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Poll

Do you promote your website or not, if yes how do you do it?

I have printed the URL on all my stationary, vehicles and adverts
I use Yell.com
I use "webfinder" from Thomsons directory
I use Google AdWord
I have submitted my URL to a search engine
I have not submitted my URL to a search engine
I do not bother promoting my website
I do not think my website generates any additional business
Few questions about your website
« on: December 22, 2005, 08:06:40 pm »
My website has only been published for less than 6 months.  I wondered how you promote your websites (if you do) and what the results.

My business provides cleaning service locally, in Newcastle upon Tyne.  According to the statistic, my website attracts more visitors from USA than from UK.  I do not know how American visitors can find my website because statistic report does not refer to any search engines or referrals URL.

Regards,

Arthur

Central Window Cleaners

  • Posts: 845
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #1 on: December 29, 2005, 01:46:20 pm »
Hiya, your site looks great but seems a bit slow to load and the text is a little hard to read.

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #2 on: December 29, 2005, 05:04:47 pm »
Hiya, your site looks great but seems a bit slow to load and the text is a little hard to read.

Thank you for the comment.  I designed it myself using Web Easy Professional 5 software (no experience needed) and Adobe Illustrator for designing background and logo only. 

The speed of loading depends what internet connection you have (I have got broadband), computer configuration and many other factors, however the idea was to open every page bit by bit in a particular order.  On the bottom of every page there are links, which allow visitors to jump to any page they like without waiting. 

I do not know what you mean saying that the text was a little hard to read, I have never had such comments before.  Was it colour or size of the letters?  I would be grateful if you could clarify what you mean.

Thanks,

Arthur

allergease

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #3 on: December 29, 2005, 05:34:36 pm »
Sorry, I agree that your webpage is too slow to open. In my opinion, and that is all it is, many people simply have not got the patience to wait for such a page to open.
I also agree that the choice and colour of font used for the text does make it rather difficult to read.
I am not criticising your web page as I could not achieve anything like that myself just giving you my own thoughts.

Conrad

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #4 on: December 29, 2005, 05:35:51 pm »
Thanks Conrad

*Chris Browne

  • Posts: 863
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #5 on: December 29, 2005, 05:59:36 pm »
Brilliant web site, but must agree slow to load, what you could do with is some content to read while the scripts are loading(only my opinion), but apart from that well done very proffesional, one of the best ive seen on the forum.

chris


www.scsf.co.uk

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #6 on: December 29, 2005, 07:06:22 pm »
Thanks Chris for your comment.

I think that potential customers, who visit my website, will have a little bit of patience, which would allow them to learn about my company.
 
However, I will have to think whether/what adjustment to make to the web, as according to all of your comments and to the statistic provided by Fast Host, not every body has the patience to wait for the contents of the pages to appear in full.  Statistics show that some visitors spent so little time viewing the website that it would not be enough for the page to appear.  I am now sure it is duo to the slow appearance of the contents.
 
____________


I run a local cleaning business.  As I mentioned before, majority (9 out of 10) of my interactive visitors come from the USA.  I do not know how they find the web, as statistics does not show any referrals (other websites, which would have links to my web).  References to the search engines appear in my statistics very rarely, despite I have submitted my website to the Google.  I also use Adword.com, but have not had a single hit from it.  I do not use Yell.com or similar service provided by other internet directories.

____________


We all know that marketing plays very important part in every successful business.  I started this poll in order to find out what part in the marketing campaign of cleaning business can play a website.

So far, due to very pure respond, I have to assume that majority of us do not think that their presence on the internet would or does help their cleaning business to find more customers, improve image and etc. 

Please correct me, if I am wrong.

Regards,

Arthur

allergease

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #7 on: December 29, 2005, 07:27:55 pm »
Arthur,
I have had a website for about four months and not had a single enquiry sent to me via the "contact AllergEase" page.
I do not get many hits per day (many that I do get are from members of this forum  :)) but still feel that I would rather have a website than not. I see it as being one more string to my marketing bow, it doesn't cost me much a year to run so if it attracts one new customer per year it would have paid for itself.
I put my web address on all my flyers, adverts, business cards etc but when I ask new clients whether they have visited my website they all reply "no".
I have had visitors to my website from Mexico, Switzerland and Australia, I hope it's that my website is informative but without feedback who knows. Maybe I should have a "rate this website" page to get some feedback.

Conrad
www.allergease.co.uk

Central Window Cleaners

  • Posts: 845
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #8 on: December 30, 2005, 10:14:49 am »
Allergease, who do you use to host your site? My current host has told me they are closing down soon and I need to find a new one.

AJCleaningServices, what do you think of Fast Host's services they seem quite expensive is it worth the cost?

My current site has been down for a week but here is a link to my backup site. http://uk.geocities.com/centralwindows2004

preston powerblast

  • Posts: 445
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #9 on: December 30, 2005, 11:25:48 am »
I have added my site to various search engines and this has done the trick.
But my site is dead basic, but informative and have quite a few enquiries through it.
I have to agree with Chris its very good and professional looking.

allergease

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #10 on: December 30, 2005, 11:49:30 am »
Central Window Cleaners
I use http://www.virtualnames.co.uk/ to host my site £20 per year which I think is quite reasonable.
Nice to see a "neighbour" on the site  :)

Conrad

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #11 on: December 30, 2005, 12:53:22 pm »
 What can I say, http://www.virtualnames.co.uk does offer good value for money, but I have choosing a big hosting company, thinking the bigger the better in terms of technical and customers support.

Central Window Cleaners

  • Posts: 845
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #12 on: December 30, 2005, 03:03:09 pm »
Thanks for your responses.

AJ I will possible consider FastHost as they are also connected to who I have my new domains registered with at the moment. As you say the bigger, hopefully the better after my current experiences with Super Hosting.

nextline cleaning

  • Posts: 40
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #13 on: December 31, 2005, 12:56:54 am »
Hi guys

Talking about websites, i made my own wesite www.nextline.co.uk but thought it was too boring for customers so i attatched a cleaners directory to it to make it more interesting this helps drive visitors as it makes it much more useful.

I found that if i programmed it with an editor it was too slow, so i had to learn to HTML but am still not too sure if the speed is fast enough. Any feedback would be welcome.   
Nextline Group Cardiff

CMS

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #14 on: December 31, 2005, 07:57:38 am »
The speed is fine by me.

A very informative site too.

nextline cleaning

  • Posts: 40
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #15 on: December 31, 2005, 12:19:06 pm »
Thanks for that

I forgot to mention if any of you guys want to advertise on my otherwebsite "The Cleaners Directory" www.thecleanersdirectory email me with your details and i will list your ads free of charge (feedback would be appreciated).   
Nextline Group Cardiff

Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #16 on: January 05, 2006, 09:50:05 pm »
My business has been listed in yell.com for about 6 moths, free listing.  Today I had two enquires about our service.  The both enquirers said that they find my company in yell.com. To me that happened for the fist time, nice :).

nextline cleaning

  • Posts: 40
Re: Few questions about your website
« Reply #17 on: January 05, 2006, 10:12:54 pm »
Searching online for services is becoming more and more popular amongst internet users therefore it becoming more important for cleaning contractors to have an online presence either through their own websites or via online directories.   
Nextline Group Cardiff