Fantastic,fabulous,WOW but i need help.

[Carl Marshall]

Hello everyone i am a designer of bespoke starry nightsky ceiling they are virtually in the daylight then at night wow it transforms into a star filled night sky with hundreds of soft twinkling stars that appear to twinkle and move about then in the daylight the ceiling look plain white.
I have had many experts look at this and it helps with autism,adhd,relaxing,deep sleep and many more issue inc sensory issues.
Up to know i have used Facebook sites across the UK ,im based in Lancashire but will and do travel all over the country.
I have been on bbc diy sos ,designed for Travelodge and worked with tv designers and still im struggling to maintain regular work.
So what am i wanting help with?
Well is there a cost effective way other than Facebook as this can be a bit up and down depending on when you post and how many members as to who see's your post.

 

[fisicx]

The problem with your product is you only ever need it once and even then only if you know about the product.

Which means people will often use a search engine. So a good cost effective solution is to get ranked on google for a whole range of niche and long tail keywords.

Another way would be to advertise on autism and other support websites for the conditions it helps with.

PS: just had a look at your site on my phone. Maybe not the worst site ever but it's pretty close. And maybe the reason why you aren't getting as much work.

 

[Clinton]

I agree with @fisicx. The site is not easy to find and when I do land on it I discover that the video you choose to position so prominently on your home page has a warning saying it is no longer available because the BBC filed a copyright claim against it. Not a good first impression at all.

1.Sort your site out
2. Talk to schools and convince them to promote your services to parents (you'd need to provide them enough evidence that your solution helps with certain special needs)
3. Have similar conversations with GP surgeries.
4. Build relationships with interior designers and decorators.

How you get to meet with the likes of decision makers at schools etc is another matter and possibly for a thread of its own.

 

[The Byre]

"This video is no longer available, due to a copyright claim by the British Broadcasting Corporation"

Der!

Come on! We all should know better than to use material that we do not own! That notice on you own website shouts out the message "Dodgy company! AVOID!!!"

 

[HarveyIT]

Not sure about not being easy to find. I just typed in "bespoke starry nightsky ceiling" into Google, and I think it's the third one down?!
It isn't the worst site I've come across, but it's not far off, and as has already been stated, you need to sort out the copyright issue. Not good at all.

 

[fisicx]

But who searches for 'bespoke starry night ceiling' (apart from you)? It might get a tiny number of visitors but nowhere near enough. To get one new job per week you would need thousands visitors per year.

 

[HarveyIT]

Yes fixisc, that's very true. I only used those words, because that's what Carl put in his post.
I was actually kind of responding to what Clinton had put, about the site not being easy to find. Having thought about it since, I'm not 100% certain what Clinton actually meant by that?
Obviously, in order to find a site on Google, you've clearly got to know what keywords to use, so maybe Clinton already has a good idea of what keywords to use?
Unless there's something I'm missing here?

 

[Michelle Harris]

Agree with all of the above - a new website would help it looks like its from 1999 - nothing works - there are no prices or where to go to ask for prices, the text is hard to read, with capitals and lower case and it's all squished up. Top thing for me though is that the social media links go nowhere - there are no links. I'd start with the website for sure. And Clintons ideas are brilliant

What a lovely idea though I'd never heard of it.

 

[Ashley_Price]

Hi @Carl Marshall , welcome to UKBF.

I am afraid it looks like there is a lot of negativity above, especially about your website, but it is valid. So much of the site is out of date, with broken links and a video that has been removed, etc., that this isn't going to impress people.

The page you have of "Just a few faces that love it..." have they given you quotes that you can use, or have they agreed that you can use their image to promote your business?

I have had many experts look at this and it helps with autism,adhd,relaxing,deep sleep and many more issue inc sensory issues.

Have they actually given you written confirmation that it does help, or is it just verbal? If they've just said "it may help" then you're not going to get very far. You really need to have several testimonials from these experts. (For example, I sell a particular type of paper that a teacher at a school told me they find it helps children with dyslexia and other visual processing issues. So I asked the school's SEN Officer to write a testimonial I am allowed to use.)

Also, if you're looking to get more work, why not ask for referrals from those who you have done work for, that have since seen it help their child? They may well be part of support groups, etc., and can pass your name around to lots of others.

Finally, I am not entirely sure what your question at the top has to do with trying to find more work.

 

[Website Design Ltd]

Hi Carl,

To put it in the most simple and brutal terms...

Great Product/Service, Terrible Marketing/Website.

I think your service has huge potential, but you aren't going to reach that potential with your current public facing appearance.

1. Take a look at your public facing branding and messaging
2. Apply that to your website
3. Spend money in the right way by targeting realistic audiences

 

[GoingOnline]

Yes fixisc, that's very true. I only used those words, because that's what Carl put in his post.
I was actually kind of responding to what Clinton had put, about the site not being easy to find. Having thought about it since, I'm not 100% certain what Clinton actually meant by that?
Obviously, in order to find a site on Google, you've clearly got to know what keywords to use, so maybe Clinton already has a good idea of what keywords to use?
Unless there's something I'm missing here?

When you search in Google you often don't search for a solution, but for an answer to your problem. A parent that doesn't even know starry nights ceilings are available would search maybe for "how to help autism children" or something similar. A person like me maybe would search for "How to decorate bedroom ceiling". Maybe ranking for useful keywords that aren't 100% specific and at the end of the funnel will get you more sales.

As somebody who runs his own business, and needs to be on the road doing the job, I think you are probably better off using PPC and Facebook ads (as long as the ROI is good) because ranking for most medical terms requires a significant investment, a great website, etc... It's a difficult market. Also, in order to maximise that ROI you will need a better website. Even for small business, people expect quality, and easy to find information. If you are the only provider of a really sought after service you may be able to get away with it, until a competitor with a professional website appears and then bad things happen.

Just my two cents,

 

[Carl Marshall]

Thank you for all of the above i have been approached by David paget who re-designed a website i have paid him £150 and on completion another £150 is pending.Somethings just arent adding up firstly he told me to steer clear of this site and if I google him i draw a blank as if a ghost,he also wants 20% of my business per booking to market or £350 per month. This is all verb over the phone all i wanted was an up to date website.BIG QUESTION WHY WOULD DAVID PAGET TELL ME TO AVOID THIS SITE all you guys have tried to do is help at no cost.

 

[GoingOnline]

No idea who that guy is, but some people make money off keeping their clients in the dark and uneducated as much as possible, so the client doesn't notice that they are not very good. I mean, imagine if any of us just told you that you should get everything in writing, that you should get quotes for marketing and decide if it makes sense or not, that you shouldn't hire somebody who approaches you for web work and has no portfolio or no online presence, etc....

Imagine that. Maybe you would actually reconsider paying that guy 20% for booking or £350 per month without knowing exactly what is he doing to do for that money.

Also, don't let him host your website, get independant hosting and make sure before you pay that you own the domain name and it's on your account and he can't just say "Oh, since you don't want my marketing your website is now going to go offline". I have seen it happening.

 

[Carl Marshall]

i own the domain name and have register with 123-reg just waiting for this to be transfer approx 5 days,but how do i know that he has no access to the website if it gets handed over i have a feeling ive lost £150 .

 

[GoingOnline]

So, if you have the hosting (the space on a server where the website lives) you will most likely get him to put the files for the website there, install whatever needs to be installed, etc... Once that is done, remove his username or change the password.

The important bit is that you own the hosting, pay for it to a company that is not him, and are the sole person who knows the password to that hosting account. This way you have the keys to the website, and he can't keep it for ransom.

And don't pay until all this process is done, and you are satisfied that the website looks like what you want it to look and does everything you have agreed it should do. I am sure you haven't lost your money, he is just probably trying to upsell and hope you will agree to everything because he is the only expert around you.

 

[fisicx]

You have probably lost £150. I recall coming across Paget a while back, he is the one you should avoid not UKBF. He is ripping you off

I'd put money on you not getting an up to date, responsive and converting website. And for him to ask for 20% of 350/month is wrong in every possible way.

I offered to help in a PM but you never replied......

 

[Carl Marshall]

Due to me being stupid i gave him the password,But i did all the payments with the tec team at 123-reg and have now changed the password.So i have emailed him explaining that i just want a website and nothing else or a refund on what i have paid so we will see what the outcome is thank you for your help i feel so lost in the world of websites etc but im good at my job.1 final question how would someone in my words hand over a web design to be place on my 123-reg account.sorry if i sound stupid.

 

[GoingOnline]

I sort of remember 123-reg having a pretty decent customer service, so if you have your hosting with them (your existing website?) maybe you can ask them if they provide that service. You don't sound stupid! It's like me trying to talk about starred nightsky ceilings, but I think you are better off getting 123-reg to do it for you instead of trying to learn the entire thing about FTPing the files in, etc...

 

[fisicx]

1 final question how would someone in my words hand over a web design to be place on my 123-reg account.sorry if i sound stupid.

There are no stupid questions.

It all depends on how the site has been built. If it's a static website then you can copy across the files. If the site uses a database to create the pages then you need to set up the database. Neither are complicated once you know how to do it. A decent developer will do all this for you.

I'm very confused about how he is building the site. Site development need good comms between both parties to discuss layout, content, imagery, calls to action and a gazillion other things.

And it's not clear what you have got with 123reg. I think you are moving registrar but you then need hosting on top. Don't use 123reg for hosting. There are plenty of members here that can sort out hosting for you.

 

[Carl Marshall]

Ok so in approx 5 days 123-reg will be final registrar with my domain name i have received an email from david paget and briefly "Either way I have spent time putting together the website for you as a gesture of good will and do not wish to find that time wasted so will put the domain live on the site and if you decide to not work with me from them that is your choice" So once this takes place i need a hosting.

 

[Carl Marshall]

wordpress.com is where the website was built i can show you the link as im a new member but if you put marshallceilings. and the wordpress.com together you should be able to see what i have to date.

 

[fisicx]

That's a free site. It took him a couple of hours to build. He has ripped you off big time. wordpress.com sites are limited so you won't be able to do any of the things you need.

What made you decide to pay this man to build you a site? I don't even think it's his real name

If you want help fixing this just ask. I and many other wordpress developers can fix this for you.

 

[GoingOnline]

That's a free site. It took him a couple of hours to build. He has ripped you off big time. wordpress.com sites are limited so you won't be able to do any of the things you need.

What made you decide to pay this man to build you a site? I don't even think it's his real name

If you want help fixing this just ask. I and many other wordpress developers can fix this for you.

I'm afraid Fisicx is totally right. You may be able to get your money back if you paid him through paypal or using a credit card, as he clearly scammed you. He hasn't done anything you couldn't do yourself, tbh. Which is why he didn't want you coming to this forums, probably.

 

[Connexions]

Just a thought but perhaps a facebook page would be much better for you to promote the starry skies. Through facebook you could join groups on autism etc and promote with facebook adds. Rather than your website/seo.