Creating a website for engineers is not like having a standard website. Your website not only needs to market your business well for you, but it also needs to be transparent enough for new potential clients. When prospects are able to easily and quickly get relevant information, it shows that you know what they are looking for, making you a more qualified and credible choice as the engineer they use for their project.
Whether you have a website or are looking to create one for your firm, these 10 features should not be overlooked. They are foundational to having an authority-style website that outshines the competition and is necessary to generate good leads.
1. Clearly State Everything You Do
Explaining your services is the most important part of your website. When architects or contractors have found your website, they want to know what exactly you do before they even look at your “about us” page or your portfolio.
When writing your services page, make sure you get as specific as possible and offer as much information without being redundant. Civil Engineering is too broad. If you offer environmental testing, explain that service and what goes into that service in detail.
Your services shouldn’t be a secret. If a potential client has to pick up the phone to find out what you offer, chances are, they won’t pick up the phone at all. It also shows a lack of professionalism and organization.
There is a large number of engineers nationally. Most of your competitors do not state their services clearly. Capitalize on this and stand out as an authority figure in the industry.
2. Show What You’ve Done
Now that you have laid out what services you offer, you need to show off your work and what projects you have been a part of. Your portfolio is a representation of your firm, so spend time putting it all together. First, use any big-name projects to boost your credibility. Then, get creative with how you present your portfolio. You can do this through pictures, videos, and short descriptions specific to each project about the problems you have helped solve for those sites.
If your portfolio page isn’t put together well, it can immediately give off the impression that your firm isn’t too passionate about its work. No one wants to work with an engineer that doesn’t take pride in their work. This is your opportunity to show that you take your work seriously and can get the job done right!
3. Explain How They Can Get Started
Before you ask anyone to contact you, help them identify what phase they are in with their project, and what they need to begin working with you. Create a guideline that explains the following:
- What are the first steps?
- What information do they need to provide you with?
- Are they in a position to use your services now?
Your website should be efficient to save your client’s time, but even more so, it should be efficient for you. When you clearly state your services and explain how they can get started, you avoid countless conversations that your receptionist has to explain over the phone — leaving them with more time to focus on more important tasks at hand, saving you time and money.
4. Automate What You Can
While we are on the topic of efficiency, it is important to utilize the website to automate as many tasks as you can. This includes downloadable content, files clients need to submit to you for their projects, and even certain external documents that you can link to your website. For example, if you can link an application for a building permit on your site, you are making it easier for new clients to find everything they need in one place. This will keep them on your site longer and it will prompt them to work with you.
5. List Where You Are and Where You Have Been
If you have worked around the country or have done international projects, then be sure to showcase them! This clearly shows that you are able to work internationally and around the country instead of just one state or county.
If you are a local engineer, show where on the map you have done different projects in your state and city. This way, you are clear about where you operate. Also, make sure that you link the projects on your map to your portfolio. Interlinking will help with your SEO and it will let them read up on the project they clicked on.
6. Brag About Your Partners and Associations
If you have any partnerships, awards that are recognized by any association, make sure you display them on a page on your website. Listing that you are a member of an international engineering association, showcase your credibility to your site viewers. Add a link to your partner’s or association’s website and include their logo. Also, ask that they return the favor and list you on their site with your logo and a link back to your site. This will further show the credibility of the association or the partner that you are recognized by.
7. Present It Professionally
How you present your website is almost equally as important as the content that is on it. Therefore, you should take the time to have high-definition photos taken of your work and display them in appropriate sections on your website. Don’t add photos that are irrelevant to the page that they are on. Pictures that are low in quality or that are clearly not your own will always present your company as less professional than your competitors. The use of images is your opportunity to make a great impression on new clients and it shows them that you are ready for any task.
The way you navigate your website is important to the presentation, as well. Remember that architects and contractors need as much information from you as quickly as possible. Reducing the number of clicks it takes for them to get important information, such as files or services, will improve their experience — and their first impression of your company.
8. Offer Free Resources
Publishing articles, blogs, and downloadable content is a great way to establish authority in the engineering industry while improving your SEO and driving traffic to your website. This will keep clients focused on you, instead of going to your competitor’s websites to find the information they are looking for.
Yes, there is plenty of information already out there. Even if it seems redundant to repeat yourself with the basic’s there is always someone who is looking for it. Become the leader in your industry by educating and setting a standard for high quality.
9. Make It Easy for Them to Reach Out
A contact page is an obvious feature that every website should have. Yours should be clear on which method they should contact you.
- List your company phone number,
- Provide your email address for new inquiries,
- Have them fill out a “contact” form that will provide you with their information, such as email, name, company name, and phone number.
Your contact page is your biggest source for new leads. Managing it will lead to new relationships and future projects for your firm.
But don’t stop there.
Contact forms can be used as a very powerful tool on separate pages. If contact forms are categorized by services or product requests, they can help direct that person’s information automatically to the correct person in your firm. This saves time, gets answers faster to your client, and increases the ROI of your website when you start taking on more projects.
10. Testimonials
Finally, your reviews and reputation are imperative to the success of your firm. When clients leave 5-star reviews on your business, this means they really like working with you. Why not add them to your website? Furthermore, if their reviews are specific to a service that you offer, you should have that review right on that service page on your website.
Managing your reputation is not a simple task, especially tracking who left a review, who didn’t, and not to mention getting a client to actually write a meaningful review.
Having an easy-to-use Reputation Management system allows you to manage, request, and market your reviews from one simple tool.
