[Mike_Boxall]

17th September 2007

Hi

Finally we have the site online at http://www.spickandspan-directory.co.uk/

We're still in the process of adding data to it so some categories are empty at the moment. We're also finishing off some more functionality (each listing will have a google map attached to it, for example)

To see the difference between a Free listing and a Featured listing please search for 'Window Cleaning Traditional' in TR27. Tou can then select the first 2 or 3 results (including David Morris Window Cleaning) and compare the results.

We've done our best to accomodate all the suggestions that have been made over the past couple of months and I hope everyone will give the site a try for at least a few months and then let us have some feedback in terms of the business generated. You will start to see the site advertised heavily both online and offline over the next few months. We're keen to keep developing and improving the site so if you have any more ideas then please let us know.

In terms of pricing , there are 3 options. You can get a FREE listing with your name, address and telephone number or you can pay either £15 + vat per month or £150+ vat per year for a featured listing like the Dave Morris example above.

As an incentive for forum members to sign up quickly, we are offering a 10% discount on these prices for the next 2 weeks only. To qualify for this discount you must use the referrer code 'cleanitup' on the sign-up screen. Once you submit your information, the 10% discount will be applied on the following screen.

If you have any questions or comments please let me know

Regards

Mike

************************************
Hi

You may remember a while ago we mentioned about developing a cleaning directory to supplement the forum. At the time, it was said that a number of directories were in the process of being created and / or launched and we decided to wait and see what developed. However, none seem to have got off the ground successfully and we have now decided to continue with the development ourselves.

We are now very close to launching this brand new specialist directory. It will allow end users to find and compare cleaning providers in their area and will offer effective low-cost advertising for contractors of all types.

Our aim is for it to become the UK's leading online advertsing tool for small to medium sized cleaning compaines by providing end-users with specialist information not available elsewhere.

We're working with a number of third parties to offer unique facilities such as insurance verification and trade membership details and we have a comprehensive marketing plan that will guarantee a high volume of users.

What we would like before we launch is some general feedback on your experiences of other online directories you may have tried.


What has worked and what hasn't?
As an advertiser, what features would you like to see?
What features do you think your potential customers would like to see?
How much do you spend on online advertising?
What proportion of your business do you get from online advertising?
 

If you have any questions or suggestions please post them here.

Regards

Mike Boxall

[DASERVICES]

A directory that shows legit businesses, there is nothing at all on the net that do that apart from the trading standards directory.

[colley614]

Sounds like a great idea! hope its up sooner rather than later.

[simonwonder]

hi mike
lets have it
can you mail me details of advertising on the directory a.s.a.p
would be more than interested 

respect
 simon

[gmcs]

Can you send details ASAP to gmcs@minehead.fsbusiness.co.uk

Thanks

[Mike_Boxall]

Sounds like a great idea! hope its up sooner rather than later.

It'll be launched within the next 4 weeks and, as soon as it is, you guys will be the first to know

Please don't hesitate to post any more suggestions and / or questions.

Thanks

Mike

[ScrimShady]

i am interested in this, its about time there was a good directory online.
Could you email me details on : wcs@dungeness.co.uk
thanks

[Mike_Boxall]

i am interested in this, its about time there was a good directory online.
Could you email me details on : wcs@dungeness.co.uk
thanks

As soon as we have more information we'll make sure you get it.

Thanks

Mike

[Clive McDonald]

I think you'll have first to market advantage for your directory. And I also think because of this website, and the online window cleaning community that  you have allowed to come into being here, that you will have credibility.

Upon reflection though i'm not sure you should mix us all together. The carpet people follow a different business model to us window cleaners, as do wheelie bin cleaners.

My suggestion is bin the others and stick with WC's. Say, The british Registry of window cleaners.

It would have to be free of course  (don't choke yes I said free otherwise it couldn't be a registry) providing the criteria (insurance etc is met and an administration charge (£10?) , but for a fuller entry and more prominence then more would be payable.

What can you expect from a british registry  of window cleaners listed operator?

Insured
Good standard of work
Honesty
Straight forward agreement of what you pay and what you get for it

You can add or subtract to this but you will need something similar, commerical would be different again (and I haven't got a clue), but I would ask that you at least attempt to use plain english.

[Clive McDonald]

Also, why can't there be some kind of trading standards involvement?
It has clear benefits for them, at least they would know who we are, and they could suspend our registration if need be.
The benefit for us would be thier endorsment of using a properly registered cleaner.

I know you said directory not registry, I'm just saying, you wanted ideas. A directory is an advert, a registry is a factual account, a resource.

You are stuck with it being free i'm afraid if you want to overcome the intial intertia. This strategy is the correct but you need quite a large number of registrants. The way to stop fake registrations is references.

[Clive McDonald]

And, this forum works quite well in as much as you are not actually the boss and there are moderators who make common sence decisions. The regisstry could follow a similar model, the mods (let's call them regulators for the registry) could do most of the work.

[Moderator David@stives]

Rainwater

All applicants stating they are trade association members will be double checked by the APWC and other bodies, so there is no chance of any false advertising.

Dave

[williamx]

Rainwater

All applicants stating they are trade association members will be double checked by the APWC and other bodies, so there is no chance of any false advertising.

Dave

Wanna bet

[williamx]

Mike

I am listed on yell.com which most people seem to use firstly to find a window cleaner and get around 15 customers a year, if you could have some link from this site it might bring in more enquiries.

The other point is a lot of customers who I have got from the yellow pages have said they have tried everyone listed but they kept getting the same replies of we don't do domestic or my books are full, we don't do that area etc etc.

Could you make your directory listing, what type of work you are after, what areas you cover what type of cleaning you do and any other information you want known about yourself.

Also when you are fully booked and don't need more work, you are taken of the actively looking for work list. 

[matt]

hasnt it been done before a few years back

didnt scrimcity have 1 for window cleaners ?? ??

[matt]

thinking on it a little more

http://www.scsf.co.uk/

are a directory aswell

[TennetClean]

There's loads of them already.

http://www.windowcleanersindex.co.uk
http://www.windowcleanerdirectory.co.uk
http://www.bwca.co.uk/directory2.php
http://www.laddersfree.co.uk/membership_search.php

Do we really need yet another one?

[Mike_Boxall]

Do we really need yet another one?

Only if it's considerably better than the others!

What it boils down to is whether you get good business from them. Yell is obviously the market leader but costs a lot of money. I would question the success of the others as they're very difficult to find through normal search engines.

You'll be able to get listed for free and the paid options will be with a months notice, so if you're not happy there's very little risk.

Thanks for all the feedback. It's really appreciated - keep it coming!

Mike

[Kwackers]

I used to develop Internet sites in the past, the people i know who dealt in directories tended to fail.

One key issue is something i spoke about earlier on another post.

People were trying to charge, or charge to much before the website had taken off, which meant people wouldnt sign up, or would leave after one installment (6 months or so) i think you need to give it at least 6 months-12 months free membership, get the ranking high by linking in as many websites as possible, for instance, swapping a Web banner with a link with this site, would work well, and let the turnover of people increase, then start charging, it should snowball from there.

You need to get enough traffic, but you also need a high volume of traders on there so people can find what they want in there area, otherwise, why won't they just go to yell?

Quote forms might be good

[Clive McDonald]

That makes sence to me quakers. It's also my strategy opinion of apwc (although I know free is out of the question). I can't justify £125 on a cost benefit basis every year. If it was a one off then £50 a year thereafter  then maybe. As I am not a member I appreciate it is none of my business.

All the things that work, especialy on the internet have clear strategy's. If mike is doing this out of vanity, or it's a tool to entice people onto courses(I'm thinking about something else), etc then again no.

It's possible it can't be done.