Stroma Certification outlines why having a functional and up-to-date website is so important for winning new business in today’s competitive marketplace.
In today’s digital age, it is becoming more increasingly important for electricians to maintain a strong presence online. Whilst word-of-mouth recommendations and printed literature remain very important, the opportunity to win work online is huge. Magazines, newspapers, advertising and directories are all being published digitally on websites to keep up with the growing number of customers venturing online to locate competent electricians.
Throughout 2016, 82% (41.8 million) of the UK adult population have used the internet on a daily basis, with 70% of the UK regularly accessing it whilst ‘on the go’ via mobile phones and smart phones (source: Office for National Statistics). With such a large majority of the UK actively engaged with the internet on a regular basis, it’s hard to deny the benefits of having a website to represent your business online.
Websites increase your online presence and therefore your visibility to potential customers. A website is a platform which is available 24/7 for customers to research more information about your company, as well as offering a point of contact to submit queries and hire your services. Websites are a great way to improve the efficiency of communication between an electrician and the customer, with instant access to various forms of contact throughout your website.
Creating your website
Many people seek the assistance of a website. Web Developer to build a functional website. We advise researching a number of companies, including asking your colleagues for their recommendations, to find a reputable Developer who is value for money. Stroma offers a bespoke design package, with consideration of all your business’ requirements to develop a responsive website. The developer you choose should be able to help you with all the elements of producing your website, including securing a domain name, building your website template and creating each page.
Every website is different and there is no single correct way to go about creating one. However, here are just a few basic guidelines which can help you to begin a successful website for your business.
How can we help?
Unless you are experienced in website design and development, it can be difficult to produce and maintain a successful website. Stroma Certification offers a tailored Web Design service for members, delivering professional, compliant and attractive websites which are engaging for your customers and function across all devices.
Functionality & Navigation
As statistics have shown, more and more people are accessing the internet via mobile devices in addition to computers and laptops. Your Developer should be able to create your website to work correctly on desktop computers, tablets and mobile phones. Similarly, navigation throughout your website should be simple and your customer should be able to find the information they’re looking for with ease. Maintaining a menu and search bar on each page can enable a more efficient customer journey and avoid the customer exiting your website without finding the relevant information.
Contact information
Having visible contact information throughout your website provides your potential customers with an instant point of contact. Phone numbers, email addresses, enquiry forms, social media links and call back buttons are all great ways of encouraging your customers to make the initial contact. You can then build a relationship with that customer and secure future business with them.
Branding
The design and branding of your website should be consistent throughout. If you have a company logo or particular colours or theme, implement them throughout your website. Displaying your accreditation badges, such as the Stroma member logo or TrustMark membership logo, demonstrates your dedication to high standards. A well designed and branded website, which has a consistent layout and structure, shows you are a professional business and improves your credibility in the mind of your customer.
Content
The content you publish on your website should be regularly revised to remain up to date with your service offerings and industry developments. Visiting a website which contains out of date information gives the impression that your company isn’t active which can be off-putting to a customer. The content which is on your website should be engaging and informative, as well as grammatically correct and fluent. The customer should be confident in your ability to do the job and should want to contact you after visiting your website.
