Finished my website, feedback please :-D

[webit]

Well I think it looks plenty good enough.

Hi cQueen. Speaking as someone who develops their own sites (and many blue chip clients sites) you have to ask what your business is.

Are you a web designer or do you run the car business. I know SEO but I'd rather pay someone else to do it - I know design but I'd rather pay - I know about PR but again...

I'd rather focus on the business (the money making side) and every hour not spent on that could be better spent.

 

[cqueen]

Well thats not the way I'm doing it. Constructive critisim please (i.e you keep saying it's no good but you don't actually say why), I dont want to hear anymore about paying someone else to do it.
Thanks.

 

[Faith28]

I think that people with limited budgets should certainly give it a go on their own. Then when they can afford it they can pay someone.

The way I see it as long as my time is cheap right now (!) I can give as much time as possible to every area of the business. But in the future as I become more and more busy with clients and management of the business itself I will be able to afford to outsource some of the work. The value of my time will be greater then so will be less likely utilised on mundane aspects of the business.

Cqueen - you're doing well and looks to me that you're improving your skills on this aspect so don't worry (as I'm sure you aren't) what others are saying about paying a professional to do it for you. If you're like me, you probably can't afford it anyway...so what is the option don't try to develop a business!?! No go for it and good luck

PS What about my VAT qn?

 

[NuBlue]

Hi Cqueen,

I agree with Faith28, when starting a business you have got to prioritise what you need and save money where you can. I wont lie, I think that a profesional website would probably get you more business in the long run (depending on who does it of course) but I think what you have created is fine to start with and doesn't look too bad at all.

My accountant (who will remain nameless) has got a shocking website but yet its one of the biggest, most prestigous accountants in Lancashire. At the end of the day, it's the product your selling and the customer service that comes with it that makes you money. Not your website.

Best of luck with it, and any chance of borrowing a Porsche next wk end, its my birthday !?

Regards

Michael

NuBlue Digital Web Solutions
www.nublue.co.uk
0845 0045 583

 

[cqueen]

Thanks,
With regards to VAT number, I will include it on the website, I just havnt got to that bit yet. There are a number of things I'm still to add, at the moment I'm just trying to get the right kinda vibe (excuse my David Brent).

 

[theMBA]

I think that when you are using your website as the main means of promoting your business and you have a 'corporate image' to portray then I would advise using a professional to do it. They are the ones that know what works best and the format best to get you google listings etc. And yes it can be said that designers do have a 'signature' with their websites in that they can favour certain styles say, but to say that they design all sites the same is just a slight exageration!!

The exageration is yours, Gill. I just said that there was a risk of ending up with a site that was similar to many of their other sites. I didn't say that they design all sites the same. However, your point about knowing what looks professional is a good one.

As an aside, I notice that you're in the business of facilitating access to finance. I'm in the business of reviewing Business Plans - sometimes this is to help my clients at a time when they're preparing Business Plans as part of their applications for finance. I'd be interested in the possibility of reciprocal links between my site and yours - PM me if you're interested.

 

[theMBA]

I think you pulling our leg.

You got to be.

So show us some sites that you think look better.

 

[theMBA]

Glad to see there are a number of people prepared to "DIY" their websites as a pragmatic solution to the business-on-a-shoestring challenge of starting a business. In particular, well said Eiman (Faith28) - I fully agree with your comments on this topic.

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

I am confused by your points system (on your cars page)

A BMW X5 is group one, and as such would cost me 25 points in summer time

A Bentley continental GT is group 4 and as such would cost me 4 points per day summer time

So I can have a X5 for one day for the same cost as a Bentley GT for 6 days ??

 

[Coding Monkey]

So show us some sites that you think look better.

Certainly. Take your pick from their portfolios:

http://www.northkingdom.com/index2.html
http://www.springdigital.co.uk/portfolio/small_business.php
http://www.springdigital.co.uk/portfolio/e-commerce.php
http://www.springdigital.co.uk/portfolio/enterprise.php
http://www.hicksdesign.co.uk/portfolio/gods-smuggler
http://38one.com/

These are just one's I can recall. I could go on, and on and on.

The exageration is yours, Gill. I just said that there was a risk of ending up with a site that was similar to many of their other sites.

Isn't there a higher risk of it looking similar to other websites if you design it yourself, as you won't have the creativity of a designer?

 

[Coding Monkey]

Glad to see there are a number of people prepared to "DIY" their websites as a pragmatic solution to the business-on-a-shoestring challenge of starting a business. In particular, well said Eiman (Faith28) - I fully agree with your comments on this topic.

Of course it's a pragmatic solution, but thinking it looks better than what a professional could do, or even considering it high-end, is just absurd.

 

[ImageStudioz]

A blank would be better........anyway

What i would suggest is maybe......

Target and an area where you live or where the main business activity is run, PAY someone to design a nice slick leaflet that will get you noticed, and send to people etc.

Design shouldnt be too much and print...is as cheap as chips.

Then once you start making the money, get a website built.

I started out once and im totally self taught, but if i came across that i would even call you to see if it was legit.

 

[cqueen]

PAY someone

I dont want to hear anymore about paying someone else to do it.

I am confused by your points system (on your cars page)

Yes there are a few errors on my first website (which I havnt botherd to change because I'm not going to use it, the car grouping is the wrong way round, i.e. group 4 should be group 1.

if i came across that i would even call you to see if it was legit.

Which is good because I'd then talk you into signing up

I personnaly think you are being far too picky, I think it looks fine. If I stumbled upon it, I wouldnt question it.

 

[cqueen]

I also think you are looking at it from a web designers point of view. I'm more interested in an auto enthusiasts point of view, I'm an enthusiast and I think it looks great, as do others I have shown.

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

I think it is OK for a publisher website, I would like a site offering services such as these to look like it has cost alot of money, even if it hasn't. And unfortunately this site does not do that for me.

The grey looks boring, the pic quality is not good, the buttons look cheap.

I would have thought that a site like this is one that you could really get away with a bit of clever flash (even though I normally advise against too much flash), especially for the header and menu.

 

[cqueen]

You're looking at the old website (the new one is on page 3). I would like to delete that very first post to stop people getting confused, but for some reason there is no edit option.

 

[mattk]

I also think you are looking at it from a web designers point of view. I'm more interested in an auto enthusiasts point of view, I'm an enthusiast and I think it looks great, as do others I have shown.

That is a very good point - and maybe you should post your site for feedback on Automotive Web sites, rather than on a site where people will look at it purely from a design/business perpective.

 

[cqueen]

I would but I'm not ready for people to start making enquiries. I am a member of the biggest UK auto forum (which also has a regional forum), and if I ask for opinions there, it'll ruin my credibility for when I start advertising there, if you see what I mean?

 

[SuffolkDesigns]

You're looking at the old website (the new one is on page 3). I would like to delete that very first post to stop people getting confused, but for some reason there is no edit option.

Ask a mod to edit it for you (or upload the new version)

 

[mattk]

I would but I'm not ready for people to start making enquiries. I am a member of the biggest UK auto forum (which also has a regional forum), and if I ask for opinions there, it'll ruin my credibility for when I start advertising there, if you see what I mean?

I totally understand.

You'll have to let us all know when your launch party is so we can come and drink your champagne and eat your posh buffet!

 

[cqueen]

Who were the caterers for the Tottenham Hotspur team again?
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Only joking!