Website design, who to use.

[AndyRM]

I'd not be rushing back to Web Design Lincoln/SGW - they've clearly got a template and just flow content through it with no consideration for design or layout. And that code is archaic - design by tables and frames is properly last century.

I'd echo everything that Mr Culture said, and add in the following (apologies if I come across as a d!ck here, I'm just trying to be honest):

Consider your audience - how are they likely to be looking you up (desktop, tablet, mobile)? If you've got Google Analytics already installed you will be able to find out, and your site should work on everything - which it doesn't currently.

Sort a hierarchy - what do you actually do? Train people? Repair windscreens? Sell kits? Currently, you've got all the things, all at once without much space or time to absorb information.

I could go on at great and boring length but I'll restrain myself. Good design won't cost the earth and you will be spoiled for choice.

£16k is a ridiculous quote, as is £350. Personally I'd ask for some money up front and the balance on delivery.

 

[screenman]

AndyRM, many thanks for that I appreciate the honesty and must say I completely agree with you on all points.

I was hoping to get good solid feedback and that is what you have given me.

I am certainly prepared to pay some upfront, just who too is the problem as I got stung a few years ago by a guy offering things he could not deliver in web design.

 

[screenman]

I'm not exactly chucking my hat in the ring here, but I have been building sites and specialising in SEO since last century.

A lot of people make the mistake of building a site that has prettiness as the top priority, but converting traffic to paying punters is much more important. Nobody ever bought a product solely because they were impressed by the way the designer showed off their skills.

The whole 'top of Google' thing isn't a con, but it is dependent on many, many factors. You will probably quite naturally float to the top for a search phrase like 'Tamarind Teapots in Tiverton', but if your core business is debt recovery then you'll have to work a lot harder to be the first result people see.

Good quality writing is now almost more important to Internet Marketing than anything else. I'm not talking about correct writing, the focus should be on persuasive writing.

Remember, conversions or GTFO.

Where do I get good quality writing done? And how much writing do I need.

 

[midlife]

Just taken a quick look at the front page in your link - bad case of what I call capitals disease.

There are random caps everywhere.

For example, the script for the training videos link: "Click here to view our Windscreen repair training videos."

The cap W for windscreen is incorrect, there is no reason for it other than the ignorance of the writer.

Does this matter?

Increasingly less so because more and more of your customers will be equally ignorant so won't notice.

It annoys the likes of me and inevitably leads me to think the company/job it might do for me will be equally scruffy.

If "Windscreen" were a company or product like "Ford"; would it note require a capital letter?

Just curious.

Shaun

 

[Spoked Wheels]

I've been in the Website design business for 20 years, and prices will vary from the individual in the basement, to the full service agency.
It's a highly competitive market.
Top of the google rankings is not everything - having a bespoke look and feel would be higher on my list.
A Wordpress build would be highly advisable.

Top google ranking is a very desirable property in a website I think. One of the advantages for a business is to be found on Internet, a pretty website doesn't do that. Good content and good SEO skills would be my choice over any pretty website. Ideally you get the lot but too many people with very artistic talent and very little technical knowledge are taking over the industry. On the other hand you get people with very good technical skills but little artistic talent that in my view do better job.

Just my opinion

 

[SmileyBoots]

Where do I get good quality writing done? And how much writing do I need.

I'm a copywriter and work on websites most days. If you want some help/advice improving your copy, send me a message and I'll help where I can.

 

[MontyVeda]

How hard can this be, choosing the right people to upgrade and or redesign my two websites. I have had quotes from £16,000 down to £350. I have had people wanting upfront payment in most occasions and of course the top of google words mentioned.

Seems from the outside there maybe a few scammers in the trade.

Go for a personal recommendation rather than searching the web. any friends or family with a website that works? Who built it??

These days, you want a 'responsive' website as more and more searches are done on a smart phone, so you really want your new website to work on small and large screens

and yes, there's a lot a of scammers and rouge traders.. i've worked for enough of them! (..and i'm glad to be finally out of the industry).

Mr Culture does seem to know what he's on about, and has a recommendation from Sweetpea... so since you're asking on CC, PM them.

 

[screenman]

Go for a personal recommendation rather than searching the web. any friends or family with a website that works? Who built it??

These days, you want a 'responsive' website as more and more searches are done on a smart phone, so you really want your new website to work on small and large screens

and yes, there's a lot a of scammers and rouge traders.. i've worked for enough of them! (..and i'm glad to be finally out of the industry).

Mr Culture does seem to know what he's on about, and has a recommendation from Sweetpea... so since you're asking on CC, PM them.

I will do that, once again, many thanks for your time.

 

[screenman]

I'm a copywriter and work on websites most days. If you want some help/advice improving your copy, send me a message and I'll help where I can.

Thanks, I would of course want to pay for your services. I will PM you as we get closer if you do not mind.

 

[MontyVeda]

Top google ranking is a very desirable property in a website I think. One of the advantages for a business is to be found on Internet, a pretty website doesn't do that. Good content and good SEO skills would be my choice over any pretty website. Ideally you get the lot but too many people with very artistic talent and very little technical knowledge are taking over the industry. On the other hand you get people with very good technical skills but little artistic talent that in my view do better job.

Just my opinion

Once upon a time it used to be a case of getting a web designer to make it look good and an internet marketing company to make it work in the search engines... these days seemingly every company claims to be both and more often than not, they're neither.

@screenman ... i can recommend theee best web designer/developer I've ever come across. She won't market the site for you but she can design beautifully and make it fully responsive.

 

[jonny jeez]

Isn't there some artiste who insists on a basket full of puppies? Sure I heard that somewhere...

Jimmy Saville?

 

[jonny jeez]

IF you could get hold of them, (and you wont, as they typically have a P&C clause) there is a book to be written about Band 'Riders'.
Beyond the usual booze requests I've seen:
Michelin star restaurants.
Wooden toys
VERY expensive chocolates
Incredibly detailed menus, down to individual ingredients, per member of band/crew, for 4 meals a day, for a 30 day tour
Room specifications that even top hotels blanch at
Insistance of bypassing baggage and customs at airports
Ridiculous vehicle specifications

Overall its the top American Bands that were the worst, whilst the request may be on the outer edge of possible in the USA, it's not even conceivable in Europe as we simply don't have 1,000 sq meter suites with en-suite infinity pools, or the practicalities of travelling around Europe in a stretch limo, or wanting a back stage dressing room with certain facilities when playing a theatre that is older than their country, and if they are lucky they may get a sink. And no, you are a foreigner, so you can't just cross the border without waking up, getting out, showing the guy your passport and having your baggage riffled through.

And finally a letter from your mum, to the guys on passport control should not be enough to let you into the country (although that actually worked ....)

Depends who ones mum is...

 

[AndyRM]

AndyRM, many thanks for that I appreciate the honesty and must say I completely agree with you on all points.

I was hoping to get good solid feedback and that is what you have given me.

I am certainly prepared to pay some upfront, just who too is the problem as I got stung a few years ago by a guy offering things he could not deliver in web design.

I'm afraid I don't have any recommendations in your neck of the woods. I'm a big believer in clients and designers meeting face to face so I'd hesitate to recommend anyone I know (though I know they'd do a good job).

Money-wise - as long as you agree what you're paying for there shouldn't be too much of an issue. It might be worth writing down a checklist of everything you want the site to do - all boxes ticked = designer gets paid and you're happy which is what everyone wants.

From what you've said, it sounds like a small agency is what you need. Arrange to meet a few to outline what you're after - the good guys will listen and not push you in any particular direction, use them.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

I'd not be rushing back to Web Design Lincoln/SGW - they've clearly got a template and just flow content through it with no consideration for design or layout. And that code is archaic - design by tables and frames is properly last century.

I'd echo everything that Mr Culture said, and add in the following (apologies if I come across as a d!ck here, I'm just trying to be honest):

Consider your audience - how are they likely to be looking you up (desktop, tablet, mobile)? If you've got Google Analytics already installed you will be able to find out, and your site should work on everything - which it doesn't currently.

Sort a hierarchy - what do you actually do? Train people? Repair windscreens? Sell kits? Currently, you've got all the things, all at once without much space or time to absorb information.

I could go on at great and boring length but I'll restrain myself. Good design won't cost the earth and you will be spoiled for choice.

£16k is a ridiculous quote, as is £350. Personally I'd ask for some money up front and the balance on delivery.

I agree, ask for 50% up front. Nobody considers that unreasonable.

 

[Andrew_Culture]

Where do I get good quality writing done? And how much writing do I need.

Well there's the challenge that keeps the best of us up at night. Pay for the best you can afford, good writing is difficult to buy on volume.