Tree care businesses, increase revenue with your website.
If you’re searching for the most cost effective and time efficient way to market your landscape or tree care business, look no further than your website. If you don’t have one yet, no worries. This blog has tips on how to get started. Regardless of where you’re at in your marketing journey, here are some helpful ways to leverage your website to win more customers.
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The value of a website
As of 2019, 85% of consumers conduct research online before making a purchase. For those consumers that search online, 34% of them click on the first search result they see in Google, and the top three results represent 75% of all clicks. Based on this information, not only is almost everyone searching for services online first, they’re choosing a service that’s listed in the top three in Google.
Having a website helps you reach your customers, but being online isn’t enough. You also need to rank highly in Google search results and be able to convert customers. First, you’ll need a website if you don’t already have one. Once you do, you’ll need to make sure that you’re optimizing it for Google. Below are tips to help you get started.
You don’t have a website yet
(If you have a website, skip to the next section.)
Having a website is a non-negotiable. Some landscape and tree care companies rely on a facebook page because it’s free and easy. However, social business pages won’t rank highly in search results, and by not having a professional website you’re missing out on a ton of web traffic. Creating a website takes money and time, but the investment is relatively cheap when you consider all of the benefits it brings.
How to create a website
Creating a website is relatively easy. It’s exciting because this is your chance to control your web presence. Here’s how to get started.
- Start by creating a thoughtful plan about the layout of your site and the pages you’ll want to have.
- Secondly, register your website’s domain name, aka your dot com. GoDaddy is a popular option.
- Next, you can either hire someone to create your website for you, or you can create your own website in WordPress or another website builder. Now that you have a website, read below to find out how to get the most value from it.
Continue reading for tips on how to leverage your website once it’s been created.
You already have a website
Now, you want to maximize the value of your site. Here are a few changes you can make.
Update your old site
When was the last time you updated your website? If it’s been more than a year, you should consider making changes. Start with your homepage. Does it look modern? Do you need to update the wording or add pages? Check out competitors’ websites and see what they’re doing. If you’re serious about updating your website consider hiring an outside agency, preferably one that is experienced in the green industry.
Site speed is one of the most important factors in keeping readers on your page. If your site is slow and clunky then you’re much more likely to have a higher bounce rate. Slow load times make users frustrated, and even if they stay on your site, they’re much less likely to become paying customers.
After you’ve optimized your site for speed, focus on your website’s user experience. This includes the layout of your pages, as well as how users navigate and interact with your site.
Hiring someone who is experienced in UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience) to evaluate your website could be a huge step in increasing your conversion rate. Too many websites look the same and say the same thing. Being thoughtful about your user’s experience can separate you from the crowd.
Add written content
Does you have a blog? Having well written, thoughtful content that speaks to your current and potential customers is the second most important part of your website after your main pages. Over time, adding keyword rich content will improve your Google ranking and make it easier for customers to find you. The ultimate goal of a blog is to increase the density of content on your website and show others that you have authority in your industry. Written content is also a fantastic way to self promote without being too “pushy”.
Add professional photos
All landscapers and arborists should leverage the power of photos. Do you have professional photos living on your homepage or a dedicated photos page? Stock images or photos taken on a cell phone aren’t enough. Hire a professional photographer to take before and after photos of your jobs site and highlight your crews in action. Ideally you would have one to two sets of photos for each service you offer. Written content is a great way to get people on your site; photos will help keep them on there.
Conclusion
Now that you know the power of your website, take action. If you need to create one, don’t delay! The ROI is huge, and you’ll see your returns growing over time. Secondly, if you already have a website, don’t let it sit and gather dust. Revisit your website every year to make updates, add new photos, and make sure you are giving your audience the best possible representation of your business. Don’t wait, your customers are online, they just need to find you.