A good website doesn't need to be fancy. It needs to quickly build trust with the right people, letting them see what you do and making it easy to get in touch.
If you're a builder (or a plumber, electrician, roofer, painter or landscaper), this guide covers what makes tradie website design work for your business.
What your tradie website should do for you
Here are the roles a decent website should play in your work.
Show customers you’re legit
When a mate gives someone your name, the first thing they'll do is Google you, so you need a website to confirm you're the real deal.
Photos of your work, a few testimonials and some basic information about how you operate are often all someone needs to feel comfortable picking up the phone.
Make it easy to call or request a quote.
If a potential client has to hunt around to find your number, you've pretty much already lost them. An obvious tap-to-call button and a "Request a Quote" option are worth their weight in gold.
Reduce time-wasters
Being upfront about where you work, what you do and how you quote helps filter out jobs that were never going to happen anyway.
The problem with some tradie websites
If you've had a website sitting around for years without leading to enquiries, there's usually a reason. Here are the common culprits.
It’s not mobile friendly
Most people will find your site on their phone. If your site is clunky on a small screen, they'll move on.
Contact info is hard to find
If someone has to scroll and squint to find your number, they’ll probably make a quick exit and head to another website with more accessible contact details.
There’s not enough proof
Having no photos of you or your team is a big trust killer, and a lack of testimonials and a few blurry photos of your work won't cut it. People want to see you, the work that you offer and hear from actual customers so they can be confident your services line up with what they’re after.
The info is too vague
Generic info won’t help anyone decide if you're the right fit. Be specific about your offerings and your service area. If the website is unclear about where you’re based and the locations you service, people won’t waste time contacting you.
It feels outdated or unfinished
A website that looks like it was made in 2009 (and hasn't been touched since) doesn't inspire confidence.
It doesn’t show up when locals search
If someone searches "builder near me” and you don't appear, you're missing out on potential clients who are actively looking for what you do.
It’s slow or clunky to load
Every extra second your site takes to load represents another possible customer who's moved on.
It’s hard to keep updated
If changing anything on your website requires calling a developer, you’re less likely to bother, and your site will quietly become irrelevant.
What strong tradie website design should include
Here's what actually works when it comes to website design for tradies.
A layout that works on phones
More than half of all website traffic comes from mobile devices. For tradies, this figure is often higher, with people searching on their phone while standing in front of the problem they need fixed.
Your site needs to load quickly, look good and make it easy for people to call you with one tap.
Rocketspark's website builder features include mobile-specific controls so you can adjust how your site looks on smaller screens without affecting the desktop version.
Clear pathways to contact you
Your phone number should be visible without scrolling and a "Request a Quote" button needs to be obvious. Make it super simple for people to contact you, whether they prefer to call, fill in a form or send an email.
Photos that show what you can do
This is where you let your work do the talking. Photos from real jobs are ideal, so if you’re a builder, you could use before-and-after shots, finished builds and renovation transformations.
Add a short caption explaining the job, where it was carried out and what the result looked like. Rocketspark's gallery options make it easy to display your projects professionally.
Next time you finish a job you're proud of, snap a few photos before you pack up. You'll thank yourself later. Need some guidance? Check out these DIY photography tips to get shots that make your work shine.
Testimonials, reviews, and trust signals
A few words from happy customers go a long way. If you've got Google reviews, display them. If clients have sent you nice feedback via text or email, ask for permission to use a quote from them on your site.
Mention your licences, insurance and years of experience, as these all help people feel comfortable hiring you.
Clear services and service areas
Don't make people guess. List what you actually do (new builds, renovations, decks, bathrooms or whatever your services are), and be upfront about where you work. This helps the right people find you and saves everyone time.
A simple enquiry form that gathers the basics
A good form captures the information you need to give a useful response: name, contact details, location, brief description of the job. Keep it short enough that potential clients will actually complete it. You can even allow file uploads so people can attach photos or plans.
An FAQ section
Think about the questions you get asked all the time. What areas do you service? How do you quote? What's your typical timeline? How do deposits work? Answering these upfront builds trust, saves you time answering typical questions over the phone and helps avoid calls from customers who aren’t right for you.
And here’s a bonus: a clear FAQ section also helps search engines (and AI assistants) understand what you do, where you do it, and who you’re best for. Rocketspark’s AI Optimisation helps structure that info behind the scenes so your site is easier for AI tools to read and more likely to show up when you’re a good match. No guarantees (no one can promise that), but it’s solid groundwork that keeps your site AI ready.
Easy updates so the site stays current
This is the bit most people overlook. If your website is hard to update, nothing will ever change. And a stale website with "Latest Project: 2021" doesn't exactly scream "busy and in-demand”.
Choose a platform where you can add a new project photo, tweak your service list or update your phone number without needing to call anybody.
How to nail local search
When someone needs a builder in Christchurch or a plumber in Tauranga, they search for exactly that. Service plus location.
If your website doesn't make it clear what you do and where you do it, you're invisible to these people. Whether you’re a builder or focusing on plumber website design, the same principles apply.
Here's what helps.
Mention your service areas clearly
Make sure the areas you service aren’t buried in the footer. They should be right there on your homepage and services pages.
"Auckland builder serving the North Shore, West Auckland, and central suburbs" tells Google (and customers) exactly where you operate.
Create pages for your main services
Instead of one page that lists everything, consider separate pages for different services (new builds, renovations, decks, etc). This helps you show up when people search for specific things.
Keep your details consistent
Your business name, address and phone number should be the same everywhere: on your website, Google Business Profile and any directories you're listed in. Inconsistencies confuse search engines.
Set up a Google Business Profile
This is free and helps you show up in local map results. Setting up Google Business Profile is straightforward and worth the few minutes it takes.
You don't need to become a search expert. Cover the basics, and you'll be ahead of most competitors. If you want a hand, Rocketspark's Flint tool uses AI to help you find the right keywords and create content that helps you get found.
Getting started without the hassle
If all of this sounds like a lot, web design for tradies doesn't need to be complicated and you don't have to figure it out alone.
Rocketspark's builder templates give you an easy starting point with layouts designed for tradies and the right sections already in place.
You can build it yourself using drag-and-drop editing (no code needed), and Flint's AI can help you write content that sounds like you.
Everything's mobile-friendly out of the box. Updates are easy enough that you'll actually do them. And if you'd rather have someone else handle it, you can work with a designer who'll build it for you and hand over the keys so you can make changes whenever you need to.
The most important step is getting started. A simple website that's up and running beats a perfect one that's still "in progress" six months from now.
Ready to get your trade business online or level up your existing website? Whether you're a builder, plumber, electrician or any other tradie, explore the options for tradie website design and see what works for you.
Start with a free trial, or chat to the NZ-based Rocketspark team about getting a site designed for you.
