Connect and Build Australia is a pioneering online platform aimed at connecting homeowners to vetted and reliable tradespeople for a broad variety of home renovation and enhancement projects. Serving the huge Australian markets, their aim is to streamline the complicated, confusing and lengthy process of locating reliable tradespeople ranging from electricians and builders to landscapers and plumbers.
Despite their strong benefit proposition Connect and Build Australia was faced with the task of expanding their digital presence and providing seamless user experiences that was consistent with their commitment to trust and simplicity. Their current website was functional, but it lacked modern design, simple navigation, and effective tools for professionals and homeowners alike.
In recognition of the limitations and keen to boost engagement and growth, Connect and Build Australia joined forces with WebGx to revamp and build their digital platform from the starting point. Our aim was to create an intuitive, modern and user-friendly website that could allow users to easily publish jobs, connect with professionals who are verified, and handle projects all from one location.
Before implementing WebGx, Connect and Build Australia’s platform was plagued by several major issues that affected user experience and business growth
The design of the website was outdated and didn’t effectively communicate the brand’s core values or its unique products. The colors, typography and other visual elements did not manage to draw users in or create an enjoyable brand experience.
The users — homeowners and professionals in trade -encountered difficulties getting relevant information fast. The structure of navigation was unclear making it difficult to search for services, list renovation jobs or read bids from experts.
The process used by homeowners to submit projects for renovation was lengthy and difficult which resulted in low post-sale rates for jobs. For professionals bidding was not straightforward or simple to manage and resulted in frustrated users and missed opportunities.
A significant proportion of visitors accessing the site via smartphones, absence of responsiveness in full and a mobile-friendly layout was a major drawback. This omission resulted in a sloppy user experience for those on the go and reduced overall engagement.
The platform lacked essential features, such as expert reviews and ratings and verified profiles to help establish confidence — a crucial aspect for homeowners looking to find tradespeople for expensive remodeling projects.
WebGx has taken a holistic approach to re-designing Connect and Build Australia’s website. It focuses on user-centered design, the latest technology, and functional improvements which directly address the problems.
We began by conducting extensive stakeholder interviews as well as user research sessions to better understand the frustrations and needs of both trade and homeowners professionals. This knowledge informed our development and design roadmap.
The design team at Connect and Build Australia created an innovative, modern appearance and feel that’s in sync to Connect and the Build Australia branding identity. We used a simple layout, vibrant and reliable color schemes, as well as visually attractive typography. We put the user experience first by implementing easy navigation menus, well-organized categories for services, and clear calls to action (CTAs).
We created a step-by-step job posting wizard that enables homeowners to submit their information about the project, upload images as well as set budgets and define deadlines. This simplified workflow drastically reduced job posting times and boosted the rate of completion. Professionally we developed a simple dashboard that allows you to manage bids, and submit them effortlessly, and includes messages and notifications that help keep a seamless flow of communication.
With the recognition of the growing number that mobile devices are used by users, the whole platform was developed using a mobile-first approach. The site is able to seamlessly adapt to tablets, smartphones and computers, providing the same functionality and user-friendliness regardless of the device.
To build trust, we built a comprehensive assessment and feedback system that allows homeowners to review completed projects and provide detailed feedback. Professional profiles were upgraded with proof of authenticity badges portfolio showcases, portfolio showcases, as well as previous project highlights, helping users to make informed choices.
We’ve added intelligent search filters that allow users to locate professionals according to location and trade experience, as well as license types, as well as customer reviews. Furthermore, the built-in messaging system lets you have the exchange of secure, direct conversations between professionals and homeowners increasing transparency and facilitating project coordination.
WebGx made sure that the platform was built on a flexible secure infrastructure, with SSL encryption regular backups, as well as conformity with Australian law on data protection. Optimizations for performance were made to speed up loading and boost the SEO ranking.
The complete overhaul and redesign the Connect and Build Australia platform produced amazing and quantifiable results across a variety of performance indicators:
The user-friendly design and easy workflows resulted in an increase of 45 percent in average session duration as well as an increase of 35% in bounce rates during the first 3 months after launch. A greater number of users explored the services and completed tasks on the website.
The new wizard for job posting made it easier to post jobs which resulted in a 50 percentage increase in the number of jobs submitted. The improved bid management dashboard has encouraged more professionals to participate and increase the amount of bids for each project by 40 percent..
With full responsiveness to mobile the mobile traffic increased by 60% and mobile users comprised more than half the number of users within one quarter. The feedback from customers pointed out the ease of use and user-friendliness as the most significant improvements.
The new review and rating features led to more than 500 verified reviews within just the beginning of six months. Social proof was a great way to help new users build faith in the hiring process, resulting in the use of referrals and repeat users.
The updated website was perfectly aligned to Connect as well as Build Australia’s mission which positioned the company as an ingenuous innovator in the home improvement sector. The sleek digital design also attracted a variety of new business partnerships, as well as more press coverage.
Optimizing the backend of the site has enhanced site speed as well as search results for engines. Organic traffic grew by 30% in just six months, resulting in continuous lead generation and growth in business.
The evolution that Connect Australia and its platform has undergone highlights the crucial role that an effective digital strategy in today’s highly competitive home renovation industry. We at WebGx We believe that technology should empower users to streamline processes and establish trust in order to ensure sustainable business success.
This was an enjoyable collaboration that demonstrated the power of combining industry knowledge combined with user-centric design and solid development can create platforms that connect people and provide the most value. We are incredibly proud to have played a role in Connect and Build’s continuous process of becoming Australia’s most trustworthy home renovation market.
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“Partnering with WebGx is a game changer to Connect as well as Build Australia. The team at WebGx took the time to get to know our needs and goals, resulting in an online platform that is able to meet the demands of our customers. The new site is contemporary and easy to navigate and loaded of features which have increased the trust and engagement of our brand. Since the website’s launch we have witnessed a significant increases in job advertisements professional bids, job postings, and mobile traffic — all essential to our success as a business. WebGx’s professionalism and creativity and technical know-how have surpassed our expectations. We are looking forward to extending this partnership as we continue to grow .”
— Emily Roberts, CEO, Connect and Build Australia
