Hi, Do any of you have a website for your p&d company? Im in the middle of making one for myself but now wondering if their is any point as most of my work is word of mouth anyway....

whats your thoughts?..

Cheers.

Many of my customers have suggested that I photograph their homes for a website, but I have always avoided advertising so I never bothered.

If I were in a position to need or take on more work, then I would definitely have a website if only to list my core competences and therefore attract work I want, rather than take whatever comes my way.

You'll never know till you try I guess, but if you're getting enough work through the jungle drums, why have something that'll just cost money? (other than offsetting against tax) Have you thought of using Twitter to push your business? I'm not on it personally, but I've heard others saying that it can be quite effective.

I'm inclined to think that geographical location may determine how effective a web site is too.

My kids keep telling me that I need a facebook page to advertise but have so far failed to convince me why.

Most of my work comes from

(i) word of mouth
(ii) people seeing my van
(iii) people seeing me in my overalls in my local town and asking for my card

...and I am in the process of constructing a website, but so far I have been fortunate enough to be so busy decorating that I have lacked the time and energy to be able to sit down and get on with it. If things go quiet, I will do it.

My teenagers live their lives around Facebook (and will need surgery to remove their mobile phones from off their heads too ), but as a business tool, I remain unconvinced. I'm no Luddite, but it's effectiveness is yet to be sold on me, and like many on here, the bulk of my work comes through word of mouth. Facebook is more about kids posting photos of themselves drunk at parties than business advertising to my mind - but I could be wrong. Twitter seems better from what I hear.

I wonder what kinds of leads it would generate anyway TBH. The trades I speak to tend to be a bit wary of work coming from 'new technology', as if they feel there will be a higher percentage of time-wasters from these sources.

I had a website made for me in october last year. I had a graphic designer re do my business so van/letter heads/cards/t-shirts and website all linked in together.

Most of my work is word of mouth too but as things change i thought i would get in there before i get left behind. since it has been up i have had 2 enquires for work which i could not do in there time scale. I did though get a job through google maps by listing myself for free which also has my website listed on which i think won me the job as the guy had seen my gallery where the other decorators had nothing to show.

also on twitter @tjrdecorating

Well I spent 5 years with my employer, through my apprenticeship...4years...and 1 as a tradesman.
Have now went self employed, and kept steady for the last few months, however just want to make sure I give myself the best possible chance..as im running out of freinds and family who need a room or 2 decorated.. lol
Been posting business cards round hundreds of houses...and mean hundreds
Just always in the back of head when is the next job coming and wonderd if any of you had much luck through a website...

Need to get the signage on my van tho...!

TJ- Just looked at your video on your twitter page, quite fancy something like that - might get arty tomorrow with the camera lol.

Ive got a web site and facebook page. I've had nothing from the web and only a few jobs through FB but people have commented on how a fb page is open to everyone and shows honest opinions on you, Its also a good tool to put up pictures of your work FOR FREE!
99% of my work in jungle drums and the 1% is from the van. If you look at it from a purely economical view then the van sign writing hasn't paid for it's self. But it does bring across a professional image and gives peace of mind to customers. A number of my recommended jobs have said '...you wouldn't of got the job if you'd turned up in an old rusty van, no matter what so-and-so said about you...'
crack on with the mail drop and get a couple of t-shirts properly printed/logo'd up it'll all help put new customers in the right frame of mind

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My website is only really for info as I have no need to advertise. I have never bothered to put any pics in the gallery lol.

I fancy polo shirts rather than T shirts, but it's a good idea. Ta.

Any recommendations for companies that will embroider a logo on them for me?

ive had a web site for the past six months or so, something i have meant to do for years but could never get the time.
http://andymuirpaintinganddecorating.co.uk/

i cant say it alone has ever brought me in new customers but i thing you should have every free or cheap tool in the box at your disposal
mine cost me £23 a year on yolasite, ive not put up all the portfolio pics yet but i think its a great thing to sway customers if your competing for work against others.(i normally suggest to potential customers to have a look at my site and ask if they would like some recent references etc)

so far ive had my van sign written,my website done and all my stationary coordinated.joined a trade organisation, had free listings on yell.com,thompson local and yahoo maps and the whole lot has cost less than £600.

my van and cards have been the biggest earner covering my outlay many times over in a short period of time but i think the others although unmeasurable all help to push the image i want to put across

Looks nice Andy. Do you get much work through the Dulux select membership?

thanks fitzy,
it hasnt generated any work yet directly from the dulux site but it has definately swayed three jobs that i know of so far.
being able to use the eyecatching logos on the van has drawn a lot of attention too

Definitely have a web site..its 24/7 advertising and you can cut out the middle man (yell dot com) ..think of it as a business card too...and remember a tatty cheap skanky card gives out a bad impression, no matter how good, cheap, clean, quick reliable you are..

You dont have to spend a fortune either...probably less than a yellow pages advert..I manage two sites a standard Wordpress template one and a forum...once you get into it they virtually manage themselves..The Wordpress one cost about 300 hundred to set up and costs 30 quid a year to host...

Like mobile phones, fax machines, emails, they are becoming pretty standard for a business and, in my opinion a 'must have'

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