Hi Steve,

I’m going to be setting up a website and I want to be doing something fancier than what Barbara offers,  the Yellow pages has offered to make me a website included when I post onto there site, they do a decent site and the say they will guarantee me 30-60 hits (my choice) through google or whatever onto my site for $50(30 hits)-$150(60 hits) accordingly for the site and clicks…(on top of advertising costs)

I dont really know anything about websites and ‘hits’, is this a good deal? I get locked into it for a year, but can I do this myself, or rather do I want to put my time into it not being tech savy at all…

Thanks for any help and direction you may have through this new territory.

Aaron

My Response:

Hi Aaron:
 
Good morning.  As a quick side note before beginning my email, barb can do anything you want.  So there are no limitations.  What you may have seen within her website packages are simple websites to keep the costs down for window cleaners, but she’s got all kinds of abilities to get fancy and all the necessary software to make any site based on what a person wants.  Regardless though, whoever you use, make sure it’s a quality search engine optimized site. 
 
Speaking about search engine optimized (SEO), keep in mind that just because someone may guarantee "clicks", that doesn’t mean they’re targeted clicks.  Clicks are worthless unless they’re clicks from prospects interested in your window cleaning business. 
 
An example.  Let’s say the phone company does specific adwords advertising for your business (they won’t) using the term "window cleaning business".  Someone in hawaii clicks on the ad.  That’s a click to you.  But is it really targeted?  No.  Since obviously someone in hawaii isn’t going to use your service.  Another example is if the phone company does advertising using the keyword "window cleaning".  Someone clicks on the ad, but they’re looking for window cleaning "supplies".  So yes, it’s a click.  It’s just not a targeted one since they’re looking for supplies. 
 
So the first question I would ask the phone company if I were you is how are those clicks generated, what keywords are used to generate those clicks, and how targeted to your service are the people clicking.  Keep in mind that "clicks" sounds great.  But it’s not always cracked up to what it should be.  I could buy 10,000 clicks to my website right now for $29.00.  10,000 sounds great, right?  But they are extremely untargeted and probably have no interest in my service, product, etc, so at the end of the day, what’s it really mean?  Just a bunch of wasted traffic to my website.  That’s why when I advertise online, I use specific keywords so that when someone lands on my website, I know they have at least an initial interest in what I’m offering.  
 
Is that an extra $50 a month or $150 per month that the phone company is asking for?  Or is that for the whole year?  Personally I wouldn’t do it.  I’m not sure how all the particulars work, but if you get a website with them, you’re locked into their service.  I’m sure they’re not going to build you a website and give it to you so you can host it elsewhere.  I would go ahead and build a website as a standalone so that you have the flexibility to move it to wherever you want to.  Get your own hosting company or since you’re a member of my window cleaning software, The Customer Factor, you can host your site with me if you want.  It’s up to you.  But at least this way you’re not locked into hosting and not locked into one company. 
 
Plus by working on it yourself, you can search engine optimize it with your own meta tags and everything.  This’ll generate your own targeted clicks.  At no cost I might add.  You’ll have full control.  I doubt you’ll be able to modify the meta tags on the site since the site will probably be owned by the phone company.  You’ll have limitations.  Just some thoughts to think about.
 
Take care for now.  Have a good day.
 
Regards,
 
Steve

Reply:

Thanks Steve, You Confirmed my fears that I was apt to overlook for simplicity sake and some slick sales on there part.
This is great as I was about to do it, but now feel more geared to get it up myself with a designer.

Im glad your there! Your an awesome resource and you have my sincere appreciation.

Aaron

My Response:

Hi Aaron:
 
Good morning.  I appreciate your comments.  Right…I think it’s best to run it yourself.  As mentioned in my last email, "clicks" aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.  It sounds good in a sales presentation, but mostly it’s just window dressing though.     
 
On a different note, there is a general lack of understanding by many window cleaners on search engine optimization and what it takes to get a website indexed and ranked in the search engines.  I get a bunch of questions on this process regularly.  So I was thinking of putting together some free videos to provide folks some education about this subject.  All of my sites are ranked on the 1st page of google for multiple keywords.  So I think I can help other folks achieve these same type of rankings with their websites.  Stay tuned for further news.  I’ll keep you posted.  Thanks again for your comments.  Have a great day.
 
Regards,
 
Steve
 

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