by Kieran on August 25, 2010
Two pints of Heineken cost approximately 10 Euro.
I know this as I have conducted extensive market research on this important topic. Don’t mention a Jack Daniels and Coke as I’ve done nationwide and beyond research on that one and that costs a little more.
So what never ceases to amaze me is that there are literally thousands of Irish businesses who have not taken the ten minutes to go off and register their business domain name. It can’t be a cost issue, it can’t be a time issue either as it literally takes 10 minutes or less.
Not having a credit card shouldn’t stop you as most Irish domain companies now take Laser (I use Blacknight and I know they do). A .com is currently 5.99 (ex VAT) with Blacknight and probably the same with other Irish hosting providers. (I do not have any link with Blacknight other than being a loyal customer and advocate.)
Getting your domain name is your first step to getting your business online and also stops someone from taking your domain name from you (at least for the .com name). For instance the www.latelateshow.com domain name is not available anymore. I bet RTE would like it. If they want it they will have to pay and probably pay handsomely for it. Currently some enterprising person has registered it and it is now parked waiting some interest.
Why would RTE be interested? What if someone was putting spam or porn on this link. It would reflect badly on RTE even though they had nothing to do with the URL. The same applies to you and your business. Take the time to do this.
Multiple Domain Names
James Larkin put this well recently about protecting your brand and I agree wholeheartedly with this that you should seriously consider registering your other TLDs (three letter domain) names as well. It is a minimal cost to protect a business name that you will have for the next 10-20-30 years. Again the cost is low in comparison to the impaxt of losing the domain name.
What Next Though?
To move to the next step and get a web presence you need either to get hosting or most web design companies now have their own hosting packages and can give you a competitive rate on hosting. If you ever move from them you can transfer to your new hosting package. If you don’t want to spend the money then it is possible to and I have shown how you can build your own website and if this article doesn’t deter you then look at one of the free templates ate places like www.freecsstemplates.org/ which can be a starting point for you if you want to cut your own teeth.
But In The End
Think of the price of not registering your domain. Get with the program. Don’t drink ten pints tonight drink 8 and you will have the spare change to register your domain.
Authors Note
I just realised I havent practised what I preach so I have now registered several new domain names for my web design business.
by Kieran on August 11, 2010
Where a Lot of Websites End Up
Far outstripping any other call, or contact that I get is the request to develop a simple site or a 5-10 page brochure site. This is by far the most popular site that I get calls about and design on a regular basis. The request generally comes from people who want to advertise their business on the web and want a URL to add to their advertising, business cards and collateral. Generally the expectation is that I can design it for the price of a cup of coffee but I have spewed my vitriol on this elsewhere so read that some other time.
I can create a working 5-10 page website in approximately 3-5 days for most customers. If they want specific logos then it may take a little longer. If they can supply materials such as product messaging and images that reflect their business this eases the process greatly. The typical site comprises the usual standard page layout 5-6 menu items across the top, contact form and some product information. Unfortunately these sites are really really NOT the way to go. People tell me to develop the usual type of site that they see out there. What they will end up with is a website design that looks well but will fail them as a business tool.
The Recycle Bin for Websites
I do try and set expectations with customers that this effort alone will not help them grow their business. The site will look well (at least I think so) will have relevant and up to date information but the only real traffic to the site will more than likely be direct traffic (people who see the URL and perhaps type it in out of curiosity or need). Their site statistics for traffic after a couple of months will prove this point. They typically show single digit traffic (I call this family and friends traffic) and an occasional bump due to some mention in advertisements somewhere.
So the website in the above format is probably as useful to them as a brochure that comes through your letter box. We know what people do with these. In Ireland we put them in our recycle bins! The website is not being effective for them. So what should they do? [click to continue…]
by Kieran on August 6, 2010
If Robin Hood was around today he wouldn’t have a website as he would not want anyone to know what he was doing. He and his merry men used to hide in the forest and steal from the rich and give to the poor so publicity was low on his priority list. He was a great guy, outdoors job, made people happy (at least the poor!). ate a high protein diet of venison and was dating Maid Marian who was pretty cute in the movies and TV programs that I saw.
The Sherrif of Nottingham (cue boos and hisses – its automatic) would definitely have a website and be Internet savvy. He would also love social media and a newsletter would be top of his list. Here are some things he would use the Internet for.
- Tax time – we would post prominently when he was coming to get taxes from the poor citizens. He would make sure they all had PCs and Internet connections of course and that they were subscribed to his RSS feeds.
- Jousting Time – Nothing better than a good joust. He would give detailed information on when the next event was coming up for spectators and for participants. A well laid out contact / application form would also be available for both tickets and for applications for knights.
- History of Nottingham – As most rulers are vain he would have course have a well written history of Nottingham and his claim to be Sherrif. Some well taken and flattering photos of him on his horse would of course make sense.
- Maps – For people visiting him he would have a well placed map to his castle. He would probably put in the best route be to avoid Sherwood forest for obvious reasons.
- Online Shop – He would probably sell a few “I Luv The Sherrif T-Shirts” and mugs to try and get some extra cash when taxes weren’t cutting it.
- Newsletter - Just in case you weren’t on his website he would collect your email address and send a regular mail shot to you with all of the above information or links to it with of course the Tax date prominent so that you could never say you forgot.
- Social Media - he would love Twitter and Facebook and would probably promote himslef shamelessly and put Robin Hood down as well. He would need to hire a social media knight to help him with his flow of information so that people would not unfollow him.
- Blog - Last but not least he would blog regularly about Nottingham and what a wonderful place it was and what a great sheriff he was so that people would want to live there (read more taxes) and visit as well (read spend money – eventually more taxes).
I wonder if Darth Vader would have a website? What fictional character do you think would be great to have a website?
