What to send before your free website preview

Why a little prep goes a long way

I can build a preview from very little: your business name, phone number and what you do. But the more real detail I have, the more the preview sounds like your business instead of a template. Most owners can gather everything below in about twenty minutes, from things already on their phone.

You don’t need all of it. Send what you have. Anything missing, we fill in together on the call.

The business facts

These need to be exactly right, because they will appear on the site, in search results and on your Google profile:

• The business name, exactly as customers know it.
• The phone number customers should call, and who answers it.
• An email address you actually check.
• Your hours, including whether you take weekend or emergency calls.
• The towns or neighborhoods you serve, and any you don’t.
• Your street address only if customers come to you. If you go to them, we list towns instead.

Your services, in your words

Write a quick list of the jobs you do, the way you would describe them to a neighbor. For each one, add a line on what is included, and anything you don’t do that people often ask about. “We clean driveways, patios and pool decks. We don’t do roofs.” That one sentence saves you a dozen phone calls.

If you have a sense of pricing, send it too: a minimum charge, a typical range or how you give estimates. We decide together how much of it goes on the site.

Photos

Send five to fifteen photos of real work, the best you have. Before-and-after pairs are ideal. Photos of your truck, your equipment or you on the job help too, because they show customers who will actually show up.

Phone photos are fine. Send them full size by text or email, and I’ll handle the resizing. If any photos show a customer’s home, make sure they are OK with it being online. My note on photos that explain the job has more on this.

Proof and credentials

Anything that helps a stranger trust you:

• Your license number, if you hold one. Florida law requires licensed contractors to include it in their advertising.
• Whether you are insured, and for what.
• How long you have been in business.
• A link to your Google Business Profile, Facebook page or Yelp page, so I can see your reviews.
• Any certifications, associations or local groups you belong to.

Only send what is true and current. If your insurance lapsed last spring, leave it off until it is renewed.

One next step

Decide on the one thing you most want a visitor to do. For most service businesses, it is call. For some, it is to request a quote, book a visit or send a photo of the problem. The site will offer a backup option, but it should push one clear action.

Also tell me how you want to handle what comes in. If a form fills out at 9 p.m., where should it go, and how fast can you realistically call back? A website that brings in leads nobody follows up on doesn’t help anyone. I wrote more about that in a website can’t fix an unanswered phone.

If you are starting from zero

Some owners are brand new: no logo, no photos yet, no reviews. That is fine, and you don’t need to wait until you have them.

• No logo? Your business name set in clean type works well on a website and is easy to replace later.
• No photos? I can use clearly decorative stock images for the background, never presented as your work, and we add real job photos as you get them.
• No reviews? Leave that section out for now. Start asking after your first few jobs, and add them when they come in.

A small, honest site that says what you do and how to reach you is a better start than a big one full of placeholders.

How to send it

Whatever is easiest for you. Reply to my email, text it or tell me on the phone and I’ll take notes. Photos can come by text or email. There is no form to fill out and no software to learn.

Once I have the basics and we have agreed on the scope, my goal is to have your preview link to you within three working days. Ready? Request your free preview.