Quick overview: core pages you need
Every small business website should have these pages: Home, About, Services/Products, Contact, and at least one Social Proof page (reviews or case studies). Add Blog/Resources and Policies as needed. Below are step-by-step actions to build each page, examples, and a short checklist.
1. Home — the quick decision page
Purpose: Tell a new visitor what you do and get them to act within 5–10 seconds.
- Headline: Write one short sentence that says what you offer and who it's for. Example: "Fast, local HVAC repairs for Boston renters."
- Sub-headline: Add one line that says the main benefit. Example: "Same-day visits, flat-rate pricing."
- Primary action (CTA): Pick one main button — "Book Now," "Get a Quote," or "Call Us."
- 3 bullets: List 3 quick proof points (experience, guarantees, service area). Example: "15 years experience • 24/7 emergency • Licensed & insured."
- Visual: Use one photo of your team, your shop, or a happy customer. No stock photos of strangers if possible.
Quick checklist (Home): headline, sub-headline, CTA button, 3 bullets, one image, phone number visible top-right or top-left.
2. About — humanize and build trust
Purpose: Explain who you are and why you're different.
- Start with one short mission sentence: Example: "We fix heating systems quickly so families stay warm."
- Add a short owner bio (1–3 sentences) and one team photo.
- Mention credentials: licenses, years in business, awards, memberships.
- Include one short customer story or a metric (e.g., "5,000+ jobs completed").
Quick checklist (About): mission line, owner bio, photo(s), credentials, one proof point.
3. Services or Products — clear offers people can buy
Purpose: Help visitors find and buy the exact service or product they need.
- Create one page per main service or product. If you have 3 main services, make 3 pages (e.g., "AC Repair", "Maintenance Plans", "AC Installation").
- On each service page include: a short description, 3 benefits, starting price or price range if possible, who it's for, and the CTA ("Book", "Request a Quote").
- Decision rule: If a service is searched for at least 5 times a month (estimate from customer calls), make a separate page for it.
Examples of service page sections: Problem we fix, What we do, What it costs, What to expect on the visit, FAQ, CTA.
4. Contact — make contacting easy
Purpose: Remove friction to contact you.
- Put phone number in the header and footer on every page.
- Contact page must include: phone, email, business address (if you have one), business hours, and a short contact form (name, phone/email, message, preferred contact method).
- Map: If you serve a local area, add a small map or list of neighborhoods you serve.
Decision rule: If you get most leads by phone, make the phone number larger or add a click-to-call button.
5. Social proof — reviews, testimonials, or case studies
Purpose: Reduce buyer hesitation.
- Option A — Reviews page: Collect and show 5–10 real reviews. Use first name + city. Example: "Sara, Somerville — 'Fixed my furnace same day.'"
- Option B — Case studies: 1-page stories showing problem, solution, and result (with photos if possible). Aim for 3 strong case studies.
- Also show review snippets on Home and Services pages.
Checklist (Social proof): 5+ reviews or 3 case studies, photos if available, dates on reviews, and links to third-party sites (Google, Facebook).
6. Pricing or Estimate page (if you can)
Purpose: Shorten sales cycle by setting expectations.
- Show basic pricing bands or starting prices (e.g., "From $99 for a standard visit").
- Explain what affects price (parts, travel, complexity) and when you'll give a fixed quote.
- Use a short form for custom quotes with 3 required fields: name, phone/email, short description.
Decision rule: If more than 30% of your calls ask "How much?", add a pricing or estimate page.
7. FAQ — answer the common objections
Purpose: Reduce repeat questions and save time on calls.
- Write the 8–12 questions customers ask most. Example: "Do you offer emergency service?", "Do you charge diagnostic fees?"
- Keep answers short (1–3 sentences) and add links to service pages for detail.
8. Blog or Resources (optional but useful)
Purpose: Improve search visibility and help customers self-serve.
- Write 1 helpful article per month aimed at real customer questions (e.g., "3 signs your AC needs repair").
- Keep each post to 300–600 words and include a clear CTA at the end (schedule, download, call).
9. Legal & policy pages
Purpose: Required trust items and for payment processing.
- Privacy Policy — required if you collect emails or payments.
- Terms & Conditions — if you sell online or take deposits.
- Refund/Cancellation Policy — clear steps and timelines.
Tip: Use short plain-language statements; keep them accessible from the footer.
10. Optional pages to consider
- Careers — if you hire often, list openings and how to apply.
- Gallery or Projects — show before/after photos for visual businesses.
- Book Online — a scheduling page integrated with a calendar tool if you take appointments.
Simple site structure rule-of-thumb
Keep the top navigation to 5–7 items. Example menu: Home | About | Services | Pricing | Reviews | Blog | Contact.
Launch checklist — what to finish before publishing
- Top navigation has 5–7 items
- Phone number visible in header and footer
- Home has clear headline + CTA
- At least one service page complete
- Contact page with hours and form
- At least 3 reviews or one case study
- Privacy policy in footer
How to prioritize pages in your first week
Day 1: Home, Contact, About. Day 2–3: Create main Services pages (one per core service). Day 4: Add Reviews or one Case Study. Day 5: Add Pricing or FAQ. Day 6–7: Tidy footer, policies, and small blog post.
Final tips
- Keep language simple. Use short sentences and bullets.
- Measure: track calls and form submissions. If people still call asking the same question, add a page that answers it.
- Update photos and reviews every 6 months to keep content fresh.