Categories: Web Design & Development

3 Keys to a Great Custom Homebuilder Website

Obviously, a website that effectively showcases your custom homebuilder’s portfolio and capabilities can be an advantageous tool.

If you’ve come to this page, you probably read that sentence thinking, “duh.”

The real question is, what is the best way to create an effective custom homebuilder website?

Custom homebuilders in Charleston, SC, know that working with a local digital marketing agency like Colophon New Media is a great first step.

The established agency, which has been an integral website and marketing partner for over 250 businesses in the Lowcountry and beyond since 2003, has valuable in-depth experience with a number of prominent homebuilders in the Charleston, SC, and Lowcountry area, including:

See below for three keys to a great custom homebuilder website.

Showcase Your Expertise and Craftsmanship as a Homebuilder With a Photo Gallery

This might sound obvious, but it’s hard to overstate the importance of detailed, thorough photo galleries highlighting the custom homes you have already built. The more high-quality photos you can display of all the amenities of the gorgeous projects you’ve completed, the better.

How Does a Photo Gallery Boost a Custom Homebuilder’s Credibility?

Telling potential customers about what you offer is one thing, but showing off what you’re capable of is an even more effective way to market your custom homebuilder.

Few things showcase your capabilities better than a well-done photo gallery.

Some of the top benefits of an organized photo gallery including professional photography of a custom homebuilder’s best projects include:

proof of a builder’s expertise and quality
opportunities for clients to visualize their own homes
design inspiration for customers who will aim to emulate the best features they see
numerous natural places for calls to action to generate engagement and leads
SEO boosts: alt tags for photos can boost a site’s standing in search rankings
photo gallery images can also be featured on social media to increase website traffic

Feature Client Testimonials to Gain Trust in Your Custom Homebuilder

Another powerful tool at a custom homebuilder’s disposal is the firsthand experience of its previous (and/or recurring) customers.

Many prospective clients value a customer’s word over a homebuilder’s own, which is why you should take advantage of any clients you have who are willing to contribute positive accounts of their experience with your company.

Additional benefits of featuring complimentary testimonials include:

they differentiate your homebuilder from the competition by highlighting what sets you apart
a glowing testimonial boosts both trust and credibility; we all recognize that customers don’t take the time to provide one unless they are truly satisfied with their home

Harness SEO to Drive Traffic to Your Custom Homebuilder Website

Even a great website will struggle to boost a business’s bottom line if it’s not optimized locally on Google or lacking on the SEO (search engine optimization) front.

Speaking of Google, it’s crucial to make sure your company website is connected to your Google Business Profile.

Google Business Profile Must-Haves for a Custom Homebuilder

Key components of a good Google Business Profile include all the relevant information about your services, like where you’re located, when you’re available and how to get in touch with your builder. Also, make sure that your Google Business Profile includes the following:

website URL
phone number
portfolio images showcasing your best work
service area (spell out all the places where your services are available)
category: select “Custom Homebuilder,” then specify the services you offer – like “renovations,” “windows,” “electrical” – to attract clients seeking those services in particular
integrate your business address on Google Maps

And don’t forget to include all that information (as well as a connection to that profile) somewhere on your website!

How to Boost SEO for a Custom Homebuilder’s Website

Don’t be intimidated by this acronym, which can admittedly be daunting initially.

By following a few simple tips below and/or taking advantage of the various online tools to boost a site’s SEO, you can quickly improve how your custom homebuilder website ranks on Google search.

incorporate relevant keywords throughout your website. To determine these, consider using a tool like Ubersuggest to identify the top keywords in the custom homebuilder domain. “custom homebuilder in [your city/region]”, “how to custom build a home” and “best custom homebuilder near me” are a few good examples in this domain.
include photo galleries and testimonials to prove your credibility (did we mention how valuable these features are??)
offer helpful content, like pages designated to home-building tips and FAQs
make sure your site is mobile-friendly, with a design that is responsive in all formats (mobile, desktop)
check loading speed to verify a good user experience

At Colophon, our belief has always been that a well-structured and high-performing website is the most critical aspect of SEO. If your audience can’t load your website quickly enough, or if Google’s algorithm can’t comprehend the sitemap or page structures, the content does not matter.

Make sure you use a top-notch web designer and efficient, secure web host like Colophon New Media to pour a firm website “foundation” before building your SEO “house.”

Use Free SEO Tools to Improve Your Custom Homebuilder Website

Great news: You don’t have to manually carry out the complicated process of making sure your site checks all the SEO boxes.

Free tools like Screaming Frog and Semrush can give you a good idea of your site’s SEO strengths and weaknesses.

Web Developer Colophon New Media Has You Covered!

Homebuilders looking to upgrade and maintain their websites can hire Colophon New Media now for best-in-class web design, SEO, PPC marketing campaigns, and reliable and responsive hosting and maintenance services.

Check out Colophon’s impressive portfolio of website development work with top homebuilders in the Lowcountry to see the company’s polished, mobile-friendly websites, and contact Colophon ASAP with any web-related needs your business has.

Zander Barth