The construction and built environment industry hinges closely on the economy it operates within. It can be feast and famine, and interest rates, inflation and purchasing power can all have drastic impacts on budgets. In 2025, output has remained quite stagnant as shown by the ONS. Basic stuff, but it’s important to keep this firmly in mind so you ensure you have a steady stream of new business when the industry takes a downward turn.
Whether you’re an architectural practice, quantity surveyors, structural engineers, environmental consultants or any number of other disciplines within this industry – you need a steady stream of leads and referrals coming in, especially when times get tough.
Enter: your website. we’ve had many years of experience working on websites in the construction industry, and many are just not up to scratch. Terrible, in some cases. As a construction website design agency, we’ve seen it all.
Your website needs to be your showcase and your lead closing machine. It needs to show clients like developers and private clients you’re trusted, precise, reliable and have the expertise needed to deliver.
Building a website is pretty similar to building anything, like… buildings! You’ve got to start with drawings, and plans, move to foundationary work and then get the right materials together to make it happen.
So, how does an agency like Jolt Digital ensure construction websites win work? We’ll explore this in this blog so keep reading – plus check out the FAQs at the end for further common answers.
Construction Websites – Your Audience First
To start off any website project, we think human-first. We investigate who your website users are, what they want, and how we give it to them in a way that is not only easy but engaging too.
We know from experience that, in this industry, many potential clients already know who you are when they consider you for a tender. They’ve worked with you before or they know someone who has. In this user’s case, your website needs to showcase relevant work, show the capabilities of your team and highlight your credentials and ethos – building trust every step of the way.
However, this doesn’t cover all users. Some don’t know you past the Google search result you’ve just shown up in. Some people are looking for a career opportunity. Some are looking to sell you something.
We map out these potential users, what they need, and what their journey through your website and its content looks like. From here, we get the structure of the website – a skeleton and a sitemap that becomes the foundation to build upon.
Construction Websites – Designing for Best Experiences
Your website’s design has to meet all of your user’s needs – easy to use, accessible and including helpful content, but it also needs to stay consistent with your brand identity. Make sure your website’s messaging and look and feel match what your ethos is, which hopefully conveys a sense of experience and trust which is so vital in the construction industry. Don’t overcrowd. Include clear call to actions, and take users on a clear journey through what matters to them.
If your discipline leans towards visual results like architecture, construction and renovation, then having great project imagery is absolutely key. This is your chance to really impress. Yes, smartphones have good cameras, but pay someone who really knows what they’re doing to get great shots of your completed schemes – this will make a huge difference. Bonus points for video which boosts engagement. The amount of times we’ve seen projects that have clearly had a lot of work and care go into them, only to be undersold by poor imagery, it is genuinely a shame for all involved. Showcase your select best work, your biggest and most impressive achievments, and leave out the boring stuff.
Construction Websites – Getting The Tech Right
You can’t build The Shard out of plastic. Well, maybe you can… but perhaps it’s best not to think about how that might go. Making sure your website uses the right ‘materials’ and is fundamentally sound means that it will load fast, be free of bugs and glitches and will be more friendly to the search engines.
We won’t get into the ins and outs of generative and search engine optimisation here, but put simply following best pratices for tech, including metadata and microdata under the bonnet and ensuring your website performs well puts you in a much better position for getting picked up and shown in search or query results – resulting in awareness, traffic and potential leads, therefore, it pays to get this right.
Web Design & Development for Construction Companies – In Summary
Whilst in terms of functionality, many websites in this industry are simpler than others, it’s crucial to ensure you consider what your users care about. Get this right, and everything else falls into place.
Lean on professionals where you can (like us) to help you design and build your website, and get your work looking its best. Build in even a simple digital marketing strategy, and you have a website that will pay for itself and be future-proofed for years to come.
We help clients of all types in the construction and built environment every day, and we also offer free audits of your current website and digital presence. If you’d like some insights on where you can improve from people who’ve done it all before – get in touch.
We’ve worked with many types of companies in the industry and with our industry knowledge we’re ready to help:
- Architectural Practices
- Landscape Architects
- Urban Planners
- Planning Consultancies
- Quantity Surveyors
- Building Surveyors
- Land Surveyors
- Interior Designers
- Structural Engineers
- Environmental Consultants
- Construction Firms & Contractors
- Property Developers
- Specialist Contractors
- Refurbishers and Fitters
- Fabricators
Other than web support, we also help businesses in this industry with:
FAQs
Why is mobile optimisation important in construction websites?
Sure, this industry is desktop-first (for now). But, your potential clients and partners might be checking your site on the go. A clunky mobile experience can lose them in seconds. This also has an impact on your SEO visibility, so keep mobile top of mind!
Should I use Squarespace or Wix to build my website?
DIY builders like Squarespace or Wix can be useful options for simple websites if you’re starting out, but we often work on projects where organisations have ‘outgrown’ these platforms. They limit your ability to create something truly unique that showcases you and your work in the best possible way – so we recommend skipping this and going with a more professional option.
Is WordPress a good option for my construction website?
According to WPZOOM, WordPress powers 43% of all websites – and that’s for a reason. It’s open source, meaning it’s widely used by web teams around the world, and is endlessly flexible for customisation. There are a lot of poorly implemented WordPress websites, but a skilled team will get the best out of the CMS platform for you. Need a hand with WordPress? Find out more here.
How much does a website cost to design and build?
The cost of designing and developing a website can vary significantly based on a large range of factors such as its size, functionality, platform, the experience level of the team and more. At Jolt, prices can start as low as £700 – so if you want to get an accurate quote, feel free to get in touch.
How long does it take to build a website?
Similar to cost, it’s hard to give an accurate guide here as it’s affected by many factors, but typically at Jolt Digital we allow 6+ weeks start to finish to design, build, refine and launch a website. Simpler websites can be quicker, and more complex ones with many stakeholders can take a little longer!
How do I choose a web design agency/company?
At Jolt Digital we believe that getting great results starts with building connections and collaborating closely with our clients. So, we recommend you start a conversation with potential web agencies like us and take it from there when it comes to finding quotes and timelines that align with your budget and requirements. It’s always helpful if the agency has relevant experience in your industry. We’ve got extensive experience in construction and the built environment and property, so feel free to reach out for a free initial consultation.
How often should I update my site?
At least quarterly. Add new projects, refresh photography, and keep your news or blog section alive so visitors (and search engines) know you’re active.