Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

Hi Everyone!

I stumbled across Startup Nation by chance, and I`m so glad I did!  I`ve just launched a virtual assistance company and I`m still in the start-up phase.  I chose this business because of my administrative abilities and most of all- my organizational skills.  I`m somewhat of an odd-ball because I`ve always loved administrative work- typing, creating spreadsheets, data entry, filling out forms (yes- very strange, I know)...so I`ve decided to use it to my advantage.

My plan is to generate business mostly by word of mouth rather than search engines.  In fact, my first client is the Realtor who helped us by our house last year.  She`s a talker so I know she`ll tell lots of people about me.

All that being said, I just wanted to see if I could get of few of the more "seasoned" entrepreneurs to take a look at my site and tell me what you think (http://www.mycybersist.com).  I`ll admit that I`m somewhat of a minimalist- so there aren`t any flashing lights or scrolling marques; I just want to clearly convey my business and the services I provide.  Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!  Thanks in advance!

Tiffany

Cybersist ~ Simplify.  Organize. Watch it Grow.

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Cybersist Simplify. Organize. Watch it Grow

Hey Tiffany, welcome to SuN.
I am a Graphics/Web Designer, so I will be reviewing your site from a design perspective, as opposed to a content perspective.  I like the overall concept and feel of the site.  The colors are great and I like the "minimalism."  You don`t need "flashing lights or scrolling marques" to have a good site.  In fact, effects like that can make a site seem unprofessional.  The only thing that could seem out of place are the three buttons off to the side.  You may either want to make that a full sidebar going top to bottom or list them across the bottom of the page as text links.  You may also want to add your business name and some keywords into the title of your index page.  All in all, it is a good site.

Hi CommanderK.

Thank you so much for the feedback.  I think you`re absolutely right about the three buttons on the right.  This is my first time creating a website so I was completely lost about where to put those.  Could you please tell me what you mean when you talk about adding the business name and keywords into the title of my index page?  Do you mean I should include my business name where it says "Home" as opposed to the left side of the page?

Thanks!

Tiffany

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Cybersist Simplify. Organize. Watch it Grow

The title is what it says at the top of the browser when you are viewing a web page.  On your index page it just says "index."  I was looking at the code and saw that you used Yahoo! SiteBuilder.  I`ve never used that before, so I`m not farmiliar with how it works.  All your other pages have titles, like the "Why Use A VA?" page title is "WhyChoose."  So, I would imagine whatever SiteBuilder directed you to do to get titles on your other pages, like "WhyChoose," you should just be able to do that to your index page.  With your company name and keywords in your title, your site will be picked up by search engines better than without anything in the title.

Hi Tiffany,

I think the simplicity of your page is a good thing. Like CommanderK said things that flash usual detract from your content and reduce the perception of your professionalism. That siad, I have one main suggestion that I think might help you out:

Try and add a way for people to take the next step (ie start working with you) right there after you introduce the benefits of your service or the pricing of your service, etc.

I read about some great reasons to use VA and I`m left to figure out what I do next. Even it`s as simple as adding a link that says, `email us to get started` or a form.

My two cents, hope it helps.

Andrew

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PeerSight, e-enabled roundtables for small business http://www.peersightonline.com

(A warning Tiffany my words my read harsh however they are not meant to be. I truly am trying to be honest with what I felt when viewing your website which I hope you can use as constructive criticism, it is my fondest wish that you are extremely successful with your endeavor no matter what your personal definition of success is.)

Hi Tiffany,

I just viewed your website all in all I like it. I do have one criticism which cascades into other thoughts. When using canned templates for websites you should not use the canned logos and pic’s that are included they are just place holders for your logo and relevant pictures.

In fact once I realized that the website is canned (which the logo gave away) the site felt impersonal, and made me not take you seriously even though I think you have some good data and copy on your website.
All was lost once I realized you selected a template relatively unchanged just with some words and pic. The thought that ran through my mind once I realized this was:  “I wonder if she short cuts the work given to her by her clients.” (Again I am not trying to be mean just honest with what I thought.)

Now with the nasty out of the way I do have some suggestions that I hope will head off the entire issue and your future clients will be none the wiser.

1. Replace all canned logos with your logo.
2. Change all canned art work.
3. Take the buttons to the right and add them as tabs at the top of the page.
   

If you do the three simple things above you will make it harder to detect a template, and even then if someone notices they will feel like you put effort into your website, which should lead to positive thoughts on your work ethic and ability.

This canned design is from a company called stocklayouts at www.stocklayouts.com

You can actually get this logo for free in Microsoft’s Office web site in the free template download as well.
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/TC011832741033.a spx

I think they have used this logo in several templates including brochure, flyer, FrontPage, and letterhead. I think this template is featured on several “free” web page builder sites as a template.

Some more reasons to not use a canned logo:

1. No control over branding. (What happens if the kid down the street starts a landscape, cutting lawns, shovels the driveway service and goes to Microsoft’s website and downloads the brochure layout with the same logo?)
2. It makes you blend in not stand out.
   

I think it is an acceptable practice to use a canned template for a business website, however you need to modify it and tweak it just enough to make it your own. That way you wont have to worry about a dozen other web sites having the exact same layout, pic’s, logo, flow etc. Not too mention no worries about having Eddie the neighborhood Alex P. Keaton printing flyers, business cards etc with your logo on it.

The cost to having a logo created for you that you control is very minimal if you don’t have the skill set approx $600 for logo design, business card, and letterhead.

I can suggest the company logoworks at www.logoworks.com.

I have used logoworks myself and can vouch for there ability and skill, however there are a ton of companies that do logo design, just beware of the very cheap ones as all you will get are clip art designs.

I truly hope this helps, nothing said above was meant to be personal.

Thank you,
 Eric