Client: Darren and Max Sharpe
Business: Sell The Van
Industry: National Van Buying Service
Project: Website Design and Development with API Integration
Duration: 4 Weeks
Website: sellthevan.co.uk
Case Study Summary:
The Challenge
Launch a new van-buying business with zero online presence and generate consistent organic enquiries through a high-performing website.
Our Solution
We developed Sell The Van’s branding, created a conversion-optimised website with strong SEO foundations, and implemented technical API integration for instant van valuations.
The Results
- 3-5 quality enquiries per day within weeks of launch
- #1 ranking for local search terms like “Sell My Van Acton”
- 90+ PageSpeed score ensuring excellent user experience
Business acquisition interest from We Buy Any Car due to impressive lead volume
The Challenge: Building a New Business Presence from Scratch
Darren and Max Sharpe were already successful directors of Huntswood Van Centre, a thriving van dealership in Horton, Datchet with over 90 five-star Google reviews. After a decade of selling vans to commercial clients and individuals, they identified a gap in the market for a dedicated van-buying service.
Their new venture, Sell The Van, aimed to become the go-to service for businesses and individuals looking to sell their unwanted vans across the UK. While their business concept was solid, they faced significant challenges:
- Zero online presence for the new brand
- Highly competitive market dominated by established players
- Need for technical functionality to provide instant van valuations
- Requirement for rapid visibility in search engines to generate leads quickly
The directors approached Marketing for Trades with specific requirements:
- Develop professional branding that would instill trust
- Build a website optimised for conversions and search engines
- Implement technical integration with vehicle data providers
- Create a platform that could scale as the business grew
Max (Pictured left) and Darren (Pictured right) Sharpe – Founders of Sell The Van 👆🏻
Our Solution: A Conversion-Focused Website with Technical Integration
Our comprehensive solution for Sell The Van focused on creating a website that would not only look professional but actively generate leads from day one. Here’s how we approached the project:
Logo Design for Sell The Van 👆🏻🔥
Technology
We selected a technology stack that balanced performance, flexibility, and ease of management:
- WordPress as the content management system for its flexibility and client-friendly backend
- Premium theme from Envato Market customised for optimal performance
- Hostinger hosting for reliability, speed, and excellent support
- HPI API integration for real-time vehicle data retrieval
- Custom code implementations for specific functionality requirements
The technical heart of the project was the API integration with HPI, a trusted vehicle data provider. This integration enabled users to enter their vehicle registration number and receive instant identification of their van, streamlining the valuation process.
Primary CTA ‘Enter Reg’ prominent across the website 👆🏻
User Experience (UX)
The entire website was designed with one primary objective: generating van valuation enquiries. We centred the site’s architecture around the main “Enter Reg” call-to-action:
- Prominent placement in the sticky header that follows users as they scroll
- Featured as the main focus of the hero banner
- Strategically positioned throughout the user journey
- Included in the site footer for maximum visibility
We created a streamlined user flow that minimised friction in the valuation process:
- Enter vehicle registration
- Confirm vehicle details (pulled automatically from the API)
- Submit contact information
- Receive follow-up with valuation
This conversion-focused approach ensured that visitors were consistently encouraged to take the desired action, regardless of which page they were viewing.
Sell The Van website 👆🏻
Content
Content development focused on building trust and addressing common concerns about selling vans:
- Clear value propositions highlighting the benefits of using Sell The Van
- FAQ section addressing common questions about the van selling process
- Transparent explanation of how the valuation and purchase process works
- Trust-building elements including testimonials from satisfied customers
- SEO-optimised copy created using our proprietary AI prompts
All content was written in a clear, straightforward style that appealed to both individual and business van owners, emphasizing Sell The Van’s expertise and trustworthiness.
Creative
Show Image
We developed a simple yet effective visual identity that would resonate with the target audience:
- Logo design using a professional yet approachable style
- Colour palette of green, white, and yellow that conveyed trust and professionalism
- Typography selection focused on readability across devices
- Image selection featuring high-quality van photography
- Consistent application of brand elements throughout the website
The creative elements were designed to appeal to both individual van owners and commercial fleet managers, with a professional look that inspired confidence in this new business.
Integration
To ensure the website functioned as an effective business tool, we implemented several key integrations:
- Google Analytics 4 for comprehensive traffic and conversion tracking
- Google Search Console for monitoring search performance and issues
- HPI vehicle data API for automatic van identification
- Contact form integration with email notification system
- Review collection system to help build social proof
These integrations created a complete ecosystem that not only generated leads but also provided valuable data on website performance and user behavior.
SEO Optimisation
As a new business, achieving rapid visibility in search engines was critical. Our comprehensive SEO strategy included:
- Keyword research targeting van selling terms with commercial intent
- On-page optimisation with strategic keyword placement
- Meta data optimisation for improved click-through rates from search results
- Proper heading structure following H1-H6 hierarchy
- Schema markup implementation for enhanced search listings
- Local SEO focus to dominate in specific geographical areas
- Internal linking strategy to distribute page authority
XML sitemap creation and submission to Google
Performance
To ensure the best possible user experience and search visibility, we implemented:
- Image optimisation for faster loading
- Code minification to reduce file sizes
- Browser caching configuration for improved speed
- Mobile responsiveness testing across all devices
- Core Web Vitals optimisation for SEO advantage
The result was a website that achieved a 90+ score on Google PageSpeed Insights, providing visitors with a fast, seamless experience regardless of device. This performance optimisation contributed significantly to both user experience and search engine rankings.
The Results: A Lead-Generating Asset for Business Growth
Our comprehensive approach delivered impressive results for Sell The Van:
Immediate Lead Generation
- 3-5 quality enquiries per day within weeks of launch
- Consistent lead flow allowing predictable business operations
- Higher quality leads compared to paid advertising channels
Search Engine Visibility
- #1 ranking for target terms like “Sell My Van Acton”
- Strong positioning for broader terms related to van selling
- Growing organic traffic month-on-month
Business Growth
- 18 five-star reviews accumulated from satisfied customers
- Business acquisition interest from major competitor “We Buy Any Car”
- Expansion into additional geographical areas
Technical Performance
- 90+ Google PageSpeed score ensuring excellent user experience
- Fully responsive functionality across all devices
- Reliable operation with minimal maintenance required
Google Page Speed Insights Score👆🏻
Ongoing Relationship: Continued Growth and Expansion
Our partnership with Sell The Van continues to thrive. We’re currently:
- Expanding SEO efforts to target additional geographical areas
- Refining conversion pathways to maximise lead quality
- Implementing data analysis to identify growth opportunities
- Supporting business scaling as the operation expands
Having previously worked with Darren and Max at their Huntswood Van Centre business (which boasts 94 five-star Google reviews), we’ve experienced firsthand their commitment to exceptional service. Their new venture, Sell The Van, continues this tradition of excellence, and we’re proud to support their growth in the competitive van-buying market.
