The most common reason I hear for not hosting a site is the cost, with the second being a doubt in the effectiveness of the web, and third being a lack of PC knowledge.
I would like to offer an easy answer to all three questions
Get thee a Blog!
1) First, this blog that you are now reading, and are naturally quite impressed with, was/is completely free. Yep, no money, and no annoying pop-ups (how it's free, is actually a mystery to me, but free is free!)
2) Second, as this is free, you can actually try out a Blog version of a site (for six months to a year),BEFORE you spend money on a real site (with a real site being your goal, as it is a tad more professional looking to your customers).
3)Third, I set this site up in about five minutes, and I am no computer wiz (still have to ask my 14 year old niece for log on help). Blogger, or whatever free blog site you choose, has made it rather easy to use (with over 50 templates that you can further customize), and easy uploading of pictures, links, even video.
It's also easier than a website to update, and a great way to have more control over your site than just giving it to a web designer to create and update.
My thoughts on what you should include.
1) Pictures of you and your staff (more personable), picture of the outside of your shop (especially if another shop is close by, so as to not get your intended customer confused), and of course pictures of what you do (mirrors, shadowboxes, flatscreens....not just a double matted poster).
2) Link to mapquest or Yahoo map of your location (one of the main reasons people search online for a shop)
3) How-to blog : useful info on hanging art, why UV glass is important, Conservation Framing, etc....anything, Except how to frame something!
4) A coupon!, incentive, to actually get off the Computer and visit your shop
You can add other things like favorite artists, charities, whatever - just make it useful and fun. . .because, Framing is fun! ! !
God bless,
Mike
1 comment:
I'm a framer, but I'm also a graphic designer and have a website. I'm currently designing my new site. If other framers are interested, I can design a template containing general framing information that I can customize for individual frame shops. This way the cost of having a site is minimized because the same template is used by several frame shops. And, best of all it's designed by a framer! If any frame shops are interested in this, please contact me at dmwright75028@verizon.net.
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