DIY website V Professional Website

[ppentertainments]

Opinions on the above please .

I am looking to do my own website but can't seem to get started. Would like to do my own so I can update myself as and when needed, but think it may end up looking amateurish. Before I spend hours working out how to design my own, thought I would get others opinion.

[Vectis]

Why be a £60 Sid when it comes to your biggest shiniest shop window?

Why not put it to the test? Each poster who reads this topic has to state Pro or DIY and put up a link to their site. Then the OP can take a look see what he thinks?


DIY. www.vectisvibe.com/2009

[Jiggles]

DIY : www.cbentertainments.co.uk

[dmckaraoke]

DIY: www.thekilteddj.com

Changes daily...as this is my first time..as webdesign

[CRAZY K]

Why be a £60 Sid when it comes to your biggest shiniest shop window?

Why not put it to the test? Each poster who reads this topic has to state Pro or DIY and put up a link to their site. Then the OP can take a look see what he thinks?


DIY. www.vectisvibe.com/2009

If I were you I would get it done professionally.

As im mainly into non Disco areas I had 2 built and built 3

Examples

PRO www.callerdirect.co.uk (http://www.callerdirect.co.uk)

DIY http://ultimatecountryshow.co.uk (http://www.ultimatecountryshow.co.uk)

CRAZY K

[Shaun]

PRO: www.elitedj.co.uk

[Shaun]

DIY or PRO. It all comes down to how good you are at designing the site and how good you are at SEO.

I've always promoted the virtues of a PRO site, but I've seen some excellent DIY sites, some of which have been posted in this topic.

[Mark Wild]

DIY. www.vectisvibe.com/2009

Someone disqualify him, lol

Pro: www.markwildentertainment.co.uk

[ppentertainments]

DIY or PRO. It all comes down to how good you are at designing the site and how good you are at SEO.

I've always promoted the virtues of a PRO site, but I've seen some excellent DIY sites, some of which have been posted in this topic.
It's the updating I have concerns about. I change my mind every couple of days about things and would like the freedom to update whenever I want.

[discomobiledj]

DIY: www.disco-stars.com

As Shaun has said, the SEO is the most important thing closely followed by a good site.

[daz226]

DIY www.djdazlive.com

but updating slowly to this also DIY www.djdazlive.com/testsite

[DJmissbehaving]

DIY or PRO. It all comes down to how good you are at designing the site and how good you are at SEO.

I've always promoted the virtues of a PRO site, but I've seen some excellent DIY sites, some of which have been posted in this topic.

Are you going to say whos webpage is excellent???? Go on tell us.....:D :D

[SilverlineDiscos]

I could post a few pro websites that I've made, but none of those are diso related :cool:

I do have a disco website on my home machine with a track database that I built although I fear of people adding random songs I haven't got :p :D

[ppentertainments]

Are you going to say whos webpage is excellent???? Go on tell us.....:D :D
Our champion site - Nigel's - unfortunately no longer counts :p :p :p

[dmckaraoke]

After seeing the quality of the other so be it DIY creations i would like to be excluded form this test of Pro V DIY..In my case I could do better...

[Daryll]

D.I.Y http://www.crimson-tide-disco.co.uk/.

doh.................same as sig :whistle:

[LEENEWSOME]

PRO http://www.honkytonksultimatediscos.com

i think it's worth sending the right image out, you only get one chance to make a good impression

[rob1963]

Pro http://www.robjamesentertainment.co.uk

[Pe7e]

DIY I'm far to tight to pay, I've no real technical knowledge of web building or design, but have had a bit of practice over the years. I built this site using 'Web Eden', it cost £50 inc hosting and I can build and have hosted another 4 sites should I wish included in this price.Clouds Disco (http://www.cloudsdisco.co.uk)

[Mark Wild]

DIY is time & time is money.

[Marc J]

DIY. www.vectisvibe.com/2009

Another nice site VV, Martin - are you ever going to settle on a design? ;)

I noticed you're now using a Flash gallery - your expanding menu gets hidden behind it, though. Use wmode="transparent" in your flash embed code to fix that.

Back on topic: PRO every time :lol:

[Vectis]

Another nice site VV, Martin - are you ever going to settle on a design? ;)

Ta. Err - no. I like to change with the seasons but you'll notice the revisions are getting less drastic and also trading off between black/white.



I noticed you're now using a Flash gallery - your expanding menu gets hidden behind it, though. Use wmode="transparent" in your flash embed code to fix that.

Great spot - I missed that (obviously!). Works fine in Safari, which is my main browser but just checked in IE. Will get that sorted.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

diy www.deckstardeluxe.co.uk

still playing around with it as we speak

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

diy www.deckstardeluxe.co.uk

still playing around with it as we speak

Hope you're not going to put your video of you singing 'Ring of fire' on there. ;)

[Tom]

My current website is DIY, but I am getting mj brother do me a new one as he is a web developer so that means he knows what works and what don't, and can also help me get better rankings in most of the search engine. :D:D:D

He might be able to help others also. Just pm me for more info. :)

[Mark Wild]

diy www.deckstardeluxe.co.uk

still playing around with it as we speak

Some of your code is visible to me, not sure why.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Some of your code is visible to me, not sure why.

And to me.

[Tom]

Were you trying to add meta tags to your website???

My brother says its not really worth it. It helps but not much. :)

<HTML>
<HEAD>
<TITLE>Deckstar Deluxe DJ Services</TITLE>
<META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT="Mobile Disco Wedding Birthday DJ Hire">
<META NAME="Description" CONTENT="Mobile disco specialists based in cheltenham. All events catered for.">
<META NAME="Author" CONTENT="[email protected]">
<!-- META Tags generated by http://submitexpress.com/metatag.html -->
</HEAD>

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Hope you're not going to put your video of you singing 'Ring of fire' on there. ;)

how the heck did you find that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOO!

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

how the heck did you find that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOO!

I am the all seeing eye.;)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

dammit i hate having to link to youtube!!!!!!

[Vectis]

I am the all seeing eye.;)

Were you the first man in space from our street then? :)

[daz226]

how the heck did you find that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOOOOO!


html proctector will solve that and it can also hide the source code as well as preventing right click

[Jiggles]

it sticks out on the page :D No need to look at the source code.

[wensleydale]

mine are diy.
i think the one thing that is clear is that even within "DIY" or "PRO" the quality varies enourmously.

I dont think some of the Pro sites are any better than some of the DIY ones, however as people have said thats not all that matters.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

it depends what market you are aiming at too i think. Wedding discos customers will want an quality website while birthdays etc... might be put off it its all singing and dancing as soon as they view it as they belive you might be too expensive?

In fact i know a chap whos doing rather well for himself, desigined his site bearing in mind that he didnt want it to look too expensive.

[Mark Wild]

All about conversion, IMO K.I.S.S people have the attention span of a goldfish. You may have the sexiest website in the world but its no good if its overcooked, people lose interest and your bounce rate will kill you.

[Pe7e]

IMO K.I.S.S people have the attention span of a goldfish.


Care to translate?

[Steve the DJ]

Care to translate?

Keep It Simple Stupid.

[discomobiledj]

Care to translate?

Keep It Simple Stupid

[Mark Wild]

Care to translate?

Keep It Simple Stupid,

[Candybeatdiscos]

mines is DIY KINGDOM BEATS (http://www.kingdombeats.co.uk) and I totally screwed up with meta etc, i think its page 99999 on google before you find my site :(

so i am starting a brand new site with different design lol


If ya can afford it go PRO, if your wanting to update it easilly go pro for your template etc then use your editor to update the content

or altenativley ask for a control panle to get built into your website for your updates although a lot dearer

[Jiggles]

Brill little program for meta data: http://www.clickfire.com/tools/freeware/metty/

[Tony Scott]

DIY: www.partyshopdisco.co.uk

No.1 in a google search for wedding disco dorset, wedding disco poole, wedding disco dorchester, wedding disco weymouth, etc. etc.

Happy with that! :)

[DeckstarDeluxe]

do you have adwords campaign tony?

[Tony Scott]

do you have adwords campaign tony?

No, I've never paid for anything to improve my ranking, I've slogged away at it getting links and did a lot of snooping around researching key words etc.

[Mark Wild]

do you have adwords campaign tony?

Adwords doesn't effect your organic listing at all, just sponsored positions. Tony's organic listings for his targeted areas and search terms are very impressive though.

[Shaun]

It's the updating I have concerns about. I change my mind every couple of days about things and would like the freedom to update whenever I want.

I still update mine myself...well basic text changes that is. I don't have the technical skills for anything else. I bought a copy of dreamweaver to do my editing so now I'm happy with the level of control I have over the site. If I need anything bigger done, Marc J is always on hand.


Are you going to say whos webpage is excellent???? Go on tell us.....:D :D

Vectisvibe's is particularly good.




My current website is DIY, but I am getting mj brother do me a new one as he is a web developer

Tito or Jermaine?

[CRAZY K]

No, I've never paid for anything to improve my ranking, I've slogged away at it getting links and did a lot of snooping around researching key words etc.

Well done, rather makes those phone calls about getting you top of Google for a fee sound a bit silly.

I havent had many lately, I assume people realise its not just a question of paying someone else a few hundred pounds to work their "magic"

:D :D :D

CRAZY K

[Vectis]

Vectisvibe's is particularly good.


Awww... thanks Shaun. I like yours too - definitely one of the better Pro sites I've come across. :beer1:

[Corabar Steve]

I have to say that most of the DIY sites (& some of the pro ones) look very obviously like templates.

Now while this doesn't bother me in the slightest, I wonder how many potential customers might be put off by this?

[ppentertainments]

Cheers for the replies so far. Think I have made my mind up. Not giving too much away but the infamous MarcJ had a great solution. Just need to sort out company image / logo for my 'development'.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I have to say that most of the DIY sites (& some of the pro ones) look very obviously like templates.

Now while this doesn't bother me in the slightest, I wonder how many potential customers might be put off by this?

you mean they've been to three sites and wondering why they all look the same? :D

[DeckstarDeluxe]

Awww... thanks Shaun. I like yours too - definitely one of the better Pro sites I've come across. :beer1:

I do like the bit "mainland quality island rates" hahaha

[pagan_flame]

DIY, including all graphics:

http://www.firedance.biz

http://www.bump-n-grindhouse.co.uk

DIY - FROM TEMPLATES, but with some graphics custom made:

http://www.rockdisco.co.uk (links to Firedance site, pages need moving across to make it a complete subsite)

http://www.firesound.co.uk

http://www.mallynsom.com (the day job) :o

[womble]

There's no right answer, as some DIY ones are better than some pro ones, I guess it depends how happy you are with your finished DIY product.

[pagan_flame]

Personally / IMHO - the client will be impressed by a good looking website, but will be more impressed by being able to find out the info they are looking for easily and quickly - which is where a pro designer (or even a good template!) will produce the better item.

A DIY item with no real info, price guide or testimonials / pictures will send them back to Google very quickly.

[rob1963]

Personally / IMHO - the client will be impressed by a good looking website, but will be more impressed by being able to find out the info they are looking for easily and quickly - which is where a pro designer (or even a good template!) will produce the better item.


I think you're right there.


A DIY item with no real info, price guide or testimonials / pictures will send them back to Google very quickly.

I couldn't agree more...especially on the bit about the price guide!

:sofa:

[Shaun]

Awww... thanks Shaun. I like yours too - definitely one of the better Pro sites I've come across. :beer1:

Thank you kind sir. :beer1:

[Paul James Promotions]

DIY: www.pauljamespromotions.com

[soundtracker]

Back on topic please:)

[Corabar Steve]

Just to point out, in case anyone can't see the deleted signs, Pete just deleted 4 off topic posts.

[Twinspin]

http://www.hullweddingdisco.com

DIY site but the site is to be redesigned by my cousin Shortly who is a professional web designer.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

by my cousin Shortly

What a strange name....:bag:

[Corabar Steve]

What a strange name....:bag:
Gomez & Fester's brother :sj:

[notroubleclubber]

My opinion is some of these PRO sites are quite bad when some of the DIY ones are really good.
After looking at these i will be looking at diy.

[DJ Jules]

DIY: www.bristoldiscohire.co.uk

But bear in mind I was a web developer for 3yrs :)

[DJ INDIE]

DIY: www.sparklingdiscos.co.uk

[deltic]

Pro:www.mobiledjcumbria.co.uk

if you can't do it youself i don't think there is any shame in having it done proffesionally