I’m sure this thread has been made before, but tonight, I’m tired and not wanting to fight the search function. If your company, preferably remodeling or somewhat related, has a website, could you post a link to it? I’d like to go over some websites in the next few days to see what features seem to work.
Thanks!
Replies
http://www.pro-dek.com
"Rather be a hammer than a nail"
Bob
If you're promoting your business, the features you should focus on are:
- explaining what you do
- showing past work
- contact information on the home page (and every page, ideally)
- an email address that you check daily
- a simple site that is fast to download and works in all the web browsers out there.
I know they sound obvious, but all too often they are forgotten in lieu of bells and whistles.
http://www.finewood-n-things.com
boy,oh boy Jim---we are practically neighbors.
I am curious about your pictures shown on your site. did you take 'em yourself? with what? hire a photographer?
I am wondering how it would best be done for a site showing large ,outdoor projects( like for my roofing business)
I took the pictures with an old camera............going to buy a digital one of these days cause they are far better for websites etc.
I don't see why you couldn't show a roofing business. Run a regular paper add and direct the potentials to your site where they can meet you......see what you do etc.......
Actually had a guy come in the other day with some chairs to repair.....said he saw me on the web.....................first one I know of.................website is a good way to show people your stuff, but few walk-ins.There are fast carpenters who care..... there are slow carpenters who care more.....there are half fast carpenters who could care less......
http://www.rumford.com/bishop.html
http://www.catamountconstruction.com
Nick,
I don't want to slight anybody else here----but you have a really outstanding site.
not only were the photo's good-------but the text was REALLY good.I thought it had the right tone,the right level of detail---the whole atmosphere was re-assuring ,inviting, and really confidence building.
I am definitely stealing ideas from it!
Thank you very much... I appreciate the compliment.
Please feel free to borrow ideas as you wish. I only ask that in return I can lean on you for roofing advice.
Edited 11/20/2003 4:07:32 PM ET by Nick Pitz
Hey I agree with Stephen, Nick that is a really good site. Clear, succinct, and consise that clearly shows that sometimes less is a lot more.
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Hey Neighbor!
I'm not far from you, Chester Springs Pa.
I was checking out your site and saw Flourtown.
Nice site.
KarlHand Hewn Restorations Inc.
Restoring the past for the future.
remodelathens.com
Chester Springs is a beautiful area. We did a job out there some years back. What type of work do you do?
About 3 months ago I started a discussion, in the Tavern I think, with almost the same title. There was some good discussion there. Do you plan to do the site yourself? I sub'ed mine out and will recommend the designer...he does good work.
Do it right, or do it twice.
great sites , guys... keep 'em comming !Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
http://www.cloudhidden.org
"http://www.cloudhidden.org"
Hey, you're famous! I saw you on TV ! Way to go!
Jim,
I'm glad that we have not met in person yet. That way I don't feel so bad about hating you. You see, once my dear wifey finds out about you and your designs, it is all over for me.
Nice web site, and nice work!
KarlHand Hewn Restorations Inc.
Restoring the past for the future.
Uhhhh, she have an email address? Just wanna send her a few pix...I mean, tell her what a swell guy you are.....
Thanks davidmeiland.
Easy there fella,
I stand 6'3" 240lbs.
DW is 5'3" 115 lbs.
If your not careful, I'll toss her over to ya.
:<) <:) :<)
CurlyHand Hewn Restorations Inc.
Restoring the past for the future.
Here's 1 my daughter did for me as a college class assignment.
Tell me what you think.
Thanks in advance
http://WWW.primoconstruction.com
cool... my favorite is the Dawber house (?)... i like your shingle details..
good site.... some of your barns are monstersMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
http://www.asmallwoodworkingcompany.com
Hey Nick Pitz! Congratulations on that article a couple issues back, man. Been hoping I'd run into you. Now I gotta go scope out your site.
Jim, your link didn't work - did you pay your bill this month?
CaseyR,
The link worked fine for me.
Jon Blakemore
Hmmm, still doesn't work for me. Maybe our firewall is blocking it as pornography...
casey, link worked great here..
jim .. still a nice site..Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Hey Casey - mind if I ask what browser you use? Internet Explorer? Netscape? (are there any others?)
I'm a little worried that other folks are having trouble following that link, too. Geez, if an old computerer like you has trouble, the masses don't stand a chance. Let me know, huh?
Thanks, Mike. Luka is doing a great job. Wouldn't have even tried without his steady hand and patience to get it built. Hope to get the blank pages built before 2004...geez, then I have several jobs from the last couple years to add...gettin' a headache just thinking about it.
Coffee's done, gotta go.
When I click on the link, I simply get a "page cannot be displayed", "cannot find server message". It might well be because I am inside of a corporate firewall. However, I have been able to see all the other links that have been posted, so I am a little surprised that it would just discriminate against your site. I am running Internet Explorer 6.0 that has been set, standard issue, by our networking folks, so I haven't messed with it.
A few months ago, a porno filtering software was installed on the network. For the first few weeks, every time I clicked on a Breaktime photo link, I would get a message to the effect of: "Warning, this site has been deemed pornograpic". I indicated that while some of the prices charged for the work pictured might have been obscene, none of the pictures were actually pornographic. A few weeks later access to the Breaktime photo section was restored. As the porno filter came pre-set to exclude certain sites, made me wonder if propero has some porno areas out there that the porn filter company censored a little too broadly.
I am a little slow getting back as I spent the weekend driving to the other end of the state and hauling back the remains of the 1948 Chevy pickup that I purchased in Ontario, OR. There were a couple of patches of ice in the Blue Mountains. Definately increases the pucker factor when coming down a long grade with sharp turn at the bottom that turns out to be icy - particularly when towing a loaded U-Haul auto trailer with surge breaks. Only a little fishtailing, though, with the accompanying momentary adrenaline high...
Maybe it's because we don't have any cookies or other extraneous foo-foo. Your browser is used to having to deal with all the tracking stuff on all the other websites, and gets spooked now when it doesn't find any.
he he he
Seriously, though, what happens when you try the link ?
The most common problem I have seen when people try to access Jim's web page, is that they do so through a link on prospero. (Here.) Apparently prospero adds their own little bit of magic when a link is followed from this forum. That magic causes problems for some very few people. But it IS the most common cause of problems accessing Jim's site.
Try copying the link, then opening a new browser window, and pasting the url right in the url box.
Live, Love, Forgive and Forget
quittintime
Jim are you allowed to put your articles on your website. I think that would impress your potential customers.I to get customers that want to learn how and I enjoy sharing the knowledge as much as I enjoy doing the work.
ANDYSZ2I MAY DISAGREE WITH WHAT YOUR SAYING BUT I WILL DEFEND TO THE DEATH YOUR RIGHT TO SAY IT.
Jim,
I just checked out your site. I like your if it works for you, it works for me attitude. Nice site.
CurlyHand Hewn Restorations Inc.
Restoring the past for the future.
WARNING! its from downunder!! cheers John
http://www.Cliffordrenovations.com
my phone number changed last week so I need to remember how to change it on my site....Its been a while since I built it.
Man oh man.mine looks like junk compared to you guys...WOW.outstanding sites specially Clouds!
BE well
andy
My life is my practice!
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Edited 11/22/2003 8:47:05 AM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)
I appreciate everyeone posting their site. All of them look good and get across their points really well.
My next question regarding websites is how has it affected your business? Have you noticed leads from it or has it results in jobs from you giving it out?
Thanks.
xhammerandnailsx, ya know for what it worth I'm thinking that rather than just asking for links to website we as BreakTimers have maybe you should have asked for any links to company websites outside of our community too for what we think are good examples of business websites. We may not necessarily be the best examples what to do all the time in every case for every kind of business.
The other day I actually edited out of my signature the links to my company websites when I made my post here because I'm sort of embarrassed by them right now. In some cases they've grown unwieldy and out of hand, the information in them is scattered and/or incomplete. There is sometimes a lack of continuity. There are dead ends and bad links in places all through them too. I could go on an on with why there not what I want, or examples of incomplete work and or design but I'll post them anyway. Then in the next month and a half after I hopefully bring them all up to date or have new designs in place I can then invite everyone back to critique the changes and improvements.
ParadigmProjects.com - My building and remodeling company website.
Paradigm-360.com- My "Web and Information Technology Solutions for Builders, Remodelers, Contractors and other members of the Home & Garden Industry" Since one of the things we do as part of this site is web design and hosting for other contractors that one of the reasons I'm sort of embarrassed by the look of things (but then again I can't be everywhere working on everything all the time)
The Bedford Ironworks Here's a work in progress for a simple site we're working to develop for another contractor we often work with. It's incomplete but it's another example for you to look at and glom some ideas from.
And its going to be part of this site Northeasternhomes.com that's going to be a Home & Garden E-zine for the New York & New England region that we're based in promoting the work of all the other contractors, architects designers and trades we worked with and anyone else we eventually drum up. It's and Idea that I had maybe three years ago that I got distracted from and because of that I let it languish and sit idle for way too long. We are finally just now getting around to reviving it now.
Mac4Construction.com- Another one we just started but haven't developed or really promoted yet where Macintosh users can go and talk about issues and ideas about how to use effectively use the Mac to run a construction related business.
Back in another website discussion here a while back I posted this information regarding the HousingZone site where they published the winners of their 2002 Web Awards:
You should definitely check out the sites of the winner there for ideas too and if I'm not mistaken any day or week now they should be updating that to the 2003 Web award winners. I think my favorites among the 2002 winners there was AdamGibson.com although picking a favorite for me among them is kinda like saying who do I like better, my cat or my dog. I like them both but they're just different from each other.
One of the reasons that got me off of my but to post this right now was I was surfing around researching something else and I stumbled on this website for a Virginia based roofer that I thought was particularly good. SummitRoofing.com (Stephen, take note and tell me what you think?). There's a bunch of others I seen over the years and bookmarked too that I have to go back and look through again but here are a few I can think of off the top of my head that you should look at too. BauscherConstruction.com and how's this for a masonry company Rhodes.org (Rhodes Architectural Stone).
I said it before here I've always liked Bob's site Pro-Dek.com. When I said the other day that I really liked Nick's site I did mean Nick's CatamountConstruction.com site (even though I was confused it with TCOLLIER12's PrimoConstruction site at the time). Like Jim Blodgetts ASmallWoodworkingCompany.com it shows that you don't need a lot of Flash animations and fancy Javascript to get your point across. But Nick I did spot a minor problem that Microsoft's FrontPage may have created for viewing it with web browsers other than Explorer. (click to see a screenshot of what I mean). Nick you need to rewrite the code for those first two titles so that they are done the same way as all of the others below them. I can see what you did in that in your code there are long strings of " ;  " which is a form of space that you used to position those lines rather than straight HTML instructions or code. Open up the source and you'll see what I mean. What I really liked was it was very well written and I may also be partial to Timber framing too.
One of the things that really impressed me with TCOLLIER12's PrimoConstruction site was the Primo Construction "Team" page. That would do a real good job of "selling" me on his company if I was a potential client of his and the only suggestion I would give there is that I then wanted to know more about them. That kind of thing is something that will definitely be in the next version of my ParadigmProjects.com site.
A real good about Jim Buckley's (master of none) http://www.rumford.com/bishop.html was as soon as I got there I ask what I am sure everybody does "What is a Rumford Fireplace Anyway?" and there was the answer.
I also really like Cloud's CloudHidden.org for it "new age" ( I hate to use a cliche expression like that) look and feel which I think is incredibly appropriate for the type of structure he's talking about.
One thing that's really important to keep in mind though was that you looking for ideas and inspiration. Don't copy anything. Years ago I found a web for a FL based contractor that was a literal copy word for word of the site belonging to this other contractor that I knew from the old Remodeling Online forums. He wasn't too happy about that and the guy that stole his site was lucky he didn't get in more trouble than he did for that. Then again just a few years ago I found a guy who had stolen sections of my site too. Thanks to Google it not hard to find copies of your own material when you go looking for those pages via Google and see some other guys page right next to yours that's exactly the same.
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ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com
Jerrald - thanks for pointing that out.
Hey Nick no problem at all. I've personally done a lot lot worse than that. Last winter when I first went live with my Paradigm-360 site ( it was brand new business I spun off). With the first version of design that I went live with I sent out e-mails to around seven to ten close friends and associates for comments and criticisms and it was three days before anyone even noticed that Paradigm was spelled wrong in the header graphic (Paradimg). So every single page on the site had my own company name spelled wrong! One of those friends who didn't spot the error too was my sister-in-law who one of the designers for Stanley Tools so we all make mistakes I guess.
Spelling is one thing but it's a lot harder to pick up all the browser specific errors and correct them so that actully one of the reasons I sent the URL for reviews from all of my friends.
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ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com
Jerrald----my comments on the Summit Roofing site you suggested
the site certainly provided a lot of information----but I think A LOT of the information would be better presented through another form---perhaps a pamphlet or brochure
the site was a little slow to load and manuever through---at least on my computer!
I am QUITE sure that the owner is ethical, experienced and thoroughly dependable----but I didn't like how he mentioned on one page that he has been in business since 1979---and on another page described his company as having 80 years experience.
all in all it was an excellent site for a certain type of operation----but WAY too complicated for my tastes.
Seriously---I am more and more impressed with Nicks' Catamount site----really more what I am looking for if I do set one up.
BTW---I am stealing ideas from the Summit site as well---but not for a web site use---more for a potential brochure or pamphlet
My basic idea is that some information (text) is better presented in a paper format but that a web site could better present photos---and that photos could be changed or updated easier and cheaper on a web site than in a brochure.
I am also thinking of using a web site to show prospective customers a typical roofing project step by step through the project---so that prospective customers can see how we protect their property from damage, how it is kept dry each night--how the yard is cleaned each night, the typical sequence and organization of work etc.-----I don't think I have seen any roofing sites that feature that sort of thing.----wadda ya think ?
Stephen- "I am also thinking of using a web site to show prospective customers a typical roofing project step by step through the project---so that prospective customers can see how we protect their property from damage, how it is kept dry each night--how the yard is cleaned each night, the typical sequence and organization of work etc.-----I don't think I have seen any roofing sites that feature that sort of thing.----wadda ya think ?"
I think that is a great idea.
The page I first came in on when I first discovered the Summit roofing site was http://www.summitroofing.com/replaceroof.html and what I thought was so good was it had all the information the homeowners generally DON"T know about roofing with photos, illustration, and explanations of those parts and conditions.
What you are talking about is taking that a step further to show the potential client this is how we take care of your roofing project.
Like I said, great idea.
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ParadigmProjects.com | Paradigm-360.com | Mac4Construction.com
Nice work you all!
went to Adam Gibson site hard to get out now is like wallpaper behind my minimal breaktime screen
Jim maneuvered into and through yours flawlessly and like it
Western Bldrs you say?