Construction companies make great clients for website developers, because they understand the basic principals of project management and using skills to create something unique.
1. Best Practices for Construction Company Websites
Construction companies make great clients for website developers, because they understand the basic
principals of project management and using skills to create something unique. We would like to thank
them by offering advice on things that help make a great construction industry website. There are
many different types of businesses relative to construction that can benefit from this advice, such as
commercial construction, residential construction and remodeling, contractors, roofing, woodworking
and millwork, custom home building, fixture installation, and architecture.
Building An Online House
You may think that a website is not the focal point of your business, if you are building things outside
in the real world and not worried about things that happen behind a computer. But let’s be honest,
even your oldest client uses the Internet to check things out. Your online presence is an important
piece of your company reputation. Construction is a competitive industry that is constantly moving
and battling challenges, and the most successful players have websites. It is important that the online
presence represents the same quality and specialties that your staff conveys on the ground. This will
instill confidence in your brand and capabilities at all points of the process, from the bid to the
execution.
2. Before and After Examples
Remodeling and renovation is a process of transformation best described with visuals. Remember to
capture the history of a project before it begins and even during the process of construction, to
demonstrate the amazing transformation clients enjoyed at completion. When great projects like
restaurant remodels are finished, the property owner will often have a professional photographer take
final shots to market the new business. Collaborate with the client to acquire more professional shots,
but don’t forget to snap shots of the before scene as well. Your before and after photos can be
presented like a case study, with a description of the initial project requirements and challenges
beside the before image, and a description of the benefits of the new renovation beside the after
shot. Even a few pairs of these examples can make a dramatic first impression.
A Portfolio of Current Examples
A construction website should have at least a basic photo gallery with featured project examples.
Although it is not necessary to include hundreds of photos, the portfolio should include examples that
show current capabilities and a breadth of projects. Select examples that represent the type of work
you want to attract more of. Do not include photos that are irrelevant to the company’s current focus;
a construction business focusing on commercial architecture design and build should refrain from
showcasing residential work or “side projects”. A typical website photo gallery should include
thumbnail images on a web page, however a better presentation will allow those thumbnail images to
link to larger versions and may also include a short description about the project. Some galleries go
deeper by linking photos to separate web pages with a full description about the project and
additional photos. This is a good way to build up quality content in your website that strengthens
SEO.
Landing Pages for Each Construction Focus
Besides visuals, a good construction website required content that helps the visitor understand what
to expect. In a sea of construction oriented sites competing for attention, the website needs to
clearly define what your company specializes in (types of projects), what your capabilities are (your
skills), and what your target markets are (where you service clients). Besides a basic overview
paragraph, establish a landing page for each core focus area; for example, a page for Kitchen
Remodels, a page for Restaurant Interiors and a page for Exterior Treatments. Give each page a
decent amount of content to help prospects and search engines gain a better perspective. Here are
some great things to include:
an overview paragraph
a list of feature examples
a list of capabilities
a list of clients served in that area
a map of the service area
a featured testimonial quote
a few photos of that type of project
3. Associations and Certifications
LEED certified? Member of a National Association? When you have a special recognition, flaunt it.
Some certifications are specialized and help differentiate you from competitors. Others may be more
common, but if your competitor is showing it, you need to as well. Recognized symbols like Better
Business Bureau, Angie’s List, Yelp and the National Association of Roofers give visitors peace of mind.
These can be displayed on a single web page or in part of the design theme, such as the footer of
your website.
By paying some attention to these features, a construction company’s website will perform stronger in
search engines and provide a better customer experience, which can improve branding and increase
conversion rates.
For more information you can also visit on www.webii.net.