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UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: neil 47 on September 15, 2012, 11:50:40 am

Title: Web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 15, 2012, 11:50:40 am
How many jobs do u get per week from your website .

we tend to get 1 a week and some good commercial jobs .
 
but im a bit disappointed with the response


Cheers Neil
 
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Len Gribble on September 15, 2012, 07:25:02 pm
Neil

I really don’t know never ask


Oh ant got a web site…. Perhaps it’s dying and text is taking over. More into networking myself ;)
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 15, 2012, 08:00:07 pm
Len

 thanks for your response, we do networking very succesfully but that takes time , i wanted somthing that could genarate work just being there



 
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Jamie Lindsay on September 15, 2012, 08:24:41 pm
Got to agree google is a real let down not as good as i thought i keep it the old ways mainly
Title: Re: web site
Post by: jim mca on September 15, 2012, 08:59:50 pm
I average about 2 per week first job ever has now made over 3K I think a good pro website is a must
when we drop leaflets most custys look on the site before booking.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: feldon on September 15, 2012, 09:04:48 pm
Neil

How do you rank for the area's you are targeting?

Are you using adwords?

I'm convinced you can make the internet work for you, that being said I'm only getting about the same as you at the moment but I am in the process of changing my website and trying to get it higher up the rankings for my area and I am considering doing an adwords campaign in the comming weeks.

I've have just come back from a 2 day hard floor course with Nu-Life and they get all of there clients via internet and I have come back motivated to make my own website work for me too.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Jamie Lindsay on September 15, 2012, 10:11:12 pm
Jim whats your company name
Title: Re: web site
Post by: mick doherty on September 16, 2012, 12:31:31 am
we do ok on the internet. like everything else what you put in you get out.  Our average is 6/ 8 jobs weekly. if you need help email  me
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 08:01:43 am
we use facebook ads , but have only just started with that,

Mick i was hoping for 2 or 3 jobs a week so 6-8 would be fantastic

the website  cost £36 all in for domain and 2 years hosting , it only started as a first try

if you search it can you tell me where we come in rankings  cheers

http://barnsleycarpetandupholsterycleaners.co.uk/
Title: Re: web site
Post by: AshWhite on September 16, 2012, 08:15:07 am
A website is something I would always get done by a pro (after checking their standard of work!). It pays for itself over and over so many times, and definately increases views/calls ratio.

Otherwise, get someone to proof read your website, a few grammar and spelling mistakes dotted all over.

Good luck
Title: Re: web site
Post by: feldon on September 16, 2012, 08:42:53 am
You come up position A in google places for Barnsley, which is good.  Might be worth doing some work on your home page to try to get higher conversions.  Are you able to use google analytics to see traffic to your website, if you are getting a lot of hits but not many jobs it could be that your homepage does not grab their attention.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: clinton on September 16, 2012, 09:01:25 am
Same as ash said in his post and well worth getting a pro to do your site.

We get a good return from our site per job return from it..
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 09:35:43 am
Actually Clinton i saw your website a few weeks ago ( one of the best ive seen) and was impressed , that's what started me thinking i needed to pay.

 as it does rank well and should be doing more

As a starter website its done its job we have had about £2000 worth of it ,as bad as it is for £36

thanks for the constructive criticism
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Mike Halliday on September 16, 2012, 09:38:02 am
I'm disappointed with the response from my website ( considering it is top of google for practically  every search term), I put it down to putting a price page which i think was a mistake, I'm going to get it altered when I get back from my hols.

i put the prices page on to stop the price shoppers which it did...... but i think it also stops the other callers.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 10:42:48 am
Mike your website looks good , I do think the prices may be deterring people though .

I checked for u and you came up first under the 3 paid ads.

Maybe though it could be the photos as it has more the look of a vets webpage ,and the yellow overalls look a bit threatening,

 He looks like hes about to give that elephant a enema and enjoy it , no wonder the elephant looks worried,

maybe run two different pages  and see the response
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Mike Halliday on September 16, 2012, 11:08:59 am
do you really think the small things make such a big difference? would anyone really see that photo and think.... "he looks like he's going to stick his hand up an elelphant bum"..... I click away from this site

according to google analytics I get 100s of hits with most people staying on the site for more than 2 minutes and viewing multiple page...... they just don't call
Title: Re: web site
Post by: garry22 on September 16, 2012, 11:11:40 am
To be honest, I think most people expect too much from a carpet cleaning website.

Search numbers are pretty low all round. How many people are searching for your exact terms? Are your page descriptions attractive? What does your split testing tell you?

To expect to sell straight off the page in numbers, to cold visitors is a bit unrealistic.

Unless you are building a relationship with people then your conversions are liable to be as poor as leaflets.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 11:54:07 am
  from the feed back ive had most just looked for a local firm and clicked on the nearest one .

Mike you have to think diffrent they dont see what you see if your getting 100s then it must be something .

i dont know traffic on our site
 
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on September 16, 2012, 12:48:55 pm
Websites are only part of the romance you do have to get them to call I know Paul ashworth used to have a single page site and a multiagency site and got the same response from each it's hard to work out what customers bloody want ;D

Shaun
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Jamie Lindsay on September 16, 2012, 12:49:44 pm
Also most ppl will have gmail account on when they search so when you are searching for say carpet cleaning glasgow you dont know how it will appear on other ppls computer screens
Title: Re: web site
Post by: mick doherty on September 16, 2012, 12:56:50 pm
Neil, you come up first when I googled carpet cleaning Barnsley
Title: Re: web site
Post by: garry22 on September 16, 2012, 01:20:45 pm
Mike H

Re; photo's

I went to an internet marketing seminar way back in 2006.

They showed us taguchi split testing on a site (testing variables) and it was surprising how different photo's affected the conversion rates.

That said, the site was a medical one (I think it was arthritis treatments) and the photo's were of different doctors (some old, some younger) but the conversion rates were significantly different. The older, more experienced "doctors'" photo's converting better, probably due to the age range of the visitors.

The problem with carpet cleaning sites is the low number of visitors can make meaningful testing difficult (the arthritis site was getting thousands per day).
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Russ Chadd on September 16, 2012, 01:41:51 pm
Hey Neil

That video looks mighty impressive on your website!
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Andrew@Approved Carpet Cleaning on September 16, 2012, 02:58:28 pm
I like those trainers Russ!! 8)
Title: Re: web site
Post by: AshWhite on September 16, 2012, 03:04:53 pm
Nice video, but the title says 'except' instead of 'accept' :P
Title: Re: web site
Post by: DayV on September 16, 2012, 03:29:34 pm
we do ok on the internet. like everything else what you put in you get out.  Our average is 6/ 8 jobs weekly. if you need help email  me
/quote]Hi Mick, I was really interested in your post and offer of help.Could you contact me to discuss.
Cheers Mate-DAVID
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 03:34:23 pm
cheers mick thats why i dont understand the low calls .

google keyword  searchs per month for carpet cleaning Barnsley 110 doncaster 390 sheffield 720 leeds 880

Russ if you go onto the utube version look at the bottom off description .


Cheers russ




Thanks to Russ Chadd for filming this process
for dry carpet cleaning ring Colin on Barnsley 01226872204 http://barnsleycarpetandupholsterycleaners.co.uk
or Russ for aldershot on 01252 319391
Category:

Title: Re: web site
Post by: Mike Halliday on September 16, 2012, 03:54:39 pm
i think the biggest point that limits a websites success rate is beyond our control and that is the demographic of the catchment area and target market.

to give an extreme example..... a website selling to homeless people will have limited success as they do not have ready access to the Internet, so won 't see it.

and....

a high prices bespoke cleaning service will not be as successful as a half price for 2 weeks only website when the catchment area for both companies is 80% council estate.

my biggest  and preferred customer is retired persons who don't use the Internet as much as the 25-40 age group (this group is more price oriented and more likely to shop around for the best deal) OAPs prefer to deal in person.

I was talking to Mark at DPdesign who has done a lot websites for carpet cleaners and he talks about south east based companies who get the majority of their work from their website  but this area is technology based, see how it compares to the Yorkshire Dales which is the opposite
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 04:07:42 pm
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1347808038_Sprinter Van.JPG)


I Rest My Case  ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: feldon on September 16, 2012, 04:16:11 pm
Its not Mike's van is it. ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Mike Halliday on September 16, 2012, 04:58:49 pm
looks nothing like my van!!

 (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1347810772_van pic no1.JPG)

Ps; what has an apple got to do with computers or phones?......  still one of the most recognisable brands in the world.

or to put it in words more likely to be understood by many.......... BBBAAAA..... BBBAAA...BBBAAAR....BAA....BBBAAA

 ;D ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 05:15:40 pm
Mick im only trying to help , sometimes we are in denial , do u not think that having the zoo on your web page could be portraying you to be unprofessional or confusing to customers , on the van it works but Mabye it dosent transfer to the web page as you have there attention already
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on September 16, 2012, 05:46:52 pm
It's all about standing out from the crowd it'll be interesting to see what mikes next rebranding will be, Brian philbin uses a marble sculpture pic on his vans with a leaf over the models nether regions it's a great talking point.

Shaun
Title: Re: web site
Post by: garry22 on September 16, 2012, 06:24:29 pm
Neil,

I've got exact searches for (google)

carpet cleaning barnsley = 22

carpet cleaning in barnsley = 12

carpet claning leeds =260
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 16, 2012, 10:03:48 pm
garry in that case im doing really good ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: davep on September 16, 2012, 10:08:15 pm
Bit off topic but has anyone noticed some sites showing google rating stars?
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Russ Chadd on September 16, 2012, 10:39:09 pm
I have to say that the graphics look great on your van Mike...
Having a brand will get you recognition and i bet everyone stops to look at the van?
I always think of an 80's fruit drink when i see it !
Title: Re: web site
Post by: feldon on September 16, 2012, 11:04:57 pm
Neil,

I've got exact searches for (google)

carpet cleaning barnsley = 22

carpet cleaning in barnsley = 12

carpet claning leeds =260

Garry how do you get those exact figures as I get different ones on google keyword tool?
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 17, 2012, 06:46:32 am
i have spoken to yahoo reps and google reps bot say the key word ones are right unless u are on about this month garry
Title: Re: web site
Post by: clinton on September 17, 2012, 07:44:33 am
Looks like your doing ok with that return on your 36 pound outlay for your site mind.

Thanks neil with the comments on my web site..
Title: Re: web site
Post by: david@zap-clean on September 17, 2012, 07:52:40 am
In my previous life I was an IT consultant.  I thought I knew a lot about IT and t'internet until I started looking at marketing my business on it.  

Internet marketing is a complex minefield and I have to admit to being at-a-loss in deciding the best marketing strategy, on a budget.

I do knwo this:
1. It's really easy to waste a LOT of money on internet marketing, if you're not very careful.
2. It's really easy to get a LOT of free advertising on t'internet if you know what you are doing

...here's a tip: Find out where your competition are advertising (just search hard for them), check out if their listings are free (often they are), then add your company their as well (for free).

I've spent very little money on internet marketing - but check out where I appear in internet searches (hopefully you'll find me in lots of places), but remember: I've only been at this (internet marketing) for a few weeks, and I have not (yet) done any SEO on my website - though I will be spending a little cash on that.

Check out your competition - what does their website say to you? Is that the message you want to send to your customers?
Title: Re: web site
Post by: garry22 on September 17, 2012, 12:34:24 pm
Quote
Garry how do you get those exact figures as I get different ones on google keyword tool?

Richard,

I set it to exact search mode for google.co.uk

I would add that these "official" figures are pretty unreliable according to marketers who have done testing in the past. All in all, they are pretty small numbers to work with.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: garry22 on September 17, 2012, 12:47:27 pm
Quote
i have spoken to yahoo reps and google reps bot say the key word ones are right unless u are on about this month garry

Well there's a first, rep's telling the truth  ;D  So some keywords do get exactly 18,000 searches each month?

Seriously, this should explain about the difference in numbers  http://support.google.com/adwords/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=2497836
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Joe W Brown on September 17, 2012, 07:09:18 pm
How many jobs do u get per week from your website .

we tend to get 1 a week and some good commercial jobs .
 
but im a bit disappointed with the response


Cheers Neil
 
I spent around £1000 on a (quite advanced ) online quotation and booking system for my site. Since I started trading 6 months ago not a single person has used the online system. Not 1 person.


My diary is quite busy these days, since I did a number of free cleans for promotion and had an offer on groupon. Still none using the website quote system though, despite it being advertised on my cards and flyers etc.

Title: Re: web site
Post by: david@zap-clean on September 17, 2012, 07:31:56 pm
Joe,

The on-line booking system will add to the professional feel of your website -  I'm sure you've captured some extra business because of that, even though you may not have had any bookings through it.

So, not entirely wasted money.
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 17, 2012, 09:07:09 pm
David I think he is saying hes had no bookings from the website ???
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Shaun_Ashmore on September 17, 2012, 10:06:22 pm
Neil I have a website in the Barnsley area and I get no response from it same as Rotherham and Doncaster I think it's down mainly to google maps.

Shaun
Title: Re: web site
Post by: Joe W Brown on September 17, 2012, 10:55:48 pm
David I think he is saying hes had no bookings from the website ???
None with the online booking system.


Im not sure if ive had any through the website until today, but a lot of people tend to comment on my site and quote the information on there.

I say until today because just 5 minutes before writing this post I had an email the email address displayed on the my website requesting a quote. My first one!




Title: Re: web site
Post by: david@zap-clean on September 18, 2012, 06:56:47 am
Part of my marketing strategy is to ask new customers where they heard from me.

Rather than saying 'google adwords, or 'my google search found you on yell's website', they'll often just say 'the internet'.  So, I'm never too sure which on-line campaign is working best.

Joe, maybe a potential customer sees your web based booking system, thinks you're a good, professional company, and calls you anyway (rather than use the booking system). 
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 18, 2012, 08:29:34 am
Shaun we come up as no one on google maps i see yours all the time , i think its facebook thats to blame as everyone seems to get everything off there and ask each other for recommendations .

Also with f/b all they want is the cheapest but we have found if you go in cheap it ofton leads to more work at higher prices and as we arnt fully booked we might as well be doing something.

web pages are ok linked to something else
Title: Re: web site
Post by: mick doherty on September 20, 2012, 05:18:21 pm
Hi David,

How do I contact you?

Mick
Title: Re: web site
Post by: *Hector* on September 20, 2012, 05:40:27 pm
Hi David,

How do I contact you?

Mick

try his email address at the bottom of each of his posts..   :o :o


;D ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: mick doherty on September 20, 2012, 08:56:39 pm
hector, I can't see his e-mail address at the bottom of his posts, if u know it what is it? please
Title: Re: web site
Post by: AshWhite on September 20, 2012, 09:11:49 pm
David@zap-clean.com
Title: Re: web site
Post by: clive ware on September 20, 2012, 10:46:43 pm
Neil - good video. You work much quicker than me!
Title: Re: web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 21, 2012, 07:54:16 am
Clive cant take credit for that it is Russ Chads creative work .
Title: Re: web site
Post by: *Hector* on September 21, 2012, 07:55:53 am
David@zap-clean.com

thanks Ash  ;D
Title: Re: Web site
Post by: garry22 on September 21, 2012, 12:48:07 pm
Quote
Clive cant take credit for that it is Russ Chads creative work .

Hey, what about me getting some credit for the headline on your commercial page?  :D
Title: Re: Web site
Post by: neil 47 on September 21, 2012, 06:07:11 pm
ah gary cheers  i never said 47 mins  . im not proud if its good ill use it change it , and ive let loads use mine i would never use anyones who was close by like pennywise  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Web site
Post by: garry22 on September 22, 2012, 09:52:40 am
LOL...  At least you could have corrected my spelling mistakes!   ;D
Title: Re: web site
Post by: John Higgins on September 22, 2012, 11:44:46 am
looks nothing like my van!!

 (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1347810772_van pic no1.JPG)

Ps; what has an apple got to do with computers or phones?......  still one of the most recognisable brands in the world.

or to put it in words more likely to be understood by many.......... BBBAAAA..... BBBAAA...BBBAAAR....BAA....BBBAAA

 ;D ;D


When driving around hull I can spot mikes van from miles away
My son thinks its an Icecream van

It may seem rather an odd design for a carpet cleaners van but its has become instantly regonisable as mike halliday carpet cleaners
Job Done