Some customers want to talk. Some want to text. Some want to send photos. Some do not want to speak to anyone until they have a price. The best trade websites let people choose, without making life harder for you.
Phone
Still the heavyweight for urgent and high-value work. It is fast, personal and lets you build rapport. Make sure your number is a tap-to-call link at the top of every page. If you cannot always answer, say when you are available and make sure voicemail sounds professional.
Many people prefer it, especially for sending photos of the job. A “message us on WhatsApp” button on your site, linking to your business number, can bring in enquiries from people who would never have rung.
A few tips:
- Use a separate business number or the WhatsApp Business app so work and personal life stay apart
- Set an away message that tells people when you will reply
- Save quick replies for the questions you get most
Quote form
Perfect for people who browse at night or do not want to talk yet. They fill in a few boxes and you reply in the morning. Keep it short. See quote forms that get filled in.
Still useful, especially for customers who want a written record. Use an address on your own domain. See why that matters.
Which should come first?
For most trades, put phone first, because it converts best, and offer WhatsApp and the form beside it. On a phone, show a call button and a message button together near the top.
Decide what you can handle
Do not offer a contact method you cannot keep up with. A WhatsApp number that goes unanswered for two days looks worse than not having one. Pick the channels you will actually check.
Track which works
Over a few months, note where your enquiries come from. If most arrive by phone, make the call button even more prominent. If many come through WhatsApp, give it a bigger slot. See how to tell where your enquiries come from.
Let customers contact you the way they prefer, but only offer what you will answer quickly.
Set up properly
We build contact options into every site and make sure enquiries reach you. See the offer.