Key takeaways:
- A strong and informative home improvement website builds credibility and generates leads.
- User-friendly design and mobile responsiveness are very important for home improvement websites.
- Local SEO and regular updates will keep your site competitive.
Design and construction professionals must constantly innovate and adapt to stay relevant and meet evolving customer demands. A strong online presence is no longer optional—it helps local customers find and trust your business.
As people turn to the internet to find home improvement solutions, a well-crafted website can expand your reach and connect you with new clients.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to create a professional home improvement website that showcases your expertise and grows your customer base.
What is a home improvement website
If you’re working in the field of design and construction, a home improvement website is a place on the internet where you can showcase what you can do. It’s basically an online brochure that shares information about your services and displays pictures of your previous projects.
Customers can also get in touch with you if they want to hire your services for home improvement jobs. Be sure to make your site user-friendly, so visitors can quickly find what they want. This makes them more likely to stay and learn about your services.
How to prepare for your website
Before building your site, it’s important to lay the groundwork. Start by identifying who your ideal customers are and selecting a domain name that reflects your brand.
1. Define your target audience
It’s essential to take some must-do pre-planning steps, and one of the most important is defining your target audience. This means understanding who your ideal customers are and what they’re looking for in a home improvement service.
Consider their needs, preferences, and pain points. Are they homeowners looking for small repairs, or are they property managers seeking extensive renovations? This knowledge will guide your website’s content, design, and marketing strategies.
It helps you tailor your website to attract the right audience, speak their language, and address their specific needs, ultimately increasing your chances of turning visitors into satisfied customers.
2. Pick the perfect domain name
Choosing a domain name is one of the first steps in building your online presence. It’s your digital address—the first thing people see and remember about your brand. A strong domain name should reflect your business, be easy to type, and build trust with your audience.
Here are a few tips for picking the right one:
- Keep it short and simple. Choose a name that’s easy to spell and remember. Avoid hyphens, numbers, or tricky spellings.
- Use your business name or keywords. If possible, include your business name. If that’s taken, consider adding a location or keyword like “remodeling” or “contractor.”
- Check availability and avoid legal issues. Make sure the domain isn’t trademarked or already used. Use domain tools to check for variations you may want to secure (.net, .org).
- Think long-term. Choose a name that will still make sense if your services expand in the future.
3. Add the right domain extension
While .com is the most widely used and recognized, using an industry-specific extension like .contractors, .builders, or .design can help signal your area of expertise. These alternatives may be more available and still appear professional.
If you’re targeting local customers, a country-based extension like .us can reinforce your local presence. While extensions don’t directly impact search engine optimization (SEO), they influence user perception and help make your website more memorable.
You can also compare options like .org or .net, but for a for-profit home improvement business, .com is often the most trusted.
The right domain can help you appear more professional and trustworthy right from the start, so it’s worth putting some thought into.
4. Choose reliable website hosting
Your web host keeps your home improvement website online 24/7. It supports your website’s performance, especially when many people visit so potential customers can use and engage with your services conveniently.
When comparing hosting plans, look for:
- 99.9% uptime to keep your site live
- Fast page load speeds for better user experience and SEO
- 24/7 customer support to help you troubleshoot quickly
- Scalability so your site can grow with your business
- Security features like SSL certificates and automatic backups
Choose a reliable web hosting service that suits your small business needs. Network Solutions offers hosting plans that help keep your website secure, fast, and running smoothly.
How to design your home improvement website
The best home improvement websites have effective homepage design strategies. They grab people’s attention and build trust, making them more likely to contact you for their home improvement needs.
After all, customers are counting on you to improve how their homes or offices look. If your website design looks outdated or cluttered, they might assume your work is too.
To make the right first impression, here are the key design decisions you’ll need to make:
Use a beginner-friendly website builder
A website builder is an online tool that makes it easy to create your website—no coding or advanced tech knowledge required. You can choose from ready-made templates and use drag-and-drop tools to design your pages quickly.
Picking the right builder can save you time and effort. Here’s what to look for:
- User-friendly interface. Choose a platform that’s easy to navigate, especially if you’re building your first website.
- Customizable templates. Look for templates made for contractors or service providers, and make sure you can customize them to match your brand.
- Scalability. Think long term. A good builder should grow with your business and support new features when you need them.
- Mobile-friendly design. Think long term. A good builder should grow with your business and support new features when you need them.
- Built-in SEO tools. Choose a builder that helps with basic SEO setup, like editing page titles and descriptions. This improves your visibility on Google.
- Customer support. Look into support options. It’s helpful to have chat or phone support in case you run into setup issues.
Popular options include: WordPress, Wix, Squarespace, and Network Solutions’ own Website Builder—all offer features suitable for small businesses and service professionals.
Optimize your website to be mobile-responsive
Many people nowadays use smartphones and tablets to browse the internet. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly, it can be challenging for visitors to navigate and access information, leading to poor user experience and potential customer loss. Check out these design tips to ensure mobile responsiveness:
- Use a responsive design. Choose a website builder or design framework that automatically adjusts your site’s layout and content to fit different screen sizes, ensuring it looks great on both desktop and mobile devices.
- Simplify your site’s navigation. Use a clean, collapsible menu or a hamburger icon (three horizontal lines) to save screen space and make it easy for users to access different sections of your site.
- Choose readable fonts. Opt for legible fonts that are easy to read on smaller screens. Maintain a reasonable font size and avoid using overly elaborate or decorative fonts.
- Use touch-friendly buttons. Ensure that buttons and links are large enough to be easily tapped with a finger on a touchscreen device. Provide enough spacing between clickable elements to prevent accidental clicks.
- Optimize your images. Compress and resize images for quicker loading times on mobile devices. Use responsive images that adjust to different screen sizes to maintain image quality without sacrificing performance.
- Include vertical scrolling. Organize your content into easy-to-scroll sections, with clear headings and visuals to break up the text.
- Minimize pop-ups. Avoid intrusive pop-ups that can be frustrating on mobile screens. If you use them, ensure they are unobtrusive and easy to close.
- Optimize page speed. Slow-loading pages can lead to high bounce rates on mobile devices. Compress code, use browser caching, and minimize the use of large files to enhance loading times
Choose the key design elements to include
A website’s design elements refer to the visual and structural components that make up its appearance and layout. They directly impact how visitors perceive your website and business.
Picking the right elements makes your website more appealing, leading to more people becoming customers. Here are some key design elements to consider for your home improvement website:
- Color schemes. Choose a color scheme that aligns with your brand and creates a pleasing visual experience. Consider using a vibrant color for headings and accents, with a complementary neutral color for backgrounds and text. Use color consistently throughout your site to establish a cohesive and professional look.
- Fonts. Select readable fonts for both desktop and mobile devices. Sans-serif fonts like Arial or Helvetica often work well. Limit the use of different fonts to maintain a clean and uniform appearance. Finally, ensure adequate font size and spacing for readability, especially on smaller screens.
- Images. Use high-quality images that showcase your home improvement work. Crisp and clear photos can build trust with potential customers. Incorporate before-and-after images to demonstrate your skills and the transformation of spaces. Include images of your team and any relevant certifications or awards to establish credibility.
- Layout. Keep your website layout simple and organized, with clear headings and sections. Use whitespace effectively to prevent overcrowding and make content more digestible. Prioritize responsive design to ensure your website adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes.
- Call to action (CTA). Implement prominent and clear CTAs that guide visitors on what to do next, such as “Get a Quote” or “Contact Us.” Use contrasting colors for CTA buttons to make them stand out and encourage clicks. Then, place your CTAs strategically throughout your website, such as in the header, footer, and within service descriptions.
- Testimonials and reviews. Build trust and showcase your expertise by using compelling visuals alongside testimonials, such as client photos or project images. Highlight positive feedback that emphasizes the quality of your work and customer satisfaction.
Showcase your services and past projects
Showcasing your work is one of the best ways to build trust and help visitors understand exactly what you offer. Include a visual portfolio or gallery that highlights high-quality before-and-after photos of past projects. This not only shows off your skills but helps potential clients imagine what you can do for them.
Make sure to write short, clear descriptions for each service you provide—like remodeling, roofing, or flooring. Pair these with project summaries to give more context.
For example:
“We transformed this outdated kitchen into a modern space for a young family, complete with energy-efficient lighting and open shelving.”
These kinds of narratives make your work relatable and more memorable. If possible, group projects by type (e.g., kitchens, bathrooms, outdoor spaces) to help visitors quickly find what matters most to them.
Add client testimonials and reviews
Positive reviews and testimonials are powerful forms of social proof. They help new visitors feel more confident in choosing your services—especially when they’re paired with real names, locations, and specific projects.
Here’s how to make the most of them:
- Add a testimonials section to your homepage or service pages.
- Use a rotating carousel to show multiple reviews in a clean, scrollable format.
- Include the client’s name, city, and project type when possible—like “John D., Kitchen Remodel in Austin.”
You can also pull in your Google Reviews feed or use widgets to display your latest ratings.
Bonus tip: Reviews can help with your local SEO if they include keywords and city names naturally.
Use SEO to attract local leads
SEO helps your home improvement website show up when people search for services like yours — especially in your local area. Whether someone types “roofing contractor in Dallas” or “home renovation services near me,” your goal is to make sure your business appears in those results.
Here’s how to improve your chances of showing up:
Optimize your content for local keywords
Use location-based phrases naturally throughout your site, including:
- Service pages (e.g., “kitchen remodeling in Austin”)
- Image captions (e.g., “before-and-after bathroom remodel in Charlotte”)
- Blog posts (e.g., “how to choose the right flooring for hot climates in Phoenix”)
Write helpful, high-quality content
Offer clear answers to common questions—like pricing, timelines, or what to expect during a remodel. Good content not only builds trust with visitors, but also gives search engines more reasons to rank your page.
Use these SEO best practices:
- Write clear headings (H1, H2, H3) to organize your content
- Add alt text to images that describe what they show
- Link to other helpful pages on your website to keep users exploring
Optimize your meta tags
Meta tags are the snippets of text that show up in Google results. They help both users and search engines understand your content.
- Title tag. Include your main keyword and location (e.g., “Home Renovation Contractor | Raleigh NC”)
- Meta description. Write a short, clear summary (around 160 characters) that encourages people to click
Use tools to improve visibility
There are free tools that can help monitor your performance and give you insight into how people are finding your website.
- Google Business Profile. Claim and optimize your listing with accurate contact info, photos, and service areas.
- Google Search Console. Track your keywords, fix technical issues, and see how people find your site.
- Schema markup. Add structured data (like reviews or FAQs) to enhance how your site appears in search results.
SEO doesn’t have to be complicated. When you focus on helping visitors find the answers they need, especially those searching for home services in your area, your website will naturally become more visible over time.
Keep your website updated and secure
A secure and regularly updated website assures clients that their personal details are handled with care and that your business is running smoothly. It also helps your site load faster, stay accessible, and rank better in search results.
Use website security features and an SSL certificate
Website security helps protect against cyber threats like malware or data breaches that can compromise sensitive information and damage your reputation. An SSL certificate encrypts the data shared between your website and your visitors—making it much harder for hackers to intercept.
It also signals trust to your customers and search engines alike.
Boost your site’s security and performance with these steps:
- Regular software updates. Keep your CMS, plugins, and tools updated. Old software can open the door to attacks.
- Use strong passwords. Set strong, unique logins for admin accounts, and consider two-factor authentication for an extra layer of protection.
- Install a firewall. A web application firewall (WAF) can help block malicious traffic before it reaches your site.
- Try security plugins. Tools that scan for malware or detect intrusion attempts can add a safety net.
- Protect customer data. Only collect the information you really need, and make sure you follow privacy regulations like GDPR.
- Train your team. Make sure anyone managing your website knows how to spot suspicious activity and respond appropriately.
- Schedule security audits. Regular checkups can reveal weak spots before they become problems.
- Have a response plan. If something goes wrong, a clear plan can help you act fast and recover quickly.
Don’t forget to back up your website
You never want to lose your entire site due to a bug or breach. There are two ways to back up your site:
- Manual backups let you control the process, but they can be time-consuming and easy to forget.
- Automated backups happen on a schedule, saving you time and ensuring you always have a recent copy of your data.
Capture contact info of leads
Contact and lead generation provide direct communication channels with potential clients. By making it easy for visitors to get in touch and express their interest, you can nurture these leads into valuable opportunities, ultimately driving growth and success for your business.
Here’s how to do it:
Keep your contact info updated
A contact page on your home improvement website should have your address, phone number, and email. You should also include a form for people to fill out with their name, email, and message.
If you have a map of your location and your business hours, this is helpful for your online visibility. In fact, you can submit your business to local directories and business listings to publish these details online.
You can even add links to your social media and a message that tells people what to expect after they send a message. This way, you can connect with all of your customers.
Deploy lead-generation tactics
Lead generation identifies and attracts potential customers (leads) for your business’s products or services. This typically involves capturing contact information, such as names and email addresses, from individuals who have expressed interest in what your business offers. The goal of lead generation is to build a list of prospects who can be nurtured and converted into paying customers through targeted marketing efforts.
For a home improvement business, this may include individuals seeking renovation or remodeling services, and lead generation helps connect with them and turn their interests into actionable opportunities.
Here are some lead-generation techniques you can use for your site:
- Contact forms
- Newsletter sign-up forms
- Downloadable guides or e-books
- Webinars or online workshops
- Quotes or consultations
- Online contests or giveaways
- Social media lead-generation ads
Integrate your social media to your site
Integrating social media links into your site expands your online presence, making it easier for visitors to engage with your business on popular platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. This engagement can foster a sense of community and allows you to respond promptly to inquiries and feedback. It’s all about making it simple for visitors to get in touch and stay connected.
Launching and promoting your website
Now that you’ve done all the previous steps, all you need to do is launch your website and promote it to the world.
Launch your website
Following these steps to launch your website without a hitch and ensure it’s working as intended:
- Update your DNS settings.
- Log in to your domain registrar’s control panel.
- Find your domain name.
- Modify DNS records to point to your hosting provider’s servers or IP addresses.
2. Upload your website files.
- Connect to your hosting server using FTP or a file manager.
- Navigate to the root directory (often “public_html” or “www”).
- Upload your website files (HTML, CSS, images, etc.) while preserving the folder structure.
3. Conduct a final website check
- Open your website in a web browser
- Verify that all pages load correctly.
- Test interactive elements, forms, and eCommerce functions.
- Ensure your website is responsive on different devices.
- Check for performance issues, like slow loading times.
- Test contact forms and user registration processes.
- Confirm SEO elements (titles, meta descriptions) are accurate.
- Address any security vulnerabilities.
- Set up website analytics (e.g., Google Analytics) for tracking.
Promote your home improvement website
You’ve launched your site—now it’s time to get the word out. Start by building an email list using subscription forms. Send a welcome email that introduces your business and follow up with helpful tips or updates.
Next, promote your site through social media. Choose platforms your audience uses, post regularly, and engage in the comments. Use hashtags to boost visibility and consider paid ads or influencer shoutouts to reach more people.
Track what works and adjust your strategy as needed. Consistency builds trust, so keep showing up with new content, updates, and helpful advice.
Grow your business with your website
A well-built home improvement website acts as your digital storefront—it shows off your services, connects with customers, and helps grow your business. With this guide, you’re equipped to build a website that works for you.
If you’re a small business owner or contractor ready to take your business online, now’s the time. Network Solutions offers reliable tools and templates built for home improvement professionals. We’re here to support your journey every step of the way.
Frequently asked questions
Both .com and .org are considered trustworthy. However, .com is more universally recognized and is often perceived as the default for commercial ventures, while .org is associated with non-profit and charitable organizations.
When selecting a domain extension for your home improvement business, consider the following:
a. Business type. If your business is a commercial entity, a .com domain may align better with customer expectations.
b. Audience perception. Consider how your target audience might perceive your domain extension and whether it aligns with your brand identity.
c. Availability. Check the availability of your desired domain name with different extensions, as .com domains are highly popular and may be taken.
d. Branding. Ensure that your chosen domain extension supports your overall branding strategy and conveys the right message to your audience.
Yes, while the .org extension is traditionally linked to non-profits, there are no formal restrictions preventing a for-profit home improvement business from using a .org domain. However, using .org may lead to public perception aligning your business with non-profit activities, which could be misleading for potential clients.
No, search engines treat .com and .org domains equally in terms of SEO. The choice of domain extension does not directly impact search rankings.