Websites for trades people

[edit] Tradespeople in the UK

Tradespeople in the United Kingdom — including plumbers, electricians, joiners, builders, roofers and other small-business construction operators — increasingly rely on having an online presence to win work. This article describes the main options available for establishing that presence, their typical costs, and the trade-offs involved.

[edit] Overview

For most self-employed tradespeople and small trade businesses, an online presence serves three purposes:

• Making the business discoverable through search engines such as Google
• Providing a basic level of credibility and trust to prospective customers
• Providing a destination where customers can see examples of work, read reviews, and make contact

There are several distinct categories of tooling available, each with different cost and effort profiles. In practice many tradespeople use more than one in combination.

[edit] Categories of online presence

[edit] Trade directories

Trade directories offer profile listings where a tradesperson can list their services, qualifications and previous work. Examples include Checkatrade, Rated People, MyBuilder, https://www.trustatrader.com/ and Bark.com. Most directories charge either a monthly subscription or a pay-per-lead fee. Profiles are not owned by the tradesperson and are bound by the directory's terms and policies.

[edit] Self-build website platforms

Self-build platforms such as Wix, Squarespace, GoDaddy and https://wordpress.com/ allow an individual to create and host their own website without writing code. Subscription costs typically range from £10 to £25 per month for a basic plan, plus the user's time to set up and maintain the site. These tools offer high flexibility but require ongoing effort to keep the site current, secure and competitive in search results.

[edit] Managed website services

Managed website services build a website for the tradesperson, host it, and handle ongoing technical work such as updates, backups and minor content edits. Costs typically range from approximately £99 entry plus a monthly subscription. Examples include Get A Trades Website, 5 Day Sites and Pukka Sites. Managed services suit tradespeople who do not want to maintain a website themselves but want more control over their presence than a directory profile alone can offer.

[edit] Bespoke agency builds

A traditional web design agency may produce a fully custom site, typically costing £1,500 to £5,000 or more for the build, plus ongoing hosting and maintenance fees. This option is most often chosen by larger trade businesses or those with specific requirements such as eCommerce, complex booking systems, or branded marketing campaigns.

[edit] Free or basic options

Some tradespeople rely solely on free options such as a Google Business Profile, a Facebook business page, or a basic free directory profile. These can be effective for highly local work but typically generate fewer enquiries over the medium term than a dedicated website.

[edit] Typical costs

Approximate setup and ongoing costs by option:

• Trade directory profile: free to £50 setup, £20 to £100 per month or per-lead fee
• DIY website (Wix, Squarespace): free to £100 setup, £10 to £25 per month
• Managed website service: £99 to £500 setup, £20 to £100 per month
• Bespoke agency build: £1,500 to £5,000 or more setup, £30 to £150 per month
• Google Business Profile only: free

Choosing between options

The right option for a given tradesperson depends on several factors:

• How much time the tradesperson can realistically dedicate to managing the website each week
• Whether they need a strong presence in local Google search results
• The complexity of services offered
• Whether they need integration with quoting, invoicing or booking tools
• Their existing budget for marketing

For most one-person trade businesses, a Google Business Profile combined with either a managed website or a self-built site is sufficient for generating local enquiries. Trade directory listings can complement an owned website but are unlikely to fully replace one for businesses focused on long-term brand-building or independence from third-party platforms.

[edit] Related articles

• Facebook for trades people
• Construction marketing
• Search engine optimisation
• Google Business Profile

[edit] External links

• Get A Trades Website — managed website service for UK tradespeople (https://www.getatradeswebsite.co.uk/)

--Getatradeswebsite