Just a hobby - suggestions welcomed

[soundrediscovery]

http://uk.geocities.com/soundrediscovery I hope my sentiments are clear - this is just a bit of fun, but with a desire not to see people "ripped off" if they want this type of service. Clearly links to other locations is a key to driving up traffic. How does one find out where to go? How do we create "banners" that can be used for mutual links? Early days for me but i would like to learn.

[elearning]

Hi,

Cool! This is a really interesting service. If I can offer any advice:

#1 - get a "real" domain name. Free hosting is great, but you want to build an image with potential customers. Free domains don't add trust, in my opinion.

The names soundrediscovery.com, and sound-rediscovery.com are not yet taken. I recommend buying both domains (GoDaddy charges $7.95 US for .COM registrations).

#2 - get a "real" hosting provider. I have developed several sites and have used DayanaHost as my provider. VERY fast servers, exceptional customer service, virtually 0 downtime! Their URL is www.dayanahost.com. They are based in Ontario, Canada.

I think these are two important steps in your success.

Banners - although pretty to look at do not necessarily generate clicks. I run one website where the majority of clicks (and subsequent sales) were initiated through text links.

You want visitors - the best way is to look for "like minded" sites that are willing to do a link exchange with you. But many sites will have one requirement - you have a real domain name, and are hosted.

Some additional search engine optimization will also drive more traffic to your site. You could use Overtures Search Word Suggestion tool (available at http://inventory.overture.com/d/sear...ry/suggestion/) and key in words that would target your service and optimize your site for several of these words. You can also use Wordtracker (www.wordtracker.com) to do more keyword research.

My recommendation is to work on the domain name, hosting provider, keyword analysis and copywriting, link exchanges then look at banners.

Good luck on your venture!

Regards,

Mohammed

Originally Posted by soundrediscovery

http://uk.geocities.com/soundrediscovery I hope my sentiments are clear - this is just a bit of fun, but with a desire not to see people "ripped off" if they want this type of service. Clearly links to other locations is a key to driving up traffic. How does one find out where to go? How do we create "banners" that can be used for mutual links? Early days for me but i would like to learn.

[soundrediscovery]

Excellent suggestions, which i will follow up early in the new year.
the dilemma i have is that my prime objectives are not to make money (although i wouldn't turn it away!).
So far i have not made any direct outlay on cost except for a £4 window display in a local shop! if my aim is for a self financing project, then i would have to get a return on any regular costs that a real hosting provider would demand.

the other big question for me is that because my "competition" i believe over prices the basic service (which anyone with a turntable and PC could achieve), i am unlikely to have much favour with reciprocal links. (because of the inferred criticism i am making, although i might be tempted to use the more specialised service if i had the need/desire). therefore how do we get the right "traffic" to view the site? is it just about getting the correct keywords etc.?

perhaps i need to be more mercenary in my business approach(?) but i still think there is a place for good service/value, honesty and humour.
am i mad?

http://uk.geocities.com/soundrediscovery/

[elearning]

That is fair. If your prime objective is to not make money - then the course you are staying is fine. No need to do anything else.

I don't know what stats are like for "free" website - that is, do they attract the visitors that other sites do? I am sure a simple search would tell you who the top 10, 20 or 30 sites are in any category and if those sites are hosted on free servers or not.

Again - hosting is very cheap. At DayanaHost, I pay $5.99 for a yearly hosting plan (very basic) and paid $7.95 for the domain name. The site generates no revenue - but was created more as a "public service" than anything else.

The other way to get traffic to your site:

1. Pay-per-click
2. Valuable content on your site, with each page sprinkled with keywords that will drive traffic to your site. The more pages, the better - but the content should be relevent.
3. Expert articles submitted to newsgroups with YOUR website and other info. on the signature line
4. Well designed, and optimized site to help search engines like Google find you (remember to submit to Google though!)

Originally Posted by soundrediscovery

perhaps i need to be more mercenary in my business approach(?) but i still think there is a place for good service/value, honesty and humour. am i mad?

Just a little. :-) But it helps to believe in something and base your business, or passion on that. Success will follow.

Good luck!

Mohammed

Originally Posted by soundrediscovery

Excellent suggestions, which i will follow up early in the new year.
the dilemma i have is that my prime objectives are not to make money (although i wouldn't turn it away!).
So far i have not made any direct outlay on cost except for a £4 window display in a local shop! if my aim is for a self financing project, then i would have to get a return on any regular costs that a real hosting provider would demand.

the other big question for me is that because my "competition" i believe over prices the basic service (which anyone with a turntable and PC could achieve), i am unlikely to have much favour with reciprocal links. (because of the inferred criticism i am making, although i might be tempted to use the more specialised service if i had the need/desire). therefore how do we get the right "traffic" to view the site? is it just about getting the correct keywords etc.?

perhaps i need to be more mercenary in my business approach(?) but i still think there is a place for good service/value, honesty and humour.
am i mad?

http://uk.geocities.com/soundrediscovery/

[soundrediscovery]

i originally stuck this in the "review my website" forum but it was moved to "promotion strategies".
i would still like some feedback on whether the basic style is easy on the eye, both visually and to read, to navigate etc. the promotion suggestions for domains and hosting are valuable and give food for thought, but i still have that dilemna - if i attract the correct traffic to this site, can they find what they are looking for from the basic design?
then there are other questions.
(1)i keep seeing ads saying "accept credit cards on your site" - how can we make this secure? does it cost? etc. i have made a point of investing any revenue generated into improving the service i can offer or replacing raw materials (rather than spending it!!!), so it's an option for the wish list.
(2) traffic generation - how can traffic be targeted to guarantee sales? i only ever buy when i want to buy, not because i am told to. i know the web is an international market (potentially) but only if people want what you are offering, or am i being naive?

so there we are - multiple questions (again)

http://uk.geocities.com/soundrediscovery/

[DarrenC]

Nice website.

Firstly, looking at your website you are in the UK, right? If you are visit this website www.webfusion.co.uk and sign up for both hosting AND domain name for £9.99 a month.

Yes, you can get it cheaper, but you want reliability and features, of which both Webfusion have.

I've used them for three years, without any problems.

Secondly, these kind of things always start off as a hobby, my site did, I am now working full time, self employed a year later.

If you have a good idea (which you have) and you work hard at getting your website high in the search engines you can make a good success of it.

Why don't you go to www.aardvarkbusiness.net you can submit your website and that's a way of getting traffic.

Darren

[DarrenC]

With regarding to accepting credit cards. You first need a merchant bank account, companies like Lloyds and Barclays provide this in the UK.

Be warned though, it's not cheap to set one up, and you have to pay a percentage on the payments you receive.

To set up a secure server, simply use the link above for hosting, and you can also upgrade to a secure server for your pages which need security, or if you use a company like www.worldpay.com they will host this all for you, and deal with the credit card transactions.

The only thing I would work on your site is the font, the navigation and design of the site is fine.

Like the above poster said, Id work on hosting, domain name and then optimising your website before you take it the next step further.

Regards
Darren

[soundrediscovery]

Darren,

your thoughts are much appreciated.

acceptance of credit cards i think will have to wait for now, but i am getting the message about the hosting.

i have been making efforts to be recognised in search engines, interestingly i put "sound rediscovery" into Google from the Sydney Herald website and came out at No 1!

yes, primarily this remains a hobby and local (cheap) advertising and word of mouth has kept me ticking over, i would however, like to get the site nicely set up so that i can take the next step with the hosting and domain names etc.

you mentioned font. it has been suggested that i try black for colour on the grid background (on the site review forum). what were your thoughts? i would quite like to view your site as i find that helps me understand people's preferences.

to be self critical, i am not happy with my "links" page. i have a difficulty in finding suitable related links partly because of a "break even" rather then "profit" motivation. For redesign i am considering a "category" page with links sitting behind. i think this would make it easier to find mutual links (assuming i get the domain sorted).

are there any views on that theory?

thanks for the feedback

Regards

Ian

[DarrenC]

Hi Ian, nothing wrong with been self critical, I've done that myself and it's taken me 2 years to get the site how it is now haha.

www.holiday-rentals.uk.com is the domain if you are interested in checking my site out.

Yes, I would stick to black font, but maybe change the font? One thing to bare in mind with webdesign is that if you use a font that someone hasn't got on there PC then it will come out as Times New Roman (or whatever the PC's default font is)

I would always stick with Arial or Verdana, and a size of 10 or 12 would be fine. You might also want to have a look at CSS styles, this way when you change something on the CSS file the complete site changes. Again have a look at my site and you'll see what I mean.

About links, good idea to have a category, then pages linking from that. I must admit my links page isnt that good, but I am using it more for optimising my site for the search engines then I am for receiving traffic.

When you get sites to link to you, make sure that they have a good PR - 3 and above would be good as this would assist in the placement on Google and will raise your websites PR.

If you would like any assistance on optimising your website let me know as I have learnt quite alot in the past 2 years. Check out www.seochat.com too.

Hope this helps
Darren

note: when you have a domain name let me know and I'll place a link on my links page for you.