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#18392 12/09/02 07:55 PM
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 3
S
Junior Member
If anyone can give me some advice about a website, I’d appreciate it. I saw this ad for a full working website for 500 bucks:
http://www.limedot.com/contractor/blowout.htm

It seems like a great deal, but is it worth it to advertise my home improvement business on the internet? I thought I could also put my website address on my business cards and my truck.

#18393 12/09/02 10:03 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
I'm not going to say that the samples given there are bad, because they navigate well, aren't filled up with nonsense, and are pleasingly simple to the eye, in shade, contrast and content.

However...

$500! [Linked Image]

Take a weekend and learn some basic HTML and some Photoshopping "skilz and d00d, U R L33t" for free! (Ahem) I mean, uhm, a really basic but thought-out design is better than bells and whistles and you can do it for cheap or free. ECN has templates to get you started. Play around with some ideas and be creative. It's very satisfying!

[Linked Image]

Go here to start:
http://signup.electrical-contractor.net/



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 12-09-2002).]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#18394 12/09/02 10:15 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
I bought the .com for my company and put a free 1 page site up. I plan to have it professionally done, but just haven't had time. From my experience $500 isn't too bad. I found anywhere from $250 - $750 for design and set-up. Here at EC they offer a free site, but your web site will have a long address, too long for anyone to remember (sorry guys, JMHO). I think if you promote the website, it might help you, but I wouldn't expect it to make your phone ring off the hook.

#18395 12/09/02 10:32 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
You can still buy the Domain Name (www.yourname.com) and have it direct to the index of any webpage.

Like I have with fat-headed-monster.com .

That one costs me $5 extra a month on my ISP bill and $35 a year for the Domain Name.

It's an option!

<editted because I was calling a "domain name" a URL, and there's a difference!>



[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 12-09-2002).]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#18396 12/09/02 10:34 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
Quote
Here at EC they offer a free site, but your web site will have a long address, too long for anyone to remember (sorry guys, JMHO).
You're exactly right. You don't have to use that long name though. If you purchase a Domain Name for whatever (under $35/yr most everywhere) you can have it point to the free site.

Example:
FREE Website Name - www.Contractor.Electrical-Contractor.net may be too long to remember, and not very "catchy". So we buy a Domain Name ( www.WeDoElectric.com ) and have it point to the free site.

Bill


Bill
#18397 12/09/02 10:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
Likes: 1
Member
Bill,

Jinks!

[Linked Image]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#18398 12/09/02 10:37 PM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 914
E
Member
Good Idea Bill!, I may take you up on that.

#18399 12/09/02 10:39 PM
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 444
S
Member
Putting a website together is a great idea. It did wonders for our company. Its an excellent advertising tool. We put it on the vans, business cards, storefront and yellowpages.

Anyhow, I built my own website using www.homestead.com They provide a template and putting it together is easier than you think. It took me a weekend to put mine together and a few days of fine tuning after that. Frankly, it was a lot of fun and I enjoyed it very much.

You can check it out at www.santinoelectric.com

Just my 2 cents.

#18400 12/09/02 10:56 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
EE,

I think the templates here are pretty easy to use for someone with no experience. Or you can do your own thing if you do know how. The other downside to free websites are the ads. That is why they are free. If you can live with them, that's fine, or they can be removed for a small monthly fee.

I had started making up some basic Tutorials some time back (so all info may not be totally accurate) that should give you an idea of the How-to >> ECN FREE Web Tutorials If you need help doing something you can always post a question here.

Bill


Bill
#18401 12/09/02 11:18 PM
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 175
E
Member
My site, http://www.electric-ed.com/ is "homemade" using Microsoft Front Page.

And you can get free hosting for a small site, with no ads, at http://www.freedomainhosting.com/

Ed

[This message has been edited by electric-ed (edited 12-09-2002).]

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