Web Support With a Difference

Want a website that gets you new business, with support from someone who understands your business?
Confused by technical jargon that sounds like a bad episode of Star Trek? Hate dealing with large faceless companies full of new graduates with no business experience? Hacked off with flashy technical solutions that you can't keep up to date?

Imagine what it would be like to talk to someone who really speaks your language and understands your problems and frustrations. Someone who understands your business objectives, gets back to you when they say they will, meets deadlines and makes sensible suggestions that will make your site more productive, but won't cost you lots of money. Someone who understands your frustrated cry "I just want it to work!"

So why haven't you found someone like this before?

It's hard. There are a lot of web design companies around. There are a lot of powerful build-it-yourself systems too. You look at the web site, full of flashy gimmiks that seem wonderful and then you talk to someone on the phone (that's if there is telephone number you can call). They appear to be able to work miracles and blind you with all kinds of technicalities that you think you should be able to understand so you find yourself agreeing to go ahead. We've all done it.

There are two major mistakes that a lot of aspiring website owners make:

1. You get seduced by the lovely colours, the animations and the hi-tech jargon and commission a website which looks wonderful but is out-of-date as soon as it's launched.

2. You decide it can't be all that difficult to do it yourself, try to use the website builder that came with your domain name hosting package, and find yourself spending too much time working on your website when you should be working on your core business.

So What's Different About Sort Out Your Site?

I'll help you to identify your objectives for your site. These need to be part of your overall business objectives. Then I'll discuss with you what needs to be built into your site to meet your objectives, and what other web tools you might also consider (for example e-marketing tools). I have experience in building internet marketing tools into a site from the beginning, and also in integrating them with an existing site.

Crucially, we'll then discuss how to keep your site updated since you will achieve far more from any site if you see it as a living entity requiring regular cossetting to perform at its best.

At all times the focus is on your needs and how best to meet them.

 

"Caroline took over support of my website after a redesign by another company had resulted in web traffic slowing right down and sales and sign-ups to my eZine from the website dropping to almost zero. At the time I could not even send out my own ezines, add any pages to the site or make the smallest modifications myself. I was frustrated because I had lots of ideas and wasn't getting the support I needed to carry them out. Now it’s all set up so I can publish new pages, change things in existing pages and send out eZines whenever I want. I feel as though I am in control at last. But that’s not the best bit. Since Sort Out Your Site got involved, direct sales from the website have gone up to £1000 per month (more than they have ever been before) and are still increasing. When Caroline took over, late in autumn  2006, total sessions served that week  were at an all time low of 536.  In October 2007 we have hit an all time high of 7336 and the trend is still upwards. Using Google Analytics, Caroline has helped me to drive up organic search traffic to the site (the sort you don't have to pay for) by 435% in the same 5 months. Visitors to the site like it a lot and it's generating consultancy leads for me, not just product sales. Very recently I had someone rang up wanting to talk to me about some potential work because he'd seen the website and been very impressed. That call alone has led to a £20,000 project. Working with Sort Out Your Site is a very successful partnership. Caroline listens carefully to my ideas, adds her own suggestions, and we end up with a plan that suits us both. She keeps up to date with the technical side of things so I don't have to, I can just concentrate on running my business. I wish we’d found her years ago. Have a look at my site, www.vinehouse.co.uk"   Nancy Slessenger, Vinehouse Essential Ltd

 

Ready for a rethink?

To help you, I've put together a check list for existing web sites and another checklist for new websites.
Read about the Sort Out Your Site Virtual Webmaster Service to set you thinking about how you use your website with your business. And check out what Google Analytics could do for your business.

If you want to know more detailed information about how websites are constructed, look on the Bookshop page. I've recommended some of my favourite publications, not only the techie stuff but more general reading on business as well.

Then contact me, Caroline Hogarth, the thinking person’s web site consultant. I'll be happy to talk to you in language you understand about your problems and do the boring technical bits for you. I have nearly 25 years of business experience so I understand that performance and content are more important than just looking good.

Want to have a look at some examples of my work? Try these.

Vinehouse Essential Limited (New site design by Hullabaloo, build by Claim The Web)

Lori Power Personal Training

Warton Nethersole's CE Primary School

CJ Equestrian Supplies

Japan Ltd

Midlands Early Music Forum (adding new features such as a discussion forum onto an existing site)

CC1 Consulting (Providing internet marketing support, implementing email marketing lists and Google advertising campaigns. Designed by Alcazar.)

Riddings Farm B&B (hosting and support to an established website)

Of course the service extends to customising your Facebook and Twitter presence to match your website.

For news, tips and ideas on how to get the best out of your site, pop over to the Sort Out Your Site Blog.