26/05/2026
๐ 5 Things Customers Check Before They Hire You (Are You Losing Jobs?) ๐
Did you know that 70% of consumers won't contact a business until they've checked them out online first? If your online presence is letting you down, you're handing jobs straight to your competitors.
At Simple Marketing Business Development, we see this all the time. Here are the 5 key things your potential customers are looking for right now:
1๏ธโฃ Your Google Reviews (Volume & Velocity)
A 5-star rating isn't enough anymore. Customers want to see recent reviews and, crucially, that you actually reply to them! A business with 40 recent reviews and active responses will always beat one with 12 reviews from two years ago.
2๏ธโฃ A Professional, Up-to-Date Website
If your website looks like it hasn't been touched since 2019, or worse, you don't have one, people assume you're either not legit or too busy to care. A clean site with a professional email address ([email protected], not a random Gmail) builds instant trust. Pro-tip: Always have a contact form!
3๏ธโฃ An Optimized Google Business Profile
This is often the first thing people see. If your hours are wrong, your website link is broken, or there are no photos, they'll scroll past. Google heavily favors active, well-managed profiles.
4๏ธโฃ Real Photos of Your Actual Work
Stock images don't cut it. Customers can spot them a mile away. They want to see your before-and-afters, finished jobs, and even shots of you on-site. Real photos build credibility faster than any fancy design.
5๏ธโฃ How Easy It Is to Contact You
If someone has to hunt for your phone number or navigate a clunky site to reach you, they're gone. You need click-to-call buttons, WhatsApp links, and clear contact forms. Make it fast and friction-free.
The Bottom Line:
You don't need a massive overhaul to win more business. A few fresh reviews, real photos, an updated Google profile, and a modern website are often enough to put you miles ahead of the competition.
Not sure how your online presence stacks up? Get in touch with us at Simple Marketing Business Development. We'll take a look and give you an honest assessmentโno hard sell, just real advice to help you grow. ๐