The world’s first website celebrates its 30th birthday this summer. Since then, websites have become very important to the success of small businesses. And despite there being many ways to reach potential customers on the web, it’s still critical for any small business, including painting contractors, to have a website.
Here’s why.
Most People Use Google To Search for Local Services
When people are looking for a painting contractor near them, the first place they go is Google. And a company’s website content is still the main factor Google uses to determine which companies to display first. If you don’t have a website, you’re probably not going to be one of the handful that customers see near the top of the results.
That’s true even if somebody only looks at the Local Pack or on Google Maps. That’s because Google uses websites as a key indicator of quality and credibility. So even if you have maximized your Google My Business profile, your rankings in the Local Pack and Google Maps will suffer if you don’t have a website. Not having a website is like not having any reviews. It doesn’t prevent people from finding and choosing you, but it certainly makes it much less likely.
If you want your company to be listed near the top of the search results, you’re going to need a great website. That website needs plenty of content about the services you provide, it needs to have accurate information about your business hours and service area, and it needs to work well when people look at it on their smartphones. These are still some of the most important factors Google uses to decide which painting contractors land on the first page of search results and toward the top of the listings on the Local Pack and Maps.
Consumers Look at Websites to Confirm Credibility
Unfortunately, it’s pretty easy for people to call themselves a painting contractor – there’s not much equipment to buy, and most states don’t require a license to paint. That means there are plenty of painting businesses out there with owners who don’t know how to paint and don’t know how to run a business.
Customers know this. And while most customers don’t want to pay the “franchise premium” for a big business to come paint their house, they also don’t want to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars for a bad paint job. So before they hire someone, they look for signals that a painting contractor isn’t a fly-by-night operation, but someone who can actually get the job done right.
A professional website is one of the main things people use to determine whether a business is “for real.” People deciding to paint houses between jobs or as a seasonal side hustle might throw together a Facebook page, but they aren’t going to bother with a website to help build their business. A modern, professional website can instantly provide credibility for anyone deciding whether to trust you with their job.
Websites Are Still the Only Place Online Where You Control Your Image
There are dozens of businesses that make money by sitting between you and your customers. Facebook and Google have become two of the largest companies in the world by selling ads to businesses like yours. Companies like Yelp, HomeAdvisor and Angie’s List built their entire business model around sitting between you and your customers.
All of these companies are happy to provide a place online for you to present your business. But they’re also in control of how you look, and they use that fact to get more money from you. They decide what customer reviews get placed next to your name. They decide what you can say, how many words you have to say it, and what contact information you’re allowed to provide. And they’re going to make decisions that are in their best interest.
Your website is the one place where you’re in control of your image. You get to choose what to emphasize on your website. Nobody can pay extra to have their company listed above yours. If someone posts a fake negative review on Google, it’s up to Google whether it gets deleted from their site – but nobody’s making you put it on your website.
When you list your online presence on business cards or flyers, It’s important for that to be a place that you control. Otherwise, the first thing that people see when they visit that place might be something negative about your business!
To learn how ProPainter Websites can help your business earn new customers, call us at 919-424-6121 or email us at Team_PPW@ProPainterWebsites.com.