Websites..Is yours still performing how you'd like?

[STEVE HANLEY]

Sorry guys I know this topic has been done to death, but...

My website needs a complete overhaul as it's bringing next to nowt in these days. After speaking to 3 well known North East DJ's this morning. They all seem to be of the opinion that websites are very hit and miss these days. One has actually chucked his website in completely as it was a waste of space.

Wondered what everyone else's thoughts were on websites in general? And if yours is doing well. care to share your secret?

[yourdj]

Sorry guys I know this topic has been done to death, but...

My website needs a complete overhaul as it's bringing next to nowt in these days. After speaking to 3 well known North East DJ's this morning. They all seem to be of the opinion that websites are very hit and miss these days. One has actually chucked his website in completely as it was a waste of space.

Wondered what everyone else's thoughts were on websites in general? And if yours is doing well. care to share your secret?

I would not say hit or miss, its just not as easy as it used to be to create and optimise one.
following the rise of content management ease creating decent looking sites for nout.
I am no expert on sites but have quite a successful one given the high caliber of competition now days.

Did you want any critisism about the current one as i have lots ;) Its a nice site though so don't get me wrong.
i think you do not have to do much to make it work. Quick redesign and then focus on SEO. Get a decent company to get you back on the radar. You could do with a bit more key wording especially when it comes to places. There are loads with "DJ" "disco" etc. but also include local towns.

My advice is to make your current one easier to understand and navigate.
Keep the top nav panel and extend it down to include better bigger photos and use them to sell the business.
Ditch the clutter - such as quick links and other unnecessary text etc. as people will use the nav bar to navigate.

It looks (to me) at first glance like a retirement site when you land on the photo with the old couple,
so unless thats your main work I would personally not include the small photos like that.
It may also put off wedding and younger clients, which is why I have created a wedding only website.

16175

Photo below:
If i was not a DJ it would look to me like a venue owner waiting to serve food at a buffet or perhaps an empty dancefloor with one person on it.

16174

It may look completely different larger though so would be good as a whole screen photo.
Why not get a professional photographer to come with you and shoot you at a few weddings?
For a small cost you can have some really great photos. Dress in a suit or whatever make you look best. :)

The other ink is not working (your name).

[surround sounds]

I could not operate without my sites and busier than ever.
I do most my google etc by regions and on page 1 in most areas I want to.
I also find small photo/ video from YouTube seams to help

[yourdj]

Gallery not loading on your site Steve too. Well the first image does and the others are just lines.

I have a mac with Safari. :)

[ukpartydj]

I think maybe you need to work on Search Engine Optimisation more than the actual design as whilst it's not 100% it's good enough to get you work.

Plenty of good websites with helpful information about SEO if you wanted to give it a go.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

I'm surprised someone has actually got rid of their website in this day and age? Sure most buying habits are still the same but to have no web presence?

I'd still say you need to work just as hard offline and direct good traffic to your site for it to return well but I'm sure one of the more web techy guys can confirm what you should/shouldn't be doing.

[musicology]

My website seems to still be bringing in the work ok. I do try to put all the information a customer may require on it (Prices and Availability I believe to be particularly important). Most sites require a phone call for the client to get any real idea and they soon get tired of making phone calls. Maybe you need something that'll hook them to make that call? I haven't seen your site yet.

[paulg]

Both of mine perform very well although most people go looking for them specifically.

I Googled North East mobile disco and clicked on the Yell link which is prominent. Most of the websites on the first page looked pretty good and (sorry to be blunt) but perhaps a bit more modern and dynamic than yours?

Your site is way too honest! I wager that some of the DJ's that sit behind some of the glossier websites are way below your standard / experience.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Thanks for the input so far guys. The website is way out of touch and needs a radical overhaul. Martin (Vectis) no longer has the time to put in to it. So if anyone knows someone who could help. I'd greatly appreciate it:beer1::beer1:

[paulg]

Thanks for the input so far guys. The website is way out of touch and needs a radical overhaul. Martin (Vectis) no longer has the time to put in to it. So if anyone knows someone who could help. I'd greatly appreciate it:beer1::beer1:

Probably some people will disagree but you could do a lot worse than a DIY job at www.moonfruit.com

Their websites work out at about 40 quid a year and the newer HTML versions are pretty good. Previously, they used flash which didn't work too well on some mobiles and tablets but the HTML sites function very well. Mine seems to appear when and where I want it to be so I can't complain.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Probably some people will disagree but you could do a lot worse than a DIY job at www.moonfruit.com



I will disagree as I know the kind of managed service agreement that Steve would have been getting from Martin. That is the problem - Martin is no longer maintaining his site and changing and optimising it.

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I gave mine a facelift a couple of months ago. It's always bought in lots of work for me so I definitely won't be binning it, in fact I am going to get someone to tweek it here and there once I have the spare funds to chuck at it.
Hopefully this will be at the end of the month.

[Excalibur]

I gave mine a facelift a couple of months ago. It's always bought in lots of work for me so I definitely won't be binning it, in fact I am going to get someone to tweek it here and there once I have the spare funds to chuck at it.
Hopefully this will be at the end of the month.

Snap. As soon as it's done, I'll let you all know. The task will be entrusted to one of our very own forum members.

[STEVE HANLEY]

Snap. As soon as it's done, I'll let you all know. The task will be entrusted to one of our very own forum members.

What's the lad's name Peter? I can't call him Jiggles:D:D I sent Alex a pm on Facebook. Still waiting so he must be busy. Not even sure if he still advertises on here. Couldn't see it anyway

[Excalibur]

What's the lad's name Peter? I can't call him Jiggles

I don't recollect identifying the person concerned. Wait and see. :)

[paulg]

I will disagree as I know the kind of managed service agreement that Steve would have been getting from Martin. That is the problem - Martin is no longer maintaining his site and changing and optimising it.

Fair point. Sites need to be maintained and refreshed. I click away from websites that don't work properly or look out of date.

[surround sounds]

There is mike at web nation
Think he is doing special offers now

[yourdj]

I click away from websites that don't work properly or look out of date.

like walking into a messy disorganised or dirty shop/restaurant. No different. :)

[DazzyD]

Gallery not loading on your site Steve too. Well the first image does and the others are just lines.

I have a mac with Safari. :)

Same here on my Win7 laptop running Firefox 24.4.

[Excalibur]

Same here on my Win7 laptop running Firefox 24.4.

Not working on IE, either.

[ukpartydj]

like walking into a messy disorganised or dirty shop/restaurant. No different. :)

Exactly, up to date websites (especially when referencing current information) helps give a great impression.
It's not something I do personally (although maybe I should) but mentioning current music or some news which is relevant or current within your pages will show your visitors that you are still in business, regularly update your website and know what your talking about.

Just been browsing though a financial advisor's website and noticed in one of their subpages mention of events from a couple of months ago which gave me far more confidence than those that simply said "we provide this service, we do this, we do that" which could have been written 10 years ago for all I know!

Details :)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

One of the things I like about the fact that this is all I do is that I have lots of time usually during the day to keep my website, facebook page and anything else up to date.
I agree that if someone visits a website and can clearly see that it hasn't been updated for a while, it's going to be off putting.

[DeckstarDeluxe]

What's the lad's name Peter? I can't call him Jiggles:D:D I sent Alex a pm on Facebook. Still waiting so he must be busy. Not even sure if he still advertises on here. Couldn't see it anyway

Sadly I had an negative experience with Alex's services Steve. Hosted the site for a few months with the promise of some minor changes which never happened and no replies to several messages. Callum (Jiggles) might be worth a try.

[Shaun]

Callum (Jiggles) might be worth a try.

Has anyone heard from Callum over the last few weeks? I've been trying to contact him recently. :confused:

[sted]

Has anyone heard from Callum over the last few weeks? I've been trying to contact him recently. :confused:

You and me both! He was very chatty up until the point he asked me to pay for a service that i am still yet to receive!

[surround sounds]

There must be something about theses designers and printer companies
Nice and chatty and then have your money and then don't speak to you when you need help
Although so far web nation have bed A1

[STEVE HANLEY]

Sadly I had an negative experience with Alex's services Steve. Hosted the site for a few months with the promise of some minor changes which never happened and no replies to several messages. Callum (Jiggles) might be worth a try.

Hi Neil.

I sent Alex a pm on Facebook over 2 weeks ago and heard nowt back since then. I also started to hear bad things about his service. So I'll wait until Jiggles comes back. Unless I find someone else before then.

[Corabar Steve]

Has anyone heard from Callum over the last few weeks? I've been trying to contact him recently. :confused:

He's been very quiet on FB too. Hope he's OK

[Ryu]

There must be something about theses designers and printer companies
Nice and chatty and then have your money and then don't speak to you when you need help
Although so far web nation have bed A1

Agreed, nothing but quick responses, quick amendments, good advice and a great performing website....

[musicology]

I managed to do my own website using Yahoo Sitebuilder. I'm not at all techy and found it all quite straight forward. Thought I'd mention it to show that you don't necessarily have to rely on someone else. It's not hard to do...honest! If I can do it then pretty much anyone can!!

[STEVE HANLEY]

Agreed, nothing but quick responses, quick amendments, good advice and a great performing website....



[Although so far web nation have bed A1

So I took your advice and thought I'd contact Web nation this afternoon at 13:30 Hrs. Left a detailed message on their answer service, which states we'll call you straight back and well...........:Tumble:

[surround sounds]

So I took your advice and thought I'd contact Web nation this afternoon at 13:30 Hrs. Left a detailed message on their answer service, which states we'll call you straight back and well...........:Tumble:

I think he may be on hols because I contacted him before I went on holiday (12 Oct) and he said he would do a limitless problem I had, hours later it was done. Try email because that's how I contact him
[email protected]

[tumbledown]

Hi Steve,
Just seen this. Sorry, I'll call you in the morning. I got your message but was in the middle of a family emergency so had to take the day off,
Best,
Mike

[STEVE HANLEY]

Hi Steve,
Just seen this. Sorry, I'll call you in the morning. I got your message but was in the middle of a family emergency so had to take the day off,
Best,
Mike

Many thanks Mike. Speak to you tomorrow :like:

[STEVE HANLEY]

I think he may be on hols because I contacted him before I went on holiday (12 Oct) and he said he would do a limitless problem I had, hours later it was done. Try email because that's how I contact him
[email protected]

Thanks John. We seem to be getting somewhere:)

[surround sounds]

No problem
I have dealt with many companies including leap and web nation is by far the best because he does help you and advise you

[DazzyD]

No problem
I have dealt with many companies including leap and web nation is by far the best because he does help you and advise you

Leap started off being very helpful and turning out quality work and I still don't know what went wrong there. Watching the whole thing unfold on here was quite an experience - of just how bad customer service can be!

Big up to Mike for getting back to Steve after seeing Steve's comments on here. Even with a family emergency going on, he's showing good customer service. Maybe some other operators and service providers could take a leaf out of Mike's book?? :whistle:

Hope Callum is ok. He doesn't still blow things up, does he???? :eek: