Websites for trades: what to get right

Why this matters

Trades and contractors live on enquiries. Your website should make it obvious who you are, what you do, where you work, and how to get a quote.

Most trade sites fail on one of these basics. Fix them and you win more work.

1) A clear service list

Visitors need to see what you do in seconds. Vague or buried service lists make people bounce.

What to include

• Specific services: "Plumbing" is fine, but "Boiler installation", "Bathroom fitting", "Emergency repairs" is better.
• One page per main service: Gives you clear structure and helps local search.
• Plain language: Avoid jargon. Describe what you do in terms people use when searching.
• What's included: Scope, typical timeline, or "from" pricing if it helps.

What to avoid

• One long page with everything crammed in.
• Generic copy that could apply to any trade.
• Hiding services behind vague menu labels like "What we do".

2) Areas covered

People search for trades by location. If they cannot tell whether you cover their area, they leave.

What to include

• Clear "Areas covered" section: List towns, postcodes, or regions you serve.
• Location in page titles and descriptions: Helps search engines and visitors. See local SEO for small businesses.
• Consistent location info: Same areas on your site, Google Business Profile, and directories.
• Service + area pages if you cover many areas: e.g. "Plumbing in Leeds", "Plumbing in Sheffield" - but only if you have real content for each.

What to avoid

• Burying "areas covered" at the bottom of the page.
• Claiming areas you do not actually serve.
• Thin, duplicate pages for every town (search engines see through it).

3) Reviews and proof

People choose trades on trust. Reviews, photos, and accreditations build that trust.

What to include

• Testimonials: Real names, real projects, specific outcomes where possible.
• Photos of your work: Before/after, finished jobs, team at work.
• Accreditations and memberships: Gas Safe, NICEIC, TrustMark, trade bodies.
• Google reviews: Encourage happy customers to leave reviews. Display them on your site if appropriate.

What to avoid

• Fake or vague testimonials ("Great job!" with no name or detail).
• Stock photos that do not show your actual work.
• Claiming accreditations you do not have.

4) Quote request forms that work

Your form is where enquiries happen or die. Keep it simple and reliable.

What to include

• Essential fields only: Name, phone, email, service needed, location, brief description.
• Clear labels: People need to know exactly what to enter.
• Confirmation message: Tell people their enquiry was received and what happens next.
• Spam protection: Without making the form annoying. See email deliverability and form submissions.

What to avoid

• Long forms with fields you do not need upfront.
• Forms that fail silently or send enquiries to spam.
• Hiding the form behind multiple clicks.

5) Contact that's easy to find

Some people prefer to call. Your phone number and contact options should be obvious on every page.

What to include

• Phone number in the header or footer: Visible without scrolling on mobile.
• Click-to-call on mobile: One tap to dial.
• One clear "Get a quote" or "Contact" button: Same place on every page.
• Opening hours or "Available for quotes" if relevant: Sets expectations.

6) Fast, mobile-friendly pages

Many people search for trades on their phone, often from a job site or in a hurry. Slow or broken mobile experience loses them [2]Source 2 .

What to include

• Fast load times: Optimise images, avoid heavy themes. See fast websites: what fast means.
• Readable text without zooming: Font size and contrast matter. See what accessibility means.
• Buttons and links that are easy to tap: Not too small, not too close together.
• Forms that work on mobile: Correct keyboard type, no cramped fields.

Summary

A trade website that brings in enquiries needs: clear services, visible areas covered, reviews and proof, a simple quote form, obvious contact details, and fast mobile-friendly pages.

Get these right and your site does its job.

If you need a site that does this properly, see websites for trades & contractors or website build services. For more on getting enquiries, see why your website isn't getting enquiries. You can also get in touch to discuss your project.