Here’s a hard truth: 78% of Glasgow trades enquiries come from mobiles, yet most trade websites fail these users within 3 seconds. I’ve seen skilled tradesmen lose jobs because their contact form kept crashing on iPhones. The fix? A proper mobile-friendly website, not just a shrunken desktop version.
If you’re a Glasgow tradesman – plumber, electrician, joiner – this is your blueprint to build a mobile-friendly website that actually gets your phone ringing. No tech jargon. Just what works locally, with examples from trades who’ve nailed it.
1. Why Mobile Matters More in Glasgow Than You Think
Scottish mobile users are impatient. 62% will abandon a site if it takes over 3 seconds to load (compared to 53% UK-wide). And with patchy signal, you’ll need a site that works offline too.
3 non-negotiable features:
✔ One-tap calling (Big yellow “CALL NOW” button that works without signal)
✔ Postcode checker (“Do you cover G41? Check here”) – cuts wasted enquiries
✔ Image-heavy, text-light (Tradesmen scroll fast – show your work first)
Real example: A business added these and saw a rise in same-day callouts from his website design.
2. The Glasgow Tradesman’s Mobile Design Checklist
To build a mobile-friendly website that wins jobs, steal these tricks from local winners:
A. Speed (The Silent Job Killer)
- Compress images: That before/after bathroom pic shouldn’t be 5MB. Use TinyPNG.com (free)
- Ditch sliders: They murder mobile load times. Use static “key work” images instead
- Local hosting: Glasgow businesses on Edinburgh servers (like Green Hosting) load 1.2s faster than London-based ones
B. Navigation Even Your Dad Could Use
- Sticky header: Keep your phone number visible as users scroll
- Two-menu max: “Services” and “Areas Covered” are all you need
- No dropdowns: Fat fingers hate them. List services plainly
Pro tip: A roofer added a “Storm Damage?” button that jumps to emergency repairs. His winter callouts tripled.
3. How to Show You’re Local (Without Saying “Local” 50 Times)
Glaswegians trust tradesmen who “get” the area. Prove it with:
- Streetview gallery: “Our vans on [your street]” builds instant recognition
- Postcode testimonials: “John from G33 saved us from a flood!” (See Do Google Reviews Help Bring More Customers to Your West End Café? for tips)
- Service area map: Colour-code zones (Green = next-day, Amber = 48h)
Warning: Never fake locations. Google penalises this hard – many businesses are either banned for pretending they are “based in the West End”, or worse, your website is hidden in the results, so you don’t show up.
4. The £0 Fixes You Can Do Tonight
Already have a site? Try these emergency mobile patches:
- Test your speed (Google’s PageSpeed Insights)
- Enable click-to-call (Change “Contact Us” to “Call: 0141 XXX XXX”)
- Add a WhatsApp button (53% of Glasgow trades enquiries now come via WhatsApp)
“But I’m Not Techy!” – Here’s Your Cheat Sheet
To build a mobile-friendly website without coding:
- Use WordPress + Astra theme (easiest for trades)
- Install WP Fastest Cache (speeds it up)
- Pay a freelancer £150 to set up click-to-call and compress images
Total cost? Under £200. (for a very quick return in leads)
Final Reality Check
Your competition isn’t other tradesmen. It’s Google’s “Near Me” listings showing businesses with better mobile sites first.
3 signs you’re losing jobs to tech:
✖ Customers say “I couldn’t find your number”
✖ Your site looks stretched on new Samsung Galaxies
✖ You’ve never checked it on an Edinburgh train (where signal comes and goes)
Need Help? Want me to check your site on 3 Glasgow mobiles (iPhone, Android, that dodgy Nokia your apprentice uses) for free. Just contact me and send your URL.
