Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

[10degreesbtdc]

I hope to start my new detailing / paint correction biz part time very soon. Here's what I have on my website and my business cards look like the image at the top of the homepage as well as some with the vehicles I've detailed on them too. I thought I might put each customer's car on a card and send it to them or deliver it after I've done their car as sort of a novelty and advertising gimmick so when/if they refer me they will be handing people a card with their car on it. On the back will be a discount / gift card coupon for the referring client's next service.

As I said in another thread, I plan to try to get only clients with nice cars, high end customers, but I thought I had to put lower package prices on the site. This I'm approaching some people with nice cars with the selling point that I'll do it for half price to use their photo and car on the site so I can get some photos of the kind of cars I want to work on.

It's a work in progress...and I'm no web designer or marketing expert for sure. It will be interesting to get reactions and see if the things I'm critical of are shared. I'm sure there are things I haven't thought of too. Some ideas came from sites I've looked at and I didn't reinvent the wheel, but I didn't copy and paste either. In case someone is wondering, I used Dreamweaver by Adobe and hand coded some stuff myself with the help of online research. Even WYSIWYG site design software needs troubleshooting sometimes.

www.mycarshines.com

I would appreciate any and all comments and suggestions. I've listed and shown some Meguiar's products that I use now or will be using soon. Is this a copyright violation of some kind?

If you call me I'll answer: "My Car Shines, Does yours?"

[That Sam Guy]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

overall not bad.

IMO I would lose the google ad on the side like that. IMO it destracts from your marketing and makes your page look a little cheeper. I'm In favor of no ad at all or smaller ad at the bottom of the page. That way at least the customer will see all about you before seeing ads for other things.

Also I think the main pic at the top (corvette) could be a bit taller and wider.
Would make it stand out more and be a little easier to read.

Good luck with the Biz.

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Low prices attract low end clients. Not that there's anything wrong with doing low end car, I do them everyday. But if you're going to try and market yourself to a specific group, you'll need to do some adjustments. I have multiple packages, some entry level for the low income clients, and higher packages for higher income clients. I love to polish paint, I don't care if its a $250k Lambo, or a $4k Escort.

Also, I'd loose these pictures. To me, they just spell disaster. You, me and just about everyone else on this site, knows what the vehicles look like when we're working on them, and we've all had cars in our garage that look like this. But the customer more than likely doesn't. From an outsiders point of view, it looks like you have your dirty laundry hanging off the vehicle.







If you're wanting to post "work in progress" pictures, run down to the paint store, and buy some masking paper. It comes in rolls in different widths. Use those to mask off everything, and have a consistant look. Get rid of the laundry look

[Nick Chapman]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

overall not bad.

IMO I would lose the google ad on the side like that. IMO it destracts from your marketing and makes your page look a little cheeper. I'm In favor of no ad at all or smaller ad at the bottom of the page. That way at least the customer will see all about you before seeing ads for other things.

Also I think the main pic at the top (corvette) could be a bit taller and wider.
Would make it stand out more and be a little easier to read.

Good luck with the Biz.

+2 on loosing the google ads. Remember, you're trying to market yourself to high end clients. With the Google ad on the side, that just screams "Free Web Site!" If you're truely wanting high end clients, pony up the cash for an ad free site.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Also, I'd loose these pictures. To me, they just spell disaster. You, me and just about everyone else on this site, knows what the vehicles look like when we're working on them, and we've all had cars in our garage that look like this. But the customer more than likely doesn't. From an outsiders point of view, it looks like you have your dirty laundry hanging off the vehicle.

If you're wanting to post "work in progress" pictures, run down to the paint store, and buy some masking paper. It comes in rolls in different widths. Use those to mask off everything, and have a consistant look. Get rid of the laundry look

Those were my impressions as well, and I'm not a professional like Nick, but just a hobbyist at this stage. But I'm closer to the type of customer you're trying attract, and I thought the work-in-progress shots might give pause to potential customers.

Your other shots are great as limited before and after shots.

[That Sam Guy]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Also, I'd loose these pictures. To me, they just spell disaster. You, me and just about everyone else on this site, knows what the vehicles look like when we're working on them, and we've all had cars in our garage that look like this. But the customer more than likely doesn't. From an outsiders point of view, it looks like you have your dirty laundry hanging off the vehicle.

If you're wanting to post "work in progress" pictures, run down to the paint store, and buy some masking paper. It comes in rolls in different widths. Use those to mask off everything, and have a consistent look. Get rid of the laundry look

I agree.

[10degreesbtdc]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

+2 on loosing the google ads. Remeber, you're trying to market yourself to high end clients. With the Google ad on the side, that just screams "Free Web Site!" If you're truely wanting high end clients, pony up the cash for an ad free site.

Thanks for taking the time to look it over. Points well taken. I delete the pictures with the "laundry". They were there for her and her friends to see at work while I was doing it. I forgot about them to be honest. Thanks for letting me know. It was UGLY!

I added the Google ads thinking their index might pick up the site quicker by using their ads, but again, point taken. They've been deleted.

I'm still trying to think of how to gear it more towards high end clients, but without real example photos or spending a lot of time refining the pages in Photoshop, making it look modern, etc., not much else I can do until I get some cars. Plan on visiting doctors / lawyers offices soon.

Anything on pricing? Or services?

Thanks again!

[joncz]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Pros:

• I like the before / after combination photos a lot.
• I like the satisfied customers with their "after" vehicles.

Cons:

• 610 pixel width?!? This is 2009 - dynamic widths rule, but if you're doing a static width, shoot for 1024.
• I would lose the in-process pictures. What's the phrase - people like sausage, but nobody wants to see it being made. I also think you lose some of the impact as you go from a before, through three or four incrementally better picture to an after - I think there's more "Bam!" with the before/after right next to each other.
• Pricing is wordy. Consider using something like "Level 2: Level 1 plus abc, xyz" "Level 3: Level 2 plus 123, 456"
• Lose the Monthly maintenance package - what's the difference between that and one Level 3? You're leaving money on the table there. Ah, wait, I see the fine print at the bottom noting the three month contract; that should go right below the maintenance plan table.

[akimel]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

From the FAQ section:

"Waxing paint without proper cleaning can actually do more damage, but can fill scratches and defects temporarily making them hard to see which may fool you into thinking the problem has been resolved."

This is an awkward sentence, Moreover, is it really true that waxing a car that hasn't been properly cleaned (by which I guess you mean, claying and polishing) may actually do damage? I think this claim may be difficult to substantiate.

You may want to re-write it, perhaps something like this:

"Waxing alone may temporarily fill scratches and defects, temporarily making them hard to see and thus fooling you into believing that the problem has been resolved. However, the scratches and defects will come back once the vehicle is washed the next time, and the finish will again look dull and damaged."

[10degreesbtdc]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Pros:

• I like the before / after combination photos a lot.
• I like the satisfied customers with their "after" vehicles.

Cons:

• 610 pixel width?!? This is 2009 - dynamic widths rule, but if you're doing a static width, shoot for 1024.
• I would lose the in-process pictures. What's the phrase - people like sausage, but nobody wants to see it being made. I also think you lose some of the impact as you go from a before, through three or four incrementally better picture to an after - I think there's more "Bam!" with the before/after right next to each other.
• Pricing is wordy. Consider using something like "Level 2: Level 1 plus abc, xyz" "Level 3: Level 2 plus 123, 456"
• Lose the Monthly maintenance package - what's the difference between that and one Level 3? You're leaving money on the table there. Ah, wait, I see the fine print at the bottom noting the three month contract; that should go right below the maintenance plan table.

That's funny! I did some machine work years ago in a sausage factory so that suggestion hits home.

Good suggestions, I'll look into the dynamic widths. I was thinking with mostly retired people around here and wondering what there browser widths were set too as well as what size font for older eyes to read. I did have the background color the same as the table bg so it looked as wide as the browser page. Not sure how I'd set the content when the page expands to fit? Google search coming up...

I was looking at the wordiness of the pricing packages last night and had that in mind, thanks.

Good point on the photos too. Sometimes less is more, right?

From the FAQ section:

"Waxing paint without proper cleaning can actually do more damage, but can fill scratches and defects temporarily making them hard to see which may fool you into thinking the problem has been resolved."

This is an awkward sentence, Moreover, is it really true that waxing a car that hasn't been properly cleaned (by which I guess you mean, claying and polishing) may actually do damage? I think this claim may be difficult to substantiate.

You may want to re-write it, perhaps something like this:

"Waxing alone may temporarily fill scratches and defects, temporarily making them hard to see and thus fooling you into believing that the problem has been resolved. However, the scratches and defects will come back once the vehicle is washed the next time, and the finish will again look dull and damaged."

I was thinking and read somewhere about grinding the particles into the finish causing more/worse scratches/swirls if clay is not used. Isn't that true? Anyway, I can appreciate not having to back up a claim. Easier to reword as you said.

I love this site! Great folks, great ideas Thanks all!

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

I'm still trying to think of how to gear it more towards high end clients, but without real example photos or spending a lot of time refining the pages in Photoshop, making it look modern, etc., not much else I can do until I get some cars. Plan on visiting doctors / lawyers offices soon.

Anything on pricing? Or services?

Thanks again!

Don't overlook real-estate agents. They rely on their vehicles as an extension of both their image and their office. I think they would be more likely to pay for a comprehensive detail than even a lawyer or doctor, and they have the money to do so.

[Megafast13]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Hey:

-Your Site Needs to be much wider. Everything was too close together and narrow.
-You need to change your logo/icon. Make it taller/wider and easier to read the font.
*The Home Page one is fine, but the others on other pages are not.

-Your Prices are too high. That's one thing I had to learn is that, especially in this economy the average person will think why pay for this when the Gas Station Car Wash is down the street? Lower them a Little bit and explain the difference between you and an automatic car wash.

-Change your Packages. The "Levels" Is far too complicated IMO.


+Great Pictures, You always should have those

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

Low prices attract low end clients. Not that there's anything wrong with doing low end car, I do them everyday. But if you're going to try and market yourself to a specific group, you'll need to do some adjustments. I have multiple packages, some entry level for the low income clients, and higher packages for higher income clients. I love to polish paint, I don't care if its a $250k Lambo, or a $4k Escort.

-Your Prices are too high. That's one thing I had to learn is that, especially in this economy the average person will think why pay for this when the Gas Station Car Wash is down the street? Lower them a Little bit and explain the difference between you and an automatic car wash.

OooooKay, now I'm confused....

[Megafast13]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

OooooKay, now I'm confused....

Well, I am referring to the majority of people out there, not the wealthy.

I have a $20, $50, and $100 Packages. I have done Cobras, Minivans, Corvettes, etc.

Have a simple wash package, polish/wax package, and then a high end buff/sand package!

[Blake Beamish]

Re: Here's what I have so far on my new website, feel free to critique at will

I'll throw in one comment... instead of "level 1, level 2, etc." come up with some fun names. Since your company is called My Car Shines you can play off it and have your packages called My Car Shines, My Car Really Shines, My Car Extremely Shines, My Car Blinds Me, or whatever.