We've talked to a lot of trades people about their websites. The conversation usually goes one of two ways: either they got burned by a web designer who charged too much and delivered too little, or they built something themselves that technically exists but does nothing for them.
A plumbing or electrical business in Renfrew County has completely different needs from a tech company in Kanata. Different business goals, different customers, different discovery channels. The website should reflect that.
How Your Customers Actually Find You
Let's start here, because it changes everything.
Most trades customers in the Ottawa Valley find a contractor one of three ways:
- Word of mouth — a neighbour, family member, or coworker recommends you
- Google search — "roofer Arnprior" or "emergency plumber Renfrew"
- Google Maps — same search, different UI
This means your Google Business Profile matters at least as much as your website. If you haven't set it up properly, fix that first. (We wrote about it here.)
What a Trades Website Actually Needs
A clear services list
Not vague. Not "we do it all." List what you actually do. If you do drain repair but not full bathroom renovation, say so. Specific services rank better in search and attract the right calls. You want someone who needs drain repair calling you — not someone wanting a full reno you're not equipped to handle.
Your service area, spelled out
Google needs to know where you work. Your customers need to know if you'll come to them. List your service area explicitly: "Serving Arnprior, Renfrew, Pembroke, and surrounding Renfrew County." This is also SEO — pages and text that name specific towns help you rank in those towns.
Real photos of your work
Before-and-after works incredibly well for trades. A finished roof. A clean electrical panel. A new bathroom. These images do more selling than any copy. If you don't have them yet, start taking photos on every job. Even decent phone shots are better than stock images of someone else's work.
Social proof
Reviews, testimonials, or both. A quote from a real customer with their first name and town carries weight. "We had Rob's crew re-roof our house in Renfrew — done in two days, cleaned up perfectly." That sentence is worth more than three paragraphs of copy about your commitment to quality.
One clear call to action
Call us. Text us. Fill out this form. Pick one and make it obvious. On mobile, "click to call" should be a button that follows users down the page. Don't make someone dig for your number.
License and insurance info
If you're licensed, say so. If you carry liability insurance, say so. These aren't just trust signals — some customers won't call without them. A single line on your contact page ("Fully licensed and insured. ON ESA certified.") does the job.
What Trades Businesses Don't Need
- An overbuilt web app they'll never use
- An online booking system that requires ongoing maintenance
- A blog they'll update twice and abandon
- Video backgrounds and parallax animations
- A live chat widget that goes unanswered
None of these things will get you more calls. Most of them will slow your site down and cost you more in the long run.
Mobile First. Always.
Every site we build starts at 375px and expands from there. Click-to-call is a button, not a text link. Forms are short. Load time is under 2 seconds on mobile networks.
What to Look For in a Web Partner
A trades website should be scoped like a trades website — not like an e-commerce platform or a custom web app. If someone is pitching you features you'll never use on a five-page contractor site, keep looking.
We work with trades businesses in the Ottawa Valley. You own everything we build. No monthly platform fees. No subscription required to update your own hours.
Contractor, electrician, plumber, roofer, or any other trades business in eastern Ontario? Let's talk. Or see the full breakdown on the services page.