Articles & Advice

The Tradesperson
Website Designer Blog

Practical advice on websites, SEO and getting found online — written for UK tradespeople. No jargon, no waffle.

Why a Gmail address quietly undermines trust on a trades website
Business Tips

Business Email vs Gmail for Tradespeople: Why It Matters

Why a Gmail address quietly undoes the trust your website, van and reviews are trying to build. Plus a real deliverability test where the score dropped from 10/10 to 6.2/10 the moment a Gmail reply-to was used.

By Gary May 2026 9 min read
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Public liability insurance for UK tradespeople — what you actually need
Business Tips

Public Liability Insurance for Tradespeople: What You Actually Need

Public liability, employers' liability, tools cover, business van insurance. Plain English from someone who isn't selling you a policy, with the height limits and exclusions brokers don't draw attention to.

By Gary May 2026 10 min read
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How to chase a late-paying customer without losing them — UK trades guide
Business Tips

How to Chase a Late-Paying Customer Without Losing Them

The three-step chase: friendly nudge, firm reminder, formal Letter Before Action — with reusable templates. Statutory interest, small claims, and what not to do. Plain English for UK trades.

By Gary May 2026 11 min read
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Quote vs estimate — what UK tradespeople need to know about the legal difference
Business Tips

Quote vs Estimate: What UK Tradespeople Need to Know

One word, big difference. A quote is binding. An estimate isn't. Plain-English UK guide: when to use each, the phrases that get sole traders in trouble, and what the Consumer Rights Act actually says.

By Gary April 2026 10 min read
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How to get your first customers as a new tradesperson — starting from scratch
Business Tips

How to Get Your First Customers as a New Tradesperson

Just gone solo? No reviews, no portfolio, no pipeline yet. Here's the sequence that actually works — from your first discounted job through to Google showing you to people in your area.

By Gary April 2026 8 min read
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How to write a quote that wins the job — for UK tradespeople
Business Tips

How to Write a Quote That Wins the Job

Most quotes lose jobs before anyone even looks at the price. Here's what a winning quote actually contains — scope, exclusions, deposits, follow-up — and the mistakes that cost tradespeople work every week.

By Gary April 2026 8 min read
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How to get your trades website live in 48 hours — four step process
Web Design for Trades

How to Get Your Trades Website Live in 48 Hours

Most web designers drag out a simple trades website for weeks. Here's exactly how we get yours built, live, and bringing in enquiries within 48 hours — without you lifting a finger.

By Gary April 2026 6 min read
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How to get more Google reviews as a tradesperson — without reviews vs with steady reviews
Reviews & SEO

How to Get More Google Reviews as a Tradesperson

Google reviews affect where you rank in local searches and whether customers trust you enough to call. Here's how to get a steady flow of them without feeling awkward about asking.

By Gary April 2026 6 min read
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Checkatrade only vs your own website — costs, Google visibility and lead ownership compared
Directories & Advice

Do I Need a Website If I'm Already on Checkatrade?

Checkatrade gets you leads — but you're paying per year, invisible on Google, and renting space on someone else's platform. Gary explains what you're missing.

By Gary April 2026 7 min read
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How much does a trades website cost in the UK — price comparison
Pricing & Advice

How Much Does a Trades Website Cost?

Prices vary wildly — from free to thousands. Gary breaks down what you actually get at each price point and what hidden costs to watch for.

By Gary March 2026 6 min read
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Why every tradesperson needs a good website in 2026 — mobile searches, lead generation and trust signals
Web Design

Why Every Tradesperson Needs a Good Website in 2026

Your website is either generating leads or losing them. Gary explains what actually makes a trades website work — and what most tradespeople get wrong.

By Gary March 2026 8 min read
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