Website Up and Running!

J

Jeremy1026

New member
I finally got my website up and running. What do you guys think of the design, layout, and most importantly, content. Between The Lines Detailing.





My business cards are set to be here either Friday or Monday (Design below)

busscard.jpg






Now the hard part, filling up my calendar.
 
Nice site there. I personally would change basic full package to basic in and out package

To me basic and full don't go together
 
Yeah, I gotta agree, "basic" and "full" are two very different categories. Go to Thesaurus.com for adjectives that mean the same thing. Other than that, you have a nice, clean-looking website that's easy to navigate, just add photos ASAP (even if they're family and friends' cars) and you're all set! GOOD LUCK!
 
Looks good bud as others have mentioned get some pics up and change the names a bit!



Mid-xterior package the word FOLLOWING is spelled wrong.
 
Nice basic website! I would add punctuation (comma) between "Baltimore" and "Maryland" on the home page and the about us page. I agree with the others that clarifying the service type descriptions would be helpful to potential consumers. You may also want to add something at the bottom regarding trucks, SUV's & recreational vehicles having higher prices?
 
Very clean website!! It always amazes me how different the pricing is from east coast to west coast.



Your basic full package is what I am getting for just an int/ext wash.....just thought it was funny!



Please understand that I am not trying to be a spelling nazi but I did find this:



Our Mid-Exterior Package provides gloss to the paint as well as protect it from the elements, and inludes the folloing services.
Click to expand...



Good luck with everything!
 
Does your pricing differ with the size of the vehicle? Would you do a "Premium Full Package" on a Hummer for $125? Not attacking or picking......just want to make sure you have yourself covered.
 
I use these names for my packages.

Speed Shine, Mirror Finish Makeover, Drivers Dream, Lasting Lustre
 
Jer, you need to hire a pro to help you build your page. Initial impact says a lot. As others have said, you need pictures or something that gives visitors an idea of what they get from your work. Sorry I'm being so blunt, but you need the truth.
 
WOW you have some low prices man! But hey I guess it can help you build your customer base. Just dont forget to equate what you are getting per hour, and don't forget to subtract your material costs.
 
Prices seem way to low !!! Factor in travel time, set up and break down time, and you might be working for minimum wage at those prices. When I started out my prices were much lower, and although my customers were thoroughly satisfied, I seem to attract the "bottom feeders" who were only looking for the cheapest guy out there. The quality of cars/ minivans / SUVs you may attract might be customers who hardly ever wash there car, and expect a miracle for nothing. That was my experience (been mobile for about 8 years).



Look at your target market, and the time and materials you will be using and factor that into your pricing.



Pics sell the site !!! Get as many B & A, and as many types of cars you WANt to detail on the site also.



Good Luck !!!
 
My concern is inline with previous comments. Have you calculated your cost per type of service, including taxes, insurance, travel, etc.? I don't know of a plumber or electrician that will come out for less than $60. I don't do any washes unless it's coupled with multiple cars- I know that I need at least x amount to break even and some of your prices would not break even. I agree that your site is clean- do NOT cut and paste exotic cars and stick them all over your site. Personalize it! Have a picture of YOU working on a car taking into consideration attire- no jewelry, belts, etc. and be wearing a company shirt- maybe wiping down a nice an shiny hood, or using a piece of expensive machinery. Most customers patrionize companies because of how they feel about the service. There might be 4 other detailers in your area that are as good or better. Don't try to win the war on how you understand today's clear coats and how you understand about mils and all. Win the customer on service and communication. It's a personal matter most of the time. Especially when you realize that 90% (probably more) of the general population is not interested in their car's paint like we are. They just want a clean car and often don't care to know all the scientific reasoning behind sealants and so on. I had a client once that called because I was an elementary school teacher. It had nothing to do with my detailing credentials (4 cars each Saturday). There are tons of books out there on sales, marketing, and other business areas that really talk to getting to know your customer in 3 minutes. I mean, I will adjust my tone, speech pattern, etc. depending on the customer. I have the college grad vocabulary, the parent talk, the trade terminology, etc. After being in and around the profession for 13 yrs., I have learned a lot and much of what I did I would now do very differently. Part of that is NOT trying to explain every freakin' detail to customers. They want streak free windows, lint free dash areas, and nice looking tires. My latest survey for what I do did not give me the highest ratings on product availability, but the customer service was at the top by just about every participant. Therefore, I have customers buying from me who state that what I sell is average or the same as others, but they buy because they don't have to think about quality, or think about shipping times. As a detailer, this works the same way. Repeat customers are what make you money. More customers will return even if they had a bad experience as long as you communicate with them (studies show). If I go to a great food restaurant and have bad service, I'm not going back. If I go to an ok place and am treated well or mistakes are fixed, I go back. There are going to be complainers in any service, but make sure you communicate. They may never come back, but they might think, "At least he had the balls to discuss the problem." A lot of techncian types get defensive and turn customers away-even if they are good at what they do.



Ok, that's enough rambling for now.



Go to the local library and check out some books in the business marketing area.

Your Marketing Sucks

Email Campaigns (constantcontact.com)

The E-Myth Revisited

Anything about retaining and getting repeat customers



Good luck,

Robert Regan
 
Thanks for the advice all, I added a detail on it, its my car, but its better then northing. The reason my prices are low are for 2 reasons. 1. I'm on the east coast. 2. I'm new in the market, so I want to start out a little lower, then as I become respected, start to increase my prices a bit.
 
Jeremy1026,



I disagree with pricing low. my prices are about 15-25% higher than most of my local shops, but I found that it weeds outs the person looking for the typical "Armour All everywhere car wash detail".



As for pics on the site, I agree that you should have a pic of yourself looking professional, but I would also place some high end pieces on the site and a note stating that all the cars/boats/SUV's etc... pictured are actual customers cars.



A client with an exotic /collectible car , usually wants to know if you worked on cars like his/hers in the past. These cars are usually easier to detail anyway, aside from paint correction, the interiors of these cars are for the most part pretty clean.



Good luck either way, just my 2 cents !!!



Clean Dean
 
Ok, everyone is telling my prices are low (which I fully agree that they are.) For my area (Baltimore Maryland) how much would be a good range to price my work at? (Example of my work is now on the site.) Also do you think it'd be a good idea to put a line on the home page that says something along the lines of 'limited time only - save $5-$25* on your first service' (*savings vary upon service performed)? That way as I enter the market my prices are lower so I can get a few customers?
 
DavidB said:
Jer, you need to hire a pro to help you build your page. Initial impact says a lot. As others have said, you need pictures or something that gives visitors an idea of what they get from your work. Sorry I'm being so blunt, but you need the truth.
Click to expand...



I agree, it looks very one dimeshional and the prices are a bit low, as well as only pictures of one car detailed?? Do you have other cars you've worked on??



But I do like the simplicity of it, very easy to navigate. Nice site.

Josh
 
I think you need to analyize what it costs YOU to do a detail. By asking, "What should I charge?" I don't think you have figured out what you make per car. For longevity, you need to know what you MUST make to pay the bills/salary/etc. If you did a $50 wax in one hour that does not mean anything, nor does $80 per hour if it costs you $85 per hour to operate. The simplest way to start is to take the number of hours you are open during a month and divide that by all the expenses. That's a basic hourly rate you must carry to make the payments. If you need $42 per hour to make all the payments, then let that guide you on what you charge. If a wax takes you 1 hr. then you can justify a low price of $42 (doubt that it will be that low). If you can charge above the hourly need, then that is fine.

Have you joined the Chamber of Commerce, or other networking groups? I know of four detailers that attend meetings regularly and for most of them, it pays. Sponser a kid's soccer team (vans). Do something to tie you into the community.

However, if you don't figure out your own costs of doing business, it's going to get you later.

Attend trade shows all you can! You will learn what works for marketing and what does not.

I would change some of the text on the about the staff page as mentioned earlier. If you wish to separate yourself and run a professional image- shaved, clean, no hats, colored shirts, or better for the picture and a brief bio is fine. Don't get cute with words. Your image and perception is everything- first impression by a professional "suit" says you are a couple of guys renting space that probably play loud music and smoke on breaks. This is not what you are or what you want the public to perceive.

Your site is easy to follow so make your staff page nice and neat looking. The dog is cute, but I tend to think that someone with a very expensive car won't like the idea of the dog being there- some people have total phobias about dogs and will not go near a place where there are dogs (my son).



Check other detail shop sites and look for ideas on layout. Make company shirts- maybe a different color for you as the owner.



Is there a customer area? What is in it? Serve quality cofffee if possible and put out recent business type magazines- kids there? Put out Nicklelodeon and other kid friendly literature.



Boy, you asked and got plenty I'd say. However, you seem to have a real open mind by not getting defensive, which is a plus. I've talked with guys that don't really want to listen and never change. It usually doesn't end very well.



Rob
 
One more thing- You WILL get customers on price and lose them on price. These are shoppers- you won't grow with this profile. Set your prices based on what you need to take home per hour. I don't have plumbers giving me low offers when they come over!!! :)



Rob
 
WCD said:
Your site is easy to follow so make your staff page nice and neat looking. The dog is cute, but I tend to think that someone with a very expensive car won't like the idea of the dog being there- some people have total phobias about dogs and will not go near a place where there are dogs (my son).
Click to expand...



Just a quick question, what website did you goto, I don't have a dog on my site?
 
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