The Importance of Mobile Friendly Websites

Making Your Construction Website Work on Every Device

Having worked with numerous trades and construction companies on their digital presence, I've seen firsthand how a mobile-friendly website can transform a business. Today, most of your potential clients will first encounter your company through their smartphone, making mobile optimisation crucial for success.

Our mobiles have become an invaluable tool in our lives, they have changed the way we do business and enable us to access information remotely saving time spent behind a desk. They are our office and shop front in our pocket.

Why Mobile Matters for Trades and Contractors

Site Visit Access

Clients, project managers and architects will often access your website when they are away from their office or home. A mobile-friendly website ensures they can quickly find contact information, project portfolios, and equipment specifications while on the move.

Emergency Response

When property owners need urgent repairs or emergency construction services, they often search on their phones. Your website must load quickly and display contact information prominently on mobile devices to capture these time-sensitive opportunities.

Essential Mobile Design Elements

Quick Loading Times

Optimise your website to load within seconds avoiding frustration which means potential customers may bypass your site. Key factors to consider:

• Compressing images without losing quality

• Minimising unnecessary code

• Using efficient hosting services

• Implementing caching solutions

Touch-Friendly Navigation

Design your website with finger-friendly elements:

Large, easily tappable buttons

Design your call-to-action buttons and navigation elements to be the size of an adult fingertip (at least 44x44 pixels.)

Adequate spacing between links

Maintain sufficient gaps between clickable elements to prevent accidental taps.

Clear menu structures

Your main services, project portfolio, and contact information should be accessible within a maximum of two taps.

Easy-to-fill contact forms

Design forms with large input fields and minimal required information. Auto-fill capabilities and dropdown menus make it easier for clients to complete forms on mobile devices. 

Responsive Images

To help ensure your project portfolio looks great on every device:

• Automatically resize images for different screens

• Maintain image quality across devices

• Use appropriate image formats

• Include before/after images

Mobile-First Content

Structure your content for mobile users:

• Short, scannable paragraphs

• Clear headings and subheadings

• Bullet points for key information

• Click-to-call phone numbers

Take Action

Your website is often the first point of contact for potential construction clients, and in today's mobile-first world, it needs to perform flawlessly across all devices. The following steps will help you transform your website into a powerful mobile-friendly tool that captures leads and showcases your construction expertise effectively.

Remember, a mobile-optimised website isn't just about looking good - it's about creating a seamless experience that converts site visitors into valuable clients.

• Test your current website on various mobile devices

• Implement mobile-friendly design changes

• Optimise images and content for mobile viewing

• Add touch-friendly features

• Regular testing and updates

Up Next

Watch out for our upcoming post on "The Role of Public Relations in Construction Marketing" where we'll explore how to build and maintain a strong public image for your construction business.

Found This Useful?

I hope you've found this guide to mobile-friendly web design helpful. If you would like to discuss how to optimize your construction company's website for mobile devices, please email me. You can also connect with me on LinkedIn. If you would like to talk about your construction company's digital marketing strategy, feel free to reach out as well.

About the Author

John Wright started his career in the construction industry at Kennedy Builders Merchants in the 1980s. This marked the beginning of a 35-year journey in sales, marketing, and business development in construction. In 2016, John transitioned into digital marketing as an it'seeze web design franchisee, before founding RBC Marketing in 2022.

Today, he uses his strong knowledge of the construction industry along with marketing skills. He helps construction companies create a strong online presence. He also drives business growth through both digital and traditional marketing strategies.