5 CONTRACTOR WEBSITE MISTAKES THAT ARE COSTING YOU JOBS (AND HOW TO FIX THEM)

If you run a contracting business — plumbing, roofing, landscaping, electrical, or general construction — your website is one of your most important sales tools. Yet many contractors lose jobs every single week because their website isn’t set up to generate leads.

At United Foundry, we specialize in turning contractor websites into lead-generating machines. Here are the five most common contractor website mistakes we see, and how you can fix them today.

1. No Clear Call-to-Action (CTA)

Mistake: Too many contractor websites hide the phone number at the bottom of the page or make customers dig for the contact form. Homeowners get frustrated and leave without calling.

Example: A roofing company’s site looks good but only lists the number in small text on the footer. A homeowner browsing on their phone never scrolls down — and ends up calling a competitor.

Fix: Place a big, obvious button at the top of your site that says:
“Call Now for a Free Roof Inspection” or “Request a Free Estimate.”

On mobile, make sure that button dials directly with one tap.

2. Outdated or Unprofessional Design

Mistake: If your website looks like it was built in 2010, homeowners won’t trust you with a $10,000 roof, remodel, or electrical job.

Example: An electrician has a site with blurry photos, flashing text, and no mobile layout. A potential client clicks “back” and hires a competitor with a clean, modern site.

Fix: Refresh your design to be modern, mobile-friendly, and professional. A simple homepage with high-quality photos, clear services, and a visible “Book Now” button builds instant credibility.

3. Not Showcasing Reviews and Past Projects

Mistake: Homeowners want proof. If your site doesn’t feature testimonials, reviews, or project photos, you’re leaving money on the table.

Example: A landscaping company completes dozens of backyard transformations but has no gallery or testimonials online. Visitors assume the company is inexperienced.

Fix: Add a reviews section that pulls in your latest Google reviews automatically. Showcase a gallery of before-and-after photos. Social proof builds trust — and wins bids.

4. Ignoring Local SEO

Mistake: If your site doesn’t include your service area and keywords, you won’t show up in local searches.

Example: A plumbing site says “We fix leaks” but never mentions its city. When someone searches “emergency plumber in Tampa,” the company doesn’t show up at all.

Fix: Use location + service keywords across your site. Example:

• “24/7 Emergency Plumber in Tampa”

• “Roof Replacement in Orlando”

• “Landscape Design in Miami”

This helps you rank higher and capture local leads.

5. Slow Loading Speed and Poor Mobile Experience

Mistake: If your site takes longer than 3 seconds to load, visitors bounce. Contractors often upload oversized project photos that drag site speed down.

Example: A general contractor’s portfolio photos are so large that mobile users wait 10 seconds for the site to load. Most never even see the content.

Fix: Compress images, use faster hosting, and run your site through Google PageSpeed Insights. Mobile-first design is crucial since most leads come from phones.

Final Thoughts

Your website isn’t just an online brochure — it’s your digital sales rep. If it’s slow, outdated, or missing key conversion elements, you’re losing jobs every single week.

At United Foundry, we help contractors fix these mistakes and build websites that actually bring in calls, booked jobs, and 5-star reviews.

Want to turn your contractor website into a lead-generating machine? Let’s talk.