If you've already seen our latest TV ad, you'll already know about the Happy Plasterer, aka Robin Dew.
If you haven't seen the ad or need a refresher, here it is:
Robin has been a plasterer since 2002, and set up his own business in 2008. He's also a GoDaddy customer, and used our Website Builder to set up a website that helps him reach new customers.
In this article, we'll take a look at the Happy Plasterer website to highlight why it works for Robin, and how you can use the same principles to give your website the perfect finish (see what we did there?)
Feature one - A clear, concise homepage
As soon as you arrive on Robin's website, you know exactly what he does. It may sound simple, but making sure that what your business does is immediately clear on your website is important - it lets visitors know they're in the right place.
Sometimes it can be tempting to opt for something that looks a bit flashier, such as an animated intro page but if you do that you can confuse your website visitors.
As we scroll down the homepage, we get more information about the services Robin offers. As well as a contact form, and reviews from happy customers of the Happy Plasterer, as well as some information about Robin himself.
Put simply, everything a potential customer might want to know about Robin and his business can be found on the homepage.
By doing this on your own homepage, you can help people understand if you offer the product or service they're looking for without them having to hunt through several pages. Something most site visitors won't do.
Feature two - A clear navigation
Want to know more about the services Robin offers? Or perhaps you want to see testimonials from past customers? Maybe you're curious about Robin himself, or want to know how to contact him?
You can do all these things simply by clicking on the relevant section in the navigation bar at the top of each page.
A clear navigation like this helps people find the information they want without having to scroll, and it also makes sure that they don't get lost.
This is important on a site with relativity few pages like Robins, but it's even more important on larger sites. Imagine having to browse a site like Amazon without a navigation bar to help guide you to where you want to be.
By ensuring your site is easy to navigate, you make sure your site visitors are able to stay focused on the task they want to complete when visiting your site. As that could be something like asking for a quote or buying a product, it's important to get your navigation right.
Feature three - Reviews and testimonials
We've already mentioned that Robin features reviews and testimonials on his site, and they really are an important part of doing business online.
Why? Because they help instil trust in potential customers.
Reviews and testimonials show people that they can rely on you to provide the service that they need, and/or that the products provide are of a high quality and do what they're supposed to do.
You can read this guide for more information on gathering reviews and testimonials, and how to use them on your website.
Feature four - Details of services provided
Robin clearly explains that he carries out all aspects of plastering work and lists specific services.
Listing the services you provide (or the features of the products you sell) is important as it allows website visitors to clearly see what it is you offer.
If don't give details of a service your provide (or don't list all the features a product has) then you run the risk of potential customers heading to rival business which does make it clear what they offer.
Feature four - Details of the area your business covers
Robin explains that he serves Bristol and the surrounding area.
This is particularly important for service businesses that cover a specific geographic region as people will want to know if you operate in their area.
Including this information can also help search engines understand what area your business covers, which is important in local search engine optimization.
Feature five - A "contact us" form
In Robin's case, he's using his contact form to help generate business enquiries via his website, so it's an absolutely crucial element of the site.
This is often the case for many service businesses, so if that's the field you're in make sure you have a contact form people can use when they want to ask for a quote.
If you're selling a product then a contact form is likely to act as more of a customer service channel, which people can use if they have questions before or after they buy from you.
In both cases, being able to contact someone (and getting a prompt reply) is something that will build trust with potential and existing customers.
You might also have noticed that Robin includes his phone number and email address on the site as well. Giving people more than one way to get in touch, if you can, is important as not everyone communicates in the same way.
Feature six - An "about me" page
"Who am I dealing with here?" is one of the first questions people ask themselves when they land on an unfamiliar website, particularly if they're looking to spend money.
The "about me" page on the Happy Plaster website lets you know a little bit about Robin, and shows you that you're dealing with an experienced plasterer
An "about me/us" page lets site visitors get to know the person/people behind the business, which helps build trust.
Feature seven - Strong imagery
Putting a face to a name is always helpful. As you explore the Happy Plasterer's website you not only get to learn about Robin, you also get to see the man himself.
Including images of you (and your team if you have one) helps build trust, as website visitors can see that there is a real person behind the business.
Robin's site also features images of his work, which builds trust even further.
Your website should feature images of your products and, where possible, the results of the service you offer.
You can learn more about choosing images for a website in this guide.
Summing up
By following the example of the Happy Plasterer, you can help build a website that will engage potential customers, increasing your chances of winning more business.
You can learn more about why the Happy Plasterer believes it's important for businesses to have a website here.
While in this guide, you can learn about the things that make a good website homepage - the perfect next step if you're looking to make improvements to an existing website.
And if you need to set up a new website, then you can add all the features we've talked about here using GoDaddy's Website Builder. It's the same tool that powers the Happy Plasterer's site.
