According to Forbes, in-person first impressions form during the first seven seconds of meeting. However, in the land of networking, a consumer will establish his opinion of a business in less than two-tenths of a second after opening the company’s website. In light of this research, one can conclude that having a successful website is essential to running a successful business. So before you can blink your eyes, here are three key elements every home builder website must have to make that first look worth remembering:
Visual Appeal
Think of your website as your company’s open house. When you open the front door, what do you want your client to see? Use pictures of finished homes to attract his attention. These will not only keep him on the page, but will serve as a marketing tool to showcase your work. Use the space you have, but don’t overdo it. You want your website to be consistent, clean, and clutter free. Too many fonts, colors, or images will look like a pile of dirty laundry in the middle of the foyer.
Easy Accessibility
Keep it simple. Potential clients are visiting your website because they are interested in what you have to offer, but are still deciding on the next step. Make it easy for them to do so. Implement a navigation bar to help visitors find information. Research keywords and categorize accordingly with common terms. A Frequently Asked Questions page is also a great asset and will provide answers to common questions people may have about home building. Avoid overusing drop-down menus because they can be overwhelming. To optimize space while decreasing your bounce rate, include important information in the sidebar and footer. The visitor should also always know where he is on the website and be able to easily return to the previously viewed page.
Mobile Compatibility
As technology changes, a website must adapt to remain easily accessible. The majority of your clients will be viewing your website from their smart phones, tablets, and other handheld gadgets. Keep this in mind when designing your website. A successful website will be mobile responsive, which means it will automatically adjust size and resolution to fit the browser’s device. If you're not sure - find out more here. Google could be penalizing your website in search results.
Compelling isn’t an option, it’s required!
To put it simply, a website is a company’s most valuable asset. It allows a business to present its vision and promote a product or service to anyone with Internet access; that’s almost 3 billion people worldwide! Those who design a website for this purpose often see the best results.
As a home builder, you are competing with other home builders as well as already existing homes.
Remember: When an individual visits your website, he is already entertaining the idea of home building. It is up to you to help her decide that home building is the best option and you are the best choice in home builders. In order to do this, your website must be compelling.
Display your strengths. If your company has won awards from the National Association of Home Builders or similar organizations, proudly display them on the landing page.
If you built for a well-known figure or maintain good relationships with former clients, include their commendations on a testimonial page. If your company has done charity work for Habitat for Humanity or other non-profit groups, make that known. Your client wants to feel secure when signing his building contract and if he is convinced you are the best choice, you will have his business.
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