Finally I have arrived

[dcraigdc]

Weeeell after spending the last week posting around on these message boards I thought it was about time we had a formal introduction.

I help run www.TheOnlineDirectory.co.uk as some of you will know by now.

We have decided to challenge the "directories don't work" theme a bit by actually making a product that isn't just a list of names and numbers and using our collective experience in the web industry to make something that really does work.

Currently our main field is web design but we will be expanding quickly into graphic design, online marketing and eventually services such as solicitors and accountants.

"What's new about this!?" I hear you cry! Well I'll tell you. First off we only deal with 8 companies per 'location'. Secondly all of these companies must be limited firms or established partnerships.

The third point is the key. Each 'Supplier' is rated and reviewed by their previous clients, their current clients and the clients that we pass them through our system. Within about 3-6 months you will see most firms having a good 10-15 reviews about their services so you will be able to sort the men from the boys. If a firm looks good, its because they ARE good, if a firm looks bad it's because they ARE bad!

They will want to do a good service to get a good review so you can choose someone who has a good back ground already and almost be assured of an excellent service!!

We update the site all the time and ALWAYS take on suggestions from anybody so if you have any, let me know!

Daniel Craig

[Urban Space]

Welcome, officially :D!

Liam

[BlackBerryUK]

excellent strategy :)

[Sarah-Ink Promotions]

Hi again Daniel, welcome to the forum!

:)

[creospace]

I know when we spoke off forum about the possibility of joining and the hold up was that I was a freelancer.

I think the product is great but of course discriminating, have you thought about doing the same thing for freelancers? I think it would be an opportunity wasted if you didn't

Gary

[Coding Monkey]

Howdy,

As you know, I am already a member, but your idea isn't anything new. Approvedwebdesigners.co.uk has been around a long time and offers almost the same concept.

[Jayne]

Hi Daniel,

Welcome to the forum, you and your chocolate raisin sites (they do look yummy)

Jayne :D

[dcraigdc]

To be honest I have thought of exactly that! It's something that may well be in the works in a couple of months.

There are a couple of reasons to be honest. The first is that we do a lot of marketing straight to companies across the UK that are in existance. To be honest a lot of them require big projects and 24/7 support on these projects (or at least close to it) which in most cases a freelancer cannot provide.

I personally have the highest regard for freelance work. The guys that design and built our site all started out doing freelance and we took them on because we were so impressed by their quality.

The second is expectations. If as a freelancer you are looking for deals of maybe £100-£1500 and most of our leads are above that, you would feel quite cheated if you had to pay for a service that you couldn't do work for.

What do people think about having a similar service for freelance work?

[dcraigdc]

Howdy,

As you know, I am already a member, but your idea isn't anything new. Approvedwebdesigners.co.uk has been around a long time and offers almost the same concept.

Very true! Yet without the ratings and reviews proceedure :). We are obviously going to be taking a bit of a chunk from them but over the next few months we are going to be doing another major push on marketing this service directly to businesses, whereas Approved do almost all of their work in the public domain such as PPC work etc.

I won't get into a "who's service is better" thing though because to be honest the Approved boys have already proved they can do a bloody great job so I wouldn't take anything away from them

[creospace]

Thats a good point about the project costs!

well you already have my thumbs up!

Gary

[dcraigdc]

Loving the quick responses on the site guys, but don't you all have businesses to run? get back to work :D

[Coding Monkey]

Slavery was not abolished in 1862, Daniel. It was merely replaced with another word: employee.

[easy]

Welcome to the world of commerce.
Hope it all goes well for you