Is your roofing website optimized for mobile devices?
Although mobile devices contribute approximately 52% of search engine traffic, most roofing contractors have not updated their websites for mobile performance.
Do you fall into that category?
In April 2015, Google stated that they would include mobile-optimized websites in the search algorithm, and this had roofing marketers scramble to make sure that their sites were touch-screen compatible and responsive.
But now that the hype has dwindled, it seems many roofers have forgotten the benefits of running a mobile-optimized website and are contented with just having a responsive webpage.
Numerous studies have found out that when it comes to searching for content on touch-screen devices, about 48% of visitors start on search engines.
This implies that for your roofing website to be found on a prospect’s mobile device, it should not only be mobile optimized but rank on top of the search results.
Due to the limited screen sizes and the environment in which browsing occurs, prospects/ clients search for a mobile roofing website with a definite plan of action.
This implies that if your mobile roofing website does not instantly give them the details they require and do it in a quick and organized way, they will likely go to your competitor’s webpage.
Simply put, the average mobile user has an attention span of around 4-8 seconds. When it comes, mobile browsing speed is everything, and your mobile webpages must load quickly, don’t have too many graphics, and don’t require users to adjust their screen or zoom in.
Take a minute and ask yourself the following questions regarding your roofing website:
- Does it immediately convey your brand’s message?
- Is it simple to navigate?
- Do you have just one call to action on every page?
- Are your buttons touch-screen friendly?
- Can your prospect read content without toggling the screen or zooming?
- Does the webpage load instantly?
- Are ads, images blocking readers from accessing some information?
- Is the checkout process simple and easy to follow?
- Are opt-in forms accessible to fill-in?
- Are your social media buttons easy to locate, and do they work?
This is an essential list that will help you assess your mobile roofing website’s performance and quality. If you want to make sure that your roofing website is as mobile-friendly as possible, here is a list of 10 features that your mobile-optimized roofing website must contain;
Your mobile Roofing website should be easy to Navigate.
When using a mobile device or tablet, it is tough to navigate an extensive menu or navigation bar due to a lack of screen space. This implies that the menu bar on your mobile website requires to be adjusted to appear more accessible and more straightforward to navigate through.
Readability is exceptionally crucial for mobile website content because the text is smaller than laptop or desktop text. Your content should not force readers to zoom in to read every page of your site. Besides, make sure that your navigation sections are not clustered together, making it difficult for the user to click on every option. The navigation for mobile roofing websites should be vertical, and the space between the elements must be large enough to avoid misclicks.
Make Call-To-Actions Eye-Catching and Clear
Call to actions assist your prospects/clients to know what steps you want them to take during their visit and make it simple to do so. Most mobile devices, like tablets or smartphones, have a limited screen size, which implies that your CTA buttons should be adjusted to cater for this limitation.
CTA’s play a crucial role in any website design, whether desktop or mobile because they tell your client/prospects what they need to do after visiting your site. However, when it comes to mobile roofing, webpages need to be easily accessible and clear to immediately communicate to the client what their next course of action should be.
Ideally, your CTA should use contrasting fonts, colors, or other style elements to help it stand out. Keep in mind that most mobile users are in a hurry and don’t want to be redirected to a page they have no clue about or unsure of what will occur. So for such reasons, try to keep your CTA’s on mobile devices on point and precise.
Make it Easy for Prospects/Clients to Contact You and Ask Questions.
As a roofing contractor, it is essential to make sure that your leads, clients, and prospects can immediately contact you if required.
This will make your customers feel comfortable with making a purchase or reaching out for support. It would be advisable to have a “click to call” feature on a mobile device, which helps customers contact you from their mobile phones or tablets instantly. This feature should be on an easy-to-find location, mainly if you ask clients to insert their credit card details.
You may need to provide an email contact option, as studies have shown that prospects are likely to email your business instead of calling you.
To make your mobile roofing website feel welcoming and friendly, you may include a Frequently Asked Questions section that allows prospects/customers to find answers to any question they might have.
Another method of making your roofing business reachable is to incorporate Google Maps that lets visitors insert your company address into their GPRS immediately.
Roofing Website Should Load Fast on Mobile Devices
When prospects browse for information on their smartphones or tablets, they want things quickly, if not immediately. It is crucial to remember this when designing a mobile roofing website, and the general rule is that your website should load in less than three seconds.
This is because most users expect your site to load within 4 seconds or less, and besides, many customers are unhappy with the current loading speeds of their smartphones.
When prospects/clients are unhappy with your site’s loading speeds, they will bounce back to your competitors whose pages load faster. This implies that in 4 seconds, you could have lost a potential client.
You should also make sure that your mobile webpages can accommodate both three or 4G connections and Wi-Fi and that the whole site is kept under 1MB.
Thus, you should use videos and images wisely, since most of them occupy a lot of space.
Provide Filter Options to Help Visitors Find What They Are Searching for
When browsing on their mobile devices, visitors are likely to scroll through numerous pages hunting for high-quality content.
That is why your search results must offer precisely what your users are searching for on the first page. It is also essential to include relevant information like prices, colors, featured images, and descriptions on the same page to prevent users from clicking too much on other pages.
Keep Fingers and Thumbs in Mind when Designing a Mobile Friendly Roofing Website
Studies have shown that one of the major complaints to using mobile sites is that the buttons are too small, and the text is too difficult to read.
While you might have a lot of freedom when designing a desktop site, when it comes to mobile roofing websites, less and more significant is usually the best.
This implies that you need to have large buttons, and your content should be easy to navigate and read. You should avoid distracting pop-ups or sidebars and unnecessary information.
When designing your website, remember that the minimum tap area to accommodate visitors’ thumb width is 43 Px by 43 Px. This is not a general rule, but you need to keep an adequate spacing on your website.
Avoid Pop-Ups on Mobile Devices
Generally, pop-ups frustrate a client/prospect. Surveys and research also prove that clients are not thrilled by pop-ups, particularly when searching for valuable information on their mobile devices.
Time is of importance for prospects/customers browsing on their tablets or smartphones, and pop-ups seem to divert them from what your site offers.
Pop-ups also occupy lots of space on mobile screens and may distract your users from completing the desired Call to Action (CTA).
Of course, this is something that your business needs to split test itself, but it is vital to determine whether or not having pop-ups on your mobile roofing website is worth it.
Optimize Your Roofing Keywords for Mobile-Friendly Searches
When choosing keywords for your mobile roofing website, it is essential to think about what your potential customers will type in their mobile devices compared to what they type in a desktop platform.
When searching for information on mobile devices, prospects/clients are likely to ask questions. Search by postcode or location and use terms such as “how,” “what,” and “where.” Think about the keywords you are going to use on your website. For example, consider including your location or postcode as part of your keyword.
For roofing articles, think of using terms like “how-to” or “what is” to be more relevant to your audience and needs.
Keep Your Layout Well Organized and Simple
When it comes to your roofing website, keep things well organized and simple to help your leads and clients to navigate easily.
This means from the moment a user clicks on your website; they should be able to :
-Find the information they are searching for on the same screen
-Complete the desired action like booking a job or sourcing information
-Easily navigate through your desired process in simple steps
Don’t Use Stock Roofing Photos.
Try to get real photos of roofing projects you have worked on in the past. This boosts your goodwill with clients and does not look like one lazy roofing website design. Real photos provide proof that you are capable of offering topnotch services.
Your Mobile Friendly Roofing Website Checklist
Mobile purchasing, browsing, and searching are here to stay, and in fact, trends show that it will become more famous in the coming days.
This implies that you have to prioritize updating your mobile roofing website and stay ahead of statistics and trends or risk losing a considerable percentage of leads and potential clients.
Now that you have scrolled through the ten ways to optimize your site for the best performance on mobile devices, here is a final checklist that you can use to check whether all pages are at par:
- Does your roofing website load in less than 4 seconds?
- Is your call to action clear and eye-catching?
- Do your search options contain filters to helps users find what they are looking for?
- Do prospects/ clients know where to go once they land on your roofing website?
- Are the contact details easily accessible on every page?
- Are pop-ups minimizing your conversion rates?
- Are clients able to book jobs or buy products within a few steps?
- Are your Call to Action buttons strategically placed?
- Is your site content readable without adjusting the screen size?
- Does your website offer precise information about the services or products?
Next Action: Examine Your Roofing Website and if it is not mobile-optimized, Get a Responsive Design
By considering the above-discussed features, you can ensure that your site is built correctly to educate people searching for information and converting those who want to book jobs with your business. While your roofing website may be technically perfect, it could still appear awful to users. Grab your friend and ask them to navigate through your site using their mobile phones. Then request them to fill out the contact form and test the click-to-call button.
If your site cannot be navigated efficiently, then it is time for a mobile site redesign. At Blackstorm Roofing marketing, we have experienced website designers who will ensure that your users have a pleasant experience browsing your site on their mobile devices as well as on the desktops.
If you are searching for additional assistance in getting your mobile roofing website running professionally, please contact us to learn more about our custom, responsive roofing website solutions today.