New Ideas

[Ricesnaps]

Looks OK, I'd keep each text the same colour (white?) and give it a stroke of say 2px (black?), that way you won't get a contrast problem against either a lighter or darker picture and stay consistent.

I'm not sure that splitting your site into 3 dedicated sections is the best way forward, though....

I haven't really given the tex much thought at all yet - just there as example for now. will certainly take your comments on board.

What are your concerns about splitting the site up like this? I was certainly planning on having links back to each section within each sections as well to help it flow - for example, link the lighting hire to the DJ to promote architectural lighting, linking the sound to the lighting to promote sound and lighting packages and so on. Just concerned that lumping it all together waters down the individual sections?

Any thought apreciated though - by the way, are the images OK and do I really need sharper better quality, or does the rustic look work?

[Marc J]

What are your concerns about splitting the site up like this? I was certainly planning on having links back to each section within each sections as well to help it flow - for example, link the lighting hire to the DJ to promote architectural lighting, linking the sound to the lighting to promote sound and lighting packages and so on. Just concerned that lumping it all together waters down the individual sections?

That's exactly my point, the 3 sections aren't exactly poles apart, and you'll be linking between them anyway. Together (and this is just my opinion) shows a more united front, i.e. "we do everything" rather than "we do this, this and this". Putting all your services together on one flyer was fine, so why split it up on your site? Also, you're probably creating more work for yourself in splitting it up.

Any thought apreciated though - by the way, are the images OK and do I really need sharper better quality, or does the rustic look work?

69Kb is a bit large for one image, and the quality is a little on the low side I think. Why not raise the quality a little, and split it into 3 images in a table? Even if each image is 30Kb, they'll be better quality and although 90Kb overall, at least they'll be loading one at a time. Splitting them will also make it easier to link from each one (as you won't need an image map).

[Ricesnaps]

That's exactly my point, the 3 sections aren't exactly poles apart, and you'll be linking between them anyway. Together (and this is just my opinion) shows a more united front, i.e. "we do everything" rather than "we do this, this and this". Putting all your services together on one flyer was fine, so why split it up on your site? Also, you're probably creating more work for yourself in splitting it up.



69Kb is a bit large for one image, and the quality is a little on the low side I think. Why not raise the quality a little, and split it into 3 images in a table? Even if each image is 30Kb, they'll be better quality and although 90Kb overall, at least they'll be loading one at a time. Splitting them will also make it easier to link from each one (as you won't need an image map).

Well can't you tell I'm not an expert! LOL!!!

Let's be honest here, there's things I can't do, but I am happy to keep going on my own for now! My main problem is that I don't seem able to get the logo with it's transparent background on using my web design software and still have a transparent background! That's why I had a go like I did!

I do see where you're coming from, but I think I'll keep going with the thoughts in my head and see what happens. After all, if it doesn't work I can always fall back to my exisiting site can't I.

[CRAZY K]

Well can't you tell I'm not an expert! LOL!!!

Let's be honest here, there's things I can't do, but I am happy to keep going on my own for now! My main problem is that I don't seem able to get the logo with it's transparent background on using my web design software and still have a transparent background! That's why I had a go like I did!

I do see where you're coming from, but I think I'll keep going with the thoughts in my head and see what happens. After all, if it doesn't work I can always fall back to my exisiting site can't I.

Heres the boring bit---does your Insurance for PLI cover all these "activities"
including "hiring out equipment" is this what a Musicians Union Policy is expected to cover

CRAZY K

[Ricesnaps]

Heres the boring bit---does your Insurance for PLI cover all these "activities"
including "hiring out equipment" is this what a Musicians Union Policy is expected to cover

CRAZY K

Good point. But currently I'm only planning to offer serviced hire and I know that my PLI covers me for the gear I am using. Might look into extra insurance to cover dry hire in case that becomes popular

[rob1963]

I agree with Darren about the need for a business to change it's name when new services are offered, and the existing name is no longer appropriate.

When I started, I just did mobile discos, so my business name was Rob James Discotheques. When I started doing quiz nights as well, the name had to change, as it no longer reflected what I did, so I became Rob James Entertainment. Common sense, really!

It seems there are occasions when a company decides to change it's name just for the sake of it...even though they are still providing exactly the same service or product as before. They spend the time & money to make the change, and all they seem to gain is a bit of short-term publicity. Examples are Oil of Ulay becoming Oil of Olay, The National Lottery becoming Lotto, Bid-Up TV becoming Bid TV & Jiff becoming Ciff.

On the other hand, you also get the opposite situation, where a company SHOULD change it's name due to the addition of new services - but for some reason doesn't.

If a business is called XYZ Discos or XYZ Roadshow, I'd expect them to offer discos and nothing else, therefore they could easily lose work with some of their additional services, as potential customers might pass them by - having seen their name & assumed they didn't offer the service they were looking for...without looking further into it.

[Ricesnaps]

Don't actually dissagree with any of the "change the name" comments at all - perfectly good idea. However, these are small careful steps for me and I already have a nice new logo and 2000 fliers with it on, so for the moment, I'm going to stick with what I've got and see what happens. If it's a great success, well maybe I'll be having yet another chat with Shaun!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm pretty sure that Jiff became Ciff because there are people from certain countries who can't pronounce 'J', so I'm not sure that example really stands up!

[Marc J]

"Oil of Ulay" was always "Oil of Olay" everywhere except the UK, apparently.

Same with Snickers and Marathon.

Most brand changes like these are to unify the brand wordlwide, with the added bonus that the same packaging can be used too

And is Sprite the same as 7-up? I always thought so, and that the 7-up you got here was the same as the Sprite you got everywhere else...then Sprite turned up on these shores....which just confused me as they still sell 7-up here, too

[Ricesnaps]

I'm pretty sure that Jiff became Ciff because there are people from certain countries who can't pronounce 'J', so I'm not sure that example really stands up!

Coming from the manufacturing industry, it is indeed a cost saving exercise. Why have two names and brands for the same thing in different countries? the Jiff / Ciff thing is a prime example. I understand that we were the only country calling it Jiff. So what a waste of resourse to create everything differently for the UK