Reply to: Want to use my time to some benefit - wife wants a website

[RichardCranium]

The intention is that the site supports whatever she advertises in other ways

That makes your life much easier (and is a more realistic ambition - Russell Grant has a slight head start on you).

It solves the problem of NOT having a web site which damages credibility enormously.

Your most important thing to do is get the name right and decided early on. That will effect the domain name you use and the words you use on the site. Get the name wrong and the domain is effectively wasted.

with a booking facility being a bonus.

Good idea. Provide the customer with as many ways to contact you as possible.

[Platypus]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/category/horoscopes/

Well I never! Surprisingly accurate!

Duly bookmarked for future consultations

[MPwannadecentincome]

Is it your intention that the site will be the marketing tool, i.e., people find the web site when looking for such things, or that she advertises in other ways and directs people at the web site?

The answer to that will make quite a difference in how that web site should look and how it should be hosted.

(especially given you will be on a learning curve and there is only you.)

The intention is that the site supports whatever she advertises in other ways, so an advert, leaflet, poster or business card will have her phone number, email address and the URL on and the site can then give all the info needed with a booking facility being a bonus.

In the future the people 'finding' the site might become more important as she seeks agreements from people to link to her site and vice versa as cross-promotion of their different 'alternative' therapy services.

[DimPrawn]

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/category/horoscopes/

[xoggoth]

Astrology! Do I sound like a bleeding Sagittarius? Oh well, if it keeps people happy.

[RichardCranium]

...

oops.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I do hope you can get this idea to work. My mother-in-law did something similar, got nothing and packed it in after 2 years. Site look very good too. Good luck.

Thanks for the good wishes.

My wife didn't think it would help, but her beautician and reflexologist kept telling her how much business they were getting through the web, but my wife will supplement this with traditional advertising and cross-promotions and referrals.

Anyway, if nothing happens the most that is lost is the time taken to set the site up and the domain costs.

Better to have tried than not!

[RichardCranium]

Is it your intention that the site will be the marketing tool, i.e., people find the web site when looking for such things, or that she advertises in other ways and directs people at the web site?

The answer to that will make quite a difference in how that web site should look and how it should be hosted.

(especially given you will be on a learning curve and there is only you.)

[OrangeHopper]

I do hope you can get this idea to work. My mother-in-law did something similar, got nothing and packed it in after 2 years. Site look very good too. Good luck.

[DimPrawn]

Thanks for the tip!

So what were you selling then nudge nudge wink wink....

Travel services, hotel reservations, travel insurance, airport parking etc. Nothing sinister, it's just they focus on physical shipments, they don't like services.

[Spacecadet]

Is that a first hand recommendation from having used it?

I'm taking a look now....

PS I forgot to mention - I need to tie the site down to a proper domain name too.

I know people who have no real web experience who have used it to get a web presence.
I'm investigating using it myself as after 3 years its quite clear that I'll never get round to building a website myself

[MPwannadecentincome]

how about google sites?

Is that a first hand recommendation from having used it?

I'm taking a look now....

PS I forgot to mention - I need to tie the site down to a proper domain name too.

[MPwannadecentincome]

I don't think Google checkout will allow you to take payment for such things as astrology readings. They are pretty strict and when I used them for one of my websites they objected (the service is not a physical delivery and was against their code) and closed down my account within a week.

Thanks for the tip!

So what were you selling then nudge nudge wink wink....

[DimPrawn]

I don't think Google checkout will allow you to take payment for such things as astrology readings. They are pretty strict and when I used them for one of my websites they objected (the service is not a physical delivery and was against their code) and closed down my account within a week.

[Spacecadet]

how about google sites?