Reply to: Web site design

Re: crappy cumpulsory field

So have any contractors here with a web site ever got any business directly from it?

Yep. I have just a basic site (created with Namo) but looks quite professional. I have an introduction, a summary of projects I've worked on, a summary of skills, links to download my CV in PDF, Word and text (in English and German), some links to sites relevant to my skills and some code samples. I've managed to get 4 projects out of it so far.

Don't be too flash, people haven't got time to wade through a load of crap graphics and Flash stuff. Be succint and informative.

Re: crappy cumpulsory field

So have any contractors here with a web site ever got any business directly from it?

Well, I have my CV online and it's well indexed by the search sites. I get all my new contacts from people who have found it, but they are all agents searching for CVs, which may not be what you had in mind.

I am keen to establish a website for my LTD company to increase my exposure.

Who do you want to expose to, and what makes you think they will find, then look at your site? "Company" websites seem to be full of the same impenetrable waffle.|I

Have some fun by all means, but if you really want to increase your exposure, there are more productive methods.

By the way, "The PCG is full of smug arses" - it certainly has its fair share!

Re: crappy cumpulsory field

So have any contractors here with a web site ever got any business directly from it? Just curious.

Well I'm making some money from websites but had no return whatsoever from www.itdoctors.co.uk apart from numerous IT body shops aking if we want to outsource and at least 100 job applications.

We (that's Rhino & Fiddle Inc) did have one business enquiry but when we responded enquiring what sort of hourly rates they were considering paying for the work everything went very very quiet.

The only sites I've made anything from were those selling advertising in some way and those selling actual goods.

Re: crappy cumpulsory field

Indeed, I'll slap dave around with a wet fish.

crappy cumpulsory field

So have any contractors here with a web site ever got any business directly from it? Just curious.

404

www.ephgroup.com/design.php
Not Found

The requested URL /design.php was not found on this server.
Apache/2.0.51 (Red Hat) Server at www.ephgroup.com Port 80

Ooops !

As well as a window on your expertise, I suggest adding value to a website by, for example:

-adding any technical documentation you have produced (anonymise of course)
-adding any papers showing your contribution to *original* knowledge
-explain what your raison d'être is - in language Aunty Agnes will understand

Write out your content first.
Try to keep it technically simple (i.e. justify why java script, why CGI, why PHP?)
Stick to w3c standards.

Get your own domain name.
Host it (you could use your own machine if you point the DNS A or CNAME record to your broadband home machine)
Get someone else to host it.

Re: Acronym...??! Translation required.

Fiddle re PCG - Agree 100%.

Given that your time is probably limited, you need to separate the content (your job) from the presentation (what you'll pay the web designer for).

Content:
Decide what you want to sell, write why a potential customer should use you, get your company logo done, and then logically split it into a few pages of details, i.e.
The sales blurb as outlined above
detail of product/service A
detail of product/service B
detail of product/service C
contact info
etc.

Presentation:
Pay a webdesigner/hosting company, should only be a few hundred quid if they just cut n paste your carefully crafted content into a DreamWeaver/Frontpage template. A lot more if you want someone who know's what they're doing to make a bespoke site for you (unless you want cheap n nasty). If you want help with the content then pay a pro tech writer or copywriter. Then there's an annual site hosting fee, and content update charges should you wish to do so.
Whether or not it's worth learning how to do the above yourself is a decision for you, but the investment is time is significant.

HTH

Re: Acronym...??! Translation required.

Fiddle - you seem to have a obsession with the PCG.

IBOYOA was also mentioned in a few judgements and by ministers. As a certain company says - every little helps. At £200 if it brings in one profitable job then its paid for itself.

Re: Acronym...??! Translation required.

It means...

In
Business
On
Your
Own
Account

.. after the PCG failed to get IR35 struck off they came up with the idea of making sure your business looked like a business.

When they started advising the mounting of brass plaques on the registered office and having business cards printed I decided that they were pretty much bankrupt on ideas and left.

IBOYA is a weak pointer to IR35 free but the only proven get-out-of-jail-free seems to be a valid and provable substitution clause in the contract.

I did actually rejoin PCG for the investigation insurances but have no real interest in the organisation which IMO is full of smug arses.

I did recently visit their forum to point out the complete rip-off of accountants charging high fees for the online filing of year-end PAYE and got very irritated by some of the posters (mostly the ones with posh sounding sigs indicating consultative council member and the like).

I'm really not sure if I want to belong to an organisation that elects such complete arses to be their representatives and will probably not renew my membership.

Acronym...??! Translation required.

IBOYOA....??!

Re: www.ephgroup.com

> Pretty much idiot proof.

Never underestimate the ingenuity demonstrated by idiots to feck things up.

www.ephgroup.com

Our hosting package (and a number of our far inferior competitors) include a web site building wizard, dead simple to use and chose from 50 decent templates. Pretty much idiot proof.

did I mention the url?

www.ephgroup.com


Alternatively things like later versions of Frontpage , Fusion (have a look on a few IT mags they are doing a free version of Fusion MX) & Dreamweaver support using templates which makes it fairly easy to bang out a standard corporate website. Don't use word, you will get thoroughly confused.

Alternatively PM me and I'll put you in touch with Dave who designed the EPH one and will do you a reasonable 5 page one for £200.

It all depends how artistic you are and how much time you want to spend on it. Of course its a pointer to IBOYOA for IR35.