Advice on the free website from Bookcert required - The Book-keepers Forum (UK)

gerry · Senior Member

Advice on the free website from Bookcert required

gerry · Senior Member

Hi

Just bringing this post to the top again in case it was missed. Maybe there were no replies because no one has used the service.

Has nobody used the free website service from bookcert?

Forgive me if you have aleady read the post. smile

Gerry

-- Edited by gerry on Friday 13th of November 2009 08:14:31 AM

gazal · Veteran Member

Hi Gerry
Have you tried sending then an e-mail?

Terri · Senior Member

Gerry

I purchased the bookcert course and have the free website - take a look at mine - it could be better I know but at the moment it is serving its purpose.

The website isn't super fancy, but I have made several changes to it by email request and they always make the amendments and let me know by email within 24 hours

www.a1-bookkeeping.co.uk

Terri

gerry · Senior Member

This is exactly what I needed, thank you. I will have a look at your website.

I guess it would be silly to not use it as it is free.

many thanks

Gerry

blondie · Veteran Member

I too have this free website and yes, it is free so you'd be daft not to use it but to be honest...it is very basic and i haven't had any response from it. And when checking out others from this company (i.e Terri - above) i've noticed that you can't tell one apart from the other. All are the same.
I'm not moaning it's just if we're getting help then it would be nice if we can each stand out.

Feel free to check mine out to compare: www.hammondandco.co.uk

I currently have someone working on a new website as i would like to add more info.

gerry · Senior Member

hI Blondie

Thank you for this. I see what you mean about the website, they are all the same. you say that someone is helping you with another website, can you say what the cost would be to set up a website or is this a friend doing it for you?

Thank you for sharing this with me.

Gerry

-- Edited by gerry on Wednesday 6th of January 2010 08:17:53 PM

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

I think that they're charging for it but calling it free!

Look at the prices.

With the free website it's £299

Without the free Website it's £249

After the first year the upkeep of the site is £50 a year.

Shaun.

gerry · Senior Member

Thank you Shaun.

I get the Bookcert charges but was wondering how much anyone else would charge to set up a website, generally I mean.

Love your picture by the way.

Gerry

Ann-marie · Senior Member

Hello,

I know someone who is developing a site for me at the moment - i just have a holding page up at the moment but he designed the logo for me too www.smartiesbookkeeping.co.uk

I can forward his details onto you if you would like to enquire more about what he may be able to do for you and costs?

Ann-marie

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Hi Gerry,

found the pic on the internet years ago. Was entitled "What bird?". I just thought that coming from banking a fat cat was rather apt!

Some of the ISP's give 10 meg of free space to build your own web page with their internet connection (I know that virgin do, I can't speak for the others). I know of a few people who have used freebee cover disk programs to build their own websites in this space and for a situation where all you are doing is advertising services rather than taking any money over the net it's probably all that you need.

Unfortunately, I've got no idea myself how to use this space and even less how to get yourself listed on or near the front page on a google search which is probably how website designers still manage to make a living in these days when hypathetically we have all the tools freely available to do it ourselves.

You could also take a look at companies like 121 hosting that advertise in the computer mags. You get a few domain names and lots of email addresses thrown in. They don't set up the website though, they just give you all the software to do it yourself. (No idea how good any of them are as haven't used them myself).

If it was just £50 full stop then that would probably be worth it to just have the website offered with Bookcert but it's going to be yet another annual cost along with Professional Indemnity, Employers Liability, Public indemnity, supervisory body fees, practicing certificate, Software update fee's, etc. Makes you wonder how we ever manage to make any money at all doesn't it!!!

Maybe it's time for me to buy a dummy's guide to building a website!

Cheers,

Shaun.

kjmcculloch · Guru

Hi Folks,

Sorry Shaun, but I would suggest that free webspace, a domain name and a dummies guide is false economy. Your website is you businesses permanent advert. Its going to be the first impression many people get from your businesses. An armature website says to me armature business. Personally when I come across an obviously home made attempt at a business website I click off it straight away. I do this for a few reasons, mainly because I feel that if the owner doesn't value their business enough to have a professional presence will they still be around in a few month, are they fly-by-night.

Many web designers are in the same boat as us, with business slow. You will get a good deal. I also do web design, I find it ties in well with bookkeeping. Right now I am doing 3 pages for £99. This was unheard of this time last year, but needs must. And I know others are in the same boat. For a simple site I would be looking at ongoing annual cost of about £20-£30 per year max.

A well designed website is an asset to a business. A poorly designed website will not only fail to generate business but it may actually lose you business for the reasons I have described.

A web designer will not only design your website and maintain it. They will make sure it's Search Engine Optimised. They will concentrate on conversions. There is little point in having a website that is one page one of google, getting 500 hits per day if no one enquires further about your service.

Further to a web designer though, I would also suggest that you seek the services of a good copy writer. Poor copy is the difference between someone clicking tell me more and them clicking close. I am in the process of having my website copy redone for this reason.

Kris

-- Edited by kjmcculloch on Thursday 7th of January 2010 10:45:17 AM

blondie · Veteran Member

Hi Gerry,

It is a friend thats designing my new website but i can ask him if it would be ok to give you his details.
He has actually re-designed for Aviva for their recent change over.
Im sure he would do 'mates rates' if you mentioned me.

Cheers.

blondie · Veteran Member

Hi again Gerry,
I have been in touch with my friend and he's given me his details to pass on:

neil.stevens@modifi.co.uk

Just mention Dawn from Hammond & Co.

Hope this helps. Good luck!

Shamus · Forum Moderator & Expert

Well said Kris,

That's probably the answer that Gerry wanted in the first place as gives all the cost details.

I don't actually have a website myself and my 10 meg of free space is still languishing somewhere in the ether. For that matter, I don't actually advertise at all!

So far my business has being doing ok by word of mouth and as it's been around for over twenty years already nobody who seeks me out is worried about it being fly by night.

If I did advertise I can see what you mean though as a bad advert can only convince someone not to use your services however, a good advertisement will not necessarily convince them to choose you.

Sort of working to the same principle as getting an interview for a job. If you get that far you've basically already got it otherwise they wouldn't be wasting their time interviewing you. Anything that you say or perhaps don't say, can only make the interviewer decide that you're not right for the position.

I think that the two major factors that people consider when choosing a bookkeeper for their business is location and how long the business has been there (as you say the fly by night factor).

A question to ask yourself. Which is likely to be more cost effective in bringing in local clients? A website or local advertising such as supplying football shirts for your local under elevens side?

The answer of course is both (especially if you can get the local rag to cover you handing the sponsored kits over). People need a reason to visit the website. Faced with a page full of bookkeepers ad's they're going to pick the one that you know, not necessarily the one with the fancy front end.

Have a good one,

Shaun.

kjmcculloch · Guru

Hi Shaun,

I think you are absolutely right in that a website must only be one part of a wider marketing strategy. The aim of my website, for instance, is to compliment my other methods of marketing. Every letter I send, every flyer, all my business cards every advert has my URL. I find that people who maybe wouldn't be sold at that point will happily look at a website as it's noncommittal, but can provide far more information than a flyer.

All I need my website to do from there is provide the information that the visitor is looking for and convince them to get in touch, either by phone, email or snail mail.

The biggest mistake is to have a website created and sit back thinking clients will come in their droves. Alas this is very rarely the case.

Kris

gerry · Senior Member

Wow, thank you for those comments.

And blondie thank you so much for your friends details, that was very good of you to give those.

I think this is something that I need to think more about, do I go with the free bookcert one for now or do I get a different website from the outset.

I will think about it and make a decision soon. At the moment, I do not need it for advertising as I am happy with the number of clients that I have but one of my clients did look for my website when I first started with him so I felt the need to have one.

Thank you again, I hope the responses also helped others who may be wondering what to do.

gerry

BobHarper · Guru

Free and low cost Websites rarely achieve much BUT spending lots of money on a flashy design can also be a waste of time and money.

On behalf of our franchisees I've invested many hours and £'s finding out of professional service firms should be using their Website. Here are some bullet points which I hope help you:

Start with keywords and plan the site
Carry out on-page Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) for each page for each keyword
Have a blog and post regularly
Build links using anchor text

Drive traffic to the site using online and offline tactics.

gerry · Senior Member

Thank you Bob, this is very helpful

gerry

ProBowlUK · Senior Member

Kris

Really no reason not to start off on a free webspace.

The domain can be transferred very easily when you want to
use commercial webspace. The move will not cost anything.

biggrin

kjmcculloch · Guru

Hi Bob,

I had to re-read the thread to remind myself what I had said, it's quite an old one.

I disagree about starting off with free webspace. The vast majority of free webspace isn't really free, it's paid for by ads, and if you want to potentially display an ad for a competitor, that's fine. I don't.

Another thing you need to consider is who owns the domain name, you or the hosting service. If you own it, fine. If they own it then moving is not that cheap or easy. Essentially these services have you over a barrel. They register the domain name and charge you to move. The more you promote your domain name the more valuable it becomes. I think of it as renting a flat and putting a new kitchen in it. It's not yours. Services like vistaprint as well as others operate on this basis.

With the bookcert one I notice that they only offer one template, very few choices to make it unique to you.

For me a free webpage is like offering only a mobile number as a point of contact. It shows you haven't put down roots, testing the water perhaps.

Kris

moxby · Veteran Member

Hi there - if anyone wants low-cost (ad-free) web space or advice re: websites or SEO I'm happy to provide opinions or can provide low-cost (and in some instances, genuinely free) webspace, not paid for by ads.

Our Company has an unincorporated but related web design/hosting business so I'd be happy to help.