GBBO - any positives / successes?

[loubycee]

GBBO - getting british business online

A government initiative, two of the bigger players being Google and BT.

Stupidly I registered a friends new domain using gbbo initiative. They have a limited number of rubbish templates that have to be used when the domain goes live.

After discovering this, I decided I wanted to move the domain and host it elsewhere, so we can design something nice (not too difficult as the templates like i said were pretty poor)!

The domain was locked for 60 days, I requested to transfer out and haven't heard a thing. Google and BT don't make it particularly easy to contact them re gbbo

Anyone used them and successfully transferred out? This is a real pain, if anyone has a positive answer perhaps I can follow the steps you used to get the site live with a new host?

Thanks

[jann]

Hi Loubycee

is this a .co.uk domain name? If so ask the registrant to call Nominet (the UK Registration body) on 01865 332244 and they can discuss the options with them.


kind regards

[loubycee]

Hi jann

Yes, it is, thanks for that info I'll call them tomorrow! Great stuff,

Louby

[loubycee]

Okay

An update, in case anyone encounters this. I'll also add this to the google help forums where there are so many people in the same boat!

Nominet can do the transfer out via a secure email link. However, it costs £10 +vat so the 'free' bit that gbbo offer is wiped out, I think this is great though because so many might just want to leave without the wait.

However, before that the GBBO tel no. I have been given is 0800 500 3123. Try them first, if there's nothing they appear to be able to do or offer then go Nominet.

Lou

[loubycee]

An update, GBBO were easy to contact on that 0800 no. and were happy to do the transfer over the phone. I'm now one step further to getting the site live, woopee!!

[pronet]

As an approved partner of the GBBO scheme I've written this review of the GBBO system following my experiences over the last few months. Readers of this thread might find it useful: goo.gl/BHqm (copy and paste this short URL into your web browsers address bar)

[loubycee]

Hi Jaimie

I think that review is very honest and well informed - its great for new users if they choose to research before signing up!

I just can't quite believe that the two main players in this, could offer something so basic - in this day and age!

A good review with valid points, all of which I experienced and for some non-techies, it would be just as confusing!

Sadly, a good idea in principal with some really poor management (I'm not entirely sure who devised the gbbo, but I'm not entirely sure they were designers with learners in mind

[jnogoods]

GBBO is ridiculous!

I have a "free" website too, can't can't actually make a decent looking site due to thee restriction with google sites etc.

I phoned up to see if I can transfer and was told that I can't before 60 days, but that google sites can make a great looking site given the expertise...I have to say that there is no way anyway could make a decent looking site with that! lol Not only that but he was quite rude.

He then offered for them to make me a good website for £150!! So I have been given a free website that I can't make look good, and then am offered a good website for £150 which I could have done myself with another host! Ridiculous!

Now i am forced to either have a rubbish looking site, which obviously reflects poorly on my business, or pay £10 + VAT to change the host within the 60 day locked period!

If I would have just gone with another host to begin with I would have actually saved myself money!

If you want a decent website, then stay away from GBBO! Grrrrr

Jonny

[loubycee]

Hi Jonny

I know, and I know how frustrated you are too. Ring nominet, they might be able to butt in.

Other than that, I waited the 60 days as we took that time to build a decent site, we haven't gone live yet so for us it worked out, but they should be making it clear before people register their domains that they are locked into it and that they only have crap templates for use!!!

It's a ridiculous inititiave to be honest..

L

[loubycee]

Hi Jonny

I know, and I know how frustrated you are too. Ring nominet, they might be able to butt in.

Other than that, I waited the 60 days as we took that time to build a decent site, we haven't gone live yet so for us it worked out, but they should be making it clear before people register their domains that they are locked into it and that they only have crap templates for use!!!

It's a ridiculous inititiave to be honest..

L

[Json]

Not that I don't agree with you guys but in the Terms and Conditions it clearly states that the domain is locked for 60 days.

You cannot transfer your free domain name to be administered by another provider within the first 60 days of its registration.


See terms at gbbo.co.uk/terms/

[loubycee]

Hi Json

I know what you're saying, but as you sign up it should be made clear. It's almost like they're hiding the t&c's - a bit like those bloomin' gatso's entertaining Kent at the moment!

But if you're inclined to think they're not quite trustworthy you might check out the terms, but otherwise they do make it seem like a very appealing and easy thing to sign up to

Thats something a large company shouldn't have failed on in the first place

[Json]

I agree and I always feel inclined to check the terms when I get "free" stuff :D

It sounds like a lousy service to be honest even though the intent of it is really good.

[bluethunder]

Just to clarify, the 60 day lock is imposed by the domain registrar (Nominet) and not by gbbo or BT, they have no control over that.

We have had quite a few unhappy gbbo customers come to us to sort out the mess they have found themselves in.
While the intentions behind the gbbo incentive are good, the execution has been awful.
They have 3 completely disjointed systems that do not work together and is a nightmare to manage and no-one has any idea where you go to manage what features.
You have to login to the ggbo site to manage your DNS, only to find you cannot do anything except add new MX records.
You have to go to google sites to manage your site only to find it is not the same login.
And you have to go through BT for anything to do with your domain name, any anything involving speaking to BT customer service is always a nightmare.
There also seem to be very little in the way of support from gbbo.

Clearly very little planning or research has gone into this initiative as you really have to go out of your way to do such a bad job when so many better solutions are available and so easy to find.

Google have many great products, but google sites is not one of them, as many have said it is not possible to create anything decent with it, you end up with a very amateur looking low quality website.
There are so many better website builders out there, and most of the top domain registrars also provide hosting and a website builder that is better than google sites, so it seems like a no brainer to me that gbbo should have partnered with one of these domain registrars who could do everything in one place and have it all fully integrated.

Anyway, as I said, we have been helping people get away from gbbo and get a decent website up and running so if you fall into this category then maybe we can help you too.

Downloadable Templates
We provide ready made easy to use web site templates that you can download and customise and use to build your web site. We can also customise any templates for you or use them to build your new custom website.


Web Site Creator
We also provide an online Web Site Creator via our domain management web site to allow you to build and update your web site yourself online. This is also template based, although you do not have as much control as you do with the above custom templates.
You can try it out for FREE and A FREE Web Site Creator Lite is available by default with all domain registrations and transfers.


We also provide general web hosting, design, devleopment and consulting.

Unfortunately I cannot post links, but feel free to contact me for more info.

[loubycee]

I do think this is a far better option than using gbbo, how on earth could they get it so wrong!

Templates are great for those wanting low cost options that are customisable, though if budgets are fairly generous a new unique website is great

[bluethunder]

Templates are actually a perfectly good solution for anyone, the chances of coming across another site with the same template are pretty slim, and even if you do get a custom design done, the chances of it being completely unique are even slimmer, you don;t know if the designer if giving you a design he has used before or is in fact using a template himself.
Plus templates can be easily tweaked and customised as well.

On another note, I have also noticed that Google is actually not even intended for building production web sites, Google themselves advertise it as a solution for building wikis and intranet sites only, which makes the GBBO decision to use this even worse.

check out bluethunderinternet.com/gbbo.html

[loubycee]

agreed, templates are great and easy to adapt to your own business, I'm doing one for someone now but some designers don't agree with it which is fine.

gbbo are silly to get involved in such a simplistic and confusing project.

Nice article by the way!

[delphimoo]

I made the mistake of setting up one of these gbbo accounts and sites and despite the assurances I was give it has been as much use as a poke in the eye.Far to difficult to use,amatuerish in the design of the templates,call centre staff who are not only incapable of helping but refuse to listen to your concerns. British business needs help no hindrance and the sooner that the disaster that is GBBO is done away with the better.

[zummcreative]

On a plus the fact that the site is hosted with Google means that during the lockdown period, the site can achieve some positive SEO effects.

Google likes Google sites, so It helps with your rankings a little bit until you've got a full site up and running.

[delphimoo]

The lockdown period was of no use at all. It was so difficult to enter pages onto the site,upload picture or text or even hyperlink to other sites it ended up being detrimental to business. I had comments from people about how bad the website was and that during google searchs my professionally managed site was being pushed further down the search engine results

[zummcreative]

The lockdown period was of no use at all. It was so difficult to enter pages onto the site,upload picture or text or even hyperlink to other sites it ended up being detrimental to business. I had comments from people about how bad the website was and that during google searchs my professionally managed site was being pushed further down the search engine results

Delphimoo, Just wondering Would that be because the GBBO website was pushing the commercial site aside by moving up the rankings itself?

Also, were you creating backlinks to the GBBO site during the lockdown period?

[Smarter Webdesign]

I have had 2 clients who have come to me after using them. They were locked in and had to go down the nominet route.

I haven't seen the choice of templates that you can use but I guess for some people they are fine and it is free.

However, for the price of a domain name and your own hosting you could use a site builder and make something a bit better or even still, get it done by us :) ;)

[delphimoo]

I think the GBBO route is OK of you just want to have you details on the web for people to find from a business search but as for bulding an online catalogue of products and services GBBO is of no use. I firmly believe that you have to use a professional company to create and/or host your website.The manner that I was further dealt with by GBBO was frustrating as they refused to listen or deal with my concerns regarding my site and would repeatedly refuse to investigate. I am still receiving emails from them inviting me to use their services despite repeated requsets from them to stop sending mails. Got my spam filter clogged by them with 256 emails in 1 week.

[zummcreative]

I think the GBBO route is OK of you just want to have you details on the web for people to find from a business search but as for bulding an online catalogue of products and services GBBO is of no use. I firmly believe that you have to use a professional company to create and/or host your website.The manner that I was further dealt with by GBBO was frustrating as they refused to listen or deal with my concerns regarding my site and would repeatedly refuse to investigate. I am still receiving emails from them inviting me to use their services despite repeated requsets from them to stop sending mails. Got my spam filter clogged by them with 256 emails in 1 week.

Definately. The GBBO route doesn't not have enough flexibility to be considered as a feasible option for a long term commercial website. It's uses are limited but it's not useless. It's main benefits are a free domain and a Google friendly holding page.

It's ok for those who want to register a domain and let it age, whilst they get a professionally designed site created in the meantime.

[delphimoo]

The concern with confusion over domain names has to be considered. If you have web page that is dot co dot uk with GBBO just to have a web presence and then you decide to get a professionally designed and hosted website a difficulty arises in changing the GBBO to a pro site. There have been numerous complaints against GBBO about getting control of your domain name and hosting on alternative servers. The alternative is to go to a dot com domain but the confusion that could be given to your customers has to be considered. With the efforts that GBBO put into gaining high search rankings is it worth having your pro design site out ranked by a web presence page.

[Smarter Webdesign]

Is it really worth all of that hassle for a £5 domain name?

[Sunrise]

This partnership is actually Register.com and BT trading as GBBOBT with which you initially gain a free domain name and a basic web site to develop. If you look on my profile you will see the link to my GBBO web site which is still under construction for the following reasons.

Initially I registered this in August 2010 though circumstances prevented me from starting up straight away and what I find seven months later hardly inspires my confidence. Everything was fine in my rosy view until I decided to buy into Google Apps. GBBO proudly proclaim that all of the MX files to enable a fully integrated email service are already loaded and yes that appears to be true though nothing worked. I had to manually insert the Google code into CNAME and then change the order of preference and wait 24 hours for the email to work.

Great stuff you might think? However then I had to prove ownership of mentalclarity.co.uk initially when I entered the details onto Velnetweb UK and Nominet the former suggested that it was for sale and the latter that there were no hits. Now did I try to link in through out of date web links? Who knows? The next day however both sites were showing me as the owner. However Google cannot connect my gmail account details which are identical to the ownership details of the domain.

There are allegedly 4 methods of verification and if I had more hair I would now be more balder because nothing was easy. Google does not recognise either GBBO or GBBOBT in its links as being associated with them but BT support assurred me that by going to my host dashboard I would be able to request a DNS text to prove ownership. It would appear that these forms had only just been uploaded to the dashboard except nothing existed there to grant this facility.

Google Apps has a tracking code that surprisingly was missing and I had to obtain it which was easy enough. Though the instructions are straight forward unfortunately they only apply if you used HTML. There were other instructions but I had to hunt them down on the forum which involved clicking on manage account and then general settings in order to place the code into a specified slot. Google claim that it might take 48 hours actually it was over 72 for the Apps code to become a verification.

Another means of verification is to insert a Meta tag and again if you did not use HTML you have to follow the previous process which also took overr 72 hours. Trying this method I was treated to a false super fast server timed out message with was faintly amusing but only just. The CNAME process validates the email but not ownership which is plainly absurd under the circumstances.

I have now been told to ring BT support but having cancelled my Google Apps after less than 4 days I do not see the point so now as a startup business I am now looking for a reasonably affordable website host.

[djwellis]

I love GBBO, it stops people from asking me for "cheap websites" and makes them get off their own arse!!!!

[helipad.me]

It's ridiculous that GBBO should be asking people to change their Meta tags in HTML to verify ownership.

If people knew how to edit their HTML, they probably wouldn't need GBBO at all.

[ecenica]

Is it me, or is the GBBO scheme just a glossy, (previous) Government approved advert for Google's Adwords program?

I was personally helping a customer update their GBBO domain last week and was surprised by how unintuitive their service is. Nothing like the glossy website.

I wonder if this scheme is actually doing more harm than good for UK SMEs and start-ups? No doubt many small web firms and freelancers have lost work as a result. GBBO users must also be wondering why their generic sites are losing out to others on WordPress etc.

[helipad.me]

I'll post here what I originally posted on my blog (http://blog.helipad.me/post/4044277133/taking-aim-at-gbbo-co-uk).

The problem with GBBO is that it doesn't properly solve any of the problems it correctly identifies. Its 5 main selling points:


A free .co.uk address
A free customisable website
Free unlimited website updates
Easy to set up business email
Built-in online payments


I did my own research, with a sample size of 275 GBBO websites. The findings?

A free .co.uk address

Granted, useful. But they cost less than £5/year these days.

A free customisable website

A limited number of years old templates. The designs are outdated, typography non-existent and navigation pointless. As mentioned by others, these were intended as intranets, not business websites.

I found only 50% of websites used their own images, 11% used stock photos presumably taken from Google Images, and 14% used clip art. Of 275 sites, not one appeared to have used a professional photographer (or SLR camera).

Free unlimited website updates

Just 6% of GBBO websites showed any kind of updated activity. This included news, upcoming events or a feed of some kind. In other words, site owners aren't especially bothered about updating their site.

Easy to set up business email

The biggest issue. Only 16% of GBBO websites used an email address which matched the website's domain. The rest were GMail, Hotmail, Yahoo, BT internet and so on. Some were even domains of other websites e.g. davetheplumber.com - asking non-techies to update MX records is utterly pointless.

Built-in online payments

Being very generous, I counted 8% of GBBO sites using eCommerce. Sadly, most of these were links to pay an invoice or purchase a gift voucher for a friend. Very, very few sold actual products.

Anything else?

Google Sites includes an option to include a map showing your location. Many of these were just home or postal addresses. Whilst 53% of sites included a map, only 18% had any kind of premises.

Conclusions?

Whilst the thought of getting local businesses to set up a website is laudable and should be encouraged, the sites themselves fall short, the processes are too complicated and the initiative doesn't even solve the problems it correctly identifies.

[fozzmeister]

interesting thread this.

It's a shame to see a government initiative fail so miserably, and as others in this thread have mentioned, with "support" (as businessmen and businesswomen we all get what that means....) from such big players in their own respective fields.

I guess it just goes to show that nothing good likes this comes for free, really, even from a government backed initiative.

However, as an alternative I'd recommend the DIY website builder I use for some of my websites - no it's not free and I'm glad for it, actually means it's good! lol

For those looking to get out of GBBO, check it out and TRY it for free (there is small fee after a trial, thank the lord!)

It's called Wizz-It , google search will find it I'm sure.

Here's to hoping less businesses get suckered into using the crummy GBBO "initiative" ;)

Fozz

[onesys]

I'm not surprised. I have always compared the 'free' Google website campaign with someone giving a total novice the keys to an empty shop in a narrow side street who is just left to get on with it. (few will succeed)

Anyone (well nearly) can set up a website, but creating a successful website is a lot more complicated and takes a lot of time, skill and money.

Every day I get GBBO support request from owners who get stuck, or who wish to transfer out. This is the reason why I signed up as a support partner. (I knew that the average person would not be able to manage their own site)

[onthefly]

Not sure but if it is so hard to transfer out but all you actually need to do is get the name servers changed to point at other hosting I have done this with out any trouble just send a mail https: // gbbo . myportalexpress . com to them requesting the change of nameservers to the name servers you want and this will get done with in 48 hours normally...

Much more simple:D

[loubycee]

Wouldn't work for me directly with gbbo but I transferred out no worries by calling nominet who said they would normally charge, but didn't for some reason.

Helpful bunch they were

[snakeeyes121]

How outdated are these sites haha.
Gbbo are now in partnership with yola.com
not a perfect partnership but a partnership
non the less.

It all seems a little more userfriendly than the
google sites / my portal express thing they had
going on.

Sign up, get an email like me@mysite.co.uk setup
within a few minutes, the templates aren't too shabby,
you can manage and transfer your domain from within
your yola account, change nameservers easily.

I don't use it to host any sites but picked up a few free
domains, why not if you know how to point them elsewhere?

Saying that I think It's a bad idea, giving people who have
little to no knowledge the ability to setup and run a site
is imo destined to fail.

Really if people want a web presence for their business they
should read up on how to do it themselves.
By all means fill your boots with 'free' domains from
Gbbo / yola, but atleast get hosting elsewhere and
learn how to do things for yourself.

It's really not rocket science to point a domain, setup
emails, and get a basic site up, it will save you in the
longrun.

I'm a fairly basic user, but I've done what I've stated above
and I've learnt a hell of a lot in a short time.

I'm going to get my site professionally designed but to mess
around and learn the ropes I've put www.fudgefeast.co.uk
up, I can upload the site, modify it, all be it in my own
garish and amateur way, setup emails, databases etc and just
general maintenance of the site, got in to google, added products
to Google base etc etc I won't run any awards for my web design or
logo making skills, but I've learnt a lot which for any small business owner
with a site would be worth its weight in gold..

Gbbo and the like have their place but people really should
learn a bit for themselves.

Once I get a 'proper' site up I should be in a good place to
manage / change things for myself instead of calling the
designer at 50 quid a pop, you won't learn how to do such
things with a gbbo type of site.

[othellotech]

However, it costs £10 +vat so the 'free' bit that gbbo offer is wiped out

ISTR it's not free to transfer out, even if you waited 60 days, so you're left with paying them, or paying Nominet - either way it'll cost you more than just going to a "proper" domain registrar in the 1st place.

Quite why a non-accredited US domain reseller (not even a registrar!) was invited into the club has been beyond me

[loubycee]

It doesn't make much sense does it. Thankfully they let me off with the charge, because I'd had so much trouble trying to get the gbbo team to do anything so all was good.

I suppose by now they might have added some more 'templates'. I've registered another domain for myself with them and hope to transfer out smoothly this time.

[othellotech]

Just to clarify, the 60 day lock is imposed by the domain registrar (Nominet) and not by gbbo or BT, they have no control over that
Nominet don't impose any time-restrictions on transfers of .uk domains after registration, you can move it 30 minutes after creation if the _registrar_ allows you to. The 60 day "lock-in" is nothing to do with Nominet.

[viraldealnetwork]

Have seen it, it looks like a good service. Don't know of any businesses that use it though.

[jakals]

hi lou
samew problems but have been with them longer than the 60 days so will try the 0800 number but just wondered how it all works where do i transfer to as cant set up site without the domain can you help as not sure of where to move to or how that works is it moved to a holding site or what
kind regards
karl

[Sunrise]

Its easy just look for another hosting agent and inform them that you need them to transfer the domain name over to their site which they will do. Though you may need to obtain a code from GBBO in order to initialise it; sorry don't recall the exact terminology.

You can keep the domain name as technically it is yours though if you want ownership you will need to pay Nominet £10 otherwise the GBBO tag goes with it. It's probably best to obtain ownership as the domain name has a life span of two years and you do not want problems later on.

As for hosting agents I went with justhost though there are others out there such as The Cornish hosting company who are in Kent I believe.

[WickITServices]

The original poster asked if there were any happy customers of GBBO. It seems not, at least on this forum. (I'm going to start feeling guilty recommending them to enquirers clients who turn out not to be willing to pay for professional services.)

I would be genuinely interested if somebody can vouch for them though!

[Sunrise]

Sorry I for one cannot unless they operate with a tiered service in that if you pay the £149 fee (2010 price) you get a half decent web site and if you do not you get excuses as to why Google does not recognise GBBO or GBBOBT, as I believe it to be, as one of its official partners.

This issue alone had been an ongoing problem, according to GBBO in 2011, in excess of 14 months. Without this recognition claiming rights of ownership for the website is impossible and I would imagine therefore a problem with identification would persist regardless of whether the fee was paid or not, the only difference being that the paying client would be oblivious to there being any issues.

[othellotech]

I would be genuinely interested if somebody can vouch for them though!
We love gbbo - it's lead to a steady influx or people looking for proper hosting and transferring their domains over :D

[therandle]

OMG!!! What a nightmare it is having a free 'no frills' GBBO website.

I have spent hours trying to transfer from them to a new host but couldn't find any 'contact us' links to email or call them.

I have eventually managed to start the ball rolling and thought i would share how to do this with others.


Go to gbbo.myportalexpress.com
Click the 'forgot password' link and enter the relevant information
Retrieve the email containing a username and password
Go back to the my portal express homepage and enter these details
In the middle of the page is a link to transfer your domain away, click the 'click here' link
Fill in the form
If you wish to talk with GBBO you will need to call 0800 500 3123 or 01954 832751

I hope this helps others in the same position as me.