Construction Industry Website Design

The construction industry, like any other, relies on company awareness to land jobs. Whether it’s word of mouth, reviews on online platforms, or prevalence on the search results page, getting seen and being known is a key factor in growing your business and increasing your work. Having a good-looking and properly functioning website is necessary for establishing an online presence. The more often your site is seen and recognized by potential clients, the more likely you are to generate conversions. 

 

Why a Website?

Well-built websites are part of any effective marketing plan. Similar to social media marketing, they act as a brand awareness tool. Aside from housing important information on your products, services, or business, your site acts as a powerful marketing asset through a variety of features. A construction website design should play into the strengths of your business or specific service, highlighting why your construction company is the one to choose for potential jobs.

 

• • Showcase Work.

    
    For starters, your construction company’s website can act as an online portfolio to showcase past and current projects. This is particularly important for general contractor websites, as their work can span many different industries, from residential to retail. Your previous work reflects a lot of who your company is—your style, caliber of construction, ability to tackle challenging products, and the final product you’re capable of producing. Potential clients in the construction industry are looking for companies that have a record of producing good quality work over and over. People also respond well to images and videos when comparing businesses. A well-built portfolio on your site can help outline your company’s capabilities for future employers.

     

• • Paid Performance.
    

    
    A good site is built to drive conversions. Landing pages are in large part responsible for conversions and should be treated as an important aspect of the site. Landing pages refer to the site page where users are directed when they click on the ad. The first part of driving a lead is developing a good enough ad for them to click on, but from there, a quality landing page is what turns the lead into a client. Well-built landing pages include some of the following features:

     

• • Consistent Branding.
    

    
    Your business’s brand should be kept consistent in all online aspects, including and most importantly the landing page. Because landing pages are usually generated through an external ad, the user should recognize that the landing page and your site are the same business. Whether that’s logo consistency, color consistency, or message consistency, it should be clear that this page is linked to you.

     

• • Visuals.

    
    Enticing pictures and videos are an important strategy to capture the attention of potential clients. A good web design will be both informative and nice to look at. These visual elements should have practical value aside from being just good-looking. Perhaps these images show past work or the videos take you through a company mission statement or a collection of work footage.

     

• • Call-To-Action.
    

    
    Call-to-actions, which we will delve into further down, are a key aspect in generating some sort of click on the landing page. A call-to-action encourages the user to take some sort of action on the landing page. Generally, these are built into landing pages in the form of bright colored or contrasting colored buttons. You want to keep your CTAs to one per page so as to not confuse or overwhelm your potential client.

     

• • Lead Capture Form.
    

    
    Lead capture forms are perhaps the most important part of a landing page. Lead capture forms work to do just that, capture leads. This form generally asks for a few basic pieces of information. This includes name, email, phone number, and a basic blurb on what the person is needing. Depending on the purpose of your lead capture form, you may ask one or two supplemental questions to get a better idea of what this person is looking for. For a construction company, this could look like some descriptive factors on the work they want to be done, the type of project, the size, etc.

     

• • Impact SEO.
    

    
    Search engine optimization, also known as SEO, is the process of improving both the quantity and the quality of traffic to a specific website. The more traffic that sees your construction website, the more likely it is that these page views will turn into conversions. SEO can be strengthened in a number of ways.

     

• • Page Content.
    

    
    The content you house on your page should not only be informational and practical but should be selected and curated to improve SEO. A popular method of boosting SEO through content is the use of keywords and keyword phrases. Keywords refer to terms that are commonly searched in Google. The more content your site has that reflects those terms, the higher chance the search engine will display your site towards the top of the results page.

     

• • Page Structure.
    

    
    Consistently updated and easy-to-read content is key to improving your site’s SEO. The use of headers to separate various content topics works not only to make it easier to follow, but search engines actually recognize the text in the header format. Quality headers that include important keywords can make a significant difference in how well your site ranks on the search results page.

     

• • Metadata.
    

    
    Metadata refers to information that you can write into the code of the website. This information often describes the content of the page and what it is discussing. It is key that you consistently update your metadata over time as your site changes and grows to ensure that it continues to reflect its current state. While there are three main types of metadata, title metadata, description metadata, and keyword metadata, the most important is the first. Title metadata is what is displayed at the top of your browser window as well as what comes up as the headline in search results. 

 

4 Pillars of a Quality Site

The best websites are custom, ground-up builds. You want your website to reflect your company in every way. From the design to the copy, and the features to the photos and videos, it should be a platform that mirrors all the strengths your business has to offer. Construction web design is no different, your webpage should be an informational highlight reel of your past work, your services, and all the necessary information that a potential client would want or need to know.

 

• • Mobile-Ready.
    

    
    More than half of all search inquiries are now done through a mobile phone. For maximum audience retention, websites should be optimized to function seamlessly on a smartphone operating system. If a site fails to load or loads too slowly, chances are the user will leave the page and move to a different one, potentially costing you business.

     

• • Functional & Fast.
    

    
    One of the most important factors when looking at website performance is how long a user stays on a page. Sites that are slow to load or aren’t functional in the way they should cause users to leave the page and go to a different one, causing a loss in conversions. Your site should be quick to load and function without glitches. Whether your page features a map tool, a form fill-out, or any other interactive element, it is of the utmost importance that they work well.

     

• • Clear CTAs.
    

    
    CTAs are also called “Calls to action” and refer to a specific button or feature on the site that urges the user to take a specific action. This could be a “join now” button or a “get in touch” form. Whatever the call to action may be, it must be clear to the user. Most call-to-action elements sit on the header of the page. This is because the header is displayed on every additional site page, not just the home screen. Additionally, being up in the header follows the eye line of the user making it stand out and easy to see. 

• • Built For Growth.
    

    
    Your site should be built with growth in mind. A site design for growth includes building out features that drive long-term results. While it may be tempting to use your website to house main information and a contact page, effective sites have so much more to them. Adding a blog to your site can help rocket your page to better search results. As aforementioned, the content on your site can do a lot for your visibility on the internet. When you’re looking to build or redesign your site, consider investing in aspects that can help your site grow with your business from the get-go. It can save you from a lot of future headaches. 

 

Custom Web Design With Epic

Epic Marketing has been designing and building custom sites from the ground up for nearly 16 years. We believe high-quality websites that drive conversions and escalate growth are custom built from the ground up. Our talented team of developers and designers have trained in web design best practices and constructing functional, fast, and good-looking online platforms designed to push your business to the next level. If you’re looking to up your website game, give us a call. 

 

Custom Website Development

Businesses of all different sizes are choosing custom web development over cookie-cutter-type templates. When a company decides to build a platform for customer information or e-commerce, custom builds provide a variety of benefits. Even those with an existing website are upgrading to a tailored version for a better user experience. A few benefits of a custom site are clean and optimized code, new technologies, and updated tools and development. Your custom-built site will not only look its best, but it’ll have the performance to match.

 

What is Custom Website Development?

Custom website development refers to the individualized code written specifically for the site. While drag and drop templates have an existing code, custom builds are created from the ground up. This code can be written to match the needs of the client and the service. The level of modification from site to site can vary depending on the project. While some companies have a few specific elements, others are made up almost entirely of custom elements. This entire website customization is referred to as a ground-up build. It has no predetermined infrastructure to build on. In some cases, this could make your site so unique it’s never been done before. No matter the level of customization, adding custom code creates something new.

 

What are the alternatives to custom web development?

If you don’t want a custom build, there are other options. There are site builders, auto builders, free templates, paid templates, and a slew of different services at your disposal. Many need just an email to sign up. Some popular options include WordPress, Wix, and GoDaddy. While these platforms offer a bit of personalization, you can only do so much.

 

Why Choose Custom Web Development Over Template Sites?

Websites are useful points of contact for potential consumers. They offer a place to store important, frequently asked information. No matter the size of the company, having a website is critical to success. While pre-made templates offer some room for inputting information, images, and maps, their features are limited. Custom builds offer the opportunities to get just about everything you’d want. Whether it’s personalized icons, maps, drop-downs, or any other feature, custom sites make that possible.

 

Unique to your brand and customers

 

A custom website brings with it absolute flexibility in design. And with this flexibility comes many options to deliver a brand to the website visitor. Branding is important in the world of online sales. You want your website to reflect the nature of your brand. If your brand identity is sleek and modern, a clunky old-school site will not do. When branding is on point and delivered properly, customers are more likely to take action. Creating a site that is tailored to the user experience can increase conversions.

 

Leaner, Faster Site: Better Customer Experience

 

Website building platforms offer many pre-made templates and themes. And while this seems great, pre-built sites come with a lot of excesses. In order to make so many features possible, there needs to be a lot of code. But even if you opt-out of using a certain set of elements, the code remains. This extra stored information can slow down your site and make it glitchy and hard to use. Slow websites with long loading times are deterrents for customers. No buyer wants to sit around and wait for a platform to respond, especially if they’re making a purchase.

Custom website development teams take a totally different approach to design and development. When a business works with a custom designer, the specific needs of a business will be addressed before the design process begins. The designer will identify what is possible and how it can be implemented. The code is then written by the website developer to reflect exactly what was requested. By only coding the elements needed, the website stays lean. This helps deliver a powerful platform free of unwanted clutter.

 

Enhanced Security with Custom Work

 

Extra code makes room for extra problems. Because custom websites have only the code needed to reflect their active functions, there is little to no excess. By limiting the amount of code used, you can limit the potential holes for cybercrime. Cybercrimes often happen through hackers breaching data stores and stealing private information. This is particularly problematic when it comes to e-commerce and stored credit card numbers. Fine-tuning the code, hopefully, allows for a site to be better equipped against vulnerability. Custom-built websites are far superior when it comes to security.

 

Optimized for your business model

 

Different business sectors have different business models. Thus, they all need their own websites to match. Specific industries attract different kinds of customers and require elements that reflect that. A custom website development team works with you to understand how to best optimize your website. Whether it’s the content on the site, the CTAs, or the metadata, custom sites are built to encourage the user to do what you want.

 

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

 

Custom builds will not only give you a great-looking site but they will be developed to rank well in Google. How a page ranks on a search engine is important for traffic and conversion purposes. The higher you rank on the search page, the more likely it is that your website will be clicked on. The main process used to achieve this is called Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Search Engine Optimization is the process of adding elements, both on-page and off-page, to help it rank better. This can include adding commonly used keywords, hyperlinks, and other items that help in the ranking process. Good custom website development teams are knowledgeable about SEO and are up to date on best practices.

 

Conclusion

Every company has different needs when building a website. It could be specifics in design, elements, and/or functions. Whatever it may be, a custom website can deliver. For the best conversions, you want a website that is fast, useful, and nice to look at. Ultimately, the common goal is to create a platform that reaches consumers and incentivizes action. If you’re interested in upgrading your page, consider speaking to an agency that offers custom web design. And if it’s a good fit, get ready for the site of your dreams.

 

You know that awkward moment when you show up to a social event and you’re wearing the same thing as someone else in the room? At that point, you have three options: you either own it and act confident about the fact that you now have a twin, try to be sneaky and avoid that person the rest of the evening, or just flat out leave the party.

Now, luckily things on the Internet don’t get that awkward when you use the same template website as another person, but it definitely doesn’t make you feel special. A custom built website can provide a uniqueness that your business just might need. Below, are five reasons why you should consider a custom website.

Tailored to Your Company

Template websites can be easy to set up, but there are often features that you might want included that aren’t available to you. Custom websites are built to your liking. The design of the website should be created with your competitors in mind. You’ll want to ensure that you’ll be able to compete with them and, ideally, outperform them. Because custom websites are built from the ground up, customer satisfaction and user interface are prioritized.

Additionally, you can create and have a number of unique designs. This process adds time, which can increase cost, but this makes it more of what you want.

Leaner, Faster

Websites aren’t just what you see. Behind every website is a string of complex code in the back end. The custom features that are put onto the website effect and create the face of the website. It’s like an iceberg. We only see about 10% of the iceberg above the surface, but most of the mass is below. Websites are similar. The part that we see is only a fraction of what is actually going on.

A custom website’s back end is typically a lot cleaner than a template. For example, on a template website, there may be 60 different features, but you only want/need to use 10 of them. The remaining 50 features are still there and will slow down your website. Especially if there are a lot of other things going on in the back end. A custom website will only have what you program it to have. If you want those 10 features, then you’ll only have those 10 features, making your website lean and fast.

Depending on the programming and hosting, you could have a fast template website or a slow custom website. Generally speaking, websites built from templates have a lot more “bloat” because they have to cater to many different situations instead of including only what is necessary.

Edits are Easier to Maintain

If you buy a theme, there’s a good chance that theme will be updated. That update could lead to features on your website breaking. Although it may surprise you, a broken website isn’t a functional website.

Maintenance may be easier with a custom theme. If you don’t update the site, the code stays the same and doesn’t break. You don’t have to worry about anyone changing what you have done to your site.

Custom Code

Template websites can be great if your business is just getting started, but if you want any custom features, then a template website might hurt you more than benefit you.

With custom code, each page is created exactly how you want it. If you want to build a unique tool that nobody else has (including your competitors), then it’s easier to do on a custom site.

Mobile First

In 2018, statistics show that 52.2% of all website traffic was attributed to mobile devices. With that amount of traffic, it’s important that your website is mobile-friendly. Additionally, when a website is custom coded, you have the opportunity to customize the way you present your site to different devices.

Although custom coding gives you more control over how the website looks, that isn’t to say that templates are bad. Template websites are cost-effective and can help achieve your business objectives.

This all being said, there are advantages to having a template website. They’re easy to create, so even those with little experience creating websites can do it. With this simplicity comes a lower cost. It’s much more cost-effective to purchase website hosting, purchase a URL, create the website and let it run. That can cost a couple hundred dollars, whereas a custom built website will cost thousands, depending on where your website is being made. Atilus provides a great list of the pros and cons of using custom and template websites.

Businesses that can afford to build a custom site should do it. A custom website creates a uniqueness that other companies won’t have, and the navigation and features can be tailor-made to what works with your business’s brand. When designed and implemented well, it will create a great user experience that leaves potential clients happy with a desire to return. Plus, you can’t forget about the fact that you have a one in about 1.94 billion unique, website.