5 Types Of Self-Service Tools You Need On Your Website (With Examples & Tools)

In the past 12 years, I have taught dozens of companies how to market and sell online more effectively, and I have experienced firsthand the incredible power of self-service tools. In this article, I will share with you the five top self-service tools and give you some examples of great tools in action to inspire you to try them for yourself. 

What Are Self-Service Tools & Why Do You Need Them?

According to Gartner, "75% of B2B buyers prefer a rep-free sales experience," and this is a trend that has sharply increased in the past few years. In comparison, in 2020, 33% of all buyers already desired a seller-free sales experience — a preference that climbs to 44% for millennials.  

While that number will vary by industry (with wide disparity in the consumer sector), other studies (including Forrester and Google) have shown that buyers will complete 80% of their decision-making process before they are willing to contact a salesperson. 

In other words, as a business, you need to make the buyer's journey for your prospects as easy as possible by providing educational content and enabling them to make as many decisions or take as many actions as possible independently. 

Self-service tools on websites are interactive features that allow potential customers to gather information, make decisions, and take actions without direct interaction with sales representatives. These tools empower buyers to navigate the purchasing process at their own pace and on their own terms, aligning with the modern consumer's preference for independent research and decision-making.

Benefits Of Implementing Self-Service Tools On Your Website

For prefab and modular house construction companies, as well as businesses in other industries, implementing self-service tools can yield several benefits:

• Increased customer satisfaction: Buyers appreciate the ability to explore options and gather information independently, leading to a more positive customer experience.

• Time and resource efficiency: By enabling customers to perform tasks themselves, businesses can reduce the workload on their sales and customer service teams.

• 24/7 availability: Self-service tools provide round-the-clock access to information and services, accommodating customers across different time zones and schedules.

• Improved lead qualification: As potential customers interact with these tools, businesses gain valuable insights into their preferences and needs, helping to qualify leads more effectively.

• Accelerated sales process: By allowing customers to progress through the initial stages independently, the overall sales cycle can be shortened.

• Scalability: Once implemented, these tools can serve multiple customers simultaneously without additional strain on human resources.

• Data collection: Self-service interactions provide businesses with valuable data on customer behavior and preferences, informing future marketing and product development strategies.

• Competitive advantage: Offering these tools can differentiate a business from competitors who may not provide such user-friendly options.

By incorporating self-service tools, prefab and modular house construction companies can create a more engaging and informative website experience. This approach not only caters to the modern buyer's desire for independence but also streamlines the sales process, potentially leading to increased conversions and customer satisfaction.

5 Self-Service Tools Your Website Needs

Here's a detailed description of each self-service tool, along with examples and tips for creating effective tools:

1. Self-Assessment Tools

Self-assessments are interactive tools that guide users through a series of questions to help them evaluate their needs, preferences, suitability, or readiness for a particular product or service. In some cases, self-assessment tools help a buyer determine their technology adoption maturity level (see assessment below) or benchmark themselves against their peers to understand where they are.

These tools typically use algorithms to analyze user responses. The outcome is personalized scores or results based on the user's responses, including individualized recommendations or insights.

Self-assessment tools often include the following features:

• Multiple question types (e.g., multiple choice, sliders, rating scales)
• Progress indicators to show completion status
• Branching logic to ask relevant follow-up questions
• Personalized results pages with actionable recommendations
• Options to save or share results

Examples of self-assessment tools

For a prefab or modular home construction company, a self-assessment tool might evaluate factors like budget, desired square footage, preferred architectural style, energy efficiency priorities, and lifestyle needs. The tool would then suggest suitable home models or provide guidance on the next steps in the buying process.

• "What Is Your Prefab/Modular House IQ Quiz" is a Top-of-the-Funnel (ungated) quiz to educate consumers on prefab or modular houses. This is more of a fun quiz designed to raise awareness, overcome misconceptions, and be shared on social media.
• "House Style Finder" is a quiz for a prefab home company that helps potential buyers determine their ideal home style based on lifestyle preferences and aesthetic choices.
• "Project Readiness Checklist" is for modular construction clients to assess their preparedness for a building project.
• "Sustainability Score Calculator" evaluates how eco-friendly a user's current living situation is and suggests improvements.

Tips for creating great self-assessment tools:

• The number of questions you ask depends on the perceived value the buyer is expecting to gain. If you deliver deep insights and helpful benchmarks that truly help them make impactful decisions, your assessment could be 20 or even 60 questions long. If the perceived value is low or the assessment is more of a fun quiz, keep the number of questions to no more than 10-12.
• Keep questions concise and easy to understand and use a mix of multiple-choice, rating scales, and short-answer questions.
• Provide valuable, actionable insights in the results section. Try to tailor your outcomes to the user's responses as much as possible.
• Ensure the assessment can be completed in 5-10 minutes.

2. Self-Selection Tools

Self-selection tools are designed to help users navigate through a range of options to find the most suitable product or service. These tools typically use a step-by-step process, filtering options based on user input at each stage.

Self-selection tools are especially useful in scenarios where there are a lot of product options to consider and the potential buyer isn't familiar with the options or their impact on the end product or service. 

Self-selection tools often include the following features:

• Clear categorization of options (By using the self-selection tool, the user learns a lot about how your products and services are categorized and related to each other.)
• Progressive filtering based on user selections that results in narrowing down of options based on the user's input
• Detailed product/service information for each option (including pricing)
• Comparison functionality for shortlisted choices
• Save and return later options

Examples of self-selection tools

In the context of modular construction, a self-selection tool might start by asking about the type of building (residential, commercial, etc.), and then narrow down based on size, budget, timeline, and specific features. The tool would progressively filter available options, ultimately presenting the user with the most suitable modular building solutions.

It doesn't always have to be fancy and can be as simple as filters on your catalog. For example, Haaven allows prospective buyers to choose the country they would like to build in and then further narrow down their choices by budget, number of bedrooms, etc.

Cover also offers potential buyers the option to enter their address to check if they are in the service area of the company. This allows potential buyers to immediately self-select whether or not they can build their ADU or Tiny House with the company. 

Other examples could include: 

• An "Ideal Floor Plan Matcher" that recommends floor plans based on family size, lifestyle, and preferences.
• A "Construction Method Comparison Tool" that helps users choose between traditional, prefab, or modular construction based on their priorities.

One of the best examples is the Riverpools & Spas "Which is the right pool type for me?" quiz which allows you to pick the right type of pool for your backyard based on your preferences and lifestyle (e.g., do you have pets in the pool? are you willing to do weekly maintenance? etc.).

Tips for creating great self-selection tools:

• Keep the number of questions under 12 to 15.
• Only ask questions that help narrow down the number of options.
• Include visual elements like images or videos of products.
• Explain why this is important by including a brief explanation or a short video.
• State one or two options as the end result and clearly explain why those were recommended.

3. Self-Configuration Tools

This might be my favorite of all the self-service tools because I personally find it the most useful. Self-configuration tools allow users to customize products or services according to their specific needs and preferences. These tools often visually represent the personalized product, updating in real-time as changes are made.

Self-configuration tools often include the following features:

• Interactive 3D models or 2D layouts
• Extensive customization options (colors, materials, features)
• Real-time visual updates
• Pricing adjustments based on selections
• Option to save, share, or request a quote for the configuration

Examples of self-configuration tools

For a prefab or modular home company, a self-configurator might allow users to modify floor plans, choose exterior finishes, select interior fixtures, and add optional features like solar panels or smart home systems. Users could see a 3D rendering of their custom home that is updated in real time as they make changes.

One of the best self-configurators I have seen so far is the FDomes Glamping configurator. You pick the base model you want to buy, and you can customize everything you want: change the color of the canvas, add curtains, change the position of the door, add interior modules (like their stunning bathroom, kitchen, or bedroom modules), add windows and even a fireplace. Not only does the configurator visually represent the changes and update the pricing instantly, but it also does a great job explaining the options so buyers learn a lot while configuring their dome. 

Another much simpler self-configuration tool is Abodu's configurator. Here, you pick the base model, pick the exterior color, and add some additional options to configure your house. Ultimately, you can save your design or schedule a tour to get started.

Other examples could include:

• A "3D Home Configurator" that allows users to modify floor plans, choose finishes, and visualize their custom prefab home.
• An "Interior Layout Planner" for arranging furniture and fixtures within a modular home.

Tips for creating great self-configuration tools:

• Ensure the interface is intuitive and user-friendly.
• Provide real-time visual feedback as users make changes.
• Include pricing updates as features are added or modified.
• Offer the ability to save and share configurations.
• Explain each option in a concise yet comprehensive way.
• Always offer a next step, such as scheduling a tour, talking to a salesperson, etc.

4. Self-Scheduling Tools

Self-scheduling tools enable users to book appointments, consultations, or demos without direct interaction with company representatives. These tools integrate with company calendars to show real-time availability and manage bookings efficiently.

Self-scheduling tools often include the following features:

• Calendar interface showing available time slots
• Integration with staff calendars to prevent double-booking
• Customizable appointment types and durations
• Collection of relevant information from the user (e.g., contact details, reason for appointment)
• Automated confirmation emails and reminders
• Rescheduling and cancellation options

Examples of self-scheduling tools

A modular construction company might use a self-scheduling tool to allow potential clients to book site visits, virtual consultations, or in-person meetings with sales representatives or designers. The tool would ensure that appointments are distributed efficiently among staff and that all necessary information is collected in advance.

Below, I embedded my meeting-scheduling tool powered by HubSpot, but you can also use TidyCal, Calendly, and even Google Calendar.

Other examples of how to utilize self-scheduling tools might include:

• A "Site Visit Scheduler" for booking on-site consultations with a prefab home specialist.
• A "Virtual Tour Booking System" for scheduling online walk-throughs of model homes.
• A "Design Consultation Planner" for arranging meetings with interior designers or architects.

Tips for creating great self-scheduling tools:

• Integrate with your team's calendar to show real-time availability.
• Send automatic confirmation emails and reminders.
• Allow easy rescheduling and cancellation options.
• Include brief forms to gather essential information before the appointment.

5. Self-Pricing Tools

Self-pricing tools help users estimate costs or calculate potential return on investment for products or services. These tools take into account various factors specific to the user's circumstances to provide personalized financial projections.

Self-pricing tools often include the following features:

• Input fields for relevant variables (e.g., size, features, location)
• Slider bars for adjusting quantities or qualities
• Real-time calculation updates as inputs change
• Detailed breakdown of costs or savings
• Options to compare different scenarios
• Ability to save or share results

Examples of self-pricing tools

For a prefab home company, a self-pricing tool (think price, ROI, savings calculator) might allow users to input their desired home size, location, and selected features. The tool would then calculate an estimated cost range, breaking down expenses for materials, labor, site work, and optional additions. It might also compare these costs to traditional construction methods or calculate potential energy savings over time. 

Even if you have hundreds of options or your houses are highly customized and a detailed pricing calculator might not be possible, you can build a tool that allows your potential buyers to pick a house type and enter the desired square meters/feet and a zip code. You can calculate the buyer's expected ballpark range by breaking down the costs for the modular components, shipping/transport, onsite assembly, foundation, and other expenses. This can even be as simple as calculating 20% on top of the modular costs for assembly, etc.

Below is a quick savings calculator I built with a tool called Involve.me. This tool helps companies compare the cost of outsourcing their marketing versus bringing their marketing function in-house:

In addition, you might want to try out our HubSpot ROI Calculator. Another tool I really like is ScoreApp.

Other examples of price calculators might include:

• A "Custom Home Cost Estimator" that calculates approximate pricing based on size, features, and location.
• An "Energy Savings Calculator" that estimates long-term savings from energy-efficient prefab homes.
• A "Modular vs. Traditional Construction Cost Comparison" tool that compares expenses between different building methods.

Tips for creating great self-pricing tools:

• Be transparent about what factors are included in the calculation.
• Provide a range of estimates rather than a single figure to account for variables.
• Include options to adjust inputs and recalculate easily.
• Offer the ability to download or email a detailed breakdown of the estimate.

Conclusion

These detailed self-service tools empower potential customers to gather information and make informed decisions at their own pace. By implementing such tools, prefab and modular construction companies can provide a more engaging and informative website experience, potentially increasing lead generation and conversion rates.

By implementing these self-service tools, prefab and modular house construction companies can significantly enhance their website's effectiveness in engaging and informing potential customers. These tools not only provide valuable information to users but also help businesses capture leads and gain insights into customer preferences and behavior.