Website help - Please?

[APOS Recruitment]

Hi All,

I have read many threads on here in the last 2-3 weeks before finally signing up today.

I've worked with computers the last 15 years or so and am absolutely fine with spreadsheets, word and computer packages etc etc.

Now I want to branch out on my own and set my own recuitment company/agency up. Not something I am rushing into as I need to see if it is a viable idea first.

My first and biggest/fundamental stumbling block is a website. I have no experience in setting a website up. Having read any threads on here, it appears that Wordpress is the favourite. I've had a look at their site and e-mailed them a couple of questions.

If someone has the time could you explain to me:
Web Hosting - What exactly does this mean/do? Is it support for your website? Do they let me register a name for my website there? Do they give me the possibility of setting up an e-mail account for my company?

I've looked at 123 and they seem to want anything between £7 and £350 to register a domain name (I assume this means website address), If they weren't providing the service I wanted and I wanted to go elsewhere could I take my domain with me?

Also, if I do not use Wordpress, does anyone have a rough guide as to how much it would cost to have a website built for me? I'm thinking of having the following pages at present:
Home
About
Contact
Current Roles
Submit your cv
News

So probably between 5-8 pages maximum.

Any help/answer to any question would be greatly appreciated as I try and make my way alone in this tough environment.

Thanks very much,
James

 

[Faevilangel]

Hi James

web hosting is basically a pc based in someone's office / building which allows you to store files on which anyone can access via the internet.

You can pay from around £3 a month for a UK based hosting company

Domain names should cost £9 for 2 years for a .co.uk, you shouldn't need to look at any other domain type unless your .co.uk is taken or you want to branch out worldwide.

WordPress is a system to build websites, they don't build them themselves.

You install WordPress into your hosting and then can edit your website from the easy to use admin pane.

You have 2 options with WordPress:

- DIY - do it yourself - installing WP is quite easy (using the auto installers / most hosts will set up and install for you). There is a lot of work to get it going but it's a good learning curve on how to edit your site. You can download themes so you can make the website look smart etc.

- Use a developer, there are lots of people who will build your website for you using WP, setting up, training you on how to use it and being the support if you have any questions.

Cost wise for a developer, you're looking at anywhere from £200 to £20,000 depending on variables such as:

- design
- features
- who builds it (freelancer / agency)

As you seem a little perplexed by the whole thing, I would look at hiring someone to help you out as you will then have someone you can relay ideas to, and they can make the ideas work.

I have built recruitment agency sites on WP and they vary so much due to the different types of recruitment and the required features.

 

[APOS Recruitment]

Hi Faevilangel,

Thank you very much for your reply, it is much appreciated.

Have you any particular hosting company you would recommend?

I have done a quick google search and the Top 3 according to web hosting website are:
1 ipage
2 just host
3 go daddy

Have you any experience of these?

Just out of interest how much do you charge for building a site?

 

[Nuno]

Justhost are cheap. There is nothing more to recommend them.
Go Daddy are American and avoidable.
iPage are also American.

Hosting help, which we all need, will be far better from a decent host here.
There are lots of decent hosts, and a lot are members here. In well over a decade of using hosts I have yet to find an all round one that is better than Vidahost.

Hosting is really a minor expense in terms of a business: don't scrimp (and don't be impressed with "unlimited" in the sales blurb. It's a bloody lie.)

 

[Faevilangel]

as Nuno said, don't go with either, they are cheap for a reason.

I have 3 clients on ipage and they are experiencing downtime at least an hour a week

I recommend Vidahost (like Nuno), they are UK based with UK support and start at only £17+vat per year

 

[seoswat]

Vidahost would be a good starting point as has already been mentioned.

You can get a site setup pretty quickly and cheaply, either by yourself or by a website developer.

As your only after those pages initially, i wouldn't be too quick to rule out wordpress. In fact, i would try and convince you that wordpress is the way for you to go with that type of site

 

[Faevilangel]

Vidahost would be a good starting point as has already been mentioned.

You can get a site setup pretty quickly and cheaply, either by yourself or by a website developer.

As your only after those pages initially, i wouldn't be too quick to rule out wordpress. In fact, i would try and convince you that wordpress is the way for you to go with that type of site

Agreed as you can add to the website as the needs of the business grow e.g. add feeds, login functionality etc.

WP is a great way to get a cost effective website which can be upgraded with minimal fuss.

 

[APOS Recruitment]

Thank you all. You have all been very helpful.

I'm going to give WordPress a go and also Vidahost. I see there is a Wordpress topic folder on here, so I think I'll find that useful.

I'll take my time with the website as I don't want to rush something just to get it up and running.

I'm sure I'll have more questions (if you don't mind) and maybe one day I'll be able to answer other peoples questions.

Thanks once again.
James

 

[simon field]

Hi James

For £120 well spent, give [URLNO="http://www.ukbusinessforums.co.uk/forums/member.php?u=7996"]Graham[/URLNO] a shout.

He's very friendly and very helpful

 

[APOS Recruitment]

Thanks for the reply Simon. What do you/would I get for the £120?

Thanks
James

 

[simon field]

Graham will set you up a Wordpress install with a contact form linked to your email and then support you through the site-building process for a full year.

There are many peeps on here who will tell you you shouldn't even consider building your own site if you're serious about your business, and for a complete techno cul-de-sac like myself yes there is a learning curve but it's a very enjoyable one if a tad frustrating at times.

There's a vast library of youtube tutorials for those 'late night sessions' where you don't want to be phoning Graham at 10 past 1 in the morning as well

My site is half-baked - that's my fault - but since it went live we're into everything, and I've barely had time to fart. People are finding us and calling us like never before, that's all I know.

So yep, thoroughly recommended.

 

[JonathanSEO]

If you are starting a recruitment business from scratch and want to know if it's viable then a website shouldn't be your biggest stumbling block.

It's possibly one of the last things you should even be thinking about.

I wouldn't spend any money on Wordpress installs or hosting. Just secure your domain names if you have a company name sorted.

 

[APOS Recruitment]

If you are starting a recruitment business from scratch and want to know if it's viable then a website shouldn't be your biggest stumbling block.

It's possibly one of the last things you should even be thinking about.

I wouldn't spend any money on Wordpress installs or hosting. Just secure your domain names if you have a company name sorted.

Thanks, I've got the domain name sorted.

 

[Alan]

At some point you will have to spend money on a website, as it is one part of any businesses marketing strategy. A business without a web site is the equivalent of a a business not having a sign out side or business cards. Sure you don't NEED a sign or business cards day one, but at some point you will.

Wordpress is a great platform, and there are many developers that can support it. And if you want to spend time getting into it there is no reason that a technically minded person can't take care of everything relating to their own site.

However, generally success in business is about focussing on adding value, and that often means leveraging specialists rather than trying to DIY everything. Of course at the start, the lack of cash can make the DIY route seem attractive, which it can be as long as it doesn't stop you or slow you down in generating real business.

 

[astutiumRob]

My first and biggest/fundamental stumbling block is a website

I'd suggest you work on getting employers to wnat to use you to find staff, and potential staff to use you to help them find a job way before doing anything else - start with *why* would anyone come to you rather than the 871,293 other existing options ?

I have no experience in setting a website up

First get your 'brand name' decided on and the domain(s) registered, then go see a web-developer, this is-if done right-
(a) not going to cheap and
(b) not something you can just muddle on with

Web Hosting - What exactly does this mean/do?

Hosting at it's most basic is the 'space' on a machine for your files, and the associated services (FTP,SMTP,HTTP) and so on.

If you're having people upload their CV's etc, then shared-hosting is not going to be suitable, you need to be thinking of ssl and multiple layers of security, and get your cheque book ready for potentially thousands of pounds per month.

I've looked at 123 and they seem to want anything between £7 and £350 to register a domain name (I assume this means website address)

Price depends on domain type, length, whether it's an 'existing' registered domain or a generally available one etc - not every domain type is 'open' - a great number have restrictions (like only being able to have a .travel if you're abta/atol registered etc)

If they weren't providing the service I wanted and I wanted to go elsewhere could I take my domain with me?

Uusually although there will usually be costs (both from the new registrar and sometimes from the one you're leaving)

There are better/cheaper/more-reliable options than 123-reg

Also, if I do not use Wordpress, does anyone have a rough guide as to how much it would cost to have a website built for me?

I was involved with an agency that had a redevelopment of their site, job matching facilities, uploads, cv handling, mailing service and some other bits - about 28000 in dev costs, licences etc, and 1100/month ongoing hosting costs which rose to about 2000/month within 2 years.

 

[jzhan]

Hello James. Is there any particular reason that you would not go for WordPress? Sounds like you don't need something too complicated and WP could be an easy solution.

 

[Adam.Vause]

I agree with llocally, you could try and do it on the cheap but sometime's it pays dividends to get the professionals to do it. If cashflow is an issue which in most cases it is as a startup business just make sure your design is clean and your content is good. The last thing you want it to put vistiors off with a poorly designed site. With regards to hosting you should go with someone reputable and or will look after things for you while you concentrate on running your business.

 

[SynergyRoofing]

What area of recruitment are you looking to go into - surely linked in is a better approach than your own website ?

 

[Levi]

My first and biggest/fundamental stumbling block is a website.

All the information provided so far is good, So I won't comment on that.

However, Your biggest stumbling block for this type of business is more likely to be cash flow than anything else.

I know my previous employer had circa 30~ agency staff at any one time (all from one agency in fact) - The agency where paying the temps weekly and the company I worked for, where paying the agency monthly (NET 30)

30 staff @ £309 /week.
30 days to cover = £55,620.

That's a lot to front, and the bigger the company - the slower they pay.