View Full Version : Self built websites
samuelchristian
09-09-2009, 02:27 PM
Can someone help me understand why so many DJs build their own websites? The amount of money most guys seem to spend on equipment is huge but then they cant spend a couple of hundred pounds on getting a quality web presence.
No one would try to build their own decks or mixer so why do it with a website? :confused:
If all our clients had the same mentality we would be out of business because of people doing their own parties with a Bush Hi-Fi :D
rob1963
09-09-2009, 02:36 PM
Can someone help me understand why so many DJs build their own websites?
My guess is that most of the time it's because it doesn't cost anything & they'd rather spend the money on gear.
:shrug:
Charlie Brown
09-09-2009, 02:37 PM
.....I think my website is pretty decent for a "DIY" one.
http://charliebrownsdisco.co.uk/
Cheesey 1975
09-09-2009, 02:38 PM
i agree totally... my website isnt great and i built it myself...
i would rather save money for better equipment :)
Can someone help me understand why so many DJs build their own websites?
Although my website isn't finished yet, the main reason why I built it myself is because, I have limited funds so building my own website works for me right now and its also a skill I would love to learn!
Can someone help me understand why so many DJs build their own websites? The amount of money most guys seem to spend on equipment is huge but then they cant spend a couple of hundred pounds on getting a quality web presence.
No one would try to build their own decks or mixer so why do it with a website? :confused:
If all our clients had the same mentality we would be out of business because of people doing their own parties with a Bush Hi-Fi :D
First I woud take issue with the statement you can get a quality web presence for a couple of hundred quid. Secondly I presume you have invested in a pro build, if so, I would contact the company responsible and ask them why it has just taken a client with a broadband connection (me) 1 min 23 sec to load the home page, followed by 40 sec to load the 'wedding' page? real clients wouldn't wait. For comparison Robs homepage loaded in just 2 sec! Charlies took 4 sec and my own (self build) site took 4secs.
Charlie Brown
09-09-2009, 02:54 PM
Agreed.
Marc J
09-09-2009, 02:56 PM
A good question....
Web design is like singing....everyone thinks their good at it :D
i agree totally... my website isnt great and i built it myself...
i would rather save money for better equipment :)
I haven't looked at your site(s) so don't take this is a criticism...but if a better website got you more work, then surely that's an investment. More gigs = more money = better equipment.
First I woud take issue with the statement you can get a quality web presence for a couple of hundred quid.
That depends....
Secondly I presume you have invested in a pro build, if so, I would contact the company responsible and ask them why it has just taken a client with a broadband connection (me) 1 min 23 sec to load the home page, followed by 40 sec to load the 'wedding' page? real clients wouldn't wait. For comparison Robs homepage loaded in just 2 sec!
I was just about to say the same thing....Samuel, your site took AGES to load (and a few tries after timeouts). Get a better host (clue - Rob's site is on my server) ;)
Cheesey 1975
09-09-2009, 02:59 PM
Marc
you have a pm !!!
samuelchristian
09-09-2009, 03:15 PM
I have just swithced to a new host and up till today they have been great. I am just speaking with them now to see if they have a temporary problem.
wow, I have just spoken to my hosting company to ask why the server has slowed down, and this was their reply
"It does appear to be server related. Someone might be attacking the server. I have an admin working on it and it should be resolved shortly."
Marc J
09-09-2009, 03:24 PM
I have just swithced to a new host and up till today they have been great. I am just speaking with them now to see if they have a temporary problem.
You're speaking to Hostgator? That call won't be cheap :)
Larry B Entertainment
09-09-2009, 03:27 PM
Can someone help me understand why so many DJs build their own websites?
Cheap hosting
Readily available templates
Free web design software from companies like Voda Host
DJ can update it themselves whenever needed
Very little outlay compared to a pro built site.
rob1963
09-09-2009, 03:28 PM
Get a better host (clue - Rob's site is on my server) ;)
:thumbsup:
samuelchristian
09-09-2009, 03:38 PM
My site seems to be loading much better now, but that is a bit worrying to say I have only been with them for a couple of weeks. If they keep playing up then I will give you a shout Marc.
Marc J
09-09-2009, 03:51 PM
Cheap hosting
This isn't related to the design, though. Although for technical reasons I do prefer to host sites I design (and usually vice versa).
Readily available templates
Not quite fully DIY, and for some editing a template can be daunting.
Free web design software from companies like Voda Host
Yes, you can get good free web design software (see Nvu (http://net2.com/nvu/) for example), however if someone gave me a hammer for free that wouldn't make me a joiner ;)
DJ can update it themselves whenever needed
The same can be said for a professionally made CMS site.
Very little outlay compared to a pro built site.
You say outlay, I say investment!
My site seems to be loading much better now, but that is a bit worrying to say I have only been with them for a couple of weeks. If they keep playing up then I will give you a shout Marc.
It isn't, it's not loading at all now, after about 15 sec I'm getting a broken link message, I'd talk to Marc if I were you.
DeckstarDeluxe
09-09-2009, 04:09 PM
I got a 60 quid package which Bellshill uses and I think its alright.
The main thing for doing it DIY is I keep changing what I want and I'd drive a designer nuts and bump up the price.
I have to say too Ive had loads more enquries using this package than the free one I had with bt.
Not sure if its because I worded the meta tags differently but Im not complaining. Free hosting and more enquries.
Solitaire Events Ltd
09-09-2009, 04:14 PM
i agree totally... my website isnt great and i built it myself...
i would rather save money for better equipment :)
Or paying off debts? ;)
pagan_flame
09-09-2009, 04:21 PM
Now admittedly around the turn of the century I did it for a living for around 12 months... so my websites are still of that era, i.e. built with HTML, frames and tables, primarily; however some of my later ones have been made using a template.
They all work well for me, are picked up by search engines, are all '2-Clicks Good' and give the client the info they need - why pay more when you don't need to? That's the same philosophy as spending thousands on a speaker system (e.g. Bose!?!) when the client is just as impressed by a set of actives costing a tenth of the price.
http://www.firedance.biz
http://www.firesound.co.uk
http://www.rockdisco.co.uk (Work In Progress!)
http://www.bump-n-grindhouse.co.uk ;)
Jiggles
09-09-2009, 04:53 PM
www.cbentertainments.co.uk thats home made on my own server.
Vectis
09-09-2009, 09:55 PM
I've looked at literally hundreds of mobile disco websites (amongst others). The majority are home made and look it. There are a small handful of very good DIY sites out there, but the professionally built ones stick out a mile.
The things that jump out at me so so often include:
- repeated use of a handful of free templates (Vistaprint and Joomla being the most abused) - not a problem I guess unless you do lots of disco shopping
- over-use of cartoonified dudes-wearing-half-a-set-of-cans-whilst-spinning-two-vinyl-discs or half-dressed-anime-weemee-type-girly-pretending-to-dance type graphics
- serious overuse of very outdated and sad animated gifs of flashing lights, spinning discs, pumping speakers :mad:
- BAD SPELLING AND GRAMMAR - when I'm shopping for products or services and I come across a badly worded website, I click away as a matter of principle
- poor colour choices - like neon blues and greens on black or grey
- slow-loading bloated image files
- stacks of information about the gear used or the venues played at, but nothing about customer service
- absolutely no thought given to the placement of content to maximise visibility of key data
I could go on... and on.
My conclusion is that the majority of DIY sites simply don't do justice to the business and should be seriously overhauled. In 2009 it's unforgiveable for a technology-related business (which we are, let's face it) to scrimp where it matters - the shop window. I don't profess to have the best website out there, and it IS DIY, but it's streets ahead of my competitors and as a result I clean up at the upper end of my local market. Fact.
Dynamic Entertainment
09-09-2009, 10:50 PM
I don't profess to have the best website out there, and it IS DIY, but it's streets ahead of my competitors and as a result I clean up at the upper end of my local market. Fact.
Another fact for you...Dettol kills 99% of all bacterta :D :sofa: sorry :o - Ill take myself off for a walk now :D
Vectis
10-09-2009, 08:27 AM
Anyway, just to add to this, I have a good factsheet which might help DIY'ers think about and improve the effectiveness of their websites. Not sure I can post the link here so PM or email me if interested.
Marc needn't bother; grandmother - eggs - you know the kind of thing ;)
DazzyD
10-09-2009, 12:31 PM
...
No one would try to build their own decks or mixer so why do it with a website? :confused:
...
Obviously didn't know Nigel! ;)
Dynamic Entertainment
10-09-2009, 12:40 PM
Obviously didn't know Nigel! ;)
:rofl:
Wayno
10-09-2009, 02:46 PM
I agree about homemade sites - the majority do look like it and as mentioned this is your shop window for heavens sake - first impressions and all that!
Another reason for me clicking off sites are statements like "Welcome to the website for the leading mobile disco company in Nottingham & Derby..." - Then no quantifacation of the statement - a personal opinion is a mile away from fact.
Shakermaker Promotions
10-09-2009, 03:18 PM
I maintain my own website for a number of reasons but the main one was that when I went self employed, I had time to kill so I learnt the basics and am still learning. I would rather do it myself because I KNOW WHAT I WANT and I don't have to tell someone else what to do and then be on the phone or email every 5 minutes because the designer hasn't done exactly what I wanted. This would do my head in and theirs too.
Believe it or not, I have actually had compliments on my site from customers and also from mates too. Yes, professional ones may well be better but I am happy as I am.
Anyway, just to add to this, I have a good factsheet which might help DIY'ers think about and improve the effectiveness of their websites. Not sure I can post the link here so PM or email me if interested.
;)
I suggest to any DIYers to have a read of this, there is some interesting points, there is a lot to learn from it. Thanks Vectisvibe
Marc J
10-09-2009, 06:11 PM
Anyway, just to add to this, I have a good factsheet which might help DIY'ers think about and improve the effectiveness of their websites. Not sure I can post the link here so PM or email me if interested.
Marc needn't bother; grandmother - eggs - you know the kind of thing ;)
What format is it? Is there any reason it can't be posted here? If you want, send me it and I'll upload it to a spare domain....
What format is it? Is there any reason it can't be posted here? If you want, send me it and I'll upload it to a spare domain....
Its in a PDF format but I think it goes against the rules of the Forum.
Marc J
10-09-2009, 06:23 PM
Its in a PDF format but I think it goes against the rules of the Forum.
No offence, but my question was more directed towards Vectis as it is his document originally, and the domain he uploads it to is probably more of an issue than the format or content as far as forum rules (if they're an issue) are concerned....
No offence, but my question was more directed towards Vectis as it is his document originally, and the domain he uploads it to is probably more of an issue than the format or content as far as forum rules (if they're an issue) are concerned....
Non taken, I'm sure he will clear up your questions mind you this thread is now going a bit off topic, back to 'self built websites'
Marc J
10-09-2009, 06:38 PM
a bit off topic, back to 'self built websites'
Isn't that what the document in question is about? :confused:
Isn't that what the document in question is about? :confused:
Well, my understanding of the original question was why do so many djs build their own websites? I suppose an off shoot of that would be; how to make your website better, which is what the topic that the fact sheet addresses. Any way it sort of got off topic when when we talked about why the web fact sheet couldn't be posted on the forum and as I said i'll let vectis answer your question.
Hope that answers your question:)
Vectis
10-09-2009, 08:41 PM
No offence, but my question was more directed towards Vectis as it is his document originally, and the domain he uploads it to is probably more of an issue than the format or content as far as forum rules (if they're an issue) are concerned....
Correctamundo.
simonp
29-09-2009, 07:09 PM
www.cbentertainments.co.uk thats home made on my own server.
Nice clean site, but I think I'd have used a better main picture than 4 people doing Oops Upside Your Head, not a criticism, more a personal observation, and before anyone mentions it, I know my site needs a lot of work doing to it.
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