Sites for architects: what not to miss

In the new world of work we are facing, sites for architects are increasingly becoming a necessity, both for whole agencies and freelancers. This dovetails with new client habits. By now, in fact, there is a greater tendency to contact professionals directly online for a quote or consultation, but also to visit their portfolios, learn about the projects they have completed and get information about the services they offer. Nowadays, architects also need to know how to “sell themselves.”.

SHM Studio, as web agency in Milan, has been involved in Google site ranking for years and provides support for all kinds of businesses, from architecture to much more.

What should never be missing from sites for architects 

A website can be made any way you want it, putting in anything the client desires. However, being an industry site, some elements in the layout absolutely cannot be missing:

• A unique and personalized design: in this kind of industry site, design and cleanliness of the home page take center stage. An architect's site should immediately reflect the brand identity of the company or freelancer from the first visual impact. Images and renderings of interiors and exteriors, or previously completed projects, can be included, even dynamically, so as to entice the possible client to stay on the site. 

• A contact/information/booking form: we are not talking about a personal blog; nor are we talking about a fan page or an institutional site. On sites for architects, as with those of other professionals, the goal is to attract clients. With this in mind, it is essential that the contact section be clear, easy to find, and complete with all relevant information.Most important for a professional will also be to create a customized form in which users can both describe their request in detail and make an appointment for a specific consultation.

• A Portfolio section: this is definitely La The Section of Sites for Architects. Through the presentation of previous work completed, renderings, and case studies, clients can get an idea of the quality of projects and the mindset of the firm or professional. This is also through, possibly, client reviews. For this set of reasons, a section dedicated to the portfolio absolutely cannot be missed.

Design as recognizability in the interest of the brand 

If professionals are to be able to “sell themselves,” ranking sites on Google is critical. On architects' sites, design and layout serve this very function. In fact, the first screen should reflect the soul of the firm or professional as much as possible. 

If the architect deals with projects with a minimal and essential style, the site should also be very simple , with few links and a clear font, giving prevalence to images and quick navigation. In contrast, a firm doing extrovert and avant-garde projects might dare more, including pop-ups, navigation customizations and more. At first visual impact, the client should exclaim, “That's what I want!”

The importance of user experience in sites for architects 

On architect sites, as well as other industry sites, the ease of platform navigation and loading speed greatly affect the SEO, and therefore on the positioning of the site on the search engine page.

Ease of interaction with the site results in a huge reduction in the bounce rate of users, leading them to stay for longer within the page.If users spend more time on the site, implementing simple and intuitive paths will also increase the conversion rate. This means they will be more likely to perform actions such as signing up for newsletters or writing for advice. 

Last but not least, a well-optimized website with a pleasant user experience improves one's online reputation, positively affecting the brand identity and prompting other unique users to visit. 

Work told in pictures 

Needless to get around it: on sites for architects, images must be the absolute stars. Images speak for the architect, they tell his story, his experiences and his way of working. Whatever layout you choose, the images must be big, beautiful and clean.

Whether photographic shots or render projections, each image must be easily searchable, must convey originality and creativity but also accuracy. For this, design research and specific metrics can also be implemented. Extreme image quality can be an investment, but poor quality would only be counterproductive. What about the words? Is the story being told important?

Texts in sites for architects? Yes, but we prefer minimalism

For sites to rank on Google, text is critical, and this remains true for architect sites as well. Whether it's just a few preview words, descriptions of projects and Case Studies, or perhaps articles on a possible blog, all text should always be written from an SEO perspective, so as to facilitate the optimization of the site on all search engines. They should therefore be used in the correct way industry keywords, doing specific and in-depth research even with the help of professionals.

Since it is not a personal site, however, the texts should only be an accompaniment to the images, which will be the real stars. Texts can be written to tell the step-by-step realization of a job, to describe any products made, or to present the latest news about the world of architecture, but, in general, they will not be what clients should focus on. This is precisely why it is always preferable to use a clear and simple, unobtrusive font, perhaps including fades and spacing in favor of shots and renderings.

As a web agency in Milan, SHM Studio Can rely on specialized collaborators In the creation and restyling of websites for companies and freelancers. We explained how sites for architects, being a real business card, require precise design and optimization features that need the intervention of dedicated figures. Contact us for a consultation, we guarantee you the website tailored to your needs that will tell your idea of architecture.