Web sites (How many of you really profit from them?)

[leeslawncare]

Hey guys i've been kicking arouind the thoughts of getting me a web site made ,but i've also wondered how effective they really are?Like to hear some for your comments on cost to have them designed an do they really pay off? Thanks

 

[KirbysLawn]

Do a search and you can find a lot of info. FWIW, I think a web site is the best value for advertising and dispalying your service for the $. I did my own web site and pay $8.25 a month for hosting.

Ray

 

[landscaper3]

Our web site was done including the domain name for a liitle more at $24.00 month. It pays run ads in local magazines and put your web address on it. With the world with computers running almost everything time to stay with the times! Its worth it

 

[Eric ELM]

Here is a good thread for website information.
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?threadid=4496

When you do a search for this subject, search for Website and Web Site to find them all and do the search for subject.

 

[turfquip]

More and more of your customers are using the web routinely and feel comfortable doing so. Including your web address on all your printed material is a great idea ... but <U>what will they see</U> when they get there? Most of your customers have a good idea what services you perform; and a laundry list of services you do indeed perform is a staple of every landscaper's site I've seen so far.

But still there is something missing. Does your site need motion? More interactive features with an <U>emphasis on learning</U> ... you know, sort of teaching them about services they may not know they need? How about a <U>seasonal special</U> promoted only through your site? That may help guage it's effectiveness.

Anybody can build a site. And nearly everyone has. You guys talk about who is getting this service or that service for less ... but what are you <U>giving up</U> with el-cheapo server space? What is the real cost. Do they stick a banner at the top of your web page promoting someone else's site? Do they put it on the bottom? With every email, do your customers read an advertisement from yahoo, aol, or somewhere else. Sometimes these distract from, even <U>subvert your message</U>.

Two thoughts.

1) Ask others to critique your site. Tell them to hold the fluff and really let you have it. What looks good...what needs work. Seems like anytime somebody <U>breaks wind</U> here on LawnSite ten or fifteen guys follow up with an attaboy, good job. I've seen some landscaper sites recently using frames that are just plain BAD.

2) Think about how to make your site more engaging...more interesting...so your customers like to go there <U>on their own</U> from time to time. Think about how you can teach them something...like a need they have and don't realize it. You've heard the saying "create a need and fill it", the internet is the ideal medium for doing this because of a) it's low cost relative to other mediums and b)it's interactivity capability

Putting a ten dollar web page on someone else's server does not - in my opinion - mean you're set for bear.



[Edited by turfquip dot com when deemed necessary]

 

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by turfquip dot com
Anybody can build a site. And nearly everyone has. You guys talk about who is getting this service or that service for less ... but what are you <U>giving up</U> with el-cheapo server space? What is the real cost. Do they stick a banner at the top of your web page promoting someone else's site? Kirby-No Do they put it on the bottom? Kirby-No With every email, do your customers read an advertisement from yahoo, aol, or somewhere else. Kirby-No Sometimes these distract from, even <U>subvert your message</U>.

As I said, I pay $8.25 a month for the same service others charge $25.00 for. Very good deal, for $8.25 I get:

• 45 MB Web Server Space
• Unlimited data transfer, uploads, downloads
• Remote FTP Access 24h/day
• 1 POP E-mail account
• Unlimited e-Mail forwarding
• Server Side Includes (SSI) support
• My own cgi-bin directory
• CGI and image library access (via password)
• Java Scripts library access
• Free maintenance software download and setup instructions
• Supports Microsoft® FrontPage 2000
• HTTP streaming audio supported

Ray

[Edited by KirbysLawn on 10-05-2000 at 01:34 AM]

 

[UrbanEarth]

A question to all of you with web sites - How much business/customers have they attracted?

Alan

 

[landscaper3]

Just started ours but our proposals, contracts, flyers, and all advertising we do have our web address on them so they can see what services we offer and to just check us out. Its always nice to see something about a company.

 

[turfquip]

Kirby,

Your site looks good ... I don't want to get into a pissing contest with you, but to clarify a point. On your site, is the banner for stamps.com supplied by you or your server? What about the banner for unlimited web space...your's or inserted by the service? Nevermind, I just checked. Your source code reveals that in return for the low monthly rate, you are obliged to run a banner by some operation called servicebfast.com, and another by associates.com ... you know, the one that says 'webmasters click here'.

My point is that you [may be] enslaved by that low monthly rate. What if either of these changed the banner they feed you to a Scott's Lawn Service banner or similar ... don't say it can't happen.


[Edited by turfquip dot com when deemed necessary]

 

[KirbysLawn]

Originally posted by turfquip dot com
Nevermind, I just checked. Your source code reveals that in return for the low monthly rate, you are obliged to run a banner by some operation called servicebfast.com, and another by associates.com ... you know, the one that says 'webmasters click here'.

My point is that you [may be] enslaved by that low monthly rate. What if either of these changed the banner they feed you to a Scott's Lawn Service banner or similar ... don't say it can't happen.
[Edited by turfquip dot com when deemed necessary]

No pissin contest needed. However you are incorrect in the above statements. I placed the banners on my site myself. The "webmasters click here" is a link to http://www.icom.com, my server, if you click there and sign-up for hosting service I get $50.00 each time that happens, so that banner is there by my choice. The http://www.stamps.com banner is the same story, I get paid everytime someone clicks that banner and signs up. I have got paid several times from ICOM link and I just put the stamps link up so we will see.

So, as you can see I'm not "enslaved" to anything. Our local association's web site is http://www.thecgma.com and is also hosted by ICOM see any banners there?

Ray