Make the Home Page of Your Cleaning Business Website a Sales Tool
Every day, millions of consumers and businesses either buy products online or use the Internet to find out more information about the products and services they need. Major corporations and even government entities are looking at company websites and may even give priority treatment to those companies with professional websites that clearly make them stand out in their field. However, most people will only stay on your home page for 10 to 15 seconds. So there is a tremendous burden on that first page of your website to not only clearly spell out the cleaning services you provide, but to also let your visitors know why they should partner with you instead of your competition.
Begin with a bold first paragraph that states exactly what your cleaning company does - such as:
- We offer office cleaning services to businesses throughout the Tri-City Area.
- ABC Cleaning provides residential cleaning services in the West Metro Area.
Don't let your viewers guess what you do. It's far too easy for them to go back to Google or Yahoo and do a search for cleaning companies in their area.
Being specific about your services is a great start. In the next three to four paragraphs you have to tell your visitors just what sets you apart from the other cleaning companies in your area. What do you have to offer that other cleaning businesses in your area don't offer? You have to let your site visitors know what benefit they get from you that they are not going to get elsewhere. Do you:
- Have a cleaning staff with several years of experience?
- Use the most up-to-date cleaning technologies, such as steam vapor cleaning?
- Offer a comprehensive green cleaning program (not just the use of green cleaning chemicals)?
- Offer special services such as carpet spotting and cleaning, window washing, floor stripping and waxing?
- Have certifications or knowledge about all types of floor coverings and their care?
- Provide excellent customer service and follow up?
Even if you and your current customers know what the benefits are of using your services, many people in your area will not. Write down what your cleaning business has to offer in a few statements - these will make powerful messages on your website. And remember to state the benefits to the customer, not just a list of features or services.
Now, put yourself in your customer's place. What solutions do you provide for their problems? How would their business (or their household) benefit by using your services? Perhaps for residential cleaning, you can free up their time so they can spend more time doing something they enjoy. For commercial cleaning you are not only cleaning their building, but giving their customers a better first impression when they visit the business. And a clean building means healthier and more productive employees.
Make sure that your website visitors know of any "undiscovered" advantages that your company has to offer. Do you have employees that are experts at window washing or floor waxing? Do you provide any special touches - offering a full line of paper supplies and restocking when necessary - that not saves your clients time and headaches?
Does your cleaning business' home page present a strong message that people will remember? Look at your home page and answer the following questions:
- Do you provide something that is important to customers and potential customers?
- Do you have something unique that makes you stand out from your competitors?
- Is the first page easy to read? Forget about lots of flashy images or light type on a dark background.
- What is on your page that will make people remember your company?
- Do you make it easy for people to navigate around your site?
- Do you have a call to action?
- Do you make it easy for people to contact you?
Remember, many people never go past the first page of a website. Most of your site visitors will either get the information they need off your home page, decide you don't offer the services they need, or get a negative impression of your business and look for another company that can meet their needs. Let your site visitors know right off the bat who you are and why you are the best in the area!
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Jean Hanson helps owners of small cleaning companies build a more profitable and successful cleaning business through her online community at TheJanitorialStore.com. Read inspirational cleaning success stories at http://www.cleaning-success.com,
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