design, and human-centered design.

After the technical framework of the website has been set up for your tradesman website, the individual pages need to be filled with unique content. Beginning with your homepage, and then all the sub-pages mentioned, you can add text and images. If necessary, videos can be a useful addition, or in special cases, audio files. If you do not have your own image or video material available, there are various providers, but this can also mean additional costs. Let traditional tools speak for your business, show off completed projects, and give satisfied customers a voice!

After your website goes live, you can optimise it so it will be found easily. Having a website has a lot of advantages, but it does require some extra work. Making your website well known is a task in itself. Try and get your website out there as much as you can, for example by way of company cars, uniforms, business cards, and local ads. Asking your local community to promote your business’ website can get things off to a good start. To become regionally better known, being listed in regional directories is very useful.

When posting new images or adding links, think of alt texts and title tags. Include important keywords from within your industry in headlines. We’ve got a dedicated guide on making your company better known on a regional level, called our local SEO guide.