The Digital Shop® Blog
These days, having a website for your independent auto repair shop isn’t just a good idea–it’s practically a prerequisite for success. Between 70 and 80% of customers research companies online before choosing a business to provide the products or services they need. If your shop doesn’t have a website, or if your website can’t stand up to the competition, you could lose a considerable number of potential clients.
Here we discuss 5 must-haves to create the best auto repair shop website.
1. Mobile-Friendly Design
During the first quarter of 2021, smartphones and other mobile devices were responsible for 54.8% of all web traffic.
Taking that into account, focusing on mobile web design is crucial for any business building or updating its website. Doing so can have a direct positive impact since 77% of people searching for businesses on mobile visit those businesses the next day. As a result, it should be far from surprising to learn that 94% of websites for small businesses are considered mobile-friendly - and yours should be, too.
2. Online Appointment Scheduling
For independent auto shops (and any other service-based businesses), one great way to add web functionality is by introducing online appointment scheduling. By doing so, you’ll provide a high level of convenience to potential customers, making them more likely to do business with you.
They’ll also appreciate scheduling appointments around the clock since customers book 40% of online appointments while shops are closed.
3. Content Optimized for Search Engines
To build a successful website, you’ll need to follow the principles of search engine optimization (SEO). With that said, SEO can get complicated. It ultimately boils down to writing and structuring content so that Google (along with other search engines) can easily find it.
For an auto shop, that could mean writing blogs on topics like car maintenance which prominently feature competitive keywords. When you use the correct search terms and deliver a consistent flow of quality content, you’ll be able to improve your search ranking, putting your website in front of more shoppers. Since just 17% of small businesses invest in their SEO strategy, making this a focal point of your site is a great way to get ahead of the competition.
4. Clear Branding
Having your own website gives you a massive opportunity to build your shop’s brand. On the other hand, if your shop’s site looks like everyone else’s, it won’t make a strong impression on visitors. With that in mind, be sure to focus on these essential elements of auto shop branding:
- An eye-catching logo. While designing the right logo for your auto shop may take some time and money, few branding elements are more effective.
- Consistent graphics and images. Even if you have the best logo ever made, customers could still get turned off if the rest of your site uses ’90s clip art. The takeaway: every visual element featured on your website should look as professional as possible.
- A recognizable color scheme. Don’t think colors can be a brand element? Just imagine a can of Coca-Cola - chances are, one of the first things you thought of was white text on a red background.
- Content written with your “voice” in mind. Visual elements are a significant aspect of branding, but they aren’t the only part of this process. Your visitors also expect the copy on your site to match their perception of your brand.
5. User-Friendly Interface
Creating a quality user experience involves more than offering online appointment scheduling and regular content updates. You should also make it simple for visitors to get around your website, which means putting some serious thought into your site’s interface.
According to UX research firm Nielsen Norman Group, you can break down usability into five elements:
- Learnability. This refers to how easy (or how hard) it is for first-time visitors to navigate your website.
- Efficiency. Once users learn your site’s layout, they’ll want to complete tasks like scheduling appointments and finding your shop on social media as quickly as possible.
- Memorability. When people come back to your website after a long time away, it should be easy for them to jump back in.
- Errors. This covers everything from how often visitors make mistakes to how easily they can get back on track.
- Satisfaction. Finally, users should find it enjoyable to get around your website.
User-Friendly for You
The importance of having a user-friendly web interface goes both ways. When you own a small business, you probably don’t have a ton of time to spend updating your website. On top of that, web design and maintenance can be complex for people who aren’t already familiar with the field.
For independent auto shops, the best way to get a stunning website while having time to take care of everything else is by partnering with AutoVitals.
The AutoVitals crew builds some of the best auto repair shop websites in the world–these sites look great, are easy for visitors to use, and offer online appointment scheduling and other crucial features. With that said, AutoVitals can also help auto shops build up their digital presence with marketing capabilities like social media management, ads, and analysis.
If you’re ready to cut through the noise and start getting noticed by customers in your community, team up with AutoVitals.
