Motorhead Articles

Get Your Marketing in Gear

9 Things That Are Missed When Shop Owners Develop Sites On The Cheap

Barry Alt • April 2, 2023

If you've decided today that it's time to make a website, then it's essential to know what to include on your website so it works the way it should as your 24/7 salesperson.

9 Things That Are Missed When Shop Owners Develop Sites On The Cheap

Your shop deserves a website. Without a website, you won't be able to reach nearly as many clients as you would have with one.

Not only does a lack of a website prevent you from getting more leads, but it also makes your business look untrustworthy. Every business has a website these days; without one, your shop will look dodgy and unfriendly.

If you've decided today that it's time to make a website, then it's essential to know what to include on your website so it works the way it should as your 24/7 salesperson.

But, if you've already made a website on a budget, you might need to include some of the most important aspects of a good website.

Why?

Because a cheap website never works out as well as you'd hope.

That's why today we're going to go through all the essential elements your shop's website might be missing and what you should include when creating a new website.

Take a look to ensure your website is as professional as possible.

9 things you might be missing from your auto shop’s website

A lot of things go into creating a perfect website, and it takes effort and detail to make a website right for your shop.

So many things need to be implemented on a site to make it work the way it should, and if your shop is missing some of them, you could be in trouble.

Let's closely examine these six vital elements your shop's website should have.

1. A user-friendly navigation system

There’s no point in investing in a website if your navigation isn’t going to suit the needs and requirements of your audience. With clear and easy-to-understand navigation, your user will know what they're supposed to do, where they should go, and how to find your services.

With a clear, easy-to-use, and simple menu bar, you'll be able to give your website visitors a stress-free experience when visiting the website. But, if your navigation is difficult to understand or your potential client needs help finding what they're looking for, you'll only cause frustration.

Your visitor might even decide to leave before they've had a chance to check out what your auto restoration shop offers.

Remember, your navigation might work perfectly fine on your desktop but it also has to work well on mobile. Make sure you test your site on your mobile device, as a lot of small budget website tend to not work on mobile.

If your website was designed with a poor navigation system, now is the time to change it!

To make straightforward navigation, make sure to keep it basic. Have all the necessary pages on a navigation bar at the top of the screen. You should also make sure it's easy to find the contact page!

A proper footer and footer menu are also very important to proper website navigation. Having a clear, readable footer and footer menu is also great for usability. Make sure to include links on the footer to all the important sections of your website. You wouldn’t believe how many sites our team has found that didn’t have a proper footer!

Top Tip: Your navigation doesn't just have to be accessible on a desktop. It also has to be usable on mobile. Double-check to see if your navigation works on mobile devices too.

2. Interesting & engaging website copy

Without engaging website content, your website will lack everything it needs to convert potential clients. Your website won't be able to attract clients because anybody who visits your website won't understand what you're offering them.

If your website is currently missing a lot of informative copy, then now is the time to act and hire a content agency that can provide you with a high-quality, informative, exciting, and valuable copy for every one of your web pages.

How do you know if your website copy is good?

Good website copy should:

Tell your audience what you do
Show them the benefits of what you're offering
Explain to them how it'll help improve their lives
Demonstrate how they can work with you
Lead them to the next stage of the buyer journey

Your website copy is also crucial for SEO. Without it, your website won't get anywhere near the top of the search results. So make sure the copy on your website is optimized for search engines!

3. An attractive and user-friendly design

Nobody wants to work with a company with an unattractive or unfriendly-looking website design. It's unfortunate, but people judge a book by its cover or, in this case, a company by its website.

If someone loads up your shop's website and sees an untrustworthy-looking site that hasn't been updated in a few years - they're going to guess you're out of business.

Having an unattractive or outdated-looking website will drive clients away. It only takes 7 seconds for a visitor to form an opinion about you, and most of their opinion is based on the design of your website alone.

Some cheaper websites tend to be simple templates made to fit your brand's colors. Even though they're affordable, they won't do your company any favors. To ensure you're attracting and retaining as many leads as possible, make sure your website is:

Nice to look at
Easy to use
Loads quickly - the average load speed is 3 seconds
Interesting to read
Safe to use

Remember! Your website doesn't just have to look nice. It has to work too. So make sure your website is secure, working the way it should, and all your links go to where they should and not to a 404 page.

4. Engaging calls to action

Another critical element of your website that might need to be added is an engaging call to action.

CTAs are crucial for the success of your website, and without them, your user isn't going to know what to do next.

You should have a clear call to action on every page that tells your potential client about their next step. Whether this is to get in touch with you, book a consultation, or sign up for your newsletter - your CTA must be clear.

5. Social proof

Social proof is another part of a website that should always be included. Without it, you won't be able to prove you're a legitimate business providing high-quality service.

These days people are suspicious of working with companies online. By giving them social proof, you'll be able to offer them a sense of security. 88% of people trust user reviews as much as personal recommendations.

Social proof includes:

Testimonials
Case studies
Awards
Certificates
Publications

Social proof is also great for highlighting your fantastic auto restoration and performance projects!

6. Resources for your audience

Many companies see this section as unnecessary sometimes. But we promise you're missing out if you don't have a resources section or blog on your website.

This section allows you to publish blogs, upload articles and give your audience access to free resources they'll find useful. Offering expert advice and tips to car enthusiasts will position you as a reliable and trustworthy business. It might even be the selling point that makes them work with you.

Writing keyword-rich blogs also helps you improve your SEO, so we'd recommend having free resources for your audience on your website.

7. SSL certificate

A lot of budget websites are often missing an SSL certificate which is bad news for your shop. An SSL certificate is what secures your site and shows your visitors that you’re a safe and reliable shop to work with.

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is what keeps your website’s data secure and out of harm's way. It helps stop malicious hackers from infiltrating your website and downloading your data and your client’s data.

Your website needs an SSL certificate to keep user data secure at all times. It also verifies ownership of your website and prevents fake versions of your website from being used.

If your website was built on the cheap side or by a developer who didn’t know what they were doing, you probably won’t have an SSL certificate. Double-check to see if you have one on your site, and if not, you should work on securing one for your shop’s website.

8. ADA compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) protects people with disabilities from discrimination, and as a website owner, your website must be compliant with ADA by law.

The ADA isn’t just for the visually impaired, despite what some shop owners think, it also includes people with learning disabilities, physical disabilities like deafness and mobility issues, and disabilities like Down Syndrome and Autism.

All these disabilities must be catered for on your website, or you could end up facing heavy fines and even a lawsuit.

To ensure your website is always ADA-compliant, familiarize yourself with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).

Here are some of the basic guidelines for making your website accessible to people with disabilities:

Make sure your images have alt text - for users with screen readers
Don’t have your videos or audio on autoplay
Ensure your site is usable with assistive technology like screen readers
Make sure your buttons are clear and easy to press - small buttons can be difficult to press for people with motor disabilities
Put captions on your videos for deaf or hard-of-hearing users

9. Privacy policies and terms of service

Why do you need a correct and up-to-date privacy policy and terms of service?

A privacy policy is necessary to protect your users’ data and adhere to data privacy laws. Your privacy policy enhances the trust between you and your visitor and ensures their information is protected even if you sell your business. It also makes them aware of their rights under GDPR and many privacy laws being adopted in many States.

Several data policy laws require you to have a privacy policy on your website. If you don’t and fail to inform users how your company processes their personal data, you can face fines and other penalties.

A lot of small websites or budget-friendly websites fail to put in a privacy policy which can get your company in serious trouble!

The terms of service, on the other hand, are designed to protect your website and your company. It’s not mandatory by law, but it’s recommended that you have one for your website to protect yourself.

Terms of service allow you to limit your liability and include your own terms for users on your website. For example, you can include rules related to payment to keep your business safe when users are making purchases from your store.

So, ensure your shop’s website has both a privacy policy and terms of service so you know you’re covered.

Why should you invest in a professional website?

Investing in a cheap and cheerful website might save you a bit of cash at the beginning, but as time goes on, you'll notice that a lot of your website has flaws or is missing a lot of the elements we mentioned in today's blog post.

Cheap websites tend to only have the basics, and some might even be a one-pager that doesn't look very impressive to your potential clients.

This means you'll have to spend more money and time working with somebody to fix your website and ensure it's working to the best of its abilities.

Instead of going for the cheap option, invest in a professional website by working with a team that always includes the necessary elements of a website in your design.

The team at Motorhead Digital is here for you whenever you'd like to get started on bringing the perfect website for your shop to life.

We hope our blog has helped you realize what's important and necessary to include in a website. If you'd like a professionally designed website for your auto restoration and performance shop, get in touch with our team today .

< Older Post

Newer Post >

Mail

Part 2: The 12.8-Year Vehicle: Why Older Cars Are Creating New Opportunities for the Automotive Aftermarket

By Shanna Cathey • August 20, 2026

The average age of a light vehicle in the United States is now 12.8 years, according to the latest publicly released national benchmark from S&P Global Mobility (the firm completed its spinoff into an independent company, now called Mobility Global, in July 2026, though its research is still widely cited under the S&P Global Mobility name). For the automotive aftermarket, that means a growing population of vehicles entering the years when maintenance, repair, replacement parts, diagnostics, and upgrades become increasingly important. The American vehicle fleet is getting older, and it's changing how aftermarket businesses need to think about growth. S&P Global Mobility reports that the U.S. fleet has grown to 289 million light vehicles in operation. Passenger cars now average 14.5 years old, while light trucks average 11.9 years. The high-volume 2015 through 2019 model years are also moving deeper into the aftermarket service cycle as more vehicles leave their original warranty coverage. For independent repair shops, parts suppliers, restoration specialists, performance businesses, and custom builders, the opportunity is substantial. It is not automatic, however. The businesses positioned to benefit will be the ones prepared to service an aging but increasingly technical vehicle population. Why Does an Aging Vehicle Fleet Create Aftermarket Opportunity? Older vehicles generally require more frequent maintenance and a wider range of repairs. Wear items reach the end of their service life. Seals, wiring, suspension components, cooling systems, electronics, and emissions equipment begin to demand more attention. Owners also start making larger decisions about whether to repair, restore, upgrade, or replace the vehicle. S&P Global Mobility identifies vehicles between six and 14 years old as a prime range for aftermarket service. Its research indicates that vehicles in this age range, along with even older models, are expected to represent at least 70% of vehicles in operation for several years. The newest industry forecast reinforces that opportunity. In June 2026, the Auto Care Association and MEMA Aftermarket Suppliers projected that the U.S. light-duty automotive aftermarket would grow 5.2% in 2026. The market is expected to surpass $500 billion by 2029, supported by the aging fleet, increasing vehicle complexity, and continued consumer reliance on personal transportation. Why Are Americans Keeping Vehicles Longer? High new and used vehicle prices and broader economic uncertainty continue to influence replacement decisions. Many drivers would rather invest in a vehicle they already know than take on the cost of replacing it. Modern vehicles are also durable enough to remain useful well beyond the point when earlier generations of owners may have traded them. From the shop side, the pattern is familiar. A customer says, "I just need it to last another year." Then one year becomes three. The truck remains essential to the business. The SUV stays in the family. The daily driver becomes a project because the owner would rather improve it than start over with another payment. This is where the aftermarket becomes essential. It gives vehicles a second, third, and sometimes fourth life. A 12-Year-Old Vehicle Is Still a Modern Vehicle An older fleet does not mean a simpler repair environment. A 12-year-old vehicle can still contain numerous control modules, emissions equipment, infotainment systems, electronic security features, networked sensors, and early-generation advanced driver-assistance systems. Shops must continue investing in technician training, scan tools, software subscriptions, service information, programming equipment, and calibration procedures. This is also why the Right to Repair issue remains relevant. As Motorhead Digital covered in Part 1: The Right to Repair Fight and the Freedom to Fix Victory , recent federal action created meaningful progress around emissions-related repair information and aftermarket emissions compliance. However, broader questions involving telematics, proprietary software, cybersecurity access, and non-emissions repair data remain unresolved. Older vehicles need more than replacement parts. They need judgment. They need technicians who understand the vehicle as a complete system and can distinguish a smart repair from a poor investment. They need suppliers with accurate fitment data and specialists who can combine traditional craftsmanship with modern diagnostic discipline. Which Aftermarket Businesses Stand to Benefit? Independent mechanical shops can benefit from increased demand for preventive maintenance, diagnostics, suspension work, cooling-system repairs, electrical repairs, emissions service, and age-related wear components. Parts manufacturers, distributors, and retailers can benefit from sustained demand across a wider range of model years. Accurate fitment data, inventory planning, and technical support become even more important when the active vehicle fleet spans decades. Restoration, performance, and custom shops have another opportunity. As replacement costs remain high, some owners will choose to improve vehicles they already own through: Drivability upgrades Modernized electronics Braking and suspension improvements Engine work Interior restoration Full custom or restoration builds The aging fleet is also increasingly diverse. S&P reports that battery-electric vehicles average 3.7 years old, plug-in hybrids average 4.9 years, and traditional hybrids average 6.4 years. Those vehicles will create additional service opportunities as they age, but they will also require new training, safety processes, tooling, and parts knowledge. Trust Becomes More Important as Repair Decisions Get Bigger The owner of a 12- or 15-year-old vehicle may be deciding whether to spend several thousand dollars on a vehicle with limited market value but significant practical or emotional value. That customer is not only buying a repair. They are buying confidence in the recommendation. Shops need to explain: What is urgent What can wait What may fail next Whether the proposed work makes financial sense Which repairs can be completed in phases What can be upgraded Clear inspections, photos, videos, written estimates, and phased repair plans help customers make informed decisions without feeling pressured. Motorhead Digital's Trust, Loyalty & Relationships: The Real Shop Advantage explains why trust often begins before a customer enters the shop. People study reviews, websites, project photos, and social media to decide whether a business looks credible, transparent, and capable. Pricing communication matters too. Older vehicles can expose hidden problems, discontinued parts, long lead times, and changing supplier costs. Tariffs, Pricing Pressure, and How Auto Shops Can Communicate Value Better offers practical guidance for explaining those variables without apologizing for charging appropriately.