Website - how many of you have them how much work do you get from them?

[Blue Fox]

How many of you have a website? How many of those with websites advertise on things like google ad words? Do you get much work from them? Trying to advertise myself a bit more. After starting up a couple of months ago I got a few jobs with some flyers and getting a couple of reccomendations a month but thats it. Just thinking I may be missing a trick not having a decent website - only got a yahoo profile geaocities thing thats not very good.

 

[green-hornet]

My current business has no website, my previous did, it was more a portfolio than a lead generator.

I have worked in partenerships before so now I am on my own(more or less) I do not have one.

Website ran for a few years with no real jobs comming from them.

 

[johnston1991]

sorry to take advantage of the thread, but iv done a fair bit of web design and could build up a profesional lookin page/website for a lot cheaper than profesionals if any one is interested

sorry again

 

[davetheglitz]

Our website has been in place for 6 months and has probably generated enough work to cover itself. Try and get as many local services websites on board to refer to your site.

Some of my (domestic) customers assess a business by it's website - and if the website is cr** will not respond. Others like the on line enquiry as they hate the telephone and pressured selling.

Either way - if you have a website you can't afford to be half ar**ed about it! If it's poor and has spelling mistakes (lots of them around) you look amateurish. Make it a goodun and state what you stand for. There are lots of good examples on the net which can be judiciously edited to create something that is almost original!

 

[Apache]

My take on it as a potential customer is that I wouldn't do a google search for an electrician, BUT if i saw an add (local paper etc) or a signwrittenvan with a website I would give it a look.

A crappy, badly presented 'under sonstruction' wouldn't look too good.

Listing with google local is free!

Just my oppinion

 

[kme]

Thanks for the thread - was considering asking a similar thing. We`ve been thinking about a website; but:

a. unsure how much value for money it`d be....

b. not at all sure we NEED the (prospective) extra work........

KME

 

[binky]

Haven't got one, got work, why bother - its just another piece of hassle and expense. Having said that I have got yell, and free listings where possible, which might generate more leads if linked to a site.

 

[Blue Fox]

My take on it as a potential customer is that I wouldn't do a google search for an electrician, BUT if i saw an add (local paper etc) or a signwrittenvan with a website I would give it a look.A crappy, badly presented 'under sonstruction' wouldn't look too good.

Listing with google local is free!

Just my oppinion

Thats intersting Patch, if I wanted a tradesman in for anything then I think I probably would google for one. Keep the replies coming though guys I'd be interested to see what everyone thinks.

How many of you would use google to find a tradesman or anything? Am also thinknig of google ads as well?

 

[a1]

The first thing that I, as well as millions of others do, when looking for anything - Is to do a websearch.

Like apache says - It will generate a lot of hits from having on the side of your van, alone.

People can read up on the company, contact via it (as someone mentioned, perhaps they don't like using the phone or may feel that are going to be pressured into something - we know otherwise).

I do the whole thing from scratch, EVERYTHING! and I list them individually on all Major Search Engines.

 

[baldelectrician]

I have had a website for over 5 years now- it has generated far more than it has cost

Wouldn't be without it

 

[M107]

How do you get on with taking paymentsby mastercard & the like Baldelectrician?

Been thinking of going down this line myself, apparently I can arrange something via the uktc whom i'm with.

Like the website by the way..do it yourself?

 

[green-hornet]

How do you get on with taking paymentsby mastercard & the like Baldelectrician?Been thinking of going down this line myself, apparently I can arrange something via the uktc whom i'm with.

Like the website by the way..do it yourself?

I have offerd this option for a few years now my costs for inactive use from the bank is

 

[batty]

I have offerd this option for a few years now my costs for inactive use from the bank is

 

[M107]

Cheers GH, wont be going that way then.

 

[Apache]

You could collect credit card payments by paypal?

 

[green-hornet]

You could collect credit card payments by paypal?

To be honest I have never thought of that Apache but I would presume it is possible and worth looking into, the payments are protected and from what I know free.

I think you have hit on a marketing tool I have overlooked there mate!

Lets see what everyone else thinks.

 

[Apache]

To be honest I have never thought of that Apache but I would presume it is possible and worth looking into, the payments are protected and from what I know free.I think you have hit on a marketing tool I have overlooked there mate!

Lets see what everyone else thinks.

Not free I'm afraid - but you only pay when you use it. They charge 1.4-3.4% plus 20p, depending on the ammount. More details on their site. You can always add it to the bill!

Not ongoing costs, if only used infrequently.

 

[Apache]

the link

https://www.paypal-business.co.uk/Products.asp

 

[green-hornet]

I am going to include paypal payments in my terms and conditions.

Until tonight I never thought of it but in todays market its got to be a good thing.

Thanks for that sidewinding kick there Apache

 

[green-hornet]

I am already registered so its just a simple transaction for me