Make a Painting and Decorating Website?

[brushboi]

Hi im looking to try and make a website to try and attract new customers..

I like the look of ---------

Does anyone know how I could achieve a website like the one above?

Thanks...a Newbie.

 

[brushboi]

anyone have any ideas of where to start?

 

[dcdec]

Me too, so be interested in the replies you get.

To stick my own two pence worth in tho i have a few thoughts.

I think its worth spending some decent money on as it reflects your business and especially being a decorator i think it has to be quite colourful and imaginitive so that personally for me rules out a home made jobbie and getting a pro job done.

Also i think domain name is vital. Keep it as simple as possible so something like www.brushboidecorating.co.uk so that it instantly says who you are and what you do without loads of slashes and dots and extensions. I also think .co.uk is very important.

Dont over complicate the site by cramming too much info onto a page and index everything nice and clearly with tabs as done in the site you mention. Personally i'd like to see more testimonials than shown as it makes the company look like its not been going very long, not necessarily a bad thing but its worth considering anything that might lose you a job.

Also getting to the top of google search is really important but i havn't a clue how you do that.

Hopefully an expert will come along and give out some better tips but thats my thoughts for now.

 

[brushboi]

Thanks for the reply dcdec.

I have been reading about the google rank info aswell but all that seems a bit over my head.

I just think the link --------- seems quite simple and eye catching but I dont want to start paying over £300 for a prosessional website.

Looking to kick start my business from the web....

 

[misterhelpful]

No offence meant, but in my experience people would rather go on recommendation than websites.
They are good if you are a decent sized business and looking for industrial/commercial/sitework, but if you are small business/sole trader looking at domestic work, it's word of mouth that gets the jobs.
Perhaps someone in the computer section might be able to give some info on getting a site up and running.

 

[dcdec]

Your right mister helpful and i agree with you that the number one form of advertising is reccomendation. BUT there are many many people out there who simply don't know where to start when looking to employ a tradesman and simply don't know anyone who has had work done or that person cant reccomend him/her, this is where the cowboys seize their oppertunities.
A clear web address on the side of a van gives a good start and allows potential clients to learn a bit about you by browsing through testimonials and pictures of finished jobs, it also gives them a bit of confidence and they can do all this at their leisure and without having to make any form of contact.

I think its only a matter of time before those traders/men/businesses that dont have a web site will be in the minority. It should be the ambition of any business owner/ sole trader to grow client bases because this allows expansion and/or higher prices through demand and a website is a valuable tool in accomplishing this.

Like it or not we all have to drag ourselves into the modern business environment if we want to do well, i never had any schooling in IT but the web and my mac are essential to me now.

 

[misterhelpful]

Agree with you on some points dcdec, but not the higher prices part.

Customers think that if you have a website, you are doing pretty well and will be charging them a premium for it. Unlike other trades, decorating is something the majority of people will attempt themselves if prices become too high.

As for the cowboy aspect, a website doesn't tell you the kind of person it belongs to and anyone can write a testimonial or post a picture and claim it as their work. I know that I, and countless others, look at them and take them with a pinch of salt.

As you rightly say, we'll all probably need a site soon and I do feel it is a great way to help get new businesses up and running, but at the moment I'm in the very fortunate position of not needing one.

Anyway, brushboi, I'm not trying to put you off and wish you all the best getting your site going and hope it brings you lots of work. Just sorry I couldn't help with it.

 

[brushboi]

Thanks for all your replys, I will see what free websites are available,

anyone have their own website from on here at diynot?

 

[alext05]

You can have a FREE website within seconds using a web-hosted installation of WordPress.

https://en.wordpress.com/signup/

The free website will have this URL: brushboi.wordpress.com.

You can pay $17 per year for your own domain, if you wish.

WordPress is not only one of the best open source content management systems (CMS), but also easy to use.

Give it a try.

 

[brushboi]

does word press look quite professional?

 

[roughcaster]

I thought advertising on here was not allowed unless you paid. Surely this topic is a crafty way of advertising, under the guise of "what do you think looks best??". For "self confessed newbie" Brushboi to add the link in his replies "twice" kinda proves the point. Nuff said!!

 

[misterhelpful]

I thought advertising on here was not allowed unless you paid. Surely this topic is a crafty way of advertising, under the guise of "what do you looks best". For "self confessed newbie" Brushboi to add the link in his replies "twice" kinda proves the point. Nuff said!!

Yes, I started thinking along those lines when I noticed the OP and the website were both from Edinburgh.
Hmm, I wonder...

 

[alext05]

The short answer is that a WordPress website can look anything you want - professional or otherwise. It depends a lot on time you prepared to invest in it and the will to learn some new skills, although it is one of the easiest CMSs to use out there.

The best you can do is to actually follow my advice and set up a test website for FREE in 60 seconds or less and see if you like it or not. You can then apply different templates to it from within WordPress, ect, and see what you like.

If you find it hard going, them perhaps having and managing a website is not for you.

As with anything, you can also choose to pay a professional to set it up for you.