Web design for architects and builders requires finesse.
Match the quality of your website with the quality of your work
Does your website speak to the clients you want or the clients that you’ve had? We design websites that showcase your best work and are optimized for mobile and Google. Search engine optimization (SEO) done correctly is an investment that you make once and continue to reap the rewards as google ranks you according to your expertise and authority. Here are a handful of things we integrate into every website we design.
Less is more. The currency of the internet is using the right keywords. Authentic copyrighting is essential. Calls to action should be obvious. Your website is not about you, it’s about your ideal clients. What are their hopes and fears
Dwelling Creative Clients
White Sands Design/Build
Luxury Home Builder and Interior Design : Manhattan Beach, California
Living Designs Group Architects
Architecture & Planning Firm : Crested Butte, Colorado & Taos, New Mexico
Bluestone Construction
Heirloom Home builder : Asheville, North Carolina
Ledyard Homes
Custom Home Builder : Park City, Utah
Liz Pulver Design
Landscape Architect : Brooklyn, New York
Alan Powell Design
Custom Homes & Furniture : Arroyo Seco, New Mexico
Chad Manley Design
Contemporary Furniture : Talpa, New Mexico
Janet Fulton
Fabric Artist : Denver, Colorado
Mammoth Mill & Construction
Custom Built Timber Homes : Angel Fire, New Mexico
Elise Lind, Fine Artist
Abstract & Contemporary Artist : Grand Junction, Colorado
Chad Manley Art
Modern Sculpture : Talpa, New Mexico
Jane Starks, Fine Artist
Landscape Artist : Taos, New Mexico
Serit del Bosque
Ceramics Fine Artist : Taos, NM
Why designing a website for architects, designers, and builders is different.
You wouldn’t hire a general practitioner to give you surgery. Why would you hire a web designer who does every kind of website under the sun when you can hire a web designer who has worked in your field and specializes in your niche?
Less is more (clean, fast, responsive web design)
Most web designers want a website to be fancy, but because the work you do is already highly designed there is no reason to make a website overly complicated. This sounds easy, but like the clean design of a home, this can be harder than you think. We let your work shine and keep the structure simple. If there are any designed elements, they should be in line with the kind of work you do. For example if your work is modern, you may want to use a sans-serif font. If your work is historical, you might consider something classic like Times New Roman.
Keywords (copyrighting for SEO and your ideal client)
Architects in particular like to keep a website sparse; to let the images speak for the work. Unfortunately google can’t read photos like they can read a paragraph. Every project should have a description including materials, location, square footage and more. This should be written for your ideal clients, but with google in mind. Using clever language that your clients would not think to search with will not get you the organic traffic you deserve. You need clever, succinct, keyword rich copywriting. Organic traffic is best accomplished with education in blog writing. To find out more about the best blog writing practices for architects, builders and designers click here.
Calls To Action (convert web traffic into ideal clients)
All of the marketing we do at Dwelling Creative is meant to Inspire and Educate, but at the end of the day, you want that content to result in amazing new projects. If you don’t lead your ideal client with the proper steps to make that decision you can often lose their interest. There should be Calls To Action (CTA) peppered throughout your site to connect with you or to book a consultation or to download a beach house journal in exchange for an email address. When I mention this to designers they sometimes cringe because it feels to salesy. Consumer data reveals that your clients want to be guided through your process.
You are the guide (establish yourself as the expert with authority and gain trust)
Lastly, remember that you are the guide, your ideal client is the hero. Your homepage should speak to their hopes and dreams and assuage their fears. Your website is not really about you, it is about guiding prospective clients to their next life transformation. How is your service going to improve their life? Can they trust you to interpret a vision they are not totally clear about? Will you want to get a cup of coffee after the project is over?
There are a lot of things to consider when putting together a new website, that’s why we like to start with a marketing masterplan to research your market, talk about your vision, values and life goals. You can get more information about our masterplanning process here.
If you have any questions about a new website, or a website renovation we’d be happy to help.
“Access to talented and creative people is to modern business
what access to coal and iron ore was to steel-making.”
Elevate your creative genius
Happy Clients
"Melissa is a trend setter. She brings fresh, cutting edge creativity and intoxicating enthusiasm to just about anything she touches. She is deeply curious by nature, and sincerely interested in her clients - whether guiding a design process or seeking out the most original strategic marketing angle. Her engaging personality and professionalism makes her an absolute pleasure to work with."
Lesley Cox
Taos, New Mexico | Feel Design
"Melissa Lind is so helpful in explaining web! She has an artist’s eye and a techi brain—good combo. Pure Genius!"
Shelia Ross
Taos, New Mexico | A Shelia Ross Studio
"I cannot rave enough about Melissa. She redesigned my independent press site, 3: A Taos Press, for computer and iPhone, helped me display my online bookstore, continues to update my site for my authors, all the while doing the web work in a timely and professional manner. I recommend her to all my colleagues. I routinely receive compliments on my beautiful website. The best of the best!"
Andrea Watson
Denver, Colorado | 3: A Taos Press, Founding Publisher & Editor
"Melissa is tough when she has to be and always has a sense of humor. Two very important qualities, absolutely necessary, for completing a business web site, which often is a very personal experience. Her design sensibilities and consistency of design are impeccable. And she was always available to help me through the digital confusion."
Alan Powell
Taos, New Mexico | Alan Powell Design, Furniture & Architecture
"It has been is a delight to work with Melissa Lind on several photographic and promotional projects. Melissa did a fantastic job creating my new venture, developing both the photography and website design. She gives me excellent advice on how best to use the website to increase my business."
Dr. Adair Landborn
Tempe, Arizona | Professor
"It’s always a privilege to share testimonials for those whose talents and skills add value to your life and business, but it’s something entirely different to share one for someone whose acumen, wisdom, knowledge, experience, insights, vision and creativity take you beyond the ordinary and bring out the most extraordinary aspects of who you are and what you desire to give to the world.
Melissa falls into this category and is unlike anyone I’ve previously worked with, on both personal and professional endeavors. Melissa is a creative genius with a rare and unique gift of bringing exactly what you desire to share, build and create into the world in a way that goes beyond what you originally desired; she grows it in magnitude and showcases it in a way that is clear, concise, accurate and represents your most authentic voice.
Kellie Caldwell
Grand Junction, Colorado | Business Owner
"I struggled with putting all the marketing pieces together and Melissa dove right in to understand my clients, thinking outside of the box with the ideas about partnering with local galleries and restaurants. Big agencies were too expensive, impersonal or inexperienced; I would not have gotten the same creativity working with anyone else. I am comfortable telling Melissa information about my business; like when I didn’t get a job, she wanted to know why I didn’t get the job and if there were things I could do better to get it the next time. She brings continuity to our marketing with high energy and indelible creativity.
Dwelling Creative is an essential part of my team."
Kevin Reed
Asheville, North Carolina | Bluestone Construction
"Melissa is a rockstar. Talented, creative, client-focused, versatile, timely, communicative and a pure joy to work with. She makes every project feel unique and special, from the first meeting to the final deliverable."
Emily McCaffrey
Washington | Copywriter
"As we all know a great web design is not just all the pretty pictures it is also a carefully designed experience. Melissa is whip smart and fast on her feet when it comes to the underlying architecture that makes marketing deliver a personal experience. This is an essential quality when the internet is forever perched on shifting sands."
Chad Manley Design
Taos, New Mexico | Contemporary Furniture
"Before Melissa even started building our site, she spent time with us. She wanted to know our story, who we are and what we wanted to communicate. With powerful questions and intuition, she was able to develop an incredible marketing strategy that we felt was truly able to articulate the essence of who we are and what we do as a family business."
Mammoth Mill & Construction
Angel Fire, New Mexico | Log & Timber Homes
"Melissa is nimble and flexible- and always good humored, happily assisting with long or short term projects. She has helped with graphics for advertisements, email blasts with customers, social media promotions, blog posts, editing my photos, etc. She even stepped up to help with new product photos- which has been a great help! She has become a vital part of my business- I know I can rely on them to maintain my website, address marketing, PR and press requests."
Liz Pulver
Brooklyn, New York | Landscape Architect
"Melissa's work and insight is topnotch! She is responsible for selecting and editing my Instagram feed, blogs, and website updates. Her responsiveness and attention to detail are excellent, and as a designer, her aesthetic is in line with much of my own work. She is a joy to work with as well! I recommend her highly!"
Daniel G. Steger
West Roxbury, Massachusetts | DGS/a Architecture