Web site designer recommendations

[Ccstew 2]

Good Afternoon 

I am just gearing up to start trading on my own and I am looking for recommendations for web site designers, all comments and advice greatly appreciated.

thanks

Stew

[Arfur Dealy 823]

Welcome to the forum Stew For a start up (they're very good and great value) try https://www.cardealer5.co.uk/ 

[Mark101 536]

7 minutes ago, Arfur Dealy said:

Welcome to the forum Stew For a start up (they're very good and great value) try https://www.cardealer5.co.uk/ 

+1

[Ccstew 2]

Thanks that’s great wil, get onto them now

Edited June 12, 2018 by Ccstew

[MrV 66]

if its a startup then my advice is to save your money, although its nothing special I designed my website myself in a few hours using wordpress, all I had to do was pay for the hosting which iirc is about £5 per month and then buy the domain name which was £3 for a year, job done

[EPV 631]

Click Dealer are excellent. Not cheap. But then excellent things rarely are. 

[BHM 994]

For fear of sounding like Mr. Miserable (heaven forbid!), how come nowadays when people intend to start trading they think the most important thing is a f***ing website?

I’d of thought the purchasing of a few automobiles to see how things pan out & get them advertised would be priority. But then what would a philistine like me know?

Buy a handful of knackers from the block, then try finding a CHEAP mechanic, experience dealing with a few marque specialists trying to rape you for certain problems & then find out the price of bodywork repairs. Believe me all you wannabe newbies, tossing it off on a keyboard isn’t what this game is all about. 

[EPV 631]

11 minutes ago, BHM said:

For fear of sounding like Mr. Miserable (heaven forbid!), how come nowadays when people intend to start trading they think the most important thing is a f***ing website?

I’d of thought the purchasing of a few automobiles to see how things pan out & get them advertised would be priority. But then what would a philistine like me know?

Buy a handful of knackers from the block, then try finding a CHEAP mechanic, experience dealing with a few marque specialists trying to rape you for certain problems & then find out the price of bodywork repairs. Believe me all you wannabe newbies, tossing it off on a keyboard isn’t what this game is all about. 

Lol. Spoken like a true miserable old fucka  

[twerp 69]

He's right though. 

Starting out, they need to gain momentum with AT / eBay adverts. 

Website can wait

[Ccstew 2]

Thanks BhM  I have been doing all the things you have said with private cars and learned some valuable lessons which now makes me want to cover a few points I had missed, it’s taken me a long time to get the courage to go full time and invest my money but I have a list of things that will hopefully raise my visibility. 

i understand it’s not the be all and end all but it might just help with a sale and i am trying very hard to do all I can to encourage buyers to come to me and buy my cars. 

 

 

 

[Mark101 536]

Unless you spend a shed load of money on click per view, Google ads etc, then don't expect your website to earn you ANY incremental sales.

What a website has done for me has added credibility and assurance that I am "real" to customers looking at my cars listed on AT, Ebay etc - the website earns it's keep by people clicking on my AT adverts, saying visit dealer website.  Without this function, who would even look for me and for that privilidge, add another £700+ per month to your marketing budget.

Edited June 13, 2018 by Mark101

[MrV 66]

Marks absolutely right on that, if you're advertising elsewhere the only function a site will serve is to add credibility and advertise your services such as prep/valeting/warranty etc which an advert would do anyway

[Ccstew 2]

Thanks that’s exactly what I think I need to improve is credibility as Mark says it’s not an advertising tool but rather an assurance that I am real. Just think how many times people google something they do not know, it doesn’t matter if it is right or not they mostly trust it and I think a website gives you that edge.

 

[Rory RSC 596]

You need a website for credibility. Its the modern day pitch.

 

Things aren't like they used to be and never will be again. Reviews are good also, get customers to start leaving them now and set up a social media page. Best of luck to you.

[MrV 66]

Get one up and running on the cheap, use a website builder like Weebly for now, you don't need anything special yet. Look at mine heyshamcarsales.co.uk it was FREE to make, of course it's nowhere near the click dealer sites but it still servew the same function and provides the same information right?

[Ccstew 2]

Thanks Ben Yes yours looks good and ideal for starting.

 

[umesh 336]

Website is essential,! 'the website' is your showroom builds trust.

Dealer5 is value for money and if you want a few more goodies then click dealer , both great companies to work with.

Good luck 

[MrV 66]

@Ccstew if you need any help just give me a shout I'd be happy to help, for free of course

[RH Trading 80]

Good luck @Ccstew echo all the above, also important you give a great experience when people turn up which matches what they've seen online. nothing worse than a great, slick looking, professional website only for me to find a filthy shithole portakabin with faded bunting when I turn up. its a trust thing. Sometimes I trust a home trade more when buying a car than a dealer with a bombsite pitch, if you're a home trader you cant run away and hide or shut up shop and do a runner quite as easily

[Ccstew 2]

Yes very true about great website then dreadful reality nothing more will make people run a mile.

good thing is I am next to the beach so will use some local shots to hopefully welcome them in and not scare them to much.

thanks again for all the great advice it’s greatly appreciated.