Author Topic: Web Site or Facebook Page  (Read 3238 times)

Offline Lazurus

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Web Site or Facebook Page
« on: March 07, 2018, 12:30:17 PM »
So a question for those in the know, I have neither a Facebook account or any knowledge of setting up a website, but it seems without either my "shop Window" is very limited. so what is involved with setting up either, and the ongoing costings and time involved.
Can someone please advise me on the best way to get onto the technology ladder?

Stuart
Living and working on the Norfolk Broads

Offline Paul Hannaby

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #1 on: March 07, 2018, 02:48:14 PM »
For a website, you need somewhere to host it. The ISP you use for your internet connection may be able to provide that but if not, there are plenty of companies out there that do it. Prices vary and to some extent you get what you pay for. the cheaper / free options tend to restrict how you present your website and may carry advertising etc. you have no control over. The better providers offer more flexibility and control. A reasonable yearly cost would be under £100 per year.
Second thing you will need is a domain name. Some hosting packages include one for free, others charge separately. These days there are lots of extensions (.com, .co.uk etc.) to choose from so choose wisely!
Once you have your host and domain, you need to build a website. If you know a little about this, you could do it yourself and perhaps use one of the site builders most ISPs offer. Again, there are many alternatives. I created the AWGB websites with Wordpress. This is widely used and supported with many plugins to add functionality as required.
If you are going to sell online, you really need to make your site secure so you would need to have an SSL certificate. These may cost another £50 per year. Some are more, some are less.

If you need to employ a specialist to build your website for you, make sure the whole thing is kept under your control and that you have full administrative access both before, during and after the work is done! Also make sure you have a contract that sets out what you are paying for and what the costs are and don't hand over any money until the contract is fulfilled to your satisfaction.
A word of caution - there are plenty of unscrupulous companies out there who will promise you the earth and deliver a pot plant so choose carefully! I know of more than one person who either got burnt or had their website hijacked by their web designer due to a dispute and the last thing you want is the website you have been promoting to have a big banner calling you a cheapskate or worse! Yes these things can be taken down but by then the damage is done!

For Facebook, go to the site and follow their instructions for creating a "fan page" rather than using a personal account. If you do the latter and become moderately successful, at some point, they will spot it and force you to switch so save yourself the pain! They say more than 20% of the world's population uses Facebook so the potential market is huge. Unfortunately FB deliberately throttle the number of people who see what you put on there. Then they charge you money to increase the viewings. Effectively you are paying them for your hard work  ;)

Offline Lazurus

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #2 on: March 07, 2018, 02:59:50 PM »
Great advice Paul, many thanks, gonna have to mull this over to get it right, but FB is out cant stand the thing and I am not even on it..... ;D
Living and working on the Norfolk Broads

Offline happy amateur

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #3 on: March 07, 2018, 04:05:39 PM »
have a look at www.harnealmedia.com website they specialise in working with the maker community.
and are highly recommended. They also have a pricelist page.

Fred Taylor
orchard-woodturners.org.uk

Offline julcle

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #4 on: March 07, 2018, 05:04:33 PM »
I am with tsohost.com, no frills unless you want to pay the earth for them but good service and a good package. Julian
Location: S. Wales
Crowvalley Woodturners
Julian

Offline David Buskell

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2018, 05:12:04 PM »
Have a look at clikcraft -  www.clikcraft.com.  Reasonable price and easy to set up. All content and editing under your control plus a fantastic customer service team, if you run into trouble.
Have used them for my site for a few years now so have a look at www.atthecuttingedge.co.uk to see one of the  formats they offer

David
At The Cutting Edge

Offline seventhdevil

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #6 on: March 08, 2018, 09:49:59 PM »
don't discount facebook stu... i was a sceptic till i saw the light...


my facebook page simply shows my customers what the latest sales have been and they can ask me through the page for a commision. it is also great for my customers to see just how much has been sold hopefully instilling confidence in the fact that they will not be disapointed in parting with their cash.

also paul is right about just following the instructions on facebook. believe me mate, if i can do it then anyone can do it...

Offline The Bowler Hatted Turner

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #7 on: March 08, 2018, 10:39:23 PM »
Stuart to say I am challenged technically woth computers is an understatement however. I am on facebook and although it can be a real PITA it does reach a lot of people. It also makes a difference when you advertise events etc. So would probably lead to more sales.
However, as Paul said he used wordpress to build the AWGB website, now although I have never actually "built" a website I do manage my own and one or two others and they are all on wordpress. It is so easy to use and I know you have heard this before but if I can use it anyone can. It is a good medium for showing customers your work and you can upload and take down as you want. You asked facebook or a website I would say both.

Offline edbanger

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #8 on: March 09, 2018, 07:02:29 AM »
You will need both FB and the site also use Twitter and Instagram you could even throw in Google +

Once the website is built and up and running people need to be able to find it.

Offline fuzzyturns

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #9 on: March 09, 2018, 09:42:22 AM »
Wordpress websites are indeed very easy to set up, and there innumerable plugins for just about any purpose under the sun (and then some). I run my website and one of my club websites on wordpress, and even people who consider themselves almost completely computer illiterates have managed to post articles and pictures. If you want control over what your public interface looks like, a website is the way to go (and there are other content management systems available, wordpress just happens to be most popular/well-known).

I am not keen on FB, Instagram, Twitter and all the other lot. I have a FB account, but I never use it. I am on Google+, but have essentially stopped using it. Same for Instagram. Why? Because I end up spending way too much time on social media instead of in my workshop. If you have all of these and you want to keep them up to date, you have to spend at least one hour per day doing just that. Since I am in fulltime employment, that's half of the time I have available per day to do the stuff I want to do, and I am not going to spend it in front of yet another computer.

If you have trouble getting traffic into your website, there is always GoogleAds, where you pay for links to your site to be advertised.

Offline julcle

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #10 on: March 09, 2018, 01:49:49 PM »
Stuart,  I run 5 wordpress sites and I know nothing about the subject ! have a quick look at beginners wordpress site, it will answer most of your questions.
Julian
Location: S. Wales
Crowvalley Woodturners
Julian

Offline Lazurus

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Re: Web Site or Facebook Page
« Reply #11 on: March 09, 2018, 02:16:13 PM »
Stuart,  I run 5 wordpress sites and I know nothing about the subject ! have a quick look at beginners wordpress site, it will answer most of your questions.
Julian

Brilliant, thank you  :)
Living and working on the Norfolk Broads