It's a 24/7 portfolio (and storefront if you have product you can sell and ship out).
If your town is small and limited in terms of the market you can reach, a website will help break that boundary so you can find work in nearby cities too.
You can post images of your work and sample prices to give potential customers a general idea of the cost, some will be scared away by price (they won't bother to call you) but the ones that are serious about it *will* call or email.
You just have to stay on top of things when it comes to promoting the website. Getting search engine results is fine and dandy but if your work is the type that cannot be shipped somewhere (ie: wall murals) search engine hits from China won't help you. You'll need to promote locally or at least somewhere in your area still.
When you sign your work you'll need to sign your name with your website address underneath it.. or just sign it with your web address so people know how to find you..
And use a catchy domain name that is spelled *exactly* how it sounds, so people can not only remember it, but have no problems typing it.
Every time I tell someone my web address, they laugh at it.. *BAM*! It's now stuck in their head.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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I have to agree with everything Mike says. For what it cost to hosts a website you would be crazy not to have one. Look at what a yellow page ad runs you per year and then compare.
A website is inexpensive and credible advertising. No doubt about it.
One thing to add. Make sure its professionally designed/done. Otherwise your wasting your money if you try to get by cheap and do it yourself unless you happen to be very good at web design.
-------------------- Bob Stephens Skywatch Signs Zephyrhills, FL
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I cancelled my 1/4 page ad 2 years ago that ran me $420.00 a month and reached maybe 2,000 people a year. I built my website 5 years ago and the hosting is $386.00 a year and reaches MILLIONS WORLD WIDE.... 99.9% of my business is strictly off my website. I can pick and choose what jobs to do and refer the others "down south"...........
To put it this way.... $500.00 to initially build the site. $386.00 for a year of hosting up front. $886.00 total investment. VERY FIRST SIGN I sold off the net was for $2200.00 to Naval Air Facility, Atsugi, Japan !!! That one sign not only paid for my investment, it gave me the "global" status that I fluant! Just give it some thought.
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs (Retired) Kissimmee, Florida Posts: 822 | From: Central Florida - The Sunshine State | Registered: Jan 2000
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It sure is handy for both us us if I can send a prospective client to my web site to preview my work and general philosophy. It qualifies me to them, and like Mike says, if they're still on board after seeing the site I know they are ready to buy. The big catch is it HAS to knock them out to have that effect. Make sure the site really paints you in your best light, only the cream of your portfolio and top quality photography.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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We book about 1/3 or better, of our work off the net. I launched our site in 1996, and had anticipated using it as an online portfolio...I never even thought about increasing our work load from it!
I've found, it's also like anything else, you'll get out of it what you put into it. Keep it updated and fresh. We're hoping to have the 5th generation site up by mid-October, which will be (as each version has tried to be), more streamlined and user friendly.
I guess it's like so many other facets of the trade...embrace the technology and make it work for you!
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Hey Brian - I just checked out your web site and I gotta say, I am MOVED! That rocks so much!
I never watch flash intros, but you changed that. Thanks for raising the bar. (bastard).
If I was in the market for custom paint and saw that web site, there is no way I would look any further, price be damned - Brian the Brush is doing MY work!
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Lauri, We have had our new web site less than a year, but the things we like about having one are: We do alot of vehicles from a wide geographic area. If someone calls from a distance, we can refer them to our web site to see examples of our work. They don't have to come in and go though pictures (which often takes quite a bit of OUR time) and they can take their time looking things over. We have found they can get a good feel for what we can do and they either like our work and call and schedule a time to bring their vehicle in or not. This is a convenience for them and us. THEN when they come in with their vehicle we can take the time to decide what they want to do (while it's still fresh in my mind). We can also have them call up the website while we are on the phone with them and discuss certain ideas. I had a lady call today and I discussed a sign with brick columns and showed her a couple examples online. Also, we like to be able to show potential customers the variety of work that we do. They then understand what we are capable of, the volume of people we deal with (they aren't your only customer!) and the different jobs of note that they did not realize we did ("You do so-and-so trucks?") We have done a few jobs, like logos, where we have never meet the customers face to face, but the majority of our work is brought to our shop. Also we have a history of our business and photos of ourselves on the site. We think this makes customers feel they know a little bit about us and feel comfortable bringing there work to us. They can see who we are, how long we have been in business, what our interests are and that just develops good customer relationships. Our son, Joe designed our web site and is in the process of redoing it again. The new one should be up soon. We are lucky that we have somebody in the family to do this, but I agree with the post above, get someone who knows what they are doing and make it an easy site to "navigate". If you have questions, contact us. We will forward them to Joe. Jane (& Bill)
[ September 10, 2003, 06:36 PM: Message edited by: Bill Diaz ]
-------------------- Bill Diaz Diaz Sign Art Pontiac IL www.diazsignart.com Posts: 2111 | From: Pontiac, IL | Registered: Dec 2001
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Thanks Everyone!!! When I got to work today, I had a message from the phnoe book advertising guy about renewing my ad. I think I now have his answer. I have been contemplated having a website for about two years, but didn't think people would buy signs off the internet. I understand that it is to showcase your work and then they will buy. Thanks again!
posted
I'm in the same boat, thought about it a long time, and will take the plunge. Having gone from dial up to cable has been nice, and I've got some web-space available. Building the site myself, lots to learn, some nifty sites out there to learn from. I'll have the URL added to the yellow page add. Should have it done in a few weeks, I'll post a link and will be looking for feed back at that time.
-------------------- "Are we having fun yet?" Peter Schuttinga DZines Sign Studio 1617 Millstream rd Victoria BC V9B-6G4 Posts: 521 | From: Victoria BC | Registered: Mar 2002
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Our web site is an awesome tool for us. Like others say above... you will get out what you put in.
It never ceases to amaze me who comes a calling through our web site. On the web you can appear to be as big as you want. Specializing in a certain kind of work is easy too, just don't show everything you do there, only what you want to sell.
Like all the other aspects of your busienss, such as your truck, shop, letterhead, business cards, and dress, your website should reflect who you are and what you do.
We who are 'masters of design' should have no excuse for an awesome online portfolio.
We are now working on our fifth generation web site... and it's going to be the best yet!
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8761 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I posed a similar question six months ago, and took the plunge. Compared with some other sites, ours is Very Ordinary, but for a first attempt, it serves us well as an online catalogue, and cuts out a lot of 'selling' time. When potential customers get back to you, they are definately interested. We've got lots of ideas of additions but need time to do that! It took long enough to just get 'something' up, let alone 'something great' which will be in the future if we're lucky. In a nutshell, we started it using Net Objects' Fusion (a real no-brainer program) then set to work altering/customising it in Dreamweaver 4 and Image Ready. Best wishes
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7016 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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Visitors to the ConSAC show next week will be treated to a demonstration of a new "webware" product that we are previewing at our "X-TREME" exhibit...THE WHOLE IDEA of this product is to make creating and maintaining your own website VERY EASY easy (no special skills or software required) and VERY AFFORDABLE. You can update your site's content from anywhere with internet access. Lots of other great features too.
If you plan to attend ConSAC, please make a point of asking for me and identifying yourself as a Letterhead...I'll probably have a few extra X-BUCKS in my pocket for you.
-------------------- Jon Aston MARKETING PARTNERS "Strategy, Marketing and Business Development" Tel 705-719-9209 Posts: 1724 | From: Barrie, ON, CANADA | Registered: Sep 2000
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Maybe I should add for those considering a first site - think really hard about taking the whole plunge and getting a proper domaine name registered - something you can live with for the long haul. It'll cost more per month to have the domain hosted somewhere but there are definite advantages. First of all, it looks more professional from day one. But the most important benefit is your web address and email address will never change. Without realizing it, promoting a web site is a cumulative process. After years people getting used to finding you in one place, they will be completely bewildered if you ever have to change your "free" Internet Service Provider. Not only them, but the search engines too. You'll be lost, and it will happen eventually. You'll move or want to change ISPs, or your ISP may merge or go out of business (from cable and DSL pressure). It's a wild cyber world out there. A domain will give you permanence and stability. Think about it.
SONGPAINTER Original Sign Music by Sign People NOW AVAILABLE on CD and the proceeds go to Letterville's favorite charity! Click Here for Sound Clips! Posts: 1974 | From: Orleans, MA, Cape Cod, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Let me share some of my insight. I am a trained/experienced wed designer and I have learned some interesting tips along the way. First off your customers almost expect you to have a web site these days. Will you suffer without one? In this business..probably not, but you will lose some business to competitors that do. It is just too easy to boot up the search engine and look for a business when an idea hits. That is the beauty of the net! That is why it is SO strong. Someone gets an idea. Boom! they look on the net. You have them when they are most willing to give in to their idea/feelings. They have a notion...they act. Make sense? The biggest problem with web sites is getting people to them. Make sure your web designer uses meta tags to insure search engines can find your site easier. These will also allow you to tag certain key words that will flag your site when a search is conducted using any of those words. Make sure you add your home town/state so people searching for a sign biz in your area WILL get your site. They can also be used to manipulate what the serach engine posts as a site description. As a default search engines show the first few lines of your home page document. If your first few lines say nothing about signs it isn't very good advertising. Use the meta tag to add a great little advert. Add links to your site on as many directories and other sites as you can. These will all help to funnel visitors your way. That is probably the strongest tool at your disposal.
Make sure your site has some meat. Pictures an stufff are great but are not as effective without a few great articles. Put up a how to or a step by step of the sign painting process. Think of your site as a sales person. A LOW IMPACT sales person. The kind people will stay and listen to. Wouldn't you love it if every customer would listen to you describe the value in the services you offer. This is your chance. BUILD VALUE. Give some history. Step by steps. Explain how you'll come up with a design that suits their needs.
Your site can be the first impression that someone gets about your business. Make sure that impression is proffessional and well thought out. There are alot of site builders out there that will add all kinds of neat frills and stuff but just like a sign it needs to be free of clutter. I like to think of web sites as magazines. The best magazines have lots of meat and neat but are ultimately there to sell products.
Thats all I can think of off hand. Sorry if I rambled, i've been into the beer a bit tonight,lol. If you have anymore questions please do not hesitate.
posted
Keep it short and sweet, people are not on the web to read novels!
Any work you display online, use a nice picture and a BRIEF description... then maybe a link to another page with a more thorough description and possibly a brief overview of the processes involved in each job - not too detailed though, don't want to give up any secrets.
Also, the web spyders that crawl your website to index pages with the search engines cannot follow links that are not made of text.. ie: if your site uses image maps or java or flash for navigation, it's likely your site will not get listed on search engines. That's not to say you cannot use those methods, but you need to add *more* means for navigation in the form of text hyperlinks. An example of this is my website, where I have image maps for the main navigation on the left side, but there are text links at the bottom of every page on the site, and because I use layers in my site, the text links are actually the FIRST things the spyder reads because I placed that code at the top.
Gotta learn how to manipulate those web crawlers!
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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