Planning guide
What should a carpenter's website show potential clients?
A carpentry website has an unusual job: it has to sell something custom that the client cannot fully picture. Good photographs, honest material notes, and an easy way to share an idea do most of the work. Here is how we plan a carpenter's site, from the gallery to the inquiry form to the details that help nearby clients find you.
Let the photos get close
Wide shots show a finished room, but carpentry is sold in the details. For each project, take one photo of the whole piece and several close-ups: an inside corner, the edge banding, a scribed end panel, the paint finish in raking light. Daylight and a steady hand on a phone are enough. Caption each photo with the room, the wood, and what was hard about the space.
Organize the gallery by type of work, such as built-ins, closets, trim, doors, and outdoor projects, so visitors can go straight to what they want. If you also take commercial work, such as millwork for shops or restaurants, give it its own section. Only show your own work, and leave out anything you subcontracted unless you say so.
Explain materials without a lecture
Clients ask what their project should be made of, and the answer matters in a humid climate. A short materials page that compares solid wood, plywood, MDF, and moisture-resistant options in plain terms helps them understand your recommendations. Note what you use for bathrooms, kitchens, and outdoor pieces, and why. Mention termite and rot resistance where it applies. Keep it practical, and invite questions on the inquiry form.
Make sharing an idea easy
Custom work begins with a fuzzy idea, so the inquiry form should do some of the thinking. Ask what they want built, the room, rough dimensions, and whether it will be painted or stained. Let them attach photos of the space and any inspiration images. Add a phone number for people who would rather talk it through. The more you see before the visit, the better your first sketch.
Get found by people planning projects
People search for the piece they want: custom closets, built-in bookshelves, crown molding installation, carpenter near me. A page for each kind of work, an area page with the neighborhoods you serve, and a Google Business Profile that matches the site give search engines specific signals. Ask satisfied clients for reviews that mention the project. A good site cannot promise rankings, but it helps the right searches lead to you.
