[SPE]

I recieved a call today from yell.com, the usual spool, looking for ways to help me expand my business and part with my money 
I think the guy was a bit miffed that I was happy with the amount of work I had , did'nt have a website, was'nt pushing add on services and was not in the least bothered about being top of the listings.
Now, I can understand that a website is probably a nescessity for those that employ and have a few vans on the road and that expansion is important.
I tick along ok, my work varies and more often than not comes from recommendations and people stopping me on the street or taking the number down off the van.
I may want my business to grow at some stage, but for now I like the simple and old fashioned ways. 
Just wondered how many self employed "one man bands" have a website and how important they feel it is ?
Simon

[Ian101]

lasted 3 years without 1 ... had a website for a few weeks now and had a few jobs from it, solar pane, conny roof and a new regular window clean.

If it gave me this kinda level of work every week I be happy man.

Theres me and a part timer but looking to grow a fair bit this year so doing leaflets/ door knocking most nights and the website / facebook page.

so far happy with the results.

[tlwcs]

I had mine so the curtain twitchers who watch us with the pole thingy, could type in the address and get some details.
Tony

[Dave Willis]

They are brilliant. Today my site was visited by someone in Milton Keynes, Halifax (Nova Scotia Canada), Murfreesboro Tenessee (via this forum) and Redmund Washington.
Don't know how I ever managed without one.

[simonr]

i quite like the idea of having one, but looking at the price of them  i cant really see it paying for itself round my way  and i certainly cant do it mysel 

[deeege]

i quite like the idea of having one, but looking at the price of them  i cant really see it paying for itself round my way  and i certainly cant do it mysel 

You can get a decent website set up for a couple hundred quid with minimal yearly costs. You can't afford NOT to have one imo.

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

They are brilliant. Today my site was visited by someone in Milton Keynes, Halifax (Nova Scotia Canada), Murfreesboro Tenessee (via this forum) and Redmund Washington.
Don't know how I ever managed without one.

 

No Birmingham?

[simonr]

a couple of hundred is a lot to me 

[peter1983]

i am on my own and i need  a webpage big time and i do about £200 in ads on the net it works very well for me

[deeege]

a couple of hundred is a lot to me 

View it as an investment.

My website has cost me £450 over 2.5 years. Within the last month alone has brought in nearly £500 in one off gutters and connies. In total it has brought in well over £20k worth of work in 2.5 years whilst being an average website at best.

You have got to speculate to accumulate in this game.

[Johnny B]

I am a sole trader, been 16 years in the game, the last year and 8 months I have been building my new run in Ireland.

I have no website, my van is not sign written, and I haven't advertised. I canvassed to get started, and rely on this and word of mouth recommendations to pick up work.

I currently have 364 customers. I am happy with the progress made thus far with the methods I have employed.

John 
 
 

[SPE]

A couple of hundred ? sorry if its a daft question but how does a website like that differ from one a lot cheaper e.g. from 1&1 etc. ?
Please dont just say its "unproffessional"
Is it so important to have "bells and whistles" ? ie: several pages, galleries of stock photos, lengthy explanations of wfp, flashy picture of a pretty girl answering the phone (as if !  )
Is this money you will see back as oppose to having a diy template style website ?
Do customers really give a monkeys ?
I'm not critising, I'm asking because I dont know.
Simon

[deeege]

Good question.  Personally I think SEO and a sites rankings are just as important, maybe even more important than a sites look and content. I rarely see self built sites up at the top of the google rankings mainly because of the ever changing criteria to get your site ranked. I dont really understand how ranking works so paid somebody to do it for me. Afterall, what's the point on having a great looking website if nobody can find it.

[peter1983]

Mine is up there and I did it myself

[deeege]

Mine is up there and I did it myself

Which is why I said 'rarely'.

[Matt - aquatec]

Hi all,

If you are thinking about he upfront cost, which RO get a half decent site then why not identify a local web company and have a deal with the owner or better still if they are a one man band themselves or someone who does it part time... Offer to clean their windows monthly and coon if they have one in return... Website and regular updates...from them.... I did and I am just about to release my new site...Tony who looks after mine loves the arrangement and well so do I.....

Just a thought....

Cheers

Matt