By Picshaw · Published
Checks 1–3: can a homeowner tell whether you can help?
Read the first screen without relying on what you already know about your business. Someone arriving from a referral or search result should be able to understand the service and the next step.
As an illustrative plumbing example, a heading such as Plumbing repairs and installations is more informative than Solutions you can trust on its own. Add the actual area covered, and mention emergency availability only when it is genuinely offered.
- 1. Name the trade or main service in plain language.
- 2. State the real service area without implying an office you do not have.
- 3. Offer a clear next action, such as calling or requesting an estimate.
Checks 4–6: does the contact path work on a small screen?
Use a real phone as well as a desktop preview. Tap the menu, scroll to the contact section and try the form without submitting a real job. Check that sticky banners do not hide fields or buttons.
A phone link should open the intended number. A form should explain which information is required and make errors understandable. The visual design is only one part of this check.
- 4. Test the phone link and confirm the displayed number is correct.
- 5. Check that navigation, text and buttons remain usable without sideways scrolling.
- 6. Make required form fields and validation messages clear.
Checks 7–9: are you helping both the customer and your team?
The form should gather enough information to assess an enquiry without pretending to provide an instant quote when it cannot. The right fields depend on the trade and how the business responds.
For a landscaping enquiry, job type and a basic location may be more useful than a long generic questionnaire. A larger renovation may need a different next step. These are illustrative design choices, not a universal template.
- 7. Explain the main services and any important exclusions.
- 8. Ask for the job and location details needed to decide whether it is in scope.
- 9. Give an honest description of what happens after submission.
Checks 10–12: can you stand behind the proof and the process?
Project photographs and testimonials should represent real, authorised work. Do not use a mockup as a completed client project, and do not publish a credential or emergency claim simply because it looks reassuring.
Make one controlled test enquiry and confirm it arrives at the correct destination. A success message on the screen is not proof of delivery. Once measurement is available, distinguish completed enquiries from clicks on the submit button.
- 10. Use accurate, authorised photographs, credentials and testimonials.
- 11. Verify a controlled test enquiry reaches the responsible person.
- 12. Measure completed enquiries separately from visits and button clicks.
Turn the checklist into a short work order
Mark each item as working, needs attention or not applicable. Fix a broken contact path before commissioning another decorative animation. Clarify the offer before creating more versions of the same page.
A simple work order might read: correct the phone link; explain the actual service area; simplify the required form fields; replace an unsupported claim with an approved project example. Record who owns each fix and retest it.
Picshaw can review your existing site and recommend a refresh, a larger rebuild or targeted improvements. The recommendation should follow the problem—not the other way around.