Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: D.Salkeld_Ltd on March 09, 2008, 08:53:19 am
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Hi Folks,
What do you think of my Web Site?
www.dsalkeldltd.co.uk (http://www.dsalkeldltd.co.uk)
David
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BLUNT HONEST STRAIGHT FORWARD.....IS SALKEAD AN OLD YORKSHIRE NAME??
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Yeh good start Dave, i would be a little wary of the not perfect bit if i was a customer possibly. At the end of the day customers are only looking for a windowcleaner not a technical masterpiece of computer skills
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1... Get a good image on the homepage
2.. GET RID of the we do a good job 99% of the time thing.. It's honest but prospective customers WON'T be impressed at all.
3.. Run a spell check on all the text.
4... err.. who ya gonna call? .. GHOSTBUSTERS.. lol :D
5.. dunno if it's a good idea to put other businesses on your site. That cafe looks grotty. I think it detracts from any pro image you are trying to convey.
It's got the bare bones of a decent site but needs a little work yet.
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not being picky, but could do with spell checking,incorrect spelling
will make it look unprofessional.mixing and matching of your upper and lowercase
should be more consistent
also a little too honest with your comments
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Hi Dave
I did not see any reference to the benifits of pure water, I could be left thinking I could do the same job myself with the outside tap!
I also struggle with the not perfect phase as a slogan as it's negative. I totally understand what you are trying to put across but perhaps look for something like :striving for perfection
It's ok but not good...........yet!
regards
tony
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Hi Dave looks good does thet cost you anything ???
Its something that ive been toying with for a few months
marcus...
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I would remove the "not perfect" bit , if i was a custy i would read that and move straight on to the next one..
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Hi Folks,
What do you think of my Web Site?
www.dsalkeldltd.co.uk (http://www.dsalkeldltd.co.uk)
David
Dave. It should be ACCESSIBLE (with an "i").
I would remove the bit about "not perfect" myself and substitute something like "good honest" etc.
Although you haven't got around to doing it yet, I like the idea of having a newsletter page. I've not yet done my site as I've been too busy but I would like to have a newsletter page on mine as well. Hope you don't mind me "borrowing" that idea. It's hardly patented after all :)
I like the idea of a n
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i'd say you definately need a picture of some sort on your hompage. Afterall a picture speaks a thousand words.
and im with the guys that have mentioned the "NOT PERFECT - BUT HONEST" thing. Why not say you offer a "thorough, professional clean everytime" instead, or something like that.
im still working on my website too mind, after plenty of alterations
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I like it - you're not giving a pretence of being bigger than you are etc.
Its honest, personal and straight to the point.
Nice one.
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why is there a pic of a bucket and spounge with all the talk of water fed??
bin the 'not perfect' thing, your putting the readers focus on the point that your not a very good window cleaner!!
Just think - someone is looking online for a window cleaner chances are they are not just going to go with the first one that pops up, they will look at a few. If your site is compared to someone who spend a couple of quid on nice images, nicely well layed out, Professional Window Cleaner, etc I know which one i would go with - the one who looks like they can provide me with a good job/service not just a honest chap who is a bit hit and miss!! :)
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Not bad Dave, I'll set up a link with ya if ya like?, help with the rankings!
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For once Dave, and as you know am I'm often very critical of some of your aims means and concepts, I am entirely on your side and was very impressed.
Nearly all of the above comments are totally wrong. I found one misused/misspelt word,and one awkward phrase.The people who found lots must be a lot smarter than me.
Is it how I do it on my site? No, but I go long on the hot thing etc, and my market is different to yours. The only critisism from the above comments I would agree with is to possibly include a picture of yourself.
Another thing, lose the ltd, I realise that is your legal tax entity but it gives the opposite marketing message to the one you are trying to put across.
It's a pleasant change for me to say nice things to you, but your posts are allways well put together and tight in terms of straightforwardness and sticking to the point.My beefs are usually that I'm phobic about back packs, trailers,home made kit, poorly thought through ideas etc.....
I suppose now I do like it thats the one thing that will make you change it.
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Any website is better than NO website, which is what I currently have!
So well done!
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I would remove the "not perfect" bit , if i was a custy i would read that and move straight on to the next one..
I like the 'not perfect' bit - look at the spelling. Adds a nice touch and fits the steriotype of the 'classic' 1950s window cleaner.
Well done.
(spot my deliberate 'tradesman' spelling mistake?)
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Good for you David, looks good ;D
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i think it will work for you , let us all know in a month or so how its going if you seem to be picking work up due to the website , good on you :)
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i'm a bit wary of the not perfect bit...... and the life story.......however i'm not perfect iether and my opinion may be a load of poo!!!! ;D
it certainly brings across the wc that is fair ,,honest,, and freindly :)
well done , let us know the customer feedback ;)
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It doesnt flow verbally or visually, the way you have put across your key points interrupt the reader, and detract from your sales message.
The tag line brings up a negative image, and you come across as slightly apologetic on some pages of the site.
On the plus side, it does reinforce your no nonsense, straightforward attitude, and it showcases other services you provide.
The main point of advertising is to create enough desire that the reader wants to know more about what you do, enough so that they contact you.
Mark
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It doesnt flow verbally or visually, the way you have put across your key points interrupt the reader, and detract from your sales message.
The tag line brings up a negative image, and you come across as slightly apologetic on some pages of the site.
On the plus side, it does reinforce your no nonsense, straightforward attitude, and it showcases other services you provide.
The main point of advertising is to create enough desire that the reader wants to know more about what you do, enough so that they contact you.
Mark
Good critique that, Davvo. Worth listening to Slakeld.
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i think your website sums you up perfect people appreciate honesty . No B S just good old fashioned values!
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THANKYOU all for your opinions :) :) :)
Not that I liked all of them ::) ::) ::) ::)
But, the one thing I base my whole life on is:
THE TRUTH!!!
And I can accept that now you colleagues have given me your straight opinions I can see it needs a bit of tweaking here and there.
1. "Stop pulling yourself down!!" My wife, Tracy often says that to me
So I see that the image I have to put across needs to be positive and
confident.
2. Please be aware of my particular market and area I live in.
I have lived in the Louth area for nearly 40 years. I have been window
cleaning for 20 years. A lot of people know me well, I clean for 3 or 4 of the
retired teachers who taught me. Some of the young couples I clean for now
I used to, and still do, clean their parents and I remember them when they
were kids. Most of my customers happily call me David and honestly trust
me. I am very proud of that.
3. The idea of the Web Site is not to generate more work or to appeal to
commercial contracts. It's an on-line further information for perspective
customers to take a look at. It will be put on all the new leaflets, on my car
signs and all the customer stationary. I don't intend to On-Line market it.
4. I am going to delete the "Local Businesses" as I was being too "nice".
Why should I spend ages adding other businesses to my site when they
are not that bothered!!
Thanks again.
Edited version will be done tonight.
David
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How you've explained it is exactly how I read it. Your reaction to critissism is far better than mine, but please bear in mind that many of the comments were made flippantly and without any particular thought.
I saw it as a further attempt to be a part of the community in which you live and I personally think that the people of lough will respect and admire you for that. Please keep the local businesses in even if some of the owners may have been offhand in their comments.Get links to any Lough websites that will have you,particularly ones about the area. People on this forum who link to other window cleaning sites are barking up the wrong tree ;).
There are many ways of selling, but people do like a story, and yours is a good one.
When I said you need a picture, I mean't of your face.
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Looking better already think it's height and not hieght though. :)
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David, I agree with DJW, it looks really good now..... and I liked it the first time.. ;D
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Talking of websites.............is £100 cheap to advertise a Bold Faced Line Advertisement with details of my website, company name and telephone number in the Yellow Pages?. Don't want to advertise my home address to avoid cold calling salespeople and for security reasons.
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David, I agree with DJW, it looks really good now..... and I liked it the first time.. ;D
Dale, did you get out today?
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How you've explained it is exactly how I read it. Your reaction to critissism is far better than mine, but please bear in mind that many of the comments were made flippantly and without any particular thought.
I saw it as a further attempt to be a part of the community in which you live and I personally think that the people of lough will respect and admire you for that. Please keep the local businesses in even if some of the owners may have been offhand in their comments.Get links to any Lough websites that will have you,particularly ones about the area. People on this forum who link to other window cleaning sites are barking up the wrong tree ;).
There are many ways of selling, but people do like a story, and yours is a good one.
When I said you need a picture, I mean't of your face.
Thanks Mr Solubility ;) Exactly what I AM
David
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THANKYOU all for your opinions :) :) :)
Not that I liked all of them ::) ::) ::) ::)
But, the one thing I base my whole life on is:
THE TRUTH!!!
And I can accept that now you colleagues have given me your straight opinions I can see it needs a bit of tweaking here and there.
1. "Stop pulling yourself down!!" My wife, Tracy often says that to me
So I see that the image I have to put across needs to be positive and
confident.
2. Please be aware of my particular market and area I live in.
I have lived in the Louth area for nearly 40 years. I have been window
cleaning for 20 years. A lot of people know me well, I clean for 3 or 4 of the
retired teachers who taught me. Some of the young couples I clean for now
I used to, and still do, clean their parents and I remember them when they
were kids. Most of my customers happily call me David and honestly trust
me. I am very proud of that.
3. The idea of the Web Site is not to generate more work or to appeal to
commercial contracts. It's an on-line further information for perspective
customers to take a look at. It will be put on all the new leaflets, on my car
signs and all the customer stationary. I don't intend to On-Line market it.
4. I am going to delete the "Local Businesses" as I was being too "nice".
Why should I spend ages adding other businesses to my site when they
are not that bothered!!
Thanks again.
Edited version will be done tonight.
David
Did you use to be a wrestler...Dave "The Truth"Salkeld :D :D
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spell check:
"...at the time, I was single"
breeding
professional
canvassing
accessible
height
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DJW, we were out up until just gone 11, then we had no choice but to stop :'(
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Thats much better david than your first one. Its easier to read and doesnt detract from the message you want to give out to your community. I find the thing with honesty is that people who abuse your trust and honesty ( because they misstake it for softness) need to be told quite firmly that the way they are trying to treat you is not acceptable, I think your terms and conditions reinforce that.
Good luck.
Mark
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THANKYOU all for your opinions :) :) :)
Not that I liked all of them ::) ::) ::) ::)
But, the one thing I base my whole life on is:
THE TRUTH!!!
And I can accept that now you colleagues have given me your straight opinions I can see it needs a bit of tweaking here and there.
1. "Stop pulling yourself down!!" My wife, Tracy often says that to me
So I see that the image I have to put across needs to be positive and
confident.
2. Please be aware of my particular market and area I live in.
I have lived in the Louth area for nearly 40 years. I have been window
cleaning for 20 years. A lot of people know me well, I clean for 3 or 4 of the
retired teachers who taught me. Some of the young couples I clean for now
I used to, and still do, clean their parents and I remember them when they
were kids. Most of my customers happily call me David and honestly trust
me. I am very proud of that.
3. The idea of the Web Site is not to generate more work or to appeal to
commercial contracts. It's an on-line further information for perspective
customers to take a look at. It will be put on all the new leaflets, on my car
signs and all the customer stationary. I don't intend to On-Line market it.
4. I am going to delete the "Local Businesses" as I was being too "nice".
Why should I spend ages adding other businesses to my site when they
are not that bothered!!
Thanks again.
Edited version will be done tonight.
David
8) 8) 8) well said mate
brett
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spell check:
"...at the time, I was single"
breeding
professional
canvassing
accessible
height
Thanks Mate ;)
Sorted em
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Thats much better david than your first one. Its easier to read and doesnt detract from the message you want to give out to your community. I find the thing with honesty is that people who abuse your trust and honesty ( because they misstake it for softness) need to be told quite firmly that the way they are trying to treat you is not acceptable, I think your terms and conditions reinforce that.
Good luck.
Mark
That's why I wanted to introduce T&C's on the other hand I didn't want to come heavy on the majority of my very good customers.
On another note. I have added this to the bottom of my Invoices:
PAYMENT WITHIN 14 DAYS PLEASE
LATE PAYMENT MAY INCUR A £5 CHARGE
It started off as:
Prompt Payment is Appreciated
(still lazy payers ::))
Then:
Payment within 14 days please
(not much change ::) ::))
Added the £5 charge ;D ;D ;D
NOW they pay up!!!
David
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great improvement like your wfp advantages page in particular :)
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Its looking good now mate.
Well done :)
Andy
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i like the site
it paints a picture of a local window cleaner who is honest and does the best job he can
i think this is a good idea, afterall its easy to portray yourself as a multinational company online with the slick website etc etc, but imho the average domestic customer wants to you know are a honest guy earning a honest living, not a company who employs a different bloke every month
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Hi - Liked your site - down to earth which I think a lot of people will appreciate.
Just a couple of things: Facias is spelt Fascias. Also where you say "Over the 20 years I have been window cleaning in Louth I have become to..." become to needs to read "come to". "people want" would read better as "people need" "Relaible" should read "reliability" Trustworthy should read "Trustworthiness" But it might be easier to change your wording " Over the 20 years I have been window cleaning in Louth I have become to understand what people want from a window cleaning service" to: "20 years experience in this business has given me an understanding of the qualities people require in a window cleaner:"
I would also take the also out of your phrase "We can also reach windows inaccessible by ladders" and make the words ladders and holes smaller case in your phrase " No More Ladder holes in the lawn! so it reads "No more ladder holes in th lawn!"
I would also be tempted to use some colour on some things i.e: company name etc and would definately change the font from italic on the
"Established 20 Years
Also:
Conservatory Cleaning
Gutters, Facias etc washed
bit as it doesn't flow and tricks the eye (if you know what I mean)
I am only pointing thes things out as they are on your home page and prospective clients will see this first.
But on the plus side as Ive said I think it is down to earth and gives an impression of honesty. It'll definately do the trick mate - well done!
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OK Folks,
Done a few alterations.
What do you think now??
I like it even better ;D ;D
David
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looks good nice photos although the one on the home page
is a bit scarey ;D ;D
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It looks great! I like your photo too, really freindly looking. I'm sure this will help you lots. Well done! Let us know how it goes?
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Wow!!! I've just checked out your website, and what an improvement, it is now really good, and looks really professional! I particuarly like the new slogan 'Good Honest Service' If I lived in your area I would definately want you to be my window cleaner!
If I had to find fault, I would say that the bit on the home page below your phone number were it starts 'Louth' needs to be centered with the paragraph above, if that makes sense as it is slightly off to the left which makes it look a bit lop sided. Apart from that I think its great!!! :)
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nice website bigboots ;D-good idea putting the garage doors in,do you do many?
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Dave ,thats really looking good now mate :),must admit i thought it was a bit clunky first time i viewed it but its amazing what a difference small changes make,good honest straightforward and smart without being flashy or putting the competition down ;D
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its looking alot better now, and its inspired me to start doing mine, and i can see that it is a work in progress type of thing untill you get i right
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on the home page...change the word :
trustworthyness for trustworthy.
on thw WFP page, there are the following spelling errors:
virtualy...virtually
disolved...dissolved
natrualy...naturally
detergants...detergents
realy...really
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I like your site it comes across the same way you do on here as a down to earth aproachable likeable bloke we need more people like you around
Dean
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David, you have used the forum well, as from the comments you are improving your web site all the time, which should bring you more money ;)
Your pic on the home page is definately a little scary though :D
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Your pic on the home page is definately a little scary though :D
Whats wrong with David's photo? I like it, he looks friendly and aproachable, just the kind of bloke most people would like to have as their window cleaner!! :)
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Whats wrong with David's photo? I like it, he looks friendly and aproachable, just the kind of bloke most people would like to have as their window cleaner!! :)
Or bouncer at a real rough nightclub lol :)
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I think that he looks a bit like Fabio Capello!! ;D
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Your pic on the home page is definately a little scary though :D
Whats wrong with David's photo? I like it, he looks friendly and aproachable, just the kind of bloke most people would like to have as their window cleaner!! :)
i agree ,thats a much better photo than the avatar one dave (no offence ;) ) the new one is a big improvement,and your website has made me determined to get one up and running asap(no way i would put my photo on it tho,kiss of death with my face)