Need Advice

[Kieran]

NP, HB.

The prob you are experiencing with the shared borders is because you are using the MS virtual web server and server extension on the machine that created the site. There are files that are held in que in the virtual server that will be uploaded to the server when you upload... and those files are most likely not aboard your other rig.

[AKDejaVu]

Nice page HBlair.  Good move not being in the photos (facing forward anyways).

That does look like a quality shop you have there.  I am suffering from shop envy right now and am somewhat unconsolable.

AKDejaVu

[Charon]

Clean, efficient site. I would add a map and some satisfied customer testimonials. If I had more time I would go through the text a bit, but that seems to be under control already I have too much of that to do myself in the next few hours anyway.


BTW, be sure to check your e-mail daily and reply within 24 hrs if you can (48 is acceptable but pushing it a bit).

Charon

[Kieran]

One more comment... be sure to check this out in Nutscrape, too. Different browsers interpret HTML differently. I'd really only concern myself with IE and NS, though.

As other have stated, nice, simple, clean, and efficient site. When in doubt, always go for understated when you are dealing with a business.

[Pongo]

Makes me want to rush out and crash my truck just to get some quality work done by that handsome technitian you have there...

[SOB]

Man, that site sucks...If I were you, I'd have the in-laws get one done for ya!  


SOB

[Kieran]

Oh, SOB... nearly choked on a granola bar on that one!

[NUKE]

I like the consistant, easy to follow layout of the site. Looks good Hblair.

Also, you have a real nice looking shop.

[Staga]

Originally posted by Charon

BTW, be sure to check your e-mail daily and reply within 24 hrs if you can (48 is acceptable but pushing it a bit).

Charon

In last week I ordered a slot for a year service for my car from the shop I bought it.
They have nice site where you can just put crosses to boxes what I want they to do with price of the work after that.
I clicked "Send" button and 10 minutes later my phone rang.
Guy did ask if I need a car when my own is on service and if yes then what type I would like to have.

Looks like they are taking care of their customers and that is one reason why I'm going to stay in that brand and company.


HBlair nice site btw.

[hblair]

Now somebody tell me how I register my url with the search engines. As you can tell, I'm green here. Thanks for all the help tho fellas.

[Kanth]

it looks like to submit your site to multiple search engines now isn't free anymore

you can pay to have someone submit it to many or you can pick your search engines and submit it yourself

for example here is google

http://www.google.com/addurl.html

yahoo

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/suggest/

alta vista

http://www.altavista.com/sites/search/addurl

basically just look at the bottom of the search engine and there should be a link to submit a site.

you can do it yourself for free or you can pay money to have someone type in your url for you and click submit

yer call.

hope this helps.

[Charon]

Now somebody tell me how I register my url with the search engines.  As you can tell, I'm green here. Thanks for all the help tho fellas.

Actually, you may be better served by looking at local promotional angles and leveraging the site through more conventional means.

I could put you in touch with a Shell Oil service station operator out on the east coast who actually specializes in this on the side, but he might charge you unless you happen to be part of the Shell dealer network Of course, he could just talk your ear off like he did mine. He really leverages his site at the community level - including his automotive service - as well as setting up sites for other retailers less technically attuned. His Web site is: http://shellne.com/

Here's the auto care section of a short article I wrote on the subject of retail petroleum web sites (thus my contact with the dealer). Hope it is helpful.


Charon

Auto service centers
Gasoline may not be something consumers shop around for online, but the same cannot be said for auto care. The local phone book may still be the primary directory of choice, but Web-savvy potential customers are increasingly giving the Internet search engine a go when trying to find a local place to get the car repaired.
David Striegel, a BP dealer in Elizabeth, Pa., doesn't have much need for the Web, but then, given how inexpensive Web development and Web hosting have become in recent years he doesn't need much in return for the Web site to add value.
"I can't think of any way for the business to utilize our site better than we are now," he said. "We don't check it often enough to use it fulfilling orders, and I wouldn't want to rely on it for scheduling - we strictly use it for the advertising value. And for $10 a month it's not a bad deal. We developed the site out of the desire to stay current and up-to-date, and to portray a modern image. It provides information for people new to the area, describes our hours and what we offer, and I feel the site is extremely important for our auto service because it describes the certifications of our technicians. Still, I wouldn't recommend it for everybody."
Helping with its cost effectiveness is the fact that Striegel didn't have to pay for the site's development costs. The design is simple, but entirely adequate for its purposes, and the labor was handled "in-house."
"There was no challenge getting the site up and running," said Striegel. "I didn't develop it myself - it was done with the assistance of a brother-in-law who does our networking stuff as well. The development costs were basically zero, with the exception of registering the domain (about $35 per year), and there is virtually no maintenance except to change and update ASE certifications."
George Hallak, the general manager of Adams Street Shell in Dorchester, Mass., sees many of the same benefits in having a Web presence as Striegel, but takes the concept a step further. "We were one of the very first service stations in the Northeast to put up a Web site - it had to be around 1995," he said. "The main purpose was just to gain a presence on the Web, and I feel that it ultimately adds to the bottom line in how the customer perceives our operation. It's hard to quantify this, but I truly belive it's true. Automobiles are complex today, and if the customers do not think you are technologically sophisticated, they do not want you working on their cars. I'm just a basic dealer trying to utilize all the tools in a small family business."
Hallak also offers a variety of store coupons and promotions on the site and sees a good return. He stated that these efforts pay off, particularly among the local, regular customers, but only if you are willing to promote the site.
"Lesson No. 1, one people think that all they have to do is build a site and the business rolls in," said Hallak. "But like fine wine, it takes time. You have to be patient. I heavily promote the site in the store. I put the Web address on business cards and right on the door with the regular address. We offer Web coupons and similar coupons in the store, but at a lesser value. This encourages the customer to visit the Web site and lets us know where the coupon originated. We have been in the area for a number of years and the site supports our regular customers, and people new to the are who may be looking to get some repair work."
Hallak also noted that once the site is up, you have to support it.
"You need to maintain the site regularly, and answer your e-mail promptly," he said. "Someone new to the area will send in an e-mail saying, 'Can you look at my car on Thursday?' Of course! But as a dealer you have to respond within 24 hours, maybe 48 hours at the most, or they will go elsewhere."
Hallak has gone beyond the usual with his Web efforts, and runs a Web hosting service on the side. While he and his partner will help with some site development, Hallak adds value in an area critical for any business looking for an effective Web presence - visibility. "We concentrate our efforts on registration and making sure our members appear on the search engines," he said.
In addition, Hallak is at the forefront of efforts to get local dealers online, first with his own effort, the Northeast Diamond Club, and now with the regional Shell office through http://www.teamboston.com . The goal is to get some 120 regional dealers online with simple Web sites.
As with Shell, a number of branded oil companies are offering a Web site service for their dealers. In some cases it is a fairly standard page hosted by the oil company, and in others it is a link to a retailer's site as long as the retailer meets certain branding and quality criteria.

[Eagler]

Originally posted by hblair
Now somebody tell me how I register my url with the search engines. As you can tell, I'm green here. Thanks for all the help tho fellas.

Done - the first step anyway
check your info@blairautobody.com email