Completely Lost. Website Help Inquiry

BytheSea

Hello.
I've been reading tons of info posted here so much so that I feel overloaded with information.
Basically, for the past 7 years, I've gotten all of my work through referrals and word of mouth. We're somewhat of a small remodeling company and can only handle so much work at once.
Needless to say the economy is at it's worst and the calls we once were receiving are no longer so here I am brainstorming ways of marketing.
I'm completely new to the website marketing aspect and in need some urgent help.

I like Foot Bridge Media for a marketing/website company and read that their customer service is excellent so that part I have covered.

What I don't understand is if I need to buy a domain name/site, or whatever it is, and a host on top of footbrigde's service? (as you can tell I have no clue!)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

BKFranks

Footbridge looks like you pay $125 a month and they do all the work for you.

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dougchips

A website is not an overnight solution unless you are going to use a pay per click campaign. It will take weeks/months to get a solid base of search engine traffic along with $$$$ and/or time on your part.

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To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

BytheSea

I didn't ask for an overnight solution. I'm asking for help on what I don't understand. Of course it'll take some time as with any thing else. In other words, the sooner I start the better hence my urgency.

BuilderOne

Buy a domain name 7.99 -9.99 per year, nothing else, no certifications, no extra, nothing.
Someone will need to host your site on a server. No need for your amount of traffic to pay big bucks for a dedicated server. Just get a shared server with e-mail for your business.

The server should be $5 dollars a month. WHY would anyone pay monthly a 125 to footbridge, They are not worth it. They are for people that do not understand websites and or are to lazy to educate themselves to find out they are overpriced and under delivered.

two years= 24 months= $3,000 dollars! 4years = $6,000 dollars....get the idea!!!!!!

You can get a site hosting, e-mail for your hometown, without worrying about seo for half that! PM me I'll educate you. Don't fall prey to these companies that other people choose, without educating yourself first~~~On top of that they will give you a template which will never be capable of any good recognition from the internet spider bots. After 4 years and 6,000 dollars...you could of ben way ahead of the game going in a direction of building a site that is done properly & without flash.

charlesmd

Just did a website with footbridgemedia. FIRST CLASS....
I highly recommend them.

dougchips

Talk to Footbridge, some design companies offer hosting as an option or as part of a package. As far as a domain name goes are you looking for your company name or a general name like remodeling.com?

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To get the best replacement windows, or sun rooms contact the replacement windows experts at FHI Vinyl Window Company.

BuilderOne

some people just waste money. I am sure the sites look fine, I have seen them. What can I say...some people are good business people and others are too quick to evaluate or not evaluate their money. Just think four years from now when all our websites are paid for, you'll still be paying.....and paying......and paying. RUn your website like one of your projects! Would you hire a sub and pay him 1500.00 once or 50 dollars a month for ever?

woodmagman

BytheSea, everything you do once you have a website is to drive all your potential customers to that site. Send out letters to past customers that treated you so well and let them know you are now in cyberspace and you would like them to pass your name on to those they may know who may need your services. The phone will ring...and emails will start coming in.

silvertree

Can we see your website?

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Vote for Pedro
Kitchen, bath, St Paul remodeling
Minneapolis Remodel Blog
203K Loan Consultant Minnesota

pcplumber

In as polite, a way, as possible, it would be nice if someone could prove that they get 'good' leads from a web site. I have seen hundreds of posts, claiming they get 'x' number of jobs, and I don't believe any of these posts.

If the numbers touted, are not correct, then this is very harmful to a contractor's wallet,ego, esteem, and his business. He could be focusing on an advertising campaign that is more productive.

I've been through all the 'pay-per-click' sites and spent thousands of dollars, with zero sales leads.

My wed site has been getting 7 to 10 customers, every day, for the past 15 years. The average person spends 3 to 7 minutes on my site. I get about one or two calls a year, and they are always 100% worthless. I never, ever, sold even a penny from the internet.

Many customers find my company through other media, and use my web site to check our credentials and credibility.

Can my site be that bad?

www.bestlineplumbing.com

BuilderOne

I looked at it. Its just a lot of text

http://creedehome.com/

BuilderOne

well, the answer to that is in the content. You are a smart sales person, you just need to learn how to use your site to sell. Number one, like the gentleman that just said footbridge did his site. It's boring(sorry) and all text. It doesn't sell anything!

Internet marketing for websites is a art in itself that has to be marketed as What makes you different than everyone else?

rbsremodeling

Not picking on you PC but I think your site is that bad.

I think think with an overhaul and some optimization you site would do really well. But right now it looks like something from the early 90"s

I think for some contractors they think the internet and websites are a waste of time.

Just like i think home shows are a waste of time. People think I am crazy.

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tinner666

Last 3 customers were straight from the web. A forth, I lost. The rest are referrals. No yellow pages. No white pages. Just SEO work.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

BuilderOne

These are your meta tags right from your source code. you should add a blog and use these words as much a possible, but really it's more about inbound links for seo. But as i mentioned before, don't worry about seo so much, as in your area, it will take quite a bit of money to get up to the top 3 and it isn't worth the money. Your keywords are very competitive. Write a company story, use you an your family. tell a story, use the site to sell! Pictures!!!

and remodeling company, bathroom remodeling, basement finishing, room additions, custom decks, flooring, garage finishing"

woodmagman

Wow, you need to ask yourself why, when it comes to your site....
You should be pulling in with those types of numbers some serious coin off your site. You’re missing an opportunity and that is customers that have come into the store either became confused or scared and left...that is the reality. I have not been to your site, I would ask the guys and gals here to have a look and take their advice….

I do agree with your first statement.

BuilderOne

I like your approach on your site!!!!! awesome!!!! great selling!!!! fellow richmonder!

tinner666

Buy your own domain name and keep IT under your control. Reg it for 10 years. I did free hosting at GD for years and business kept coming in. Like Plumber said, if nothing else, it's a large business card so you can be checked out. Website Tonight solutions can have a site up in an hour or two.

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Frank Slate Roof Repairs, Richmond, Va.

woodmagman

You said you are sorry....and then You punched him in the face... I think his nose is still bleeding. that is not fair you need to say you are sorry after....This thread is being HIJACKED.