Mike 802's comments on his website and Mojo's experience in marketing have me thinking about websites. I don't have one and know I ought to. But I'm not sure where to start. There is so much I just don't know and I'm watching every penny as I work toward putting together a work portfolio reflective of the work I really want to do in the future. So maybe we could start with some basics.
1.) I have a domain name (I think!, the GoDaddy thing, right?)
2.) Who hosts your website? how do you select a host?
3.) How do you pay for that (monthly/yearly?) and are there free options for the cash-strapped?
4.) Do the number of pages affect the price you pay?
5.) Can you use free "templates" to create your own website? if yes, how do you find them? Pros/cons?
OK, that ought to get things started. Clearly, I need really basic information so I will have a sort of framework to use as a starting point.
Places like vistaprint.com also do web hosting. They have templates to design from. 3 pages is 5 bucks a month. If you've already registered your domain, you'll have to provide them with an authorization code.
They offer a free 30 day trial.
I finally did get mine "cleaned up" a little. But since I've got more work than I can do, I don't worry about mine too much.
OK Chris, get out your red pen:
www.paynesupholstery.com
Several pages have been "Under construction" for over a year now. ;D I had a full memory card of pics saved up, which the teenager who was designing my website promptly lost. So I'm back to square one on photos.
After looking it over, I'm sure that you'll agree that I'm positively the LAST person you want to take web site advice from. :)
The templates are fine if you just want to get one going on a budget. You can always tweak it later.
ive had homestead for ears , its easy to make chep ans they take care of all the important stuff.
http://ww3.homestead.com
Bobbin: When I got my first web site I had a lot of the same questions. Cant say that I have any more answers today than I did then, but my first site was with Jack Carr. I started out with a template, all I had to do was fill in the text and ad the pictures. It was fairly easy to put together and Doing business with Jack was a good experience. He actually got me my domain name and registered it for me once a year. If you are just looking to have a web presence and plan on generating most of your own traffic through advertising your site, you cant go wrong with Jack, it is a good way to get your feet wet, so to speak. He only charged me around 150.00 buck for a year, my only reservation with Jack is I never got a phone number and always had to deal with him through email, but he always answered me promptly. Over the years my site grew into something Jack never intended to offer his clients, I cant fault Jack for that, as I was always pushing for more. It just got to the point for me where my site had grown into something that required a different approach. You can email Jack at info@carrscorner.com I went to his forum www.carrscorner.com and did not see anything about his web site offerings, so I am not sure it he is still offering them, you will have to ask him if you are interested, good luck with getting your first site.
bobbin,
Websites today are really a great investment. Not much investment in cash but a good additional form of advertising. People will look you up and if you don't have one they come up empty. So now to answer your questions. Ive done this for 25 + years and have seen good and bad.
You said you have a domain name. That's the first step. Make sure you are the owner. Many times people don't realize that they don't own their domain. Let me explain something here. You rent a domain name by the year. Around 15 - 20 bucks a year from Go-Daddy.
Hosting is step two. I've used probably a dozen hosting companies through the years. I have settled in with Go-Daddy for a few years now. It cost around 90 bucks a year. And I can host as many domains on my server space that I want. They have a website tonight feature where you can build a site through templates. I cant speak to this as I never used it. But I'm sure it decent. You should not have any limits to the amount of pages you want. If so move on to another host.
There are basically 3 important parts to hosting.
1. Space. (storage that is) most will give you more than you will ever need or use.
2. Bandwidth (traffic) again most will give you more than you will ever need.
3. Cost Many are expensive. Don't pay more that 100 per year.
Some additional things. that you may or may not want or need.
Being able to host multiple domains in your folder at no additional cost. like bobbinsdrapes.com. bobbinsupholstery.com, bobbinsbobbins.net etc.etc. A domain is a folder on a server, like your files on your computer. I simplify this but suffice to say it shouldn't cost you more to do multiple domains.
Pros to templates
They are easy for the novice.
Most look decent
They are easy. Did I mention that?
Cons.
They are used by many people so your site might look like someone else's template.
Some templates are not search engine friendly. So you won't get listed well in like Google, and the others.
So the main things to consider are OWNING (wrong word) Being the Administrator is better, your domain., Hosting it for a reasonable cost, Building the site. (Home site BTW was very good back in the day) SEO (Search Engine Optimization) No one will come if they don't know your there. Searches are the main way to get visitors.
Don't be overwhelmed just bite the bullet and get stared. You will learn as you go. Just be sure you have total control of your domain. I cant emphasize that enough.
I have had websites through Yahoo for years, the cost is around ten or twelve bucks a month. I took some computer multimedia classes at the local community college back in the 90's and learned enough to set up a basic site. I do not gain a lot of new customers from my website, perhaps three or four last year but it is a great brochure, has directions to my shop and adds a bit of "legitimate business" to my business and shows that I am a tangible part of the local community
Also, I put my website ural "www.timsdockside.com" on my invoices, biz cards, emails, vehicles, and mention it on my voicemail. I believe every business should have a website, it's a lot of exposure for a small investment.
Tim
Sofadoc, you have a page on your web site where a person can upload a picture to get an estimate. How often do you get requests from this feature? I think it's a great idea.
I tell folks to email pics to me.
Do any other of you folks have this feature on your web site where people can upload pics for an estimate?
Thanks for all the info on this topic.
gene
I usually just ask people to email me a picture, but I really like the idea of uploading a picture to the web site. It gives you a good reason to point people to your web site who may never have gone there otherwise.
The guy that re-vamped my site added that feature a couple of months ago.
So far, only 2 have used the upload feature. The rest still e-mail a pic to me the old fashioned way. I probably need to explain the upload option in big bold fonts on the front page. Many people don't venture beyond the first page unless they are prodded.
BTW one of the 2 that uploaded a pic wanted a custom-made sleeping bag. Yeah, I'll get right on that!
BUT, over half just bring their camera in to my shop, and show it to me.
This goes back to my post about demographics. The average furniture upholstery customer still isn't all that technologically advanced. ;)
Websites are imperative today. Consumers are geared to doing research these days and these new habits send them right to the internet.
I vote for Godaddy like Paul suggested. Get the cheapest service they have. You will never out grow that type of service in regards to space or e-mail accounts needed.
Include as much info and pictures as possible on your website and then direct all of your advertising ( flyers, rack cards, etc. ) to your website.
Once you get it done, if you need me to review it, let me know. These days I only charge a Diet Coke for my consulting fees. :)
Chris
I'm good with the "administrator" thing.
I'm not so good with figuring out how to use the templates. :o But I have friends who're OK with that sort of stuff and are willing to help me (they'll work for food).
I'm also pretty "thin" when it comes to photographs. I have some, but not enough to make a very good showing on a website. I need to get busy on that.
1.) how do you feel about "action shots"? pictures of work being "done"?
2.) how do you rate "before" and "after" shots?
3.) what sorts of shots do you think work best?
Do you feel dialogue is a good thing or not? I am not sure how much "reading" a visitor to my site should face, need your ideas on that.
1.) how do you feel about "action shots"? pictures of work being "done"?
Nice for some but not a great selling point. Finished is best.
2.) how do you rate "before" and "after" shots?
Again these show what can be done but finished work is best.
3.) what sorts of shots do you think work best?
Any that look great and show quality and type of work done.
Thanks, Paul!
I have a lot of work to do. (gulp)
I don't have a web site yet, but I have been thinking of action shots.
Looking at selling old furniture, I'm thinking a shot of the bare frame, of the springs 8 way hand tied, of new cotton/batting/foam, etc. This will show the progress of the piece and the fact that there is all new material.
My thought is that the pictures would go along with the chair, whether the chair has fabric or muslin.
My other thought is to have these on a web site when I get that up and running.
gene
That approach appeals to me, Gene. I may not be representative of the usual viewer, but I really like the idea of a project "in progress". To ME it underscores the work and time required to bring a piece from "junk" to handsome and fully useful.
JMO
Not that it's the best way but the way I did this progress idea on my site is what I call the process of Re Upholstery. Words that explain my process from start to finish. I've actually had some people read it.
Quote from: gene on January 13, 2012, 04:13:06 pm
I don't have a web site yet, but I have been thinking of action shots.
I think you should do a "start to finish" live action video. And show it in high speed with the Benny Hill music playing. ;D
JMO Bobbin. I wouldn't waist a lot of space on before and after shots. The before shots never seem to show how bad the piece really is. Maybe one really bad shot.
With dialogue, Write down everything you want to say on paper. Then cut it down to two or three sentences.
Nothing like a lot of words to make your eyes cross and make you want to leave the page. Try to keep the pages light and airy. Try to direct the reader to your e-mail. If you can get the reader to start a conversation then you'll have a new customer. ie, For great service send Bobbin an e-mail today.
Here is an article I've written about "Making Your Own Upholstery Website (http://upholsteryresource.com/node/265).
A Larger Website Is Very Useful
It looks like I have vastly different ideas than some of the others here. I've had my website, Winters Sewing (http://winterssewing.com), up for about 8 years, and over the years it has grown to over 150 pages, and it continues to grow. The website has a lot of useful detailed information for potential clients. It answers many of their questions before they even call. The can look at the slideshows to see how we do our work. They can read the many articles on a variety of upholstery subjects. Many times before they call us they have already made up their minds to have us do their work.
In addition, since the website is so large, and has so much information, it consistently ranks at or near the top of the first page of the search engines, without paying any per hit fees. I know other business people who have small websites and who mention that they don't get much business from the website.
Websites Should Have More Text Than A Newspaper Ad
There is a big difference between how you write for a newspaper ad (where every word cost extra) versus how you write for a website. On a website you are not as limited as in a newspaper. My idea is that you write out enough information on each page to tell people what you do and what your policies are. I've had a lot of clients tell me that they love my website.
Pictures Are Very Useful on a Website
In addition to the text on our upholstery website, on the Upholstery Pictures & Slideshows (http://winterssewing.com/node/22) pages I put both before and after pictures, as well as slideshows. Each slide show has between 20 to 150 pictures. It is extremely helpful for the client to see your process of working through the furniture. That says as much about the quality of your work as anything else that you could do. Over the last few years I have taken process pictures of most of the jobs that I've done. I easily have twenty to forty thousand process pictures of the work we've done. Some may I'll put more of them on my website.
Plan and Organize The Content
I'm a firm believer in giving the potential clients plenty of information. However, it shouldn't be put in haphazzardly. Instead some careful thought and planning should be put into it before each page gets published. The content should be laid out and designed to make it easy to glance over or to read. I like to use larger headings that give the main points, and smaller text to give more details for each section. Then the client either can read just the headings or whatever text that interests them.
It takes a lot more thought and effort to effectively organize the website content, but it is well worth it. My motto could be, "Put in the extra effort so others can better understand the content."
Best Wishes,
Stephen
Steven I enjoy your web site and frequent it often. No way would I ever imply that someones web site is not set up right, I know how much work goes into each one and they are always evolving.
Your last paragraph is most important. Make the pages easy to navigate. And especially the home page. Another page I would try to keep down to about 3 paragraphs is the "about us" page. Just like a resume you want to keep the readers interested long enough to read the whole thing. Try to "grab" them with the first sentence. For instance don't call yourself an upholsterer (boring). Call yourself a manipulator of fabric. :)
Remember the elevator rule. If you just met someone and had 20 seconds to sell yourself, what would you say? That's about how much time you have to grab there attention before they click off your site.
I love your tutorial pages. And the very nature of writing an article explaining how to preform a new skill demands many words. And if it interests me I will read it start to finish.
I think Bobbin is trying to attract new customers with her site so she needs to keep it clean, easy to read and try not to lose the readers interest. If she wants to add key words then do that by adding more pages with pictures of her work and explaining why shes the one people should go to.
Of course all these suggestions are just opinions and Bobbin needs to create something that is personally hers. Something that when someone goes to it they'll say, that's who I want to do business with.
I know she has a good imagination and her web site is going to be great.
One of the best points that was pointed out by Steven is key words. In time these will do and amazing amount of free advertising for a site. When writing for a website you should place key words in normal paragraphs, near the top of the fold and repeat them a couple times. Make it normal language not just filled with keywords.
Could one of you smarties explain "keywords" to me? I think they're words that are commonly associated with the work you're trying to advertise. For example: alterations, drapery, cushions, interiors, slipcovers, etc.. Am I close?
Quote from: bobbin on January 15, 2012, 12:52:21 pm
For example: alterations, drapery, cushions, interiors, slipcovers, etc.. Am I close?
Yes, you're close. Only keywords must be included in your text in order to get hits when people search for them. Keywords aren't just about the services that you provide, but more importantly the words that people are searching for.
Example: If some poor sap in Greenville, Texas has a busted recliner, hopefully he will go to Google, or Yahoo and type "recliner repair" in the search bar. And because I have that EXACT phrase on my web page, my site will be part of his search results.
So if you didn't have the word "alterations" anywhere on your website, then your site wouldn't turn up in a search for that word.
Now I'm going to repeat Bobbin's question.......am
I close? ???
Keyword update.
Today a customer called about new foam for her cushions. She lives 50 miles away in Dallas. She Googled "cushion foam replacement dallas tx".
My website came up near the top of her search results. Of the ones ahead of me, she said that most of them were "dead ends".
I get calls all the time from places that promise to move me to the top for a fee. I've heard that those places are a ripoff. If your website is getting hits, you'll move up anyway. And if the text on your site matches the search words verbatim, your site will come up.
Stephen......It was my first visit to your site. WOW!
As I read your essay about building web sites the one thing that really jumped out at me was the quote " DON'T try to make it PERFECT.
Perfectionism Kills Creativity! " .
I plan on printing this and putting it on my bulletin board.
Thank you for your professional and caring way of sharing our industry with the world.
I will be back to your site. Steve
on before and after shots , when i first put up my website i had some before nd after of boat canvas i did i had rollovr pics firsat a pic of th boat prework ant the dock then place your mouse over the pic and thesame boat same spot after new canvas. it was kinda cool but i got rid of it yer later while clening uo the site and creating less clutter