[dez2k8]

A funny question but im trying to convince my parents not to fold there long standing skip company and giving it one last go using internet marketing and creating a website.

Would anyone be able to comment here or message me any successful ways they have generated work from the internet or any companies that offer a service that anyone has used and created sufficent work to out weight the costs.

Any area of business but if any skip companies have tried this or within the waste management sector that would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks

[indizine]

There is a member on here but obviously it's awkward to expect a competitor to help you. Have your parents considered selling up instead of folding?

PS I may be biased, but the internet most certainly does bring you business. All I can say is that you get out of it what you put it.

[dez2k8]

well thats what i meant lol selling up and packing it in. its hard for them to put into it tho as they dont understand it lol i hear about goverment funding for situations like this with help with internet marketing and building website but i cant find any literature on it.

[indizine]

I don't know about any funding, there used to be but it has dwindled to just about zero these days. Check with SENTA for Sheffield area, and RIDO and Rotherham Enterprise centre for Rotherham area (not sure where your parents business is based).

By 'put into it' I mean either by their own doing or by investing in paying someone to do it. Unfortunately yes, it is a chicken and egg situation.

[snoopjiggy]

I'll be honest, I think a website is vital to the majority of businesses nowadays.

Firstly, its a trust issue and people trust companies with websites.

Secondly, its a search issue. I search for everything online. Yellow Pages etc... are becoming more and more outdated.

Thirdly, Its a social issue. You can promote your business very easy and for free using social media that links to your website.



You have to get these right though. A website is useless unless someone can find them. If www.skiphiresheffield.co.uk or something similar is available, snap it up!

[bigsteve]

Do it ASAP
The directorys of yesteryear are dead, having had my business for 15yrs we started by using only directorys now we only use the internet.
(and its more cost effective)

[SportsTrophy]

There is a comparison website for skip hire so having a website is old hat now. You may have to pay some commission but at least you could see more quotes.

[steveroberts]

Originally Posted by dez2k8

A funny question but im trying to convince my parents not to fold there long standing skip company and giving it one last go using internet marketing and creating a website.

Would anyone be able to comment here or message me any successful ways they have generated work from the internet or any companies that offer a service that anyone has used and created sufficent work to out weight the costs.

Any area of business but if any skip companies have tried this or within the waste management sector that would be muchly appreciated.

Thanks

Do your parents pay their business rates to Sheffield City Council?

If so, there is a program called Digital Direction http://digital-direction.biz/ it is designed to help Sheffield based businesses to get the most out of IT. It will not pay for a website/SEO etc but will pay to get a consultant to advise on the right strategy...you never know, you might find a consultant who would do the consultancy and throw in the website development for free .

I do hope your parents keep the faith

[outfoxed]

I've recently been to free training in Sheffield for using the internet for your business, its run by a company named School for Start Ups. As everyone has said you need an internet page, even if its just basic and to get people calling you ask for a quote. You could even use the webpage as a marketing tool to advertise on the side of your own skips; how many people would see the website name if you did that? Free advertising!

I've recently created my own web page so I can engage better with my existing customers, and also to find new customers o search engine queries. I created mine for free online myself.

[Shogun]

Ive been in business for many years and a business that is not on line nowadays will fail, it is the most important thing you will ever do in business,all the old types of advertising like yellow pages are still important but nothing like as important as a good web presence, get professional help in building a web site and advertising it Im an old fart when it comes to computers but I soon learned how profitable it is to advertise your business on line, I would have thought a skip business was ideal for advertising on line.

[dez2k8]

further to all the recent posts on here i am pleased to say my parents have come round to the idea of websites and internet marketing, my next task is take on e commerce and making sure the website is seen and found does anyone know info i was told there is quite alot on the "for dummies" website to learn from.

[outfoxed]

Thats great to hear. Let me know when you have your website up and running!

[Styleww]

Originally Posted by snoopjiggy

I'll be honest, I think a website is vital to the majority of businesses nowadays.

Firstly, its a trust issue and people trust companies with websites.

Secondly, its a search issue. I search for everything online. Yellow Pages etc... are becoming more and more outdated.

Thirdly, Its a social issue. You can promote your business very easy and for free using social media that links to your website.



You have to get these right though. A website is useless unless someone can find them. If www.skiphiresheffield.co.uk or something similar is available, snap it up!

This is very true, i now work for Style because of this reason and they had no online presence what so ever before i started. Now that they do , we are seeing a lot more new customers. As snoopjiggy said its the way people work nowadays ! Cant you help them doing all the online social media side and getting them a new website?

[Shogun]

Originally Posted by dez2k8

further to all the recent posts on here i am pleased to say my parents have come round to the idea of websites and internet marketing, my next task is take on e commerce and making sure the website is seen and found does anyone know info i was told there is quite alot on the "for dummies" website to learn from.

You can have a go yourself for free on Yola but is not as good as having one made.

[outfoxed]

Mine is a Yola site too, its worked well for me as its free. Cant complain.

[sophiec1979]

Originally Posted by steveroberts

If so, there is a program called Digital Direction http://digital-direction.biz/ it is designed to help Sheffield based businesses to get the most out of IT. It will not pay for a website/SEO etc but will pay to get a consultant to advise on the right strategy...you never know, you might find a consultant who would do the consultancy and throw in the website development for free .

thanks for sharing this...ive signed up to one of their workshops today, just need to make sure i can get the time off the 'proper' job to go!


x

[JPMiddleton]

Originally Posted by dez2k8

further to all the recent posts on here i am pleased to say my parents have come round to the idea of websites and internet marketing, my next task is take on e commerce and making sure the website is seen and found does anyone know info i was told there is quite alot on the "for dummies" website to learn from.

We design websites and blogs based on Wordpress (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wordpress).

Wordpress used to be very much a blogging system, but now it's so much more than that - you can build virtually any time of website you want, including eCommerce.

We offer a budget installation for this type of simple website/blog, but to be honest I'd be happy to do this for free to help out your parents. I'll drop you a PM now.

[CompSpud]

If you can get everything automated, EG, Book your Skip, Size, Place, and pay online. I think that might bring some more sales.

But with that your looking at paying a few grand for a system like that.

It may be worth it in the long run but not a lot of Skip company's do that (as far as i know)