Struggling to get customers?

JJ_

New member
Ok i started my site few months ago. I am busy during the week so this is really just a glorified weekend warrior but with their own website.



If its not too much trouble could you look through the site and tell me what you think. It is in the middle of getting moved right now to another host, never realised lycos had banners galore!!lol



Dont forget criticism is always welcome as long as you have something nice to say too! lollol!



John.



www.detail-city.tk



I am based in Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
 
Hey John,



Thanks for taking the time to post a link to your site. I think you have got a great site going there and that you are offering some very good services. I especially like the way your services are divided into good, better and best categories. That is sure easy for prospective customers to understand, especially in regard to prices. I also like the FAQ area of your site too. Very informative. Thanks again for the update and keep up the good work.
 
wow thanks mirrorfinishman! that was a nice post to get back! I was expectin a lot worse lol.



I think I just have to spread the word as for now I just put the business as a signature on the websites that I use.
 
Our detail work ranges from modified vehicles right through to Ferraris - in preparation for any show car days.



Don't forget daily drivers, not everyone has a modified car, and some people may see this as something stating that you may not do a stock vehicle.



I don't think you need the HUGE URL across the top of your site either, it is a little bit intrusive. The banner already states that you are at www.detail-city.tk.



We only use Meguiar's products

Something more professional sounding may sound better, We exclusively use Meguiar's car care products in our work. Punctuation too.



FAQ Section - You may want to bold the questions or soething, to help make them easier to browse, in case someone is looking for a certain one.



Your pricing section looks nice, but it is a little bit cluttered with the long lists. You may want to split them up a little bit like:



Exterior

1.

2.

3.

Interior

4.

5.

6.



This is because many polishes have built in "fillers."

You may want to add that you do not use any products containing fillers, and that with proper washing and car, the swirls will not come back.



The first picture on the Toyota Starlet doesn't work. You may want to label before/after pictures also, even though they are typically obvious. Side by side works well too, like two collums of pictures, before/after, with similar shots next to each other to really show the improvement. The pictures are huge too, great for noticing details, but hard to look at for many people. Resizing them to 800x600 may be your best bet. Some web browsing programs (IE6) will automatically resize, but you lose picture quality.



The banner at the top, you may want to remake, the car looks nice (though a little stubby, maybe just the picture) but the pattern behind your URL has nothing to do with the car at all, maybe use a reflection of a car in another cars reflection for the background, something that shows off detailing. You may want to make it just state Detail City also, not the url, for a cleaner look.



Sorry if it seems like I just ripped your site apart, I am pretty impressed with the site. It is simple and easy to navigate, clean and easy to find what you are looking for. It will load quick and won't intimidate people, and should wokr on mst browsers.



Those were just a bunch of small things that I noticed, and more oppinions then anything. Good luck with the detailing, I am headed in your direction this spring hopefully (towards profiting from detailing) and will probably be here with the same questions you have.
 
Looks great for not being full-time! It looks like you put a lot of thought into it, especially the Services and FAQ sections.



I do see some spelling/grammar mistakes that you might want to fix (which might change a customers mind about wanting to leave their new Ferrari in your care).



Another thing to think about (and no, its not THAT important since this isn't your fulltime job) is paying someone to host your site so you wont have banners and adds everywhere. It just looks more professional to the paying customer, reassuring them that they're not paying for some newbie to give their car a hack job.



It looks like you've got a good start. How are you getting people to go to your site? Posters? Bumper stickers? Buisness cards?





Good luck! - Tim
 
Hey guys thanks for the help. I am going to go through the site with a fine tooth comb tonight, I am aware of some spelling and grammer mistakes, however, these will get fixed asap!



As for the banner/URL, I felt it was a little large at the time but I was in a rush to make the site and therefore, some areas have suffered.



But this is great hints I am getting and they will make for a more proffesional site without a doubt!



Cheers guys! John.
 
thanks capt512. I have a friend who has some free space just now so ill try their for just now.
 
John,



Have you considered using a landline number or an answering service. In my opinion I am always slightly nervous of businesses with only mobile number.



Good luck in your venture.



Dave.
 
The site looks good but the adverts are not that attractive. Is this site your main focus for attracting customers. Agree with Turbofree, mobile numbers remind me of dodgy car dealers.
 
I use my cell as my business lines with no problems, I just make sure to update my voicemail everday with the date and message.
 
Exactly how I feel autonova, I dont want to get line rental etc etc when I can be easily contacted.



I have three cars to detail over the next few saturdays. A blue metallic fiat punto (light blue)



A Land Rover discovery also blue metallic (dark)



Bmw 318 e36, slightly oxidised etc. Standard colour, just a candy red type.



I have quite a few products to use on these. Although I will be recieving ssr 2.5, nattys wax and ex-p to add to my collection.



I think the punto will need a little clean up so #80 then top with nxt maybe nattys just to see how it looks...........



Land Rover ssr 2.5 OR megs #80 then ex-p*2 then nattys, i think? As it is a daily driver in all sorts of conditions so needs a good protection.



The bmw I really cant decide but im contemplating some #80 as the paint is slightly swirled and oxidised but nothing too major, then ex-p*2 then nattys. Saw this on gsrstilez car not that combo but using ex-p and nattys, seemed to give a really nice finish.



BMW and Discovery will need clayed also.



But I will be sure to post pics when im done folks.



O, almost forgot I am also getting Vanilla Moose, primarily for my car :D but I need to see where it stands in the line up first, hence why its not been included. Ill stick with what I know then introduce it, once im confident of its results.



John. :xyxthumbs
 
It certainly is!!



You might want to consider putting your address on your web site, shows you are an established business.
 
Yeh I will but as of now I am only at the unit at the weekend's due to other commitments. But I will start really pushing business after this month.



Thats a really nice selection of vehicles you have! Especially the 750i! Hopefully my next car, if you ever come back up or whatever be sure to drop it in since your a fellow autopian a discount is on offer. lol!



John.
 
Thanks, the 750 certainly likes to use petrol but has all the toys and is great to drive on the motorway. It also eats rear tyres!
 
O yeh lots of nice cars driving about Glasgow, dont get to see the 750 that much. Not too common but a great car! Anyway, great choice. Hopefully get a Bimmer as the next car, probably black or that blue they offer, the colour doesnt come to mind! lol.
 
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