How to Choose a Web Design Company for Your Plumbing Business
Choosing a web design company is an important decision for a plumbing business.
Your website isn't simply an online brochure.
It can be an important part of your lead generation, SEO, advertising, and overall marketing strategy.
The right web design company should understand those goals and build a website around them.
Here's what plumbing companies should consider when choosing a web design company.
Look at Relevant Experience
Start by looking for experience with service businesses.
A company that understands plumbing websites may already understand important considerations such as:
Service pages
Local search
Phone calls
Lead generation
Service areas
Emergency services
Mobile users
Industry experience can help reduce the learning curve.
Review Their Previous Work
Look at websites they've built.
Pay attention to:
Design
Navigation
Mobile experience
Service pages
Calls to action
Page speed
Overall usability
Don't judge a web design company only by how attractive its portfolio looks.
Ask whether those websites appear designed to generate business.
Ask About Lead Generation
A plumbing website should have a purpose.
Ask how the company approaches:
Phone calls
Contact forms
Service requests
Calls to action
Landing pages
Conversion tracking
A beautiful website that doesn't generate leads may not be a good investment.
Ask About SEO
Website design and SEO should work together.
Ask whether the web design company considers:
Website structure
Internal links
Page titles
Service pages
Mobile usability
Site speed
Search-friendly content
A new website shouldn't make it harder for your business to appear in search results.
Learn more in How to Design a Plumbing Website for Google.
Ask About Mobile Design
Many potential plumbing customers search from smartphones.
Your website should be intentionally designed for mobile.
Ask how the company handles:
Responsive design
Click-to-call buttons
Mobile navigation
Forms
Page speed
Mobile usability
Ask About Website Ownership
Before signing an agreement, understand who owns the website and its assets.
Ask about:
Domain ownership
Website files
Hosting
Content
Images
Plugins
Software licenses
You should understand what happens if you eventually decide to move to another provider.
Ask About Ongoing Support
Websites require maintenance.
Ask whether the company provides:
Updates
Security maintenance
Technical support
Content changes
Performance monitoring
Also understand what is included in the initial project versus ongoing services.
Understand the Pricing
Website costs can vary considerably.
Don't compare proposals based only on the final number.
Look at what each proposal includes.
Consider:
Number of pages
Design
Development
Content
SEO
Hosting
Maintenance
Support
For more information, see How Much Does a Plumbing Website Cost?.
Ask About Service Pages
Your website should be capable of supporting your major services.
Ask how they would structure pages for services such as:
Emergency plumbing
Drain cleaning
Water heater repair
Sewer repair
Leak detection
Dedicated service pages can support both customers and search visibility.
Ask About Conversion Tracking
A good website should allow you to understand whether it is generating leads.
Ask about tracking:
Phone calls
Forms
Service requests
Quote requests
Other important conversions
Without tracking, it can be difficult to evaluate performance.
Look Beyond Design
The cheapest website isn't necessarily the best option.
The most visually impressive website isn't necessarily the best option either.
Look for a company that understands the relationship between:
Design + SEO + Marketing + Lead Generation
Your website should support the broader growth strategy of your plumbing company.
Ask About Marketing Integration
Your website may receive traffic from:
Google Search
Google Ads
Local search
Social media
Email
Referrals
Ask how the website will support those channels.
For a broader approach to plumbing lead generation, visit Plumbing Marketing.
Final Thoughts
Choosing a web design company should be about more than finding someone who can make a nice-looking website.
Look for a partner who understands:
Plumbing businesses
Local customers
Mobile users
SEO
Lead generation
Conversion tracking
Long-term website management
The right website can become an important part of your plumbing company's marketing system.