Digital Growth Diagnostic

Bornhorst+Ward

Brisbane-based civil and structural engineering firm delivering design and consulting services for developers, builders and government clients across Queensland.

Renowned Brisbane engineering pedigree, but landmark reputation is not generating predictable high-value enquiries.

Bornhorst+Ward has built real credibility in Queensland since 1965, delivering landmark projects such as VAXXAS Laboratory, Queens Wharf and The Ruby for developers, builders and government clients. That track record and local relationships are visible, yet only three Google reviews at a 3.7 rating and modest organic traction mean commercial buyers cannot reliably validate your capability where they research suppliers. As a result, higher-value government and developer opportunities are being lost before a direct conversation ever starts.

Your online reputation

3.7

Google star rating

3

Verified reviews

Medium

Reputation strength

Google Business Profile

Your online presence — what the data reveals

AI Visibility

Low

Authority Score

20

out of 100

Organic traffic

561

est. monthly visits

Traffic Trend

+6

%

past 12 months

Organic Keywords

95

ranking terms

Keyword Trend

-14

%

past 12 months

Backlinks

587

total

Paid traffic

0

0 paid campaigns

Digital maturity

Level 2

out of 5

The good news:

Bornhorst+Ward has an authentic market position few local firms can match: 61 years of continuous practice since 1965 and a portfolio that includes at least three high-profile Queensland projects named on the homepage. Those long-standing relationships with developers, builders and government clients are a durable advantage. If the digital presence catches up, those assets could be converted into a predictable flow of larger, higher-value project enquiries.

How your website scores

Message clarity
3/5
Trust signals
3/5
Conversion design
2/5
Visual maturity
3/5
UX total11 / 20

TECH STACK

CMS
Wix
Analytics
Google Search Console

UX OBSERVATIONS

Premium visual styling is not carrying enough commercial authority — buyers seeking technical assurance will not find immediate, verifiable credibility (project metrics, client logos, principal bios) and so pause before engaging.

The page fails to structure decision-making — no primary CTA or contact pathway above the fold weakens conversion intent and prevents a predictable route for high-value enquiries.

Content signals (heritage since 1965, project thumbnails) are under-signalled visually — they exist but are buried in copy and small thumbnails, diluting trust and making it hard to convert procurement or developer leads quickly.

What this means:

With roughly 550 to 561 organic visits per month and an authority score of 20, the website is getting some attention but not turning that attention into reliable briefs or tender-ready enquiries. Only three Google reviews at a 3.7 rating and a drop from 106 to 91 ranking keywords makes it harder for commercial buyers to quickly validate capability, so many higher-value opportunities quietly go to competitors who present clearer, decision-ready evidence.

The three gaps holding you back

  • Offline credibility is buried. The homepage and About page reference landmark work (VAXXAS Laboratory, Queens Wharf and decades of projects) but those credentials are presented as copy and small thumbnails rather than measurable outcomes, client names or project metrics, so decision-makers cannot quickly verify expertise.
  • Public local signals are weak. Google Business lists a 3.7 rating from three reviews which conflicts with the firm’s long history; the website does not surface alternative third-party validation (case studies with metrics, client logos or accreditation badges) to make up for sparse GMB social proof.
  • Premium styling, poor enquiry routes. Visual design reads as premium but there is no dominant contact pathway or primary CTA above the fold and key staff/project evidence is not prominent (UX message clarity 3, conversion score 2), costing predictable shortlisted enquiries from developers and institutional buyers.

What's possible when these gaps are closed

  1. Turn landmark projects into clear, decision-ready case studies

    Make the upside tangible by turning VAXXAS Laboratory, Queens Wharf and The Ruby into short, quantified case studies that show outcomes, team roles and risk mitigation. Presenting three procurement-ready project summaries plus measurable results from a 61 year practice lets buyers compare you directly with alternatives and shortens the time to briefing.

  2. Make services instantly comparable for decision makers

    Clarify each service with outcomes, timelines and example costs so developers and government buyers can assess risk at a glance. When outcome-focused pages replace repeated, broad copy, the current ~550 monthly visitors are far more likely to progress from research to contact and to request tender information.

  3. Convert existing traffic into a steady pipeline of briefs

    With about 550 monthly visits, roughly 90 ranking keywords and an established backlink profile, there is enough momentum to build a predictable lead flow. Aligning content with straightforward contact paths and a few targeted landing pages will raise the conversion of that existing traffic into regular, qualified enquiries from higher-value clients.

This report was prepared by Redfox Digital using publicly available SEO, UX and reputation data.

Ready to find out what stronger digital growth could look like

Book a free 20-minute strategy call. We’ll map the gap between your commercial goals and digital capability, then design the system to close it.

Bornhorst+Ward homepage screenshot