How We Built a Website for a Local EV Installation Business
A behind-the-scenes look at how we designed and built theevpros.com, a directory and community platform for electric vehicle repair professionals across the UK. Covering the web design process, local SEO considerations, and what goes into building a site for a trade business.
Building a Website That Serves Two Audiences at Once
When my dad approached me about building a website for The EV Pros, I knew straight away it wasn't going to be a standard brochure site. The brief was ambitious: create a platform that connects electric vehicle repair professionals across the UK, gives them a community to share knowledge, and provides a public directory so vehicle owners can find trusted local specialists.
That means the site had to work for two completely different audiences. Professionals needed a reason to sign up, stay engaged, and see the value of a paid membership. The public needed to find the right EV specialist quickly, based on their location and what they need done. Getting both sides right was the core challenge of this project.
Why EV Businesses Need a Strong Online Presence
The electric vehicle market in the UK is growing at pace. More EVs on the road means more demand for servicing, repairs, parts, and specialist advice. But many EV repair businesses are small operations, often run by skilled technicians who haven't had time to invest in their online presence.
That's a problem, because when someone's EV needs attention, the first thing they do is search Google. If a local EV specialist doesn't show up, they lose the job to whoever does. A well-built website and directory listing solves that problem by putting professionals in front of the people actively looking for their services.
This is the same principle behind local SEO: making sure businesses appear when and where potential customers are searching. For trade and service businesses, this is often the single most effective marketing investment they can make.
The Web Design Process: From Brief to Launch
1. Understanding the Business Model
Before writing a single line of code, we spent time mapping out exactly how the platform would work. The EV Pros isn't just a website. It's a membership business with a public-facing directory. That meant we needed to plan for:
- A searchable directory where the public can find EV professionals by location, service type, or keyword
- Individual business profiles with contact details, services, and descriptions
- Tiered membership plans (Starter, Pro, and Enterprise) with integrated payment processing
- A community forum where members can discuss, share knowledge, and network
- An admin system for managing listings, members, and content
Understanding the business model in detail before starting the build is something we do with every web design project at Glide. It prevents costly changes later and ensures the site actually supports the business goals from day one.
2. Designing for Trust and Usability
For a directory platform, trust is everything. If visitors don't trust the site, they won't contact the listed businesses. If professionals don't trust the platform, they won't pay for a membership.
We used a clean, modern design with a dark colour palette and green accents that reflect the EV industry. The layout is intentionally simple. The homepage leads with a prominent search bar so visitors can immediately start finding what they need. Below that, we included social proof (member counts, business listings, community activity) to show the platform is active and established.
Every element was designed mobile-first. Trade businesses and their customers are often on the move, so the site needed to work perfectly on phones and tablets, not just desktops.
3. Building the Directory and Search
The directory is the heart of the site. We built a search system that lets users filter by location, service category (buy, service, repair, or find parts), and keyword. Results load quickly and display clearly, with each business showing enough information for users to make a decision without clicking through multiple pages.
Each listed business gets its own profile page, which acts as a mini-website within the directory. This is important for SEO too: individual profile pages can rank in Google for searches like "EV repair [location]", driving organic traffic directly to the directory.
4. Membership and Payment Integration
The membership system needed to be seamless. We integrated a secure payment gateway that handles recurring monthly subscriptions across three tiers. Each tier unlocks different features: Starter gets a basic listing, Pro adds exclusive community access and premium benefits, and Enterprise provides dedicated support and multi-location listings.
The sign-up flow was kept as short as possible. Too many steps and people drop off. We reduced it to three clear stages: create an account, choose a plan, and complete payment. Membership activates immediately.
5. Community and Engagement Features
A directory alone can feel static. Adding a community forum transforms the platform into somewhere professionals actually want to spend time. Members can post questions, share experiences, discuss industry news, and network with peers across the UK.
This ongoing engagement is what turns a one-time visitor into a long-term member. The community generates its own content, which also helps with SEO by creating fresh, relevant pages that search engines can index.
Local SEO Considerations for Trade Businesses
Building the site was only part of the picture. For The EV Pros to succeed, it needed to be found by the right people. Here's how we approached local SEO for a trade-focused platform:
- Location-based search architecture: The directory structure is built so that searches by location generate clean, indexable URLs that search engines can crawl and rank
- Service category pages: Dedicated pages for each service type (buy, service, repair, parts) give Google clear signals about what the site offers
- Schema markup: Structured data helps search engines understand the directory listings, improving how the site appears in search results
- Mobile performance: Google prioritises mobile experience in its rankings. The site scores well on Core Web Vitals across all devices
- Fresh content through community: Active forum discussions create a steady stream of new content, which signals to Google that the site is current and relevant
These are the same principles we apply to any local business website in Essex and beyond. Whether you're an EV installer, a plumber, or a solicitor, the fundamentals of getting found online are the same.
The Results
Since launch, The EV Pros has grown to over 500 active members and 150+ listed businesses. The community is active, with new posts, discussions, and business listings appearing regularly. The platform has established itself as a recognised resource in the UK EV repair industry.
For us at Glide Marketing, this project was particularly rewarding because it's a family collaboration that's delivering real value to a growing industry. It's also a great example of what's possible when you combine a clear business idea with thoughtful web design and development.
Thinking About Building a Platform or Directory?
If you have an idea for a directory, community platform, or membership site, the most important thing is to start with the business model, not the design. Understand who your audiences are, what they need, and how the platform will generate revenue. The design and technology should follow from those decisions, not the other way around.
At Glide, we've built everything from simple brochure sites to complex platforms like The EV Pros. If you want to talk through your idea, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat. We'll give you an honest assessment of what's involved and whether it makes sense for your business.