[Trevor Knight]

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.

Hi Clive,

Thats an interesting point regarding year on year renewable membership cost, something I will take on board and discuss at our next meeting.

The one thing to consider is this , if through our directory and increased name awareness we give you 1 x £10 p/m customer that in itself has practically paid for the cost of membership. Sounds like a sales pitch and I promise it's not! but certainly a way of justifying the cost, I know I have personally handed out £500 a year's worth of work to one of our members through the APWC, just something to consider when doing the maths?

What's your location?

Don't think  because your not a member its none of your business, of course it is, like I have said so many times before "we listen and ACT !" your views are valued and always appreciated.

Regards,

Trevor

[* mike RH]

I would question the success of the others as they're very difficult to find through normal search engines.

It depends what you put in a search engine:

If you simply put  window cleaner in Google then Window Cleaners Index comes up first in the organic listings.

If you put in window cleaner barking then Window Cleaner Directory comes up second in Google.

If you put in national commercial window cleaning then Ladders Free are second listed.

If you type qualified window cleaner then BWCA Clearchoice comes out top.

They don't seem that hard to find??

[CLEANING MAN]

sounds just great, can't wait

cleaning man

[Malcal]

My experience of on line directories and YP is not good. I am no longer in YP as the calls distracted me from work. Mostly in the northeast prices are low so you have to keep your work very compact, ie 1 in 4 houses trad or 4 houses per stop pole (I do both). So I have passed on or refused work many times. In a city the size of Newcastle 1 man can only cover a very small proportion, so virtually all calls are in areas I dont cover. However Mike is an able and proffesional chap so will wait to see what he comes up with.
Regards Mal

[Mike_Boxall]

I would question the success of the others as they're very difficult to find through normal search engines.

It depends what you put in a search engine:
If you simply put  window cleaner in Google then Window Cleaners Index comes up first in the organic listings.
If you put in window cleaner barking then Window Cleaner Directory comes up second in Google.
If you put in national commercial window cleaning then Ladders Free are second listed.
If you type qualified window cleaner then BWCA Clearchoice comes out top.
They don't seem that hard to find??

I'm sure a lot of competitors would like to think they're well positioned.

'Mike' are you aware that we can track all our users IP addresses?

Regards

Mike

[jeff1]

Mike how do you get company's to register with you? and is it a free listing?

Reason I'm asking, is for a company that may be interested in adding ther name.

[Mike_Boxall]

Mike how do you get company's to register with you? and is it a free listing?

Reason I'm asking, is for a company that may be interested in adding ther name.

Hi Jeff

I'll be posting details here shortly and will ask someone to email you directly. We will be online from September 1st and there will be both free and paid listings.

I'll keep you updated

Thanks

Mike

[Captain Scarlet]

as an advertiser, I wouldnt want the directory to become a place of competition, where other buinesses can spend more money to improve the features or look of their advert. Equal and fair adverts for all busnesses, not £5 for simple text, £50 for a picture, £100 for picture and hyperlink. Competition within the directory should be minimal. That is why I hate the yellow pages, anybody who doesnt have a huge colour space might as well not bother advertising, a bit of text for hunderds of quid is a joke. I'ts always the big buisnesses that can afford big adverts, but when it comes down to quite a personal thing ....window cleaning, people might want a more local or family buisness. So fair pricing, fair advertising space and features, Luke

[Mike_Boxall]

...thanks for your feedback Luke.

There will be 2 types of advert - a free listing and a paid one and all ads will compete equally. Search results will be ordered by distance to a certain postcode.

I accept what you say about people wanting to use small local companies and, of course, there will be people who want to find larger users so they can be confident they have the resources to do bigger jobs. I'm confident we can please everyone.

Regards

Mike

[Trevor Knight]

Hi Mike,

Just a thought, if the paid for and free adverts are equal, what is the advantage of paying for an advert?

regards,

Trevor

[Mike_Boxall]

Hi Mike,

Just a thought, if the paid for and free adverts are equal, what is the advantage of paying for an advert?

regards,

Trevor

Sorry, yes the paid ads will stand out above the free listings but all paid ads will be the same. There will be the ability to add things like number of employees, minimum order levels, free quotes, trade memberships, etc and this is how users will be able to compare one company against another. None of the fields are obligatory but they will all be available for all paid users.

Hope that clarifies things

Regards

Mike

[Majestic]

If you do it in areas , how will they be listed . Will it be who signs up first gets top spot or will it be done  alphabetically, or even on a rotation . So I could be top spot now , then after someone has looked at that page I move down to second place

[Mike_Boxall]

If you do it in areas , how will they be listed . Will it be who signs up first gets top spot or will it be done  alphabetically, or even on a rotation . So I could be top spot now , then after someone has looked at that page I move down to second place

Hi John

The listings will appear in postcode order regardless of whether they are free or paid listings but there will be the facility for users to then compare any or all of the advertisers. The paid listings will stand out and are more liely to be the ones selected.

Hope that helps

Regards

Mike

[soapy]

Sounds like a great idea. Please email me details to www.utopianvision@hotmail.co.uk
Many Thanks
Soapy.

[Mike_Boxall]

Hi

We're getting there! Thought you might like to see some screenshots. We plan to launch the live site very soon and have had some really positive feedback so far.

The elements that users will be able to compare companies by will initially include:

Distance, date established, number of employees, services offered, payment types taken, free quote availability, moneyback guarantee, reference availability, insurance details, trade memberships, minimum call-out charge, days per week service

Categories will initially include:

Carpet Cleaning, Carpet Protection, Upholstery Cleaning, Upholstery Protection, Curtain Cleaning, Hardfloor Cleaning, Hardfloor Restoration, Window Cleaning Traditional, Window Cleaning Pure Water
Window Cleaning Abseil, Leather Cleaning, Leather Restoration, Office Cleaning, Domestic Cleaning, Car Valeting, Oven Cleaning, Drain Cleaning, Fire Restoration, Flood Restoration, Trauma Cleaning, Computer Cleaning, Builders Cleaning.

It will cost £15 per month or £150 per year to advertise in up to 6 categories and we have a significant amount of end-user advertising planned and, indeed, already booked. There will be an option to add your business for free but you will not be able to list the details above. It'll be easy for people to use and I'm sure you'll find it to be the most effective way to pick up targeted new business!

Trade association memberships will be validated on sign up. The initial options we hope to list will include the NCCA, APWC, FWC and BICSc but if you have other suggestions please let me know.

Please keep your feedback coming. It really is appreciated!

Many thanks

Mike

[matt]

mike

whats powering it ?? ?? ? if you dont mind me asking

[Mike_Boxall]

mike

whats powering it ?? ?? ? if you dont mind me asking

Hi Matt

I'm not a techie I'm afraid. From memory, I think it has a 3.0 litre V10 naturally aspirated, mid engine, rear wheel drive, 7 speed sequential semi-automatic MySql gearbox sitting on Bridgestone PHP tyres.......

Regards

Mike

[matt]

mike

whats powering it ?? ?? ? if you dont mind me asking

Hi Matt

I'm not a techie I'm afraid. From memory, I think it has a 3.0 litre V10 naturally aspirated, mid engine, rear wheel drive, 7 speed sequential semi-automatic MySql gearbox sitting on Bridgestone PHP tyres.......

Regards

Mike

argh i see, should have gone with a rear engine, much more fun

i guess your having it custom coded then, not out of a box, so to speak

[Mike_Boxall]

Hi

For those who I've not yet emailed directly, I'm pleased to be able to let you know that the new 'Spick and Span' directory will be launched next Monday the 17th September.

Can I suggest that anyone considering any form of new advertising should wait until they've seen this new site before committing to it. I'm sure you'll be impressed with its functionality and the unique potential to generate new business for you.

There will be a discount for all forum members that sign up within the first 2 weeks.

Please feel free to post any questions you have.

Thanks Mike

[Mike_Boxall]

Hi

The main URL will be www.spickandspan-directory.co.uk

Regards

Mike